Zeng Guofan, one of China’s most legendary statesmen and military leaders, didn’t start out as a disciplined strategist. In his early years as a scholar-official in the Hanlin Academy, he was just another discontented bureaucrat, endlessly complaining about the slow pace of his promotions.
He submitted 13 memorials to the imperial court in six months, nine of which were either criticizing current policies or grumbling about his stagnant career. Then one day, while reading Zhu Xi’s philosophy on “unity of knowledge and action”, he had an epiphany. He burned his unfinished 14th complaint letter and committed himself entirely to practical work.
Decades later, he summed up his experience with a simple yet profound insight: “There is no such thing as an easy situation, and there is no such thing as idle time.” This realization led him to identify three fatal flaws that hold people back:
1. Complaining Without Action
When Zeng Guofan founded the Xiang Army, he noticed an interesting pattern: every month, right after soldiers received their wages, a dozen or so would disappear. The ones who constantly whined about low pay were always the first to desert.
Recognizing this behavior, he wrote in a letter to his younger brother: “Those who complain daily about the high price of rice will leave even when it becomes cheap.”
He understood that complaining is often a mask for avoidance—it provides temporary emotional relief but no real solutions. He even wrote a personal reminder in his diary: “Each day, focus on what has yet to be accomplished, not on how others have failed you.”
This principle is just as relevant in today’s workplaces. A manufacturing company once analyzed its workforce and found that the 15% of employees who complained the most were also 21% less productive. When people focus on external conditions instead of their own actions, they’re like pedestrians blaming traffic lights for not reaching their destination.
Zeng Guofan’s solution? Whenever faced with a problem, write down three possible actions and choose one to implement immediately. This approach still resonates with professionals today:
- Instead of complaining about long meetings, prepare a clear agenda in advance.
- Instead of blaming inefficient company processes, draft a proposal for improvement.
2. Starting Without Persevering
During the Tongzhi era, many officials were eager to establish modern schools. One month, they proposed an English academy; the next, they suggested a military school. Six months later, they were advocating for a telegraph institute.
Zeng Guofan sharply criticized this inconsistency with a saying: “Digging a well nine-tenths of the way and stopping before reaching water is the same as having no well at all.”
This speaks to a common modern struggle: starting is hard, but sticking with something is even harder. His experience training the Xiang Army proved that perseverance paid off—soldiers who endured six months of rigorous training had a five times higher survival rate in battle.
The importance of persistence is just as evident today. An e-commerce platform found that stores that continued updating their products for over 18 months had a subscription renewal rate 2.3 times higher than their competitors.
However, Zeng Guofan didn’t advocate for blind persistence. In his book Bing Jian, he introduced the “Three-Step Method”:
- Set three phased goals.
- If the first is achieved, proceed to the next.
- If the goal is not met, adjust the strategy instead of blindly pushing forward.
This structured approach remains useful today. For example, someone learning programming might:
- Complete a 30-day introductory course.
- Move on to a three-month small project.
- Finally, attempt to develop an independent application.
This way, progress is steady, but effort isn’t wasted on futile pursuits.
3. Being Selfish Instead of Generous
When the Xiang Army captured Wuchang, a dispute broke out among seven generals over who deserved the most credit—things got so heated that they nearly fought a duel over it.
To resolve the issue, Zeng Guofan burned the records of individual contributions and wrote in a military memo: “Profit can be shared, but should not be monopolized. If one seeks gain alone, he is destined for defeat.”
He observed that those who hoarded rewards often found themselves abandoned in critical moments. Modern studies confirm this: teams with members who frequently take credit for others’ work experience a 40% drop in overall motivation.
Zeng Guofan promoted a three-tiered approach to leadership:
- Recognizing contributions – Always credit ordinary soldiers before officers.
- Sharing rewards – Any spoils of war were evenly distributed among units.
- Deflecting praise – He often attributed success to his subordinates rather than himself.
His generals had a common trait: the more they shared credit, the faster they were promoted.
Even in today’s workplaces, those who hoard opportunities often find themselves isolated, while those who collaborate attract more resources and long-term success.
Final Thought: Rewrite Your Story
In his later years, Zeng Guofan reflected on what ruins people’s careers and lives. Initially, he believed it came down to just two things: arrogance and laziness. But after observing countless failures, he identified a third hidden factor—mental stagnation.
The real obstacle isn’t a harsh external environment; it’s the habit of using complaints as a shield, laziness as armor, and selfishness as a survival strategy.
His solution? Rewrite your own daily narrative:
- Cross out three complaints.
- Add two action-based sentences.
- Modify one self-reflective thought.
When a person stops making excuses in words, they naturally start building abilities through actions.