Leadership Lessons from Confucius: go all in

Zizhang said: “If you fail to embrace excellence with all your spirit and fail to follow the way with all your heart, does it really matter whether you exist or not?”
子張曰：「執德不弘，信道不篤，焉能為有？焉能為亡？」

No matter whether you are starting a new job, kicking off a new project, or entering a new relationship, you have no chance of success if you do not go all in on it. The only way you will be able to negotiate the inevitable ups and downs is if you are totally committed to seeing it through to the end.

Why should other people have any interest in supporting you in your endeavor if you are not completely onboard with it? They have more valuable ways to spend their time.

Notes

This article features a translation of Chapter 2 of Book 19 of the Analects of Confucius. You can read my full translation of Book 19 here.

(1) This passage is closely linked to 18.1. If you do not make the most of every moment, you are not worthy of being noticed. Possibly, Zizhang is implying that unlike other followers like Zixia and Zengzi he is the “real deal” when it comes to pursuing the path of Confucius. He

I shot this image in a hillside temple on the Four Beasts near to Taipei.