Remember Names Developing relationships starts with remembering the other person's name: remembering others' names can broaden your own name. When interacting, put remembering names first. There are three tips, and in a first meeting there are three opportunities to address the other person:

  • Say the other person's name when introducing yourself.
  • Say the other person's name when asking questions, e.g., "XX, where are you from?"
  • Say the other person's name when saying goodbye, e.g., "XX, thank you very much today, looking forward to our next meeting." You can chat about hometown and personal experiences, ask more about the other person, and genuinely care about them. Clearly remember the time spent with the other person. In China, after meeting, people usually exchange WeChat; previous articles have discussed some suggestions. You can also use mobile apps to quickly scan business cards and automatically send an introduction email to the other person's inbox.

Try Choosing Different Venues and Times If you met for lunch this time, choose dinner next time; if it was an evening party this time, next time have coffee. Try to interact in different settings, such as work and life, to bring both sides closer.

No Matter How Busy, Meet Someone Unrelated to Work Once a Week By chatting with people from different industries, you can experience and understand information from different angles, and also step out of your current perspective.

  • Arrange at least one meeting outside the company per week.
  • Meet people introduced by trusted friends or acquaintances.
  • If you have a good impression of the other person, schedule a meeting soon. Only when you rely on connections beyond vested interests can relationships develop. (Note: To supplement this suggestion, it's best to regularly set aside time to have lunch or dinner with someone. Chatting for a few minutes usually doesn't have much impact; it's better to have one-on-one or one-on-two deep conversations for about 30 minutes to an hour, which can deepen mutual understanding.)

Cultivate the Habit of Thinking Without Fixed Answers think In the Chinese and Japanese examination systems, students are very accustomed to every question having a standard fixed answer. In the business environment, you should cultivate independent thinking ability, derive problems from reality, and form your own insights.

The Art of Reading read After reading, spend three times as long thinking. Summarize by chapter, list the logical structure, extract key information, and finally summarize the meaning you understand. I have always done this: taking notes after reading, writing reflections, and creating mind maps are all good methods.

Develop Market Sense Through News news The market determines prices based on supply and demand; buyers and sellers determine transaction value and quantity based on forecasts of the future. When you see a news item, think about how people might react to this information. Pay attention to the following:

  • After reading, think about people's reactions to the news. For example, next week's stock market might be affected by history. Do you think the bears or bulls will win? What is your basis, and how did you derive it? You can write your prediction in a diary to see if your judgment is correct. After a while, when the situation stabilizes, check whether your prediction was correct and whether your reasoning process was correct. I believe some people might get lucky, but very few get the reasoning right. The decision diary mentioned a few days ago is worth trying.
  • Pay attention to newspaper news and how each news item is placed. Different news appears in different positions and ways in the newspaper; there are subtle differences. Just as some people can judge the general trend by reading People's Daily and watching the News Broadcast.
  • Read multiple newspapers at least once. Different types of newspapers have different views on the same event. For example, you can read reports from different domestic and international media simultaneously to understand and become familiar with the differences among major world media, and make judgments for your predictions.

Value Firm Opinions Over Creativity opinion To hold firm opinions, you need the logical reasoning ability to support them. McKinsey consultants create clear logical charts every day, not just to prepare materials for proposals, but to clarify logical thinking and derive credible conclusions. When reasoning, try not to rely on the Internet to "cheat"; think independently and find answers. If you always use the Internet to find solutions, over time it becomes hard to distinguish between thinking and searching, and you won't think actively. When you encounter a new situation, you'll find it hard to find solutions. Make thinking a habit and practice it daily without interruption.

Use Paper and Pen to Think pan Don't carry electronic devices all day; paper and pen can handle problems that electronic devices cannot. When the author encounters a difficult problem, he takes only paper and pen to a coffee shop for 30 minutes and writes out solutions on paper. When discussing with superiors or colleagues, list questions in advance and bring notes and a pen for the discussion. This way, the arguments are clear, and the other party will feel you value them and come prepared. Look at pictures of Kim Jong-un online; you'll see that people around him use paper and pen to record and show respect.

  • First write out the ideas in your mind; don't mind logic, causality, priority, or language expression.
  • Continuously review and organize, for example, using a pyramid structure, and use charts when necessary. This step can be replaced by the A4 note method.

Use Three Key Points to Sharpen Instant Thinking three Organizing things into three points makes them easier to be taken seriously, remembered, and accepted, and it exercises the following abilities:

  • Breaking down or summarizing arguments—logical reasoning ability
  • Distinguishing priorities—time management ability
  • Strengthening persuasion—communication ability

Dressing dressing Neat clothing is more important than personality. In consulting, investment banking, and finance, it doesn't have to be very expensive, but your attire should convey a sense of competence. Neat appearance starts with shoes. Foreigners place great importance on shoes; many people even shine their own shoes as a way to relax, like the protagonist in House of Cards. My personal habit has been to polish or shine my leather shoes before meeting clients; wearing clean leather shoes boosts confidence. Good leather shoes should be rotated daily; when not worn, use wooden shoe trees to keep their shape, extending their life. It's recommended to dry-clean and iron shirts and suits before important occasions.

Habit of Time Management time No matter the situation, arrive 10 minutes early. In your 20s, focus on the work at hand. In your 30s, invest half of your weekend in self-improvement. This advice is related to the author's profession; McKinsey consultants often work overtime and have very little free time. But for ordinary people, one of the three suggestions in the 100-day time management action is to spend 30 minutes daily on a dream tomato, focusing on your dreams and goals. Arrive at the office 1 hour early; this is the most efficient time, so use it for important matters. Don't check email or browse the internet during this time. This is similar to my previous advice: complete three important tasks by 10:30. Do the most important things when you are most energetic. Prepare the next day's work list one day in advance.

Communication link up Your notebook should be openable within three seconds. After receiving a task, confirm it on the spot. First clarify the 5W1H (to whom, what, when, where, why, and how), and immediately ask the assigner for detailed information. Start arranging the process and plan within 5 minutes. Confirm any doubts immediately.

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