[One Thousand Characters a Day] Professor Kim Kyung-il's 'Wisdom for Dreaming of Success'

Editor's NoteIf there are people who fall in love quickly, called 'Geumsappa,' there are also those who quickly become absorbed in work, called 'Geumilppa.' Being fully immersed and working hard is commendable, but if you fail to pace yourself early on and burn out quickly, it can be problematic. Additionally, some may exploit your pure passion for work. There are people who obviously have more work than others or end up taking on others' tasks, and some intentionally manipulate them. Professor Kim Kyung-il of Ajou University, author of Wisdom of the Mind, advises, "Pay close attention to and keep away from people who are bad for you, who make you feel powerless, or who try to take advantage of you easily." This approach might help protect yourself and even hasten your path to success. Word count: 806.

Whatever success means to you, there are things you must do to get closer to it, and things you must avoid. Let's simply categorize them as 'Go' and 'No Go.' Most people tend to focus first on what they should do (Go). They don't give much thought to what they should avoid (No Go).

This is also why doctors feel frustrated when seeing patients with illnesses. Everyone pays great attention to the 'Go' but treats the 'No Go' lightly. For example, patients with a herniated disc buy expensive massage chairs and go for massages as soon as they get diagnosed. However, the most important part of disc treatment is to avoid sitting in bad postures. Instead of looking for new ways to relieve back pain, they should first stop crossing their legs or slouching.

The same applies to success. Whatever success means, it refers to a positive and good state. But there are quite a few people around who pull you away from that state. They are the ones who sap your energy with just a few words. Once you identify who makes you feel powerless, you should make every effort to avoid encountering them. As mentioned earlier, Dr. Kim Jung-woon’s famous saying goes, "People escape into bad relationships because they cannot endure loneliness." Lonely people tend to keep meeting those who drain their energy, but now is the time to confidently say 'No Go.'

There are also people who try to use you constantly. Those who try to ignite your emotions or manipulate you by exploiting your vulnerabilities. It is best to avoid meeting such people as much as possible, right?

- Kim Kyung-il, Wisdom of the Mind, Forest Books, 18,800 KRW