We often hear that finding our life’s purpose is the key to a meaningful existence. Bookstores and online platforms are saturated with guides promising the answer, yet so many of us still find ourselves searching. When asked, “What do you want to achieve with your life?” a common, heartfelt reply is, “To make a positive […]
Author: Teal Village
Everybody is in Business
I met Peter in his taxi. As a tourist newly arrived in the city, I asked him for restaurant recommendations. What I got was an hour-long story about his life and his recent business venture. Peter’s story perfectly illustrates why understanding how business works—especially the fundamentals of finance—is not just for entrepreneurs. It’s a basic […]
Pyramid of Mastery
We often find ourselves navigating a world of overwhelming complexity in our careers and personal lives. We master sophisticated tools and agile strategies, yet still feel unmoored, reacting to challenges without a true sense of direction. In this search for clarity, we can turn to a time-tested framework from Chinese philosophy. It offers not a […]
Path to Wisdom
In an age defined by racing speed, overwhelming complexity, and the relentless pursuit of more, many people struggle with anxiety, confusion and a lack of anchors. A book written 2500 years ago offers a profound and necessary counterpoint. It is Tao De Ching by Sage Lao Tzu. In only 5000 words (in Chinese), its text […]
From Employee to Entrepreneur
For twelve years, Aaron has developed a promising career within a large corporation. He is bright, ambitious, reliable, and was once on the company’s leadership fast track. But lately, his industry is declining, and his business unit is tangled in management changes and office politics. His promised promotion has vanished, leaving him on an emotional […]
A Retail Miracle
In a world obsessed with growth, he chose joy. You won’t find Yu Donglai in typical business school cases. This stocky, plainspoken entrepreneur from Henan province of China never finished junior high, yet he has built what many call “the best supermarket in the world.” While other retailers squeeze every ounce of profit, Yu pours his energy […]
What is a Teal Enterprise?
A Teal enterprise is an enterprise that prioritizes people and society’s collective wellbeing over maximizing shareholder’s profit. It creates effortless sustainability and exponentially higher profits relative to conventional enterprises. The logic is simple: instead of wasting energy on internal politics and competitions, a Teal enterprise aligns purposes, fosters collaborations and cultivates self-leadership. It takes a […]
Emotion vs. Emotional
“Isn’t life boring without emotional turbulence?” When discussing the benefits of meditation practice, a friend asked this question. He accepted the merit of calming down and feeling peaceful amid a stressful situation. But he didn’t buy into the merit of feeling peaceful as a normal state of being. He argued that life is more colorful […]
Evergreen Enterprises
What’s the typical lifespan of new companies nowadays? Across all industries worldwide, only 10% of start-ups manage to survive. Among the 90% that fail, at least 20% do so within their first year, and 50% within the first five years. But what’s the lifespan of the oldest companies in history? 1440 years. More than a […]
Everyday Leadership (2/2)
From the previous article, Everyday Leadership (1/2), we could conclude leadership always leads to change, and change always requires leadership. Inability to change is due to lack of effective leadership. In this article, we will discuss the nature of change and conditions for positive changes. Why do we want to change in the first place? […]