Three taboos in business

Author: Fang Jun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features:
1. Avoid knowing how to advance but not retreat.
2. Avoid seeing money but not people.
3. Avoid being good at doing but not adaptable.
The seven major obstacles that merchants must avoid:
"Heart" Obstacle: Always feeling there are no problems, misjudging the situation, overestimating one's own advantages, ignoring all warnings and signs, and acting stubbornly.
"Path" Obstacle: Choosing the wrong direction, with the market already proving this path is a dead end. Damaged businesses cannot withstand further losses, yet still refusing to retreat, turning a narrow path into a dead end.
"All" Obstacle: Seeking completeness and excess, spreading efforts too thinly everywhere, leading to indecision on the scale of gains and losses, always wanting to take the whole pie.
"Pride" Obstacle: Acting arrogantly due to size, looking only at profits, disregarding their "gods," and never being humble in business negotiations.
"Alone" Obstacle: Competing with rivals for profits, competing with partners for profits, always wanting the lion's share for oneself while leaving others with scraps, ultimately leading to having nothing left to eat.
"Virtue" Obstacle: Walking down the path of making money without knowing when to turn back, resorting to any means for profit, harming others and public interests, and ultimately becoming a target of legal sanctions.
"Courage" Obstacle: Clinging to the old ways, failing to seize opportunities with a mindset of change when they arise, only sighing in regret after missing out.
1. Avoid knowing how to advance but not retreat: Merchants seek profit, and the more, the better. When they see an opportunity, they rush forward without knowing when to stop. But the business world is full of complexities—without caution, one can easily fall into traps. Only those who move swiftly when advancing and can let go when retreating are true sages in business.
2. Avoid seeing money but not people: Business begins with building reputation and relationships. Not only should merchants establish good ties with customers but also foster healthy, positive relationships with partners and even competitors. "Everyone profits, and harmony brings wealth" is not just a slogan but golden advice guiding business behavior.
3. Avoid being good at doing but not adaptable: Merchants should not only be doers but also strategists and tacticians. Merchants are of different levels, and if performance is a benchmark, then being good at doing and being adaptable are the distinct pillars supporting that benchmark.