If nothing unexpected happens, 2026 will be a painful year for many, but also a year of awakening and joy for a select few. Once 2026 rises, it will rise; if it doesn't, the next 10 or even 20 years may be filled with suffering. Why is the economy not doing well? This is the fundamental reason. At this moment, if you invest 50,000 in watermelons, you lose money; if you invest 500,000 to open a convenience store, you lose money; if you invest 5 million to open a restaurant, you lose money; if you spend 5 billion to open a photovoltaic manufacturing plant, you still lose money. No matter what business you do, it's all about price competition, losing money while trying to attract customers, and having massive clearance sales. Whether it's a small business or a large one, the vast majority are losing money. This is a phenomenon that has never been encountered before, and the fundamental reason for this phenomenon is capital overcapacity, production overcapacity, and tiny profit opportunities that countless funds rush into. The market needs services from 10,000 stores, but in reality, 20,000 stores are operating, all competing on price, and in the end, all are losing money. In the past two years, housing prices have plummeted, just as netizens wished, with a large amount of capital leaving real estate and going into various industries. A lot of capital is no longer acquiring land and has been invested in the high-tech photovoltaic industry, resulting in overcapacity and massive losses. Many homeowners in Shenzhen sold their houses to open milk tea shops, restaurants, and guesthouses, but because there are too many people opening shops, no one is making money, and losses are piling up. In terms of perception, whether official or unofficial, whether experts or business owners, everyone believes that developing real industries is the right path, and funds should be invested in real industries. This is a mindset from thirty years ago when we were in a time of material scarcity; back then, everything was lacking, especially capital. Using scarce capital for real industries was the only way for the economy to develop. At that time, there was no shortage of consumers, but a shortage of products and services. Many people ask me what business experience I have. I have run several companies, managed teams of over a hundred people, and have both made and lost money. I hope my personal experiences can inspire you. 1. The secret to growing a business Once the boss has passed the startup phase and profits stabilize, even if they only make a few thousand a month, they should try to delegate all specific tasks to their subordinates to practice their management and related skills, such as leadership, charisma, and influence. Otherwise, they will only ever work for themselves, earning a meager living, and will never grow their business. This is a hurdle that 80% of entrepreneurs cannot overcome. 2. No matter how small the business, you must hire employees No matter how small the business is, even when starting out, you must hire employees, even if it's just one. As a business owner, you must first clarify what the boss should actually do. The boss is fundamentally different from employees, at least in terms of mindset, so you need to be prepared to change your way of thinking. As a boss, you should focus on "thinking" rather than doing the work; doing the work is the employees' responsibility. 3. You need others, and others need you People must have a spirit of cooperation. Especially as a boss, you must understand the importance of collaboration and communicate this importance to every team member, ensuring they understand. Because in this world, no one can live alone; there is always someone who needs you, just as you will always need others. 4. Words can be disregarded, but only truth should be upheld As a boss, you are human and often say the wrong things. Promises made may change as circumstances and time evolve, so should we still adhere to what was previously said? The answer is: words can be disregarded, but only truth should be upheld. What is correct now, and what is most beneficial for your business, is what should be done. 5. Always learn before starting a business; don’t rely on instinct to start You need to think from the perspective of user psychology and human nature. Reading entrepreneurship books is essentially useless and will not benefit you at all. The best learning is to work at the top companies in the industry; don’t worry about the salary, just learn from the best in the marketing department. 6. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall...