- + - 1 Attitude & Belief
Above the Line Thinking
- + - You are responsible for your success
- + - Make it a Better World
- 01 – Accept that life is unfair and Manage it.
- + - 1 The Golden Law Righteousness brings success
- Man must first has Aspiration, Insights and Persistence. Aspiration prevents us from being nasty and obscene.
- + - Be Positive
- + - 05 See Opportunities not Obstacles
- 09 See themselves Bigger than Problems
- 5. Disagree and commit even as the Boss.
- + - H1 Be Proactive
- + - 01 Proactive, Not Reactive
- 04 Take Responsibility. Don't Blame.
- + - C1 Your destination is not determined by your starting point.
- C2 Have faith, hope & courage. Follow your heart & dream
- R1 Hyper-Realism - Ray Dalio's Principles
- + - 2 Purpose & Vision
- + - 2 Law of Parallel Universes - Begins in Spirit
- 1 Dao - Company Culture
- + - Purpose of business is to create customers
- + - 1. Obsess over customers
- Observe, Listen, Ask, Be Curious & Connect
- + - Serve Others Things of Value
- + - C6 Go for things that have value in face of death.
- C5 Letting go the rest: pride, fear of embarrassment, failure
- + - do it for love, not money
- + - 1. Do what you love to do.
- 1 If you don't enjoy it don't do it
- + - H8 Find your voice & Inspire others to find their voices
- First raise your value then be promoted
- + - 02 Have a Vision & Pursue Success.
- 6. Think about a 10 year horizon.
- + - H2 Begin with End in Mind
- First prepare well then gain great success
- + - Be Different Go against the herd thinking and behavior
- 2 Be innovative - create something different
- + - 2. Be different.
- 10. Innovate
- + - 6. Think Big but start small.
- 7. Strive to be a market leader.
- + - 04 Think Big not small.
- 02 Go for Win not No lose
- + - 3 The External World
- + - 2 Seasonal Trends
- + - 3 Terrain Characteristics
- Ride the Trends & Position for Advantages
- Do TOWS not SWOT. Outside In . Overcome threats 1st. then exploit opportunity
- iChing - Follow the unchanging principles/laws to handle ever changing situations.
- + - 4 Get Started
- + - 3 Law of Execution Walk the Talk
- + - 5. Be entrepreneurial Just Do it
- 4 Law of Harvests Sowing and Reaping
- + - 03 Take Action not Wish or Talk
- + - 16 Go in spite of Fear
- 3. Take risks
- + - Make a Start & Accumulate From Little
- + - 08 Exploit the Opportunity Now
- 09 – Value your time Act NOW
- + - Design: 1st imitate then innovate.
- + - Putting Your Own Twist on what is there.
- Execution: 1st complete it then perfect it.
- + - Do it when it is easy
- Do the thing that will make money even if the sky falls down - Robust Risk Management not just prediction
- + - 5 Communication
- + - H5 Understand 1st then be Understood
- + - Talk to Customers 1st and Early
- Agile Development, Rapid Prototyping. Show & learn
- + - 1 Smart Look to Be a Magnet
- + - First judge ourselves then we can judge others
- 11 – Be good to People Enriching others enrich you.
- + - 6 Law of Reciprocating Relations: Change begins with you
- First change ourselves and try to change others
- + - First seek common ground then seek the differences
- First exchange ideas then engage the hearts
- + - 6 Branding
- + - 08 Promote Personal Brand
- 8 Trumpets Blowing for Showing Off Suitably
- 3 Pride of Association works Wonders
- + - 7 Methods for Growth
- + - 5 Law of Seasons - Watch & Ride the Cycle
- 4. SWOT analysis & execution. cf Sun Zi TOWS
- + - 9 Law of Amplification Growth with Care for Details
- 05 Everything matters Take Care of Details
- + - Follow the Natural Principles & Don't enforce your own desires
- 5 Policies & Operation Systems
- + - 8. Focus on the outcome.
- + - 11 Outcome Base Pricing not Effort/Time Base
- Value base not cost plus pricing
- + - H4 Think Win-Win
- 12 Think BOTH not either/or
- + - 15 Get Money to work hard for them
- 13 Focus on Net worth not income
- + - Manage Cash Flow. Don't grow faster than you can fund it. Michael Hyatt
- 14 Manage Money well
- + - Development: first make it stand then make it tall.
- first make it grows then make it a success
- R2 Five-Step Process
- + - 8 Work At It
Focus & resilience
- + - H3 1st Thing 1st
- Concentrate on really important creations and radical innovation.
- + - One thing & Saying No to others
- Say no to 1,000 things to make sure you don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much.
- + - 3. Do your best. Pursue Excellence
- + - Practice make perfect
- + - Be Relentless
- 2. Be passionate for the right idea.
- + - Working = Fun
- + - 03 – No pain, no gain.
- + - 10 – Do what you suppose to do.
- 9 Effort to Give your Best
- + - 8 Law of Perseverance To Mission & Values
- + - over failures & rejections
- + - overcome shyness & self-doubts
- 6 Attempts to Accomplish our Mission
- + - Failures are stepping stones to success
- + - Complete it & Don't give up prematurely
- 10 Perseverance to Completion
- Angela Duckworth's Grit - passion and perseverance towards very long-term goals
IQ, EQ are necessary but insufficient. Need AQ adversity quotient, or resilience
- + - Be Prudent from Start to End
- First handle the emotions then solve the issues
- R4 Everything is a Machine - Find the Principles of How it works
- R7 Struggle Well - Continued Growth with Others
- + - 9 Synergistic Leadership
Power of Team of Diviersity
- + - 7 Law of Greatness - Servant Leadership
- + - First humbly serve others then lead them
- 4 Leaders - wisdom, integrity, love, bold, strict.
- + - Hire good people with passion for excellence.
- Delegate 50% routine work to spend 50% time on new stuff.
- + - H6 Synergize
- + - 10 Be Excellent Receivers
- 7 Ways to Praise Others for Appreciation
- 4 Lead by Listening - praise too
- + - 07 Associate with Positive People
- + - 06 Value Successful People. not resent them
- C7 Loving parents & family gives you strong faith to start & to overcome.
- + - First do well ourselves then demand on others
- 07 – Do it yourself and Don't rely on Others' help
- + - 10 Socializing & Networking
Network of People -> Wealth
- + - 3 Cups of Wine to Socialize Well
- 5 Directional Networking to enlarge a diverse network
- + - 2 Sets of Clothes to Match Different Situations
- 4 Rounds of Games to relax and socialize
- + - 5 Be Visible - Interact, listen, act
- 4. Be willing to change your mind.
- + - 11 Learning Endlessly
Growth Mindset
- + - 10 Law of Humility - Learning & Renewal
- First establish oneself then seek to forget oneself.
- + - C3 Be ever hungry to work hard to learn and grow
- + - C4 Never mind if you look foolish to others
- 12 Learn continually.
- + - 17 Learn & Grow not I know
- H7 Sharpen the Saw
- + - 11. Learn from failures.
- + - 06 – Learn from mistakes & Improve
- 9. Ask for feedback.
- R3 Abyss - Pain+Reflection=Progress
- R5 Overcome Ego+Blindspot
- R6 Be Radically Open-minded - The Idea Meritocracy
03 August 2025
Integrated Principles for Success Lim Liat(c) v11
"Not Just New: Grow by What Works, Change What Doesn’t"
"Not Just New: Grow by What Works, Change What Doesn’t"
There are many good quotes shared
by famous and successful people. But sometimes, they tend to be one-sided. We
can learn more by having a balanced view --- the Chinese Yin-Yang mindset --- when
we look at a crisis, we must also see the opportunity; when seeing opportunity,
we must also watch out for the hidden risks within.
Here is an example from one of my favourite
authors.
Henry Cloud: The past isn’t your
map for what’s possible — it’s your teacher. If what you’ve tried hasn’t
worked, don’t stay stuck in the same cycles. Stretch. Try again. Choose the
unfamiliar path. That’s where change begins. The future is where you're going,
not where you've been. Don't let past mistakes set the tone for what's possible
next. Growth is found in the steps you haven't taken yet.
ChatGPT said:
Henry Cloud’s quote delivers a
clear and empowering message about personal growth and breaking free from
limiting patterns. Here's a breakdown of its key strengths and insights:
🔍 Core Message
- The Past = Teacher, Not a Blueprint: Cloud
wisely distinguishes between learning from the past and being
defined by it. The past should inform us, not confine us.
- Action-Oriented Growth: He emphasizes the
importance of trying again, choosing different approaches, and being
willing to walk into unfamiliar territory — because change doesn’t happen
in comfort zones.
- Hope and Forward Vision: The future is
described not as a continuation of failure, but as a clean slate where new
steps can lead to growth.
✅ What Works Well
- Encouragement Without Denial: It doesn’t
pretend failure never happened — it just says failure shouldn’t get the
final word.
- Balance of Realism and Optimism: It
acknowledges stuck cycles and mistakes but points to a way out.
- Universally Applicable: This message fits
people recovering from setbacks, stuck in routines, or needing motivation
to make bold moves.
⚠️ Possible Limitations
- It may sound overly simplistic to those in deep
emotional pain or trauma — where "just stretch and try again"
needs to be paired with healing and support.
- The quote assumes readiness to change; for someone
still processing grief, burnout, or confusion, these words might need more
nuance.
💡 Conclusion
This quote is a strong
motivational reminder: your past is information, not identity. It
encourages resilience, strategic change, and future-minded living. If you’re
feeling stuck or discouraged, Cloud’s words push gently but firmly: change
starts with one unfamiliar, uncomfortable, hopeful step forward.
Would you like help turning this
into a journaling prompt or reflection guide?
You said:
I think it is one-sided. Should
also adopt "Appreciative Inquiry" - Study success to repeat success
and not just alway and must try new things.
ChatGPT said:
You're absolutely right — and
that's a very insightful critique.
Henry Cloud’s quote leans toward a
corrective mindset: change happens when you reject what's not working
and venture into new, unfamiliar territory. That’s powerful, especially for
people who are stuck. But it’s only half the picture. The other half, as
you pointed out, is equally critical:
✅ Why Appreciative Inquiry
Matters
- Not all growth requires reinvention.
Sometimes the key isn’t to do something new, but to do more of what
already works.
- Positive patterns can be repeated and scaled.
Studying past success helps identify strengths, peak experiences, and
high-leverage behaviors worth preserving.
- Balanced change honors both failure and success.
It’s not just about what to fix, but also what to amplify.
🔄 A More Balanced
Approach Might Say:
“The past isn’t your prison —
it’s your teacher. Learn from both what failed and what flourished. Repeat your
strengths. Stretch when needed. Real change honors the full story — success and
struggle alike.”
🔍 Summary
- Cloud emphasizes innovation through discomfort.
- You're adding the essential lens of repetition
through success.
- Together, they offer a complete framework for
strategic growth — knowing when to explore new paths, and when to
deepen well-worn ones that lead to life.
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