1. Emulate Bedbug Persistence
When faced with obstacles, don’t stop or accept the blockage; find another route, even if it means going ‘up the wall and across the ceiling,’ because nothing is impossible if one puts in their best effort.
2. Prioritize Reputation Over Money
Always choose reputation and trust over immediate profit, as credibility is everything in business and will pay compound returns for decades, even if it means enduring significant short-term financial losses.
3. Challenge ‘Impossible’ Claims
When told something cannot be done, demand evidence of actual attempts and failures, rather than accepting imagined failures, as most people give up long before exhausting all alternatives.
4. Learn by Asking Questions
Have zero shame about not knowing things; ask anyone anything, regardless of their rank or age, because pretending competence instead of actually acquiring it is the real stupidity.
5. Cut Costs on Government Projects
Obsessively cut costs on government projects by proposing cheaper, faster alternative plans, as this saves public money, funds more projects, and makes your company indispensable to any administration.
6. Lead by Example
As a leader, be a role model for everything; manage from the front, not behind a desk, by showing up first, working alongside your team, and constantly inspecting progress to set the standard.
7. Align Personal with National Ambition
Shift your motivation from personal survival and advancement to contributing to your country’s growth, as this broader purpose can drive greater company expansion and impact, making your work indispensable.
8. Endure Temporary Embarrassment
Be willing to endure temporary embarrassment, such as exporting unproven products, to gain long-term advantages and force necessary quality upgrades and learning that would otherwise be delayed.
9. Prioritize Speed in Construction
Recognize that time is the greatest enemy of construction firms due to accruing interest; prioritize speed and efficiency in project delivery to avoid bankruptcy and meet deadlines, even if it means unconventional methods.
10. Challenge Expert Assumptions
Don’t blindly accept expert opinions, especially when they contradict your own observations; study alternatives and present counter-proposals, even if it means facing ridicule from established authorities.
11. Diligence Overcomes Difficulties
Embrace diligence as a core belief, working tirelessly and consistently, because sustained effort over time, even for decades, leads to significant accomplishments and widespread recognition.
12. Hire for Competence, Not Connections
Reject patronage systems and base hiring decisions strictly on individual competence, even if it means creating difficult tests to filter out unqualified candidates from influential backgrounds.
13. Maintain Worksite Presence
Regularly visit worksites, often unannounced and at odd hours, to ensure standards are met and workers remain on their toes, reinforcing the expectation of constant full capacity, whether watched or not.
14. Plan Every Detail Meticulously
Before starting any project, spend an enormous amount of time and effort thinking, analyzing, and planning every detail, so that implementation, even if it looks reckless, is actually grounded in thorough preparation.