Entrepreneurs often share one common trait: they’re incredibly resilient.

He takes on the role of three people at once, handling everything himself and never daring to easily trust others. He leads meetings himself, writes the proposals himself, keeps a close eye on finances himself—even when a lightbulb in the office burns out, he’s the one who replaces it.

This “lone-wolf” approach may be an advantage in the early stages of entrepreneurship—quick response, low costs, and strong execution. But as your business grows, it will become your biggest bottleneck. Sooner or later, you’ll realize that one person’s time and energy are limited. True growth comes from building a team, from collaboration, and from “leveraging others’ strengths.”

One of the core tenets of Eastern thinking is precisely “leveraging momentum”—taking advantage of favorable timing, benefiting from geographical advantages, and harnessing the power of harmony among people.

The Eight Characters are the very first lesson in helping you learn how to “leverage others’ strengths.”

You’re not omnipotent, and you don’t need to be.

The “Ten Gods” relationships in the Eight Characters are, at their core, a “manual for interpersonal relationships.” They tell you: What your energy attributes are, what kinds of people can complement you, and which types of people will clash with you when working together.

When you first look at your Ba Zi, you’ll know:

· If you’re Jia Mu (a big tree), your innate nature is to grow upward and remain steadfastly resilient. You don’t need to force yourself to emulate the flexibility of Yi Mu; instead, find Yi Mu companions around you who can help you coordinate details and smooth out relationships.

· If you’re Geng Jin (the Axe), your innate nature is to be decisive, direct, and unafraid of tackling tough challenges. You don’t need to force yourself to become overly diplomatic or smooth-talking—instead, find a team that can harness your sharp edge and channel your vigor into tangible results.

· If you’re Bing Huo (the Sun), your natural disposition is to be passionate, inspiring, and illuminating others. You don’t need to force yourself to become calm and reserved—instead, find a Wu Tu partner who can help you ground your ideas and put your brilliance into practical action.

Your Eight Characters reveal: You’re not all-powerful, and you don’t need to be. All you need to do is know who you are, and then find someone who can complement you.

From “going it alone” to “leveraging synergy and coexistence”

Many entrepreneurs hesitate to let go because they worry that “others won’t do a good job,” “communication costs will be too high,” or “cultural differences are too great.” But Eastern thinking offers you another perspective: The real issue isn’t whether “others can do it well,” but rather whether “you’ve placed the right people in the right positions.”

In Eastern Alchemy（afateguide.com）In the Eight Characters Compatibility Analysis function, you can quickly understand:

· Is this partner a good match for me? Are our energies complementary or conflicting?

· What kind of position would this subordinate be suited for? Are his Eight Characters traits more aligned with being an executor, a creative thinker, or a coordinator?

· Is this customer worth cultivating in depth? How compatible are our Five Elements?

When you start viewing your team through this lens, you’ll notice a subtle shift: You’ll no longer obsess over whether “this person is being nice to me,” but instead begin to ask yourself, “How can I and this person complement each other?” You’ll stop seeing friction in team collaboration as personal grievances and start recognizing it as a natural reaction arising from different energy dynamics.

This perspective is especially valuable in a cross-cultural entrepreneurial environment. After all, your team members may come from diverse cultural backgrounds and have different communication styles. But if you can understand each other from the perspective of “energy traits,” many conflicts will no longer be a problem.

Leveraging others isn't dependency—it's wisdom.

Some people might worry: If we rely too much on others, will we lose our sense of control?

True leveraging isn't about shifting responsibility onto others; rather, it’s about placing the right people in the right positions, allowing everyone’s energy to be fully unleashed.

You’re Jia Wood—you don’t need to learn the flexibility of Yi Wood, but you do need to have an Yi Wood person on your team. You’re Geng Metal—you don’t need to be all things to everyone, but you do need someone on your team who can smooth out relationships. This isn’t your weakness—it’s your wisdom: you know exactly what tasks are best left to others and what you should handle yourself.

Once you learn to leverage others’ strengths, you’ll notice a profound transformation: your energy will be freed from trying to handle everything on your own, allowing you to truly focus on what only you can do—strategic direction, critical decisions, and core resources.

You're not fighting alone.

On the path of entrepreneurship, loneliness is the norm. Limited resources, a shortage of staff, and immense responsibility—each of these factors can make you feel like you’re “left to fend for yourself.”

But what Eastern thinking wants to tell you is this: You’re not fighting this battle alone. You just need to see clearly—when it’s time to rely on your own strength, when it’s time to leverage the strengths of others, and when it’s time to join forces with them.

Your Eight Characters are your “team configuration manual”; the Master Brother’s computational analysis is your 24-hour think tank; and the combined chart is your compass for navigating interpersonal relationships. Oriental One.（afateguide.com）What I want to do is help you no longer fight this entrepreneurial journey alone.

See yourself clearly, understand others, and learn to leverage others’ strengths. This isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s actually the most pragmatic approach for entrepreneurs to grow.