What the Chinese People Have Got Right That Other Cultures Haven’t About Success

The Chinese concept of success

When it comes to the concept of success, cultures around the world give it different meanings based on their understanding. Success has been defined in many ways by people all across the globe. Simultaneously, some people think of it as having material possession, money, power, and fame. Others think otherwise.

It has become a topic of discussion in academia, business, and personal levels in contemporary times. Some think the idea of riches and material possession doesn’t constitute success but having the freedom to do what you want at any time without anyone or anything stop you.

As someone who grew up in a culture whose concept of success is riches and affluence, and if you don’t have those, you are considered a failure, I’ve tried to analyze the concept from the perspective of cultures around the world.

From my research, I found the Chinese idea of success quite different. I can say it is the best that makes sense if you are looking at the definition of the words ‘accomplishment’ and ‘fulfillment.’

The Chinese concept of success

The Chinese concept of success is simple. You won’t accept it if you aren’t a deep thinker. While the rest of the cultures worldwide, especially western culture, think success is having material possessions, power, and fame. And anyone from it would do everything even to the detriment of their life to possess these things. The chinaman thinks the opposite.

To the chinaman, success is absolute freedom from everything and everyone in the world. It doesn’t matter the amount of material possession you have. If you can’t do the things you desire for your life, live on your terms — you aren't successful. Having all material possessions but can’t be yourself and live life the way you want is still a failure.

Many have great material possessions but aren’t in control of their time. Their lives are dictated by jobs and situations they’ve put themselves in to have and maintain these materials.

But looking at the Chinese, their lives are opposite. They do everything to be in control of their lives. They don’t care about what they are doing — whether big or small. As far as they are in control, that’s a success. They will do everything to be that.

No wonder you don’t see many Chinese people working at a job. Most of them work for their own business. Success is all about ownership and control irrespective of what you do instead of having just material possessions.

How the Chinese come about their success

I have studied the Chinese people from my teenage days until now. From my home country, Ghana, and the continent, Africa. I have traveled to some part of Europe, and in all my studies, I have hardly seen any chinaman working at a job. At some places, I have inquired from them why they don’t work for others.

All the answers I received were the same. In their culture, entrepreneurship is part of a child before they become an adult. They train their people to go into enterprise for themselves instead of working for someone. While most people's cultures train people to go to school and get a job, they train their people to go to school and create a business.

I have also asked how they raise funds to establish a business when they travel to a new place. And the answer is also the same.

They don’t look for a job when they get to a new location. Instead, they look for business opportunities; research the market and ensure the option is viable. Then they speak to their families or banks, explaining the venture, get a loan, and start. It doesn’t matter whether the idea is big or small. So far as it’s an opportunity, they will take it than working at a job being under the control of someone.

What you can learn from the Chinese people on your pursuit for success

The chinaman’s way is devoid of stress, anxiety, and depression compared to other cultures because of the belief. It comes with peace of mind resulting in achieving even more. What you can do is adopt their ways.

Instead of focusing on searching for a job when you are in a new location or out of college, you should look for business opportunities to solve people’s problems. Even if you have to search for a job, it should be temporal to raise a startup fund. It doesn’t matter the idea, big or small.

All you have to do is to ensure you locate a problem to solve for people, and you are on your way to success. Doing this, not only will you have freedom from life, but you will also have your peace of mind, which will help you be creative and spot opportunities the average person can’t see to gain more wealth. As they say;

“Those who seek wealth don’t become wealthy. Rather, those who don’t seek it but live life normally doing what they are supposed to do”

It’s a trait of life. When you force yourself to get things or put yourself somewhere, you don’t achieve it. Instead, when you relax and allow life to take its course.

So, just as the Chinese people, you want to define success as having freedom from life. And focus on getting this freedom instead of what our cultures have conditioned us to believe — material, power, fame — which doesn’t make us successful in the end. When you’re done getting this freedom, everything else will follow smoothly—buttressing what the Bible says in Matthew 6:33.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Final thoughts

Success is our birthright. We are born to live successful lives.

We cannot live these lives because of society’s belief of how we should live, which isn’t doing us any good. If you want to go in a direction away from society, then do it — do things on your terms.

In that case, the chinaman’s concept of success can set you free and make your life prosperous.

Thank you for reading.

If you want to read more of my writings, you may read the following one published in The Masterpiece.