Three elements : Time, Place and People

When I was young, I have been told by my deceased mother that whatever you have is pre-destined and there is no need to force yourself to get it. This advise sounds very passive and like what have been professed in one of the best selling book : The Secret, to believe , accept and wait for the Universe to provide.  Sounds simple but hard to believe.  That is the basic problem, our belief , it has to be strong and unweavering.

Later in life, I was also taught another philosophy, that is to achieve success ,we have ensure a harmony of the three elements  ie place, time and people. If we were to be successful in our negotiation or proposal, we have select the right place for the presentation, at the right time and with the right people.

What do you mean by time ? Again, it has to ensure that sufficient notice is give to the members attending the meeting, an appropriate meeting time, sufficient time for each member to speak and in what priority.  Never call a meeting just before lunch break or tea break , as we believe that an hungry man is an angry man. Some chinese people consult the I-Ching for the appropriate day and time to organize the meeting.  The I-Ching also considers the " Pak Kua" of the members attending the meeting.

What do we mean by the right place ? Of course, a suitable place with proper presentation equipment, sound system, ample space and lightings , etc. In some case,  the direction of member's sitting position according to their seniority.  One wrong position or direction  could raise a strong objection or hinderance to your proposal.  This is a special skill and in Chinese belief we have to consider the " Pak Kua" of the members attending the meeting to ensure harmonizing the opposing forces of these people and get a consensus condition.

 Finally, the third element, the people.  This is the most complex of the three elements as each person is influence by their body conditions, their emotions and their business schedules.  Selecting the people attending the meeting is also very important for a successful conclusion of the subject matter. According to one  mathematic professor, we can calculate the outcome of a meeting or an event but we cannot control its end result because of the complex nature of human beings.

In this modern time, this belief can still hold true if it is practice properly.  It can never be denied that if one can successful plan and harmonize these three elements according to its logic , the chance of success is very much enhanced.  This is not a science but an art.  Just ponder for awhile on this subject and you will realize there is logical truth in it.

Namaste.