Zhuge Liang’s “Memorial on the Dispatch of Troops” states, “Embrace the virtuous ministers, keep the petty ones at bay; this is why the former Han thrived; embrace the petty ones, keep the virtuous ministers at bay; this is why the latter Han declined.” For a dynasty, the moral quality of those around the emperor influences its rise or fall, and similarly, for a company, its prosperity is closely tied to the moral cultivation of its leaders and employees. Astute bosses will not favor those with moral deficiencies.
There’s also another type of person who doesn’t intend to use improper means for gain but underestimates their abilities and value, particularly those fresh out of school or just starting work. Many have unrealistic expectations about society, with their understanding of work value sourced from media and others’ discussions, often misaligned with societal standards of value. Some enter a company with overly high expectations for position and compensation, even demanding company shares, and if these expectations aren’t met, they might feel the company is unfair or deceptive. However, even if one has genuine talent and skill, it’s unreasonable to make such demands before proving their worth to the company.
“A gentleman loves wealth, but gains it in the right way.” Here, ‘the way’ refers to using legitimate means and taking what one deserves based on their labor.
Money isn’t the most important
Since you’ve understood the principle of “being a person before doing anything,” you should know how to act in your faction, right? Why do you seem downcast and unhappy? Are you troubled by something? Feel free to share it, let’s discuss it together. Don’t be shy, there’s nothing you can’t say.
Oh, you feel the treatment in your faction is poor, the salary too low, the work too much, and the holidays too few. Did you once think, upon leaving school, that you’d be the hero sought after by all factions, with a monthly income no less than several thousand taels, only to find yourself in a small faction, earning just a few dozen taels, far from your expectations, leading to disappointment and a desire to switch factions? Do you feel your labor is disproportionate to your earnings, watching others who work less or are less skilled yet earn more, or see those with lower education or martial prowess becoming your superiors, feeling the faction’s seniority system is extremely unfair?
Calm down, don’t get too agitated. I believe during your recruitment, you’ve experienced that many factions require experience in the martial world, sometimes valuing it more than your “Level 4 Certificate in Five Tigers Gate Knife Technique.” Why? Because the martial world itself is a grand school, and navigating it isn’t just about wielding a knife but also about one’s attitude towards life, adaptability, work mindset, and other experiences.
Though I know you might still feel uncomfortable, remember that even famous figures like Baili Xi, the minister under Duke Mu of Qin, was worth only five black sheepskins, and the spiritual leader of a renowned faction, Jesus, was worth thirty silver coins. Don’t place too much emphasis on money now; you’re just starting out, with many opportunities ahead. Focus on your development within the faction. How about it, does this broaden your perspective a bit? Currently, many companies evaluate individuals not just by their educational background, but more importantly by their experience and capabilities. There are several reasons for this shift. On one hand, much of the knowledge imparted through exam-oriented education isn’t practical, leading to the phenomenon of “high scores but low ability.” Additionally, even within the same industry or job type, the content of work can vary greatly, and the knowledge learned in school isn’t specifically tailored to any one job. Due to the rapid pace of societal change, new phenomena arise too quickly to be taught, making much of the academic knowledge not very useful in specific job roles. Moreover, in real work scenarios, many issues can’t be solved merely with knowledge; educational credentials do not equate to ability.
Upon graduating from school or leaving home to work, one essentially enters a “university of society” to begin learning anew, enhancing interpersonal and adaptive skills. After some time in the workforce, individuals adapt to the transition from school and home to the workplace, developing a good work ethic and stability in their job. With relevant work experience, one becomes familiar with job processes and potential pitfalls, thereby working more efficiently and reducing the likelihood of errors. Hence, many companies place significant emphasis on work experience when hiring.
For employees, when seeking employment, it’s not just about the salary offered by the company, but also about the training opportunities and experiences it provides, which are crucial for future development. Even for someone who has been working for many years, due to market changes and the need for ongoing learning, continuous training is necessary. Therefore, forward-thinking companies will provide employees with time and opportunities for training.
For a new employee, what should be valued is not the benefits or working conditions offered by the company, but rather how much one can learn from it. A new employee shouldn’t view an easy job as a good thing; instead, they should proactively seek out tasks to do, thereby quickly enhancing their skills and capabilities, viewing work not just as labor but as a learning opportunity. Experience gained from work enriches one’s value, not only in professional terms but also as a personal wealth, encompassing both material gains and spiritual fulfillment.
Strive to do every task well
Why do you look listless, with sunken eyes, as if completely drained? What? The gang has you doing everything—chopping wood, fetching water, cooking, washing clothes, feeding pigs, weeding, herding cattle, hunting, fishing, and even looking after children? You’re like a jack-of-all-trades. Are you thinking back to when you were ambitious, before you entered the world, dreaming of commanding respect and obedience, having beauties fall for you and riches at your fingertips? Yet now, you find yourself doing odd jobs in this third-rate gang?
Don’t be discouraged, don’t be sad. Let’s start by reciting a famous quote from Mencius: “When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on any man, it will first test his mind with suffering, subject his sinews and bones to hard work, expose his body to hunger, impoverish him, thwart his efforts, and frustrate his plans. This is to stimulate his mind, toughen his nature, and increase his abilities.” How does that feel? Better? What? You don’t understand? Mencius is telling you that if Heaven wants you to become a great hero, a gang leader, or a martial arts master, it will first test your willpower, make you mentally confused, physically exhausted, hungry, poor, and disrupt your plans, to strengthen your resolve, make you more resilient, and enhance your skills. What? You think Heaven is harsher than Huang Shiren? You’re right! Oh, no, I mean, when Heaven wants to give you a significant role, it must first test, temper, and toughen your character and increase your capabilities. You say this is idealism and fatalism? You even know about fatalism? Then I was wrong to believe in fate.
