As the new year approaches, it is always the finest opportunity to reflect on the full sweep of the year’s experiences. The insight I’ve distilled from this year can be captured in a single line: “A lucky carp seeks only momentary right or wrong; a prosperous dragon decides the length of an entire life.” This is the finest gift this turbulent year of 2020 has given me. Put plainly: being right in the moment doesn’t matter much — being right over a lifetime matters enormously.
Know this: the many decisions we make in life are not merely sorted into “correct” and “incorrect.” They must also be measured by whether they are shortsighted or far-reaching. Many people appear clever — and indeed are sharp — yet still fail to live well. At the root of it: they repeatedly chose what was correct yet shortsighted. When Master Chi was young, I was just like you — deeply admiring those quick-witted peers whose mental agility could spark like lightning. And yet, looking back now, it is precisely those people who have each hit their own ceiling, unable to break through any further. Meanwhile, those among our peers who were quieter, more deliberate, and more measured have gone on to surpass the rest — some reaching heights that are nearly impossible to fathom.
So with utmost sincerity, Master Chi hopes that we can cultivate the habit of “pause, and think three times before acting.” This single habit alone is worth trading the full year’s hardships and adversity for. Reflecting now — whether for Master Chi himself or for the countless noble benefactors (Gui Ren) and clients around me — most of our major life mistakes have come down to exactly this: the lucky carp’s obsession with immediate right and wrong. Driven by impulse or pride, we make choices that seem entirely correct in the moment, while losing sight of the long view.
The best way to overcome this is to develop the habit of a chess player — to trace out the next several moves before placing your piece. Never rush to a decision out of momentary impulse or confidence. Because compared to a brilliant, clean-cut idea, what truly carries us further has always been the plain, steady choice that secures the path ahead. In this way, the unhurried outmaneuvers the clever; the earnest checks the nimble; the wise overcomes the cunning.
You may be mocked or questioned, misunderstood or criticized. No matter. This is precisely the secret to walking a path that grows ever more flourishing and prosperous. I arrived at this insight because 2020’s deepest lesson was this: relying purely on boldness and cunning is no longer sufficient to prevail in the coming era. In recent years, every person who has truly risen and achieved has done so through deep accumulation over time. Pure luck alone is becoming increasingly rare.
Especially under this year’s once-in-decades “great test of humanity,” it has never been clearer whether a person’s achievements were built on a momentary fluke or on solid, deep-rooted foundations. Interestingly, those in the former category almost invariably reflect the first half of our phrase — whether in adversity or ease, every judgment is anchored only to the immediate right or wrong. Those in the latter category just as uniformly reflect the second half: no matter how hard or painful, every move on life’s board is made with an eye toward lasting benefit and long-term deliberation.
So if today someone tells you they hold grand and sweeping ambitions — yet their roadmap amounts to nothing more than short-sighted jockeying for immediate gain, or simply “figuring it out as they go” — know that they will never amount to much. But if someone tells you their ambitions are modest, yet every step is deeply considered and carefully mapped out many moves ahead, then without question, this is someone worth your respect, your companionship, and even your allegiance.
Each person has their own destiny and their own path. But to ultimately become someone of substance — to gain wealth, to build something lasting — we all must pass through the journey from youthful recklessness to deep, patient strategy. My only wish is that you come to know your own destiny early, and then learn to become like a true chess player on the board called fate — moving with depth, foresight, and deliberateness — crafting the brilliant game that is uniquely yours.
The secret to all of this comes down to just two words: composure.