People often ask me:

• Why aren’t you on TikTok?
• Why don’t you run multiple social media accounts?
• Why haven’t you expanded internationally?

The short answer? I’ve tried. The longer answer? I didn’t have a clear execution path.

It’s easy to say, “I gave it a shot, and it didn’t work.” But in reality, sometimes you’re just missing a small but crucial 5% tweak. That small adjustment could take a month to figure out—or 10 years.

Think Like Zhuge Liang: Plan for Obstacles Before You Hit Them

In Chinese history, Zhuge Liang, a legendary strategist, would prepare detailed secret battle plans (锦囊妙计) in advance. His generals didn’t have to guess what to do when trouble came—he had already mapped out the way forward.

That’s exactly what most people lack. They try, hit a roadblock, and assume it’s impossible. But what if you had a battle plan in place?

Let’s talk about something unexpected: jewelry.

I use moissanite instead of diamonds in my designs. Why? 

It’s not just a random choice—it’s locked in by multiple business factors:

✔ Price point: Moissanite keeps my product within an affordable range.

✔ Shipping timeline: Faster fulfillment compared to diamonds.

✔ Marketing costs: Lower ad spend to attract customers.

✔ Conversion rates: Higher likelihood of purchase due to pricing and quality balance.

✔ Product quality control: Consistency in manufacturing.

If a competitor copies me and also chooses moissanite, they might still fail. Why? Because the rest of their business setup—their pricing model, supply chain, and marketing approach—doesn’t match mine.

Even something as simple as pricing isn’t always flexible. My prices were set three years ago. I’d love to lower them, but doing so could upset existing customers.

The biggest trap? You think you failed, but really, you just didn’t have the right execution path.

People copy what they see on the surface:

❌ “Oh, this person is making money with YouTube—let me do the same.”

❌ “They’re selling at this price point, so I’ll match it.”

❌ “They’re using this ad strategy—I’ll copy it.”

But without knowing why those decisions were made, you’re just guessing. And most of the time, you don’t even see the mistake until it’s too late.

How to Stop Wasting Time and Find Your Execution Path

1️⃣ Don’t just try—analyze. Before diving in, ask: What’s the full process behind this strategy? What challenges might come up?

2️⃣ Find the missing 5%. If something isn’t working, don’t assume it’s impossible. What tiny shift could change the outcome?

3️⃣ Study the game, not just the players. Instead of blindly copying success, break down the mechanics behind it.

4️⃣ Plan for roadblocks. Like Zhuge Liang, anticipate obstacles before they happen, so you don’t get stuck mid-way.

Most people think success is about trying harder. But trying smarter matters more. Execution is important, but the execution path is what separates winners from those who give up.

Before you write off an idea as “not working,” ask yourself: 

Am I missing the 5% that makes all the difference?

People often ask me:

• Why aren’t you on TikTok?
• Why don’t you run multiple social media accounts?
• Why haven’t you expanded internationally?

The short answer? I’ve tried. The longer answer? I didn’t have a clear execution path.

It’s easy to say, “I gave it a shot, and it didn’t work.” But in reality, sometimes you’re just missing a small but crucial 5% tweak. That small adjustment could take a month to figure out—or 10 years.

Think Like Zhuge Liang: Plan for Obstacles Before You Hit Them

In Chinese history, Zhuge Liang, a legendary strategist, would prepare detailed secret battle plans (锦囊妙计) in advance. His generals didn’t have to guess what to do when trouble came—he had already mapped out the way forward.

That’s exactly what most people lack. They try, hit a roadblock, and assume it’s impossible. But what if you had a battle plan in place?

Let’s talk about something unexpected: jewelry.

I use moissanite instead of diamonds in my designs. Why? 

It’s not just a random choice—it’s locked in by multiple business factors:

✔ Price point: Moissanite keeps my product within an affordable range.

✔ Shipping timeline: Faster fulfillment compared to diamonds.

✔ Marketing costs: Lower ad spend to attract customers.

✔ Conversion rates: Higher likelihood of purchase due to pricing and quality balance.

✔ Product quality control: Consistency in manufacturing.

If a competitor copies me and also chooses moissanite, they might still fail. Why? Because the rest of their business setup—their pricing model, supply chain, and marketing approach—doesn’t match mine.

Even something as simple as pricing isn’t always flexible. My prices were set three years ago. I’d love to lower them, but doing so could upset existing customers.

The biggest trap? You think you failed, but really, you just didn’t have the right execution path.

People copy what they see on the surface:

❌ “Oh, this person is making money with YouTube—let me do the same.”

❌ “They’re selling at this price point, so I’ll match it.”

❌ “They’re using this ad strategy—I’ll copy it.”

But without knowing why those decisions were made, you’re just guessing. And most of the time, you don’t even see the mistake until it’s too late.

How to Stop Wasting Time and Find Your Execution Path

1️⃣ Don’t just try—analyze. Before diving in, ask: What’s the full process behind this strategy? What challenges might come up?

2️⃣ Find the missing 5%. If something isn’t working, don’t assume it’s impossible. What tiny shift could change the outcome?

3️⃣ Study the game, not just the players. Instead of blindly copying success, break down the mechanics behind it.

4️⃣ Plan for roadblocks. Like Zhuge Liang, anticipate obstacles before they happen, so you don’t get stuck mid-way.

Most people think success is about trying harder. But trying smarter matters more. Execution is important, but the execution path is what separates winners from those who give up.

Before you write off an idea as “not working,” ask yourself: 

Am I missing the 5% that makes all the difference?