The main course of the Supervisor of Discernment

Author: Long Zimin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: When I need a talent, even if it means losing my personal dignity to beg for them, I will not hesitate. Perhaps I might even flatter them. — Napoleon
"Talent wins the world, while losing talent means losing the world." Whether in the ancient history of rivaling heroes or in the modern business war without gunfire, this timeless proposition is proven true. Politicians say: "Choosing the right person for the right job is the key to governing chaos." Military strategists say: "Victory or defeat in war depends on the general. Appointing a general cannot be taken lightly. Ignoring the worthy, knowing them but not using them, or using them but not entrusting them, are three ominous signs for a nation." Before employing someone, the first step is to recognize talent. To obtain talent, one must first learn to identify it. Therefore, how to recognize virtuous and talented individuals in the vast world and the endless sea of people remains a crucial issue for modern people.
The hardest thing in the world is to identify talent. Zhang Jun, a Song Dynasty prime minister, did not understand the art of recognizing talent but claimed to be good at it. He believed Qin Hui "was straightforward in his opinions and had a stern and cold demeanor, unwilling to do wrong," even affirming that Qin Hui was a "talented person" who "was not afraid of death and could take on great tasks." As a result, he vigorously recommended him, leading to countless scandals. Conversely, Han Xin brought the Han Dynasty lasting four hundred years to Liu Bang, and Zhuge Liang helped Liu Bei, a man who sold mats and shoes, become a king. Therefore, mastering the methods of observing talent is highly beneficial, whether for public matters—appointing officials, distinguishing loyalty from treachery—or for private matters—finding teachers and friends, and protecting oneself from disaster.
Today, talent is equally important. For businesses, capital, technology, and management are all indispensable. Among these, people play the most core role in management, and technology is the most direct embodiment of talent. As for capital, with technology and management in place, who would worry about finding money? A person can either build an enterprise or destroy one. The saying "It is easy to gather a thousand soldiers but hard to find a worthy general" has been true since ancient times. However, few leaders are truly able to go beyond superficial appearances to recognize and utilize talent effectively, and even fewer achieve success by doing so. Here, the author attempts to integrate traditional Chinese wisdom in recognizing people to seek a universally applicable method for identifying talent across the ages.