Advice for Young Adults from the Wisdom of I-Ching

When considering career choices as a late teen or young adult, the sources offer a wealth of wisdom from the I-Ching, emphasizing foundational principles, continuous development, strategic action, and the importance of relationships.

Here is NotebookLM's advice based on the provided material  (See: The Wisdom of I-Ching Organized for Success in Life)

I. Laying the Foundation for Your Career

• Embrace Lifelong Learning and Humility:
• Learning is a lifelong process; cultivate a growth mindset. Seek to become responsible and capable to contribute to society.
• Learn to break folly and darkness and increase your discernment.
• Be childlike, have curiosity, purity, and eagerness in your learning.
• Develop your abilities and build resources without boasting about them; instead, use them to do good things.
• Learn by following good examples and by teaching and caring for others.
• Observe far and wide, and in depth, like an adult, looking beneath the surface. Observe your own life to make wise decisions, and then apply what you learn to transform and improve.
• Cultivate Character and Self-Reliance:
• Develop your character by doing the right and wise things.
• Be self-reliant and do not expect handouts. Focus on building your own capabilities.
• Don't waste time hoping for handouts from the rich; instead, build yourself up.
• Righteous living is presented as the best way. Your moral character is shaped by practice and strengthened by adversity.
• Integrity is a crucial foundation for accomplishing big things. It means being able to deliver promises, judging rightly, and not giving in to pressure. True integrity involves delivering according to your ability and never over-promising.

II. Strategic Approach to Your Career Path

• Be Proactive and Visionary (Heaven - Creative Power):
• Be proactive, an innovator, and an initiator. Start a good project and take steps to make a better world with a great and meaningful vision.
• For a student, the advice is to "don’t show off – get ready – prepared well -wait for opportunity Do it when time and opportunity is right."
• Understand Stages of Growth and Progression:
• The "Dragon" stages offer a metaphor for career progression:
• Hidden Dragon: Get ready and prepare well, waiting for the right opportunity.
• Appearing Dragon: Excel in your work and find mentors.
• Running Dragon: Be diligent and watchful.
• Leaping Dragon: Be ready to take a leap to higher ground.
• Flying Dragon: Soar higher by building a network of influential people.
• Parenting Dragon: Focus on self-management and developing others.
• Be Practical, Realistic, and Patient (Not Bizarre, Needs):
• Face reality and follow principles. There are no shortcuts; success comes from consistent "step by step" progress.
• Be watchful, practical, and realistic. Don't be fooled by short-term success that breaks principles, as it will lead to calamity.
• You may need to wait for the opportune time, but this is not passive. Use this period to prepare and walk in integrity. Celebrate small successes while waiting.
• Be prepared for challenges and opposition, as bigger opportunities often bring greater challenges.
• Move Steadily and with Purpose (Walk, Gradual):
• When putting your plan into action, "walk your talk" and conduct yourself with proper protocols, especially with people. Understand cultural differences to improve teamwork and productivity.
• A long journey is completed by taking many small steps. Progress may feel slow, but steady, progressive movement in righteousness will lead to great heights.
• Don't rush. Be teachable, adaptable, and agile.
• Embrace Passion and Adaptability (Enjoy, Follow, Wind):
• Direct your enthusiasm and joy towards enjoying and doing the right things with a meaningful purpose.
• See change, learn, and adapt to it. Be open-minded and prepared for new experiences, but always hold on to unchanging principles of integrity and righteousness.
• Learn to discern between good and bad and follow the good from your heart.
• Look for opportunities and "gaps" to fill. Seek out wise and righteous leaders to follow, and engage in a "plan-learn-grow" cycle for sustained success.

III. The Importance of Relationships

• Build Relationships with Integrity (Union, Integrity, Affection):
• Building relationships is key to a successful life. It starts with righteousness and integrity and comes from mutual support.
• Extend your scope of relationships and build connections with key people.
• Integrity is the foundation for strong bonds; it draws people to accept you and can transform an organization.
• Engage people emotionally, care for them, and build pure and righteous relationships. Don't hesitate to do the right things openly, as others will follow.
• Teamwork and Companionship (Companionship, Family):
• Companionship is built on shared conviction of mission, vision, and values.
• Be transparent and do not have hidden agendas or betray trust.
• For external affairs, careers, and business, it's important that each member of a "family" (or team/organization) knows and plays their role well for the whole to prosper. Extending this concept of family to your organization and society can bring blessings.
• Seek Mentors and Wise Counsel:
• Excel in your work and get mentors.
• Seek a strong mentor to break impasses.
• The congregation (group) should be guided by wise leaders who lead by example and report to a board of mentors.
• When meeting obstructions, always seek and follow the advice of the wise.
• In times of abundance, find and follow a wise master.

IV. Navigating Challenges and Sustaining Success

• Overcome Obstacles and Manage Risks (Boxed-In, Quake):
• When faced with adverse circumstances, rejoice, maintain positive attitudes, stay calm, and seek help and wisdom to find a way out.
• Be prepared for unseen events and disasters by developing mental alertness and practicing risk management. Righteousness should be at the center of your preparation.
• Pay Attention to Details and Small Improvements (Small Accumulation):
• Don't ignore small details; strength is built through their continuous accumulation.
• Detect and fix defects as early as possible and be open to corrections from others.
• "Do a Little More" and Go Beyond Expectations (Little Excess):
• For righteous and good things, do a little more than expected to create delight.
• Correct small mistakes before they become disasters, and be watchful for little signs of deviations.
• The source quotes Art Linkletter: "Do a little more than you’re paid to. Give a little more than you have to. Try a little harder than you want to. Aim a little higher than you think possible, and give a lot of thanks to God for health, family, and friends."
• Perseverance and Sharing:
• Persevere in righteousness, especially when facing opposition, as it brings progress and powerful connections.
• Success comes from principles-centered endeavors.
• When you achieve abundance, it comes from wisdom and execution; share your wealth and influence. Do not hoard resources.
• Everyone giving and contributing results in a better and richer world where everyone gains.

 The Mindmap:

Here are additional advice I got from asking DeepSeek using the same i-Ching source.

Here are the essential career principles for young adults, distilled from I-Ching wisdom into timeless guidance — no numbers, no rigid steps, just foundational truths to navigate your path:

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I. The Inner Compass Principles

1. Master Humility, Not Hype
   → "Have ability → use it quietly for good → never boast." (Hex 15)
   Why it matters: True competence speaks louder than self-promotion. Let your work earn trust.
2. Build Character Before Credentials
   → "Integrity is your career currency." (Hex 61)
   Why it matters: Skills open doors; character keeps you in the room. Deliver what you promise.
3. Embrace Naive Curiosity
   → "Observe like a child; analyze like a sage." (Hex 4 + 20)
   Why it matters: Stay open and ask "why?" constantly. Surface-level understanding breeds mistakes.

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II. The Navigation Principles

4. Start as Clay, Not Stone
   → "Be moldable early; become unshakeable later." (Hex 2 → Hex 1)
   Why it matters: Early career = exploration phase. Stay flexible before specializing.
5. Follow Rhythms, Not Hype
   → "Seasons change; principles don’t. Align with enduring needs." (Hex 17)
   Why it matters: Trends fade. Focus on timeless human values (e.g., care, creativity, problem-solving).
6. Progress Through Pitfalls
   → "Adversity reveals your true path." (Hex 29 + 47)
   Why it matters: Every "failure" shows you what to fix, avoid, or pursue next. Don’t fear detours.

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III. The Relationship Principles

7. Seek Mentors, Not Saviors
   → "Learn from those ahead; never outsource your growth." (Hex 48)
   Why it matters: Mentors provide wisdom, not shortcuts. Own your journey.
8. Collaborate Beyond Cliques
   → "Diversity of thought prevents blindness." (Hex 38)
   Why it matters: Work with people who challenge you. Growth lives outside echo chambers.
9. Serve Before You Lead
   → "Solve invisible pains → build unshakeable trust." (Hex 19)
   Why it matters: Those who uplift others become indispensable. Leadership is earned through service.

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IV. The Sustainability Principles

10. Do 10% Extra Consistently
    → "Small excellence compounds." (Hex 62)
    Why it matters: One extra effort daily (e.g., refining work, helping a colleague) builds legendary reputations.
11. Guard Your Energy Fiercely
    → "No success justifies self-betrayal." (Hex 27)
    Why it matters: Burnout, moral compromise, or toxic environments destroy futures. Walk away early.
12. Share Your Harvest
    → "Abundance hoarded rots; abundance shared multiplies." (Hex 55)
    Why it matters: Credit others. Teach what you know. Generosity attracts opportunity.

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When Lost, Remember This

The Mountain & Valley Law (Hex 52 + 29):
"Careers are not ladders — they’re mountain ranges. Some peaks demand climbs; others require valleys of rest and redirection. Respect the terrain."

Your North Star Question (Hex 64):
"Does this choice let me become more truly myself while serving others?"
— If yes → Proceed.
— If no → Pivot.

These principles aren’t rules — they’re anchors for your intuition. The deeper you internalize them, the wiser your choices become. Go shape your legacy. 🌱