Anyone who has played mahjong knows: you aim to win with the tiles closest to you.

When you are closest to winning with a certain hand, go for that direction — not some distant one. Unless you want to be reincarnated, and reincarnate again, a thousand times over, just to join a faraway hand, one that has nothing to do with you.

Every person must have a shape that is closest to their current hand. Whatever cards you hold, you should aim to win with them. If you have a small seven pairs, go for that; if you have Thirteen Orphans, go for that. Being yourself is the shortest cut to success — bar none.

Born into an ordinary family, you may score well in school but always fall short of the top students. Once you realize there’s no way you’ll become a scientist, then work with the conditions you have, seek out every resource within reach. The key is integrating into society — by getting things done, by connecting with people through action. After years of effort, those resources will shape you into your own distinct self.