Magnifying glass: enlarging a specific thing lets you see the details inside. Things that seem simple and ordinary may reveal non-simple underlying principles when magnified; problems that seem complex and thorny may turn out to have very simple causes when magnified. Shrinking glass: the opposite of the magnifying glass—when we find it hard to think through or fully understand something specific, we stretch out time and widen our field of view, bringing in the background of the past, the context of the present, and the prospects of the future, and perhaps we can find some answers.
In short, the magnifying glass is insight: breaking things into steps, organizing them into points, and grasping details. The shrinking glass is open-minded perspective: connecting past and present, observing heaven and earth, and elevating one's vision.
Magnifying-glass thinking comes in two forms: active and passive magnification. Active magnification is driven by ourselves—taking the initiative to engage is proactively solving problems. Passive magnification is our instinct—exaggerating the impact of things and disrupting our rhythm and state of mind.
With shrinking-glass thinking, when we place things in the long river of history and consider them against the larger backdrop, we find that many things are no longer a big deal, which helps us calm down and see clearly.
Once you’ve calmed down, focus on the problem in front of you and proactively use a magnifying-glass mindset: break it down into detailed steps and complete them one by one. If you run into problems along the way, use the same approach. Don’t panic or get flustered. Zoom out to calm yourself down, and tell yourself, “I’m afraid because I lack experience.” In other people’s eyes, this probably isn’t a big deal. Then use the magnifying-glass approach to examine the problem and identify the details causing it. Next, zoom out to see the big picture, broaden your thinking, and look for different solutions. You can draw on the resources around you. There are always more solutions than problems.
Knowing where to stop, one can then become settled; having become settled, one can then be calm; being calm, one can then be at ease; being at ease, one can then deliberate; having deliberated, one can attain.
Knowing where to stop, one can then become settled: only when you know when to stop can you gain inner resolve.
Having become settled, one can then be calm: only when your mind is settled can you attain a state of tranquility.
Being calm, one can then be at ease: only in tranquility can you find true peace.
Being at ease, one can then deliberate: only when your mind is at ease can you think things through carefully.
Having deliberated, one can attain: only through careful thought can you gain true insight and understanding.
Looking at all the changes lately, who are the people saying this industry is finished and resorting to cutthroat competition in a panic? And who are the people facing things calmly, recognizing their strengths, observing the situation, modeling trends, and calmly seeking new opportunities? Many ways of thinking aren’t hard to understand. Everyone knows them and can use them. The key is to remember to put them into practice. A model exists when you use it; if you don’t use it, it might as well not exist.