When You Are No Longer Needed, Even Relatives Fall Short: Modern Civilization Interrupts This Sense of Utility

High-efficiency people can also be zero-impact, as long as you’re running in the wrong direction—high efficiency, zero results. Low-efficiency people can also achieve high impact, as long as your target is precise.

How do you create impact? You know what the other person wants.

Rural social customs have little value in modern society.

Giving cigarettes and alcohol doesn’t help. You need to accurately judge: this is a sheep—I’ll give it grass; that’s a rabbit—I’ll give it carrots; this is a wolf—I’ll give it meat. You must know exactly which person needs which size carrot or which size stick, precisely and at the right time, for great results.

Give the right thing, and you’ll have impact. Give it precisely, and you’ll get results efficiently.