Learn the secrets of success through patience and moderation from Sima Yi's famous lectures.

We know all too well about Zhuge Liang, but we know little about Sima Yi, who appeared at the end of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and became the subject of the humiliating story of "Dead Kongming Chasing the Living Zhongda."
Sima Yi repelled all five of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, and his family assisted Cao Cao's family for four generations, never once being excluded from key positions. Finally, he succeeded in a coup and unified the Three Kingdoms, becoming the ultimate victor.
We, in modern times, need to take a close look at the working environment of Sima Yi, who was employed by the cold and cold Cao Cao and worked under constant supervision.

"Sima Yi, the Master of Self-Control" is a compilation of 10 lectures given by Dr. Zhao Yuping, a leading lecturer in Chinese management studies, at the "Hundred Schools of Thought" lecture hall, the pinnacle of Chinese humanities courses.
Here, the author presents the worldly philosophy of Sima Yi, who, despite the humiliation of receiving a woman's clothes as a gift, did not move his troops without any practical benefit, and who, even after winning a battle, was careful with his words and actions to the point of writing a poem expressing his wish for the king's punishment, in an easy and clear manner.
The aesthetics of self-restraint may be the best survival strategy in a harsh environment surrounded by controlling superiors, subordinates who act like scapegoats, and snitches.

Dr. Zhao Yuping's lecture on Sima Yi, selected by Chinese media as one of the top ten lecturers on the mainland, provides an excellent opportunity to learn about Sima Yi, a figure previously not properly accessible.
The book follows Sima Yi's 40-year career as a supporter of the four generations of the Cao family, from his appointment by Cao Cao at the age of 30. It introduces, in a modern sense, the secrets of management that allowed him to control both sharp bosses and dull subordinates, the restrained tactics of winning without showing defeat on the battlefield, and the secret strategies of successfully plotting a rebellion while gaining the trust of his superiors.

There is a saying that choice is more important than effort.
One of the most important factors in achieving success in our lives and businesses is making the right choices at crucial times.
However, many people feel anxious and uneasy because they do not know what choice to make.
So, are there any rules we can observe and follow when making choices? How should we seize opportunities when faced with crucial choices in life? In this regard, Sima Yi was exceptional.
In the Three Kingdoms period, a time of fierce warfare where one could not guarantee a night's rest, every decision Sima Yi made was a nail-biter.
And the final result proved Sima Yi's outstanding wisdom and ability.
---p.16

There is a saying in management:
“The part of a sword that cracks most easily is the blade, and the part of a spear that wears most easily is the tip.
“The more capable and key personnel are, the more easily they are hurt in the organization.” Organizational leaders must know how to protect excellent talent, just as they would protect the blade of a sword or the tip of a spear.
Many leaders mistakenly believe that talented people are strong and that strong people do not need protection.
The truth is, talented people are the underdogs, and they face enormous pressure.
First, there is the pressure of interpersonal relationships, followed by the pressure of learning, the pressure of performance goals, the pressure of family life, and the pressure of emotions.
If the hero dies first, no one will want to be a hero; if the example is ruined, no one will want to be an example. ---p.51

How should one work under a boss like Cao Pi? The remaining three of the six-character proverbs can be described as "modesty, warmth, and secrecy."
Humility means to lower one's posture humbly and not to act arrogantly.
No matter how many achievements you make, keep your tail between your legs and never ignore your boss.
'On' is to speak gently.
No matter how reasonable it may be, speak quietly without blushing or using provocative words.
'Mil' means keeping a secret and keeping something to say private.
Whatever your boss says, you must not spread it without telling others.
Sima Yi acted very appropriately, relying on the three characters "humility," "kindness," and "military." ---p.78

We talk about freedom of the press, but the press is needed to publish, not to radiate.
It is not even for excretion.
This is an important distinction.
Sima Yi was very careful with every word he spoke.
He had been around the supreme ruler for a long time and had been subject to suspicion and jealousy at one time or another.
In this situation, he naturally realized the importance of speaking carefully.
A look at the numerous sources in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the Book of Jin, and the Comprehensive Mirror for Government Administration reveals that Sima Yi never spoke about his personal feelings or how he was treated during his official career.
Even when discussing work, he maintained a relatively humble demeanor, briefly stating the main points and avoiding expressing personal feelings. ---p.153

“A person cannot be consistently good for a thousand days, and no flower, however beautiful, can remain red for a hundred days.
It is said, “No people, 100 days, no flowers, no more than 100 days.”
In other words, even beautiful flowers wither after a hundred days, and even successful people and passionate relationships cool down over time.
Adapting well not only in smooth situations but also in adversity is the way of life.
We must be able to get through winter as well as we did summer.
But many people don't do this well.
For example, there are people like this around us.
Young people, in particular, are full of pride when they achieve their goals and are filled with joy, but once they encounter setbacks and difficulties, they become discouraged, lose their spirit, and cannot get up.
This is all wrong.
To achieve great things, you must pass the test of adversity.
Steel is forged in hot fire.
Even dazzling and beautiful flowers bloom in the manure.
For human growth to occur, the test of adversity is inevitable. ---p.232

All inflation is accompanied by devaluation.
What monetary expansion, or inflation, brings about is the devaluation of currency, and what human minds expand about is the devaluation of happiness.
So how do people with power, resources, or high profile in real life control their expansion?
The most effective thing is to moderate your desires.
Even if you are unsatisfied with the results, you can look back and savor the initial happiness by recalling the past when there was nothing.
“When you have it, always think of when you don’t have it, and don’t underestimate the pleasure right in front of you.
“If you treat everything in life as if you are seeing it for the first time, beautiful days filled with happiness will begin.” ---p.238

“You get the support of ordinary people through profit, and you get the support of outstanding people through value.
If you do something that brings tangible benefits, ordinary people will follow you, and if you do something with vision, outstanding people will follow you.” “Practice the Way on behalf of Heaven” is said of the heroes of Liangshanbo in Water Margin.
If there had been no grand goal of “changing the way of heaven” and if the idea had been to simply share gold and silver treasures, then perhaps we would have gathered countless gangsters and rascals.
How could gold and silver treasures alone have won the heroes over? It simply couldn't have been done. ---p.298

Sima Yi was different from Zhuge Liang.
Sima Yi was a man who led with his head.
His head was cool and his judgment was accurate.
He won each war based on his extraordinary courage, insight, and excellent strategy.
Sima Yi's life can be summarized in the following four characters: 'Eun' (secret), 'Jun' (standard), 'Han' (tolerance), and 'In' (forbearance).
He was a man of common selfishness and preoccupation, with desires and ambitions for power.
Reading about Sima Yi's life will probably reveal many things that will enlighten and serve as examples for ordinary people like us.
Because the world of our hearts is filled with selfish thoughts, distracting thoughts, desires, and ambitions, just like Sima Yi.
In today's temptation-filled age, how to manage one's inner world is a major challenge facing everyone.

--- From the text