Startup Success Means Attracting People Better Than You: Sharing Takes Generosity and Wisdom

Originally published 2022-10-17Robin’s commentary (including a retold story)

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Collected in Robin Shen’s Field Notes · Content type and attribution are shown above

English translation of the Chinese post originally published 2022-10-17. Translated 2026-10-30 with AI assistance. Historical figures and claims have not been updated or independently verified. 中文原文

Reading guide

Robin argues that entrepreneurial success does not come from being exceptionally capable yourself. It comes from finding people more capable than you and attracting them to join. “Willingness to share shows generosity; knowing how to share shows wisdom.” He retells a story mentioned by Mr. Qiu: Momotaro kept sharing his rice balls along the way, recruiting a monkey, a dog, and a chicken to work toward and ultimately achieve the same goal. His conclusion is that entrepreneurs must be willing to share and know how to share to attract people more capable than themselves.

Key points

Attracting people more capable than you is the key to success.
Willingness to share shows generosity; knowing how to share shows wisdom.
A retelling of Momotaro recruiting companions by sharing rice balls.

One clear path continues into the distance among several branching routes, suggesting choice and focus. — Entrepreneurship & strategyThematic illustration · AI generated

Full text — English translation

Robin: “A startup’s success is absolutely not a matter of succeeding because you are so capable. It is a matter of finding people more capable than you and attracting them to join.” Robin: “Willingness to share shows generosity; knowing how to share shows wisdom.” Mr. Qiu once mentioned his childhood memory of the Momotaro story his mother told him. Momotaro kept sharing his rice balls along the way, which let him recruit a monkey, a dog, and a chicken. Together, they could work toward the same goal and eventually achieve it. The key is still that entrepreneurs must be willing to share and know how to share to attract people more capable than themselves. ---

These articles are personal notes, book excerpts, and collected reprints. Figures and events reflect the time of the original publication, are not current information, and do not constitute investment advice.

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