Recently, a new colleague joined our company. She has an impressive background, having accumulated experience across different industries and companies since graduation.

We were considering assigning her to an important position. However, before placing someone in a key role, the first step is to truly understand the person.

Understanding a Person Begins with Observing Their State

Over the years, I have developed a habit of observing a person’s “qi” first.

This is not about mysticism, but about observing the overall state a person naturally reveals from within — reflecting their physical foundation and inner drive.

From my observation of her complexion and overall appearance, her skin appeared slightly yellowish, dry, and lacking vitality. Her voice seemed somewhat weak, and she showed signs of fatigue, suggesting that her energy might have been over-consumed.

From this perspective, her physical condition and working state appeared to require attention.

I then checked her pulse from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, and the pulse condition further supported my observations.

Her pulse pattern reflected what traditional Chinese medicine describes as “upper burner heat and lower burner cold.”

In TCM theory, “upper burner heat” refers to excessive internal tension or agitation affecting areas such as the head and heart;

while “lower burner cold” indicates weakness in the foundational functions associated with the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen, and stomach, resulting in insufficient underlying support.

I told her:

“Your personality is somewhat like Cheng Yaojin. You are full of energy when you start something, just like his famous ‘three strikes with an axe’. But once that initial momentum fades, your enthusiasm may gradually decline.”

This was not a random assumption, but an interpretation based on the signals I observed from her overall condition.

The “heat” in the upper burner drives her desire to explore, take action, and constantly move forward;

however, the “cold” in the lower burner suggests that her underlying foundation may not fully support such continuous intensity.

This creates a personality pattern similar to the “Cheng Yaojin style” — strong initial momentum but difficulty maintaining long-term energy.

She smiled and nodded:

“Yes, I enjoy trying new things.”

Her response showed that she is someone capable of looking at things from a different perspective.

Although her personality has the characteristics of “Cheng Yaojin,” she was able to reinterpret this trait positively as a willingness to explore new experiences.

The ability to transform weaknesses into strengths is valuable, as it allows people to maintain motivation and continue moving forward.

However, everything requires balance.

If one focuses only on strengths while ignoring areas that need improvement, over time both mental energy and physical condition may struggle to keep pace.

After further conversation, I learned that she had experienced significant personal and professional “expenditure” over the past few years.

She had frequently changed positions and companies, with each new role bringing considerable pressure. At the same time, she enrolled in an EMBA program and also led a running club. She could run up to 300 kilometers per month, averaging nearly 80 kilometers per week, which was equivalent to almost 10 kilometers of running every day.

With family responsibilities and childcare demands added to the mix, she had been relying heavily on her inner drive and determination to keep pushing forward.

From my observation of her complexion and pulse condition from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, I noticed signs indicating that her body was lacking sufficient energy and vitality.

Her yellowish complexion and eyes were, in TCM theory, considered signs of internal imbalance and accumulated burden on the liver.

Her dislike of egg yolks, discomfort when seeing fatty meat, and intolerance to alcohol were also interpreted as signals that her liver function needed attention.

Excessive running may have further consumed her physical reserves; taking various supplements without proper guidance could add additional burden to the body; and a high-intensity lifestyle could place pressure on digestive and metabolic functions.

With multiple forms of exhaustion accumulating over time, her already weakened foundation had become further depleted.

When her body began showing signs of fatigue, she chose to “supplement” herself by taking various products recommended by alumni, including vitamins, coenzyme supplements, glucosamine, and others.

These products may not necessarily provide the kind of “nourishment” the body truly needs, and in some cases may instead add unnecessary burden to an already exhausted system.

She considered this tendency as “trying new things,” but the hidden cost of frequently changing jobs should not be overlooked.

Every transition requires relearning new business knowledge, rebuilding professional networks, and consuming valuable energy reserves.

This creates not only personal challenges but also additional costs for the company.

There is an experienced employee in our company who has worked across nine different positions.

For the company, every position change is like “losing blood.”

The experience that has just been accumulated may become disconnected, while recruiting and training new people requires another round of investment in time and resources.

Strong Foundations Lead to Lasting Growth

This new colleague’s situation reflects a broader social phenomenon:

Today, many young people find it difficult to receive proper guidance, both in their careers and in their personal lives.

They have ambition and the desire to prove themselves, but few people teach them how to balance striving forward with maintaining long-term health and stability.

They are surrounded by various forms of commercial influence:

Pharmacies promote different health products;

fitness coaches strongly recommend supplements such as protein powders;

and online platforms continuously deliver a massive amount of information.

In this environment, some young people may become influenced by low-quality information, while their health may also be affected by unsustainable lifestyles.

Society should provide young people with more support, guidance, and meaningful direction.

Based on this colleague’s situation, I offered several suggestions.

First, maintain moderate exercise.

Do not run in a way that excessively drains your body.

Running one or two kilometers a day at a comfortable pace is sufficient. Exercise intensity should be adjusted according to your physical condition.

Excessive exercise may further consume physical reserves and ultimately become counterproductive.

Second, avoid unnecessary supplements and medications.

What the body truly needs is restoring balance, rather than continuously adding more external burdens.

When the body gradually returns to a healthier state and normal dietary habits are restored, it indicates that the foundation of health is improving.

Third, rebuild the foundation before seeking further improvement.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the kidney is regarded as the foundation of innate vitality.

Only when the body’s foundation becomes stable can other functions gradually recover.

How can this be achieved?

Drink more plain water and reduce sugary beverages;

increase the intake of fruits and green vegetables to support overall health and recovery.

The purpose of “clearing and restoring balance” is to create a better foundation for true nourishment.

Only by first improving the body’s condition and removing factors that affect overall balance can nutrients be better absorbed and the body genuinely restored.

When the body’s internal balance is restored and the liver and kidney functions operate smoothly, it is far more beneficial than relying on any supplement.

My advice to her regarding work was:

It is good to explore new opportunities, but changing career paths should not become a constant habit.

People who truly achieve success do not rely on constantly changing environments to find motivation.

Instead, they are able to devote themselves deeply to one meaningful direction over the long term.

By committing to a role for five or ten years and continuously improving in the right direction, one can transform initial abilities into comprehensive expertise.

I have seen many long-serving employees in our company who have worked here for ten or twenty years.

They are not lacking ambition; instead, they have focused their energy on accumulation and long-term growth.

Knowledge, professional networks, and even physical well-being have all become valuable foundations they continue to build over time.

For this new colleague, an important position requires more than the initial enthusiasm of “three powerful moves.”

It requires the resilience and stability needed for long-term growth.

She should make good use of her strengths — her passion, drive, and willingness to take action — while improving her weaknesses, building a more stable foundation in both body and mindset.

When evaluating a person, we should not only consider what they are capable of doing, but also whether their foundation can support what they hope to achieve.

Only by truly understanding a person’s characteristics and foundation can we provide the right direction for their growth.

By identifying the underlying conditions accurately, we can provide the right guidance and help both individuals and organizations move forward with greater stability and achieve longer-term success.