 CONFUCIUS

 Philosopher (c. 551 BCE–479 B.C.)

 QUICK FACTS

 NAME

Confucius (Kong Qiu)

 OCCUPATION

Philosopher

 BIRTH DATE

551 BC

 DEATH DATE

November 21, 479 B.C.

 PLACE OF BIRTH

Qufu, China

 PLACE OF DEATH

Qufu, China

 Confucianism- is the worldview on politics, education and ethics taught by Confucius and his
followers in the fifth and sixth centuries B.C. Although Confucianism is not an organized
religion, but it does provide rules for thinking and living that focus on love for humanity,
worship of ancestors, respect for elders, self-discipline and conformity to rituals.

 Confucianism deals primarily with moral conduct and ethical living and is often categorized as
an ethical system, rather than a religion. It emphasizes the earthly, not the heavenly.

The doctrines of Confucianism center upon:

 1. Ancestor worship – veneration of the deceased ancestors whose spirits are believed to
control the fortunes of the descendants.

 2. Filial piety – devotion and obedience to and reverence of the elders of the family by the
younger members.

Confucianism’s primary principles are:

 1. Jen – the golden rule

 2. Chun-tai – the gentlemanly man of virtue

 3. Cheng-ming – the proper playing of society’s roles

 4. Te – the power of virtue

  5. Li – ideal standards of conduct

 6. Wen – the peaceful arts (music, poetry, etc.)

“If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good
points of the one and imitate them and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.”

-Confucius

5 THINGS CONFUCIUS COULD TEACH US ABOUT BUSINESS

 1. The way they perceive a ‘crisis’

 Crisis in the Chinese language (pictured) literally translates to a combination of Danger and
Opportunity. Every ‘crisis’ poses a potential opportunity to the Chinese, only if that ‘danger’ is
managed properly. This mentality has made Chinese thinking positive and flexible, providing
an appetite for change and opportunity. One must plan for the worst case scenario. This is
not to say that you should be prepared to fail, far from it. What the Chinese believe is that
when you find success, you have much more to lose, and that in order to prevent future
failure, one must effectively evaluate worst case scenario planning to ensure a business is
adequately prepared for any “crisis”.

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
“

Confucius

 2. The importance of “Guanxi”

 “Guanxi” literally means “relationships”, and interpersonal relationships in Chinese business is

extremely valuable, as Guanxi has been stated to be their ‘second currency’.

 The Chinese business mentality is very much one of “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
In essence, this translates to exchanging favours, which are expected to be done regularly and
voluntarily. What underpins this ideology is the concept of respect within a business context.

“Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”

-Confucius

 3. Strategy and Preparation

 The significance of strategy in Chinese business cannot be fully understood without

knowledge of the pride the Chinese have in their military history. To summarise, strategy to
the Chinese is like chaos is to children, it’s in their nature. While the concept and usefulness of
strategy has not been lost on Western businesses, the question remains as to how much
attention we truly give it.

“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100
years, teach the people. “

-Confucius
  4. Re-evaluating what success really means

 The idea that a collective board of a major corporation could review their annual financial
reports, see a small profit margin and say “hey, it’s not a loss, well done everyone, no need to
do any more than we’re doing”; could appear lunacy from the Western business culture
perspective. But, such perspectives toward profit and success are prolific within the Chinese
business context.

“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”

-Confucius

 5. What Confucius said…

 Confucianism and its role in Chinese business culture cannot be understated. Confucianism
has been the most profound and significant thought system in traditional Chinese culture and
for centuries has influenced China’s economy, politics, and business culture.

“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. “

-Confucius

“Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself
for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, seek to be worthy of being known.”

- Confucius