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Author: Li Zhengtu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Many world-renowned wealthy individuals once had nothing, just like us. But they knew how to leverage their advantages to seize opportunities, and thus, they succeeded, achieving everything they desired, such as fame, status, and money. They are the secrets of wealth, their lessons in rising again after falling, the golden rules they discovered through years of interaction with people and society, and the spiritual support they provided in critical moments. For anyone who yearns for wealth, these are invaluable intangible assets, far more precious than gold. With them, everyone can reach the pinnacle of a life worthy of admiration.
Chinese people have a habit of being ashamed to talk about money. In Confucian philosophy, righteousness and profit are often seen as opposites, and people are reluctant to discuss benefits directly. At least on the surface, most are ashamed to mention money, as if it were a symbol of vulgarity. Scholars have even coined many terms to mock money, such as: "The rich lack compassion, the compassionate lack wealth," "Money is as filthy as dung," "There is no honest merchant," "A horse without night grass will not thrive, nor will a person without windfall wealth," "A gentleman remains poor," "A gentleman understands righteousness, while a petty person understands profit." For thousands of years, money has been seen as the source of evil, and merchants have always been criticized and cursed. Among all social strata, the merchant class has always been at the bottom of moral evaluation. Even until the late 1970s, merchants were ranked last among the "workers, farmers, soldiers, scholars, and merchants." In fact, not only in China, but also in Western culture, there is a belief that views money as an enemy. The Bible says, "Greed is the root of all evil." Shakespeare also cursed money mercilessly in The Merchant of Venice: "Gold! You can make the black white, the ugly beautiful, the wrong right. You can bless the cursed and elevate thieves to high positions. You harlot, you who are loved by all men!"
Buddhist scriptures tell of a story: One day, the Buddha took his disciple Ananda out to beg for food and saw a pot of gold on the roadside. The Buddha immediately said to Ananda, "Look, a venomous snake." Ananda replied in kind, "Indeed, it is a venomous snake." After analyzing capital, Marx concluded, "Capital comes into the world dripping from every pore with blood and filth." The true reason why people hold such a deep hatred for money remains unknown. However, as a symbol of wealth, money itself is neither inherently good nor evil. The key lies in how it is acquired and used. As the saying goes, "Water can capsize a boat, but it can also carry it." Whether it is good or evil depends on the person using it, not the money itself. The unrighteous can use it for evil, while the compassionate can use it for good. Therefore, we should not "view money as dung." As long as money is acquired through legitimate means and is used reasonably to benefit ourselves and society, without giving in to greed and corruption, we are the masters of wealth, not its slaves. The wealth we possess is not a scorpion but a blessing.
In today's world, competition between countries, businesses, and organizations boils down to economic strength. A nation's development in science, military, education, and everything else depends on money. For businesses, developing new products, attracting high-quality talent, and expanding their marketing networks—all cannot do without money. For individuals, money is even more essential. Imagine daily necessities, raising children, supporting the elderly—money is indispensable in every aspect of life. Who can live without the world's temptations?
Since money is so important in life, we should not avoid it. We can use our wisdom and legal means to earn more money. Historically, despite the traditional Confucian ideal of "a gentleman remains poor," there have been many hypocritical scholars who failed to practice what they preached. Moreover, in today's market economy, there is no need to be shy about loving and pursuing wealth. We should be bold and upright, earning substantial profits through legitimate means. The allure of profit is so real and compelling that it is hard to resist its temptation. For many, entering the ranks of the wealthy is an urgent pursuit.
However, after the transition from a planned economy to a market economy, China's legal system has become more robust, market order more regulated, and competition among businesses more intense. People feel that it is now harder to make money, unlike the 1980s when setting up a roadside stall could bring wealth, or the early 1990s when buying stocks could make fortunes. Everyone is lamenting that the opportunities to get rich have been missed. Yet, even as most people feel money is harder to earn, many around us have achieved fame, luxury, and success in a short time.
Therefore, we say that opportunities to make money will always exist, and they are right in front of us. The key is whether we can recognize and seize them. The United States, with its two-century-old capitalist society, still produces world-class billionaires like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Dell. Even in China, there are newly wealthy entrepreneurs like Ding Lei of NetEase, who started their businesses in 1997. Thus, at any time, we should not think we lack opportunities. Instead, we must use our sharp eyes and extraordinary wisdom to spot business opportunities and create wealth.
This book is a guide to unlocking the mindset of wealth, helping you on the path to prosperity. By deeply analyzing the development journeys of successful merchants and super-rich individuals from ancient and modern times, the book distills 16 "commandments" that reveal the principles of business operations. From their battles in the business world, both big and small, we learn their methods of "winning through adversity," and we can hear their brilliant insights and experiences. These are invaluable spiritual treasures for anyone who aspires to wealth. By learning from their success, we can master the skills of navigating the business world, avoid detours in our own battles, remain invincible, and steadily climb the mountain of wealth.
These 16 commandments describe the wisdom needed to acquire wealth and outline specific methods for making money. They include how to spot opportunities in seemingly ordinary markets, how to focus on key points in operations, how to turn disadvantages into advantages and crises into opportunities, how to use special methods and strategies in critical times, and how to interpret business strategies and thinking from the perspective of long-term corporate development. These cover all aspects of business operations. For anyone who wants to make money and achieve wealth, this content is highly beneficial.
Of course, every successful merchant has their own unique approach to business. This book, based on the experiences of successful individuals, provides a platform for readers to pursue wealth. It allows people to stand on the shoulders of giants, see farther, climb higher, and walk easier.