Chinese Proverbs for Entrepreneurship

by Nicholas Tart on June 15, 2009


1. “In every crisis, there is opportunity.”
Most entrepreneurial ventures arise from a solving a problem. If you are faced with a problem, craft a solution and sell that solution to others. As an interesting side note, it’s a common misconception that the word crisis and opportunity mean the same thing in the ancient Chinese language. This misconception initially gained momentum when John F. Kennedy incorrectly cited it in a speech in 1959. (source: smallbusiness411.org)

2. “If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people.”
The goal of every entrepreneur should be to start a business and find capable people to run the business so that they don’t have to. 

3. “A fall into a ditch makes you wiser.”
When bad things happen, a good entrepreneur learns from them.

4. “Customers are jade; merchandise is grass.”
What good is a business without customers? You should value your customers more than any other aspect of your business.

5. “Defeat isn’t bitter if you don’t swallow it.”
You will encounter setbacks, but don’t let those setbacks defeat you.

6. “Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.”
Though a good entrepreneur isn’t afraid to take risks, never rely too heavily on projections of profitability, success in a certain market, etc. A good entrepreneur always considers, and has a plan for, the worst-case scenario.

7. “Don’t stand by the water and long for fish; go home and weave a net.”
Instead of complaining about how you aren’t making much money, find new ways to earn it.

8. “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
This one is so clear, it requires no explanation.

9. “If a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”
If you’re going to put effort into starting a business, then make sure you put 100% effort into every aspect of your business.

10. “If you get up one more time than you fall you will make it through.”
When you get knocked down, get back up. If you don’t get back up, your business will fail.

11. “Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come.”
If you make your customers happy, they will talk and those they talk to may become new customers.

12. “The diamond cannot be polished without friction, nor the man perfected without trials.”
You will encounter trials and tribulations as a business owner, but these trials and tribulations will mold you into a better entrepreneur.

13. “The loftiest towers rise from the ground.”
Even the most successful businesses in the world started with the conception and implementation of an idea.

14. “There are two perfectly good men, one dead, and the other unborn.”
No one is perfect. Always be open to learning from other people.

15. “A smile will gain you ten more years of life.”
What’s the point in owning a business if you’re not having fun with it? If your business doesn’t make you smile, then it’s the wrong business for you.

 

My Favorite Quote

One notable Chinese proverb I left out of this list happens to be my favorite quote, ever; and it is especially applicable to my entrepreneurial journey. I only left it out so I could highlight it at the end.

“Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” – Confucius