Four Benefits of Outdoor Running
Lately I’ve been running outdoors more often—and growing fond of this simple form of exercise. Beyond physical fitness, it offers three additional benefits:
First, reconnecting with nature. Humans evolved within natural environments; natural light, scenery, and living ecosystems enrich our lived experience and lower depression risk.
Second, practicing outdoor meditation. While running, I focus on my breath—or specifically on abdominal breathing—and slip into a state of presence and flow. Meditation doesn’t require silence or stillness: it can happen anywhere, anytime.
Third, sparking inspiration. In flow states, ideas surface effortlessly. I use simple mnemonics to capture them mid-run—then revisit and refine them afterward. It’s surprisingly vivid and rewarding.
How Adults Can Train Focus
Abdominal breathing meditation is straightforward: place attention on the belly, count breaths, breathe steadily and rhythmically through the nose. During movement, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
You can practice it anytime—while running, sitting quietly, walking, or even before sleep. I prefer doing it while running: it sharpens focus and strengthens core muscles. Two gains, one habit.
Not Rushing to Innovate Is a Rare Strength
Deep in our biology lies a “I’m better than you” instinct: we scan everything and assume, If I did this, I’d do it better. We spot flaws everywhere—even where none exist.
Last year, I spoke with over 100 personal-brand creators (“IPs”). The most common phrase I heard? “Everyone else is a fraud. Their products are garbage. Only I’m authentic.”
Then comes the grand vision: “Here’s how I’ll innovate—something no one else has thought of.”
That’s why I increasingly value the discipline of not rushing to dismiss peers, not rushing to reinvent, and respecting competitors’ products and business models. That restraint is rare—and powerful.
I admire those who humbly study proven approaches, build upon them patiently, and gradually cultivate their own distinct voice. Those are the IPs most likely to succeed.
Three Stages of Building a Personal IP
Most people get stuck in Stage One—the main bottleneck to growth.
Stage One: No one measures up. You see flaws everywhere—in competitors, content, formats. You reject “copying” outright. Your worldview is self-centered: poor metrics? “Users are dumb” or “The ops team messed up.”
Stage Two: You begin to learn. You accept that strong competitors have something worth studying—scripts, structures, content frameworks. You copy rigorously, then analyze data closely and objectively.
Stage Three: You synthesize and evolve. With early wins as fuel, you absorb diverse best practices, iterate deliberately, and finally crystallize your own authentic style and content system.
A friend summarized it well:
How to Grow Faster
Two principles:
- With yourself: Go against human nature (e.g., delay gratification, embrace discomfort).
- With others: Go with human nature (e.g., listen first, affirm feelings, simplify asks).
Three Words for Short-Video Success: Copy, Cash, Crush
To avoid detours—and move faster—in short-video or live-streaming work, follow this sequence:
- Copy: Repeat what works. Say what others say. Don’t rush to “be original.”
- Cash: Prove you can monetize. At minimum, validate that this format can earn real money.
- Crush: Build on that foundation—refine, adapt, layer in small innovations—until your output becomes unmistakably yours.
Fail First, Then Correct
I came across a story about a highly successful entrepreneur with a bold new plan. A trusted advisor—let’s call him “Trout”—knew the idea was flawed. But outright opposition would damage trust, especially when someone is riding high. People rarely hear truth in momentum.
So Trout said only: “If you want to try it, go ahead.”
The entrepreneur failed hard. Afterward, he listened intently to Trout’s advice—and his business flourished.
From the entrepreneur’s side, I get it: some lessons must be lived to be understood. Only after missteps do expert insights land with weight. Without the fall, the wisdom stays abstract.
Four Phases of Entrepreneurship: Earn, Breed, Bank, Flow
A friend shared an insight from Professor Li Yining—a renowned economist and former Dean of Guanghua School of Management at Peking University. He describes entrepreneurship in four phases:
- Earn: Labor-intensive. You trade time and effort directly for income.
- Breed: Platform-driven. You build systems—teams, tools, channels—that scale your impact with market tailwinds.
- Bank: Capital-savvy. You raise funds, invest wisely, and let other people’s capital generate returns.
- Flow: System-automated. With a stable platform and deep talent bench, revenue arrives predictably—almost organically.
This framework applies just as well to individuals: Start by earning with your hands. Then breed leverage—using platforms, software, media. Next, bank via assets, stocks, or equity. Finally, flow—designing systems that attract others to create value for you.
Your Boss Decides Your Career Fate
Over drinks, a friend vented again about his boss—frustrated, uncertain. I paused, then said: “Your boss matters most. Everything else is secondary.”
In corporate life, your boss is your career gatekeeper. So align deeply: take ownership before being asked, shoulder blame without defensiveness, never speak ill behind their back. This isn’t sycophancy—it’s strategic realism.
One caveat: choose carefully. Your first act of agency is picking a boss worth following.