Ordinary people want to turn their lives around; six key points are especially important for change: The first is stillness—meaning you must be able to calm yourself down. Many people, you see, are busy every day in a chaotic manner, working hard but achieving no real results. These people may have never thought about why they are busy. Truly capable people appear calm on the outside, but their brains are constantly in motion. They will run through all scenarios in their minds first, focusing on what’s important, what the details are, and what the key points for success or failure are. They focus on the main points and tackle each one systematically. Therefore, truly capable people can settle their minds, think delicately, and know how to reflect quietly.

The second point is one word: Ding (calmness)—meaning they are capable of maintaining stability. In real life, many people change jobs eight times a year or work on five projects over two years, showing they have no stability at all. Truly capable people understand that focusing on doing one thing continuously and building upon it will lead to accumulation and success.

The third point is the most important: shame. Do not have an excessive sense of shame or be overly fragile. Truly strong people are independent and follow their own path. As long as it is within the bounds of the law and can help you earn money, you shouldn’t care what others say. Just be at peace with yourself. If you are too concerned with rules and other people’s opinions, even a few idle words can disturb your sleep. Over-sensitivity is actually a sign of weakness.

The fourth point is the unity of knowledge and action (知行合一). All the real big-money bosses around you are people whose thoughts and actions are very proactive. Those without ability tend to overthink and do too little, lacking initiative. Others simply do tasks with their heads down, never lifting their heads to think. Like an old ox plowing the field, he just works hard without ever thinking seriously.

The fifth point is stability. Your emotions must be steady. Don’t fuss over superficial gains and losses. Don’t make impulsive decisions. Don’t care about trivial matters. Never show off in front of others—like how much money you have saved, whom you know, or how many places you’ve traveled. The more you boast, the more conspicuous you become. Those truly capable people have already turned themselves to silent mode. Usually, they look simple or silly; this is mainly to deceive opponents and to hide their ambitions and goals.

The sixth point is that before success, you must learn abstinence. What is abstinence? Not in terms of sexual desire, but in the sense of avoiding associating with people who indulge in drinking, partying, and entertainment—people full of negative energy. Being with them only consumes your time, energy, and money, eroding your fighting spirit and your ability to endure hardship. Only the weak need friends. True strength requires solitude, and the path of entrepreneurship is also lonely.