Recently, I’ve spent quite a bit of time getting to know myself and finding a path that suits me. In fact, I already had a fair understanding of myself, but previously, I focused more on hard skills and knowledge while overlooking my natural talents (the “operating system”). I took more time to study Roger Hamilton’s Wealth Dynamics, which helped me better understand my strengths and weaknesses. This preconceived habit made me reflect on the differences between East Asian and Western education.

East Asian Education: Focuses on balancing and compensating for weaknesses — a destructive cycle.

Western Education: Focuses on developing strengths — a constructive cycle.

I grew up in Taiwan’s traditional educational system, which, especially in my generation, heavily relied on “total score” exams. This was particularly disadvantageous for people with obvious interests and talents. They had to work extremely hard to bring their weaker subjects up to standard. For example, I excel at “how,” “calculation,” and “knowing.” But if I’m also required to excel at “who,” “communication,” and “glowing,” it becomes a real struggle for me. I feel like an idiot and could even fall into a destructive cycle.

Everyone has different characteristics, much like the five elements in Eastern philosophy:

• Those strong in creativity are like “wood.”
• Those good at interpersonal skills are like “fire.”
• Those who excel in timing and location are like “earth.”
• Those skilled in practical systems are like “metal.”
• And above all these, spirituality is the driving force, represented by “water.”

Destructive Cycle:

• Metal cuts wood: Asking a creative person, “How should it be done?”
• Wood controls earth: Asking someone good at timing and location, “What should be done?”
• Earth blocks water: Questioning an idea that’s just been sparked, “When and where should it be done?”
• Water extinguishes fire: Asking someone skilled in interpersonal relations, “Why do this?”
• Fire melts metal: Asking a systems expert, “Who should you work with?”

Winning Formula:

Using your given genius + Building a complementary team = Success with happiness.

Constructive Cycle:

• Water nurtures wood: A person strong in creativity develops a product.
• Wood fuels fire: Once the product is developed, a person skilled in interpersonal relations markets it.
• Fire enriches earth: As the product enters the market, someone with timing and location skills provides customer service.
• Earth creates metal: As the business scales, someone proficient in systems management improves operations.
• Metal collects water: As the scale increases, the goals are redefined.

The key is to understand yourself, appreciate your natural talents, and accept your shortcomings. Similarly, understand others, appreciate their talents, and accept their shortcomings. By proactively combining these two aspects, we can create an upward spiral in life.