Recently I learned this from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" 昔之善战者，先为不可胜，以待敌之可胜。不可胜在己，可胜在敌。故善战者，能为不可胜，不能使敌之必可胜。Here's my rough translation.
"In the past, those skilled in warfare made themselves invincible first and then waited for the moment when the enemy become vulnerable.
While it is up to you to make yourself invincible, it is up to the enemy to make themselves vulnerable. Therefore, those skilled in warfare are able to make themselves invincible but cannot necessarily make the enemy vulnerable."
Here are my reflections on this text. First, the prerequisite for winning a battle or anything is to make ourselves super strong and capable, whether in warfare or any other aspect of life. Don't rush into actions without getting yourself ready.
Second, it's crucial to wait for the right moment, the importance of strategic patience, especially in decision-making and leadership.
Third, for personal and professional growth, we need to know our strengths and weaknesses. With this knowledge, we can focus on enhancing our strengths and addressing our weaknesses.
Finally, Sun Tzu's words are very much relevant to us today. Self-awareness, self-strength, preparation, patience, and strategic thinking are keys to winning in both warfare and other areas of life, including career development.