Author: Johnny Hines

Introduction Winning someone’s trust makes it much easier to win their heart. In my earlier article Conquer Yourself Before You Conquer the World, I explained the importance of mastering your own mind. However, if we want to live in harmony—enjoying happiness in both society and our relationships—there is another crucial step: learning how to win the hearts of others. So, what do I mean by “winning others’ hearts”? What does it truly mean, and how can it be done? Let’s explore together. The Power of Good Character In general, when a person is kind, well-mannered, polite, respectful, hardworking, and speaks…

The First Battle Is Within Before you can achieve anything great in life, you must first conquer yourself. Self-mastery is the foundation of all success. If you cannot control your own mind, how can you ever hope to overcome challenges, lead others, or build a meaningful life? This raises a powerful question: What does it really mean to conquer yourself? What It Means to Conquer the Mind To conquer yourself means to take control of your thoughts. Our minds are constantly wandering — pulled by dreams, regrets, desires, and distractions. Left unchecked, they drift like a ship without a captain,…

Introduction Life is short. No matter how much free time you enjoy or how many moments of happiness you experience, one day it will all fade. Time moves forward, and we are left with what we’ve built. Think of life as a block of raw stone. Left untouched, it remains rough and unnoticed. But with careful carving, shaping, and effort, it can become a masterpiece — something beautiful, meaningful, and inspiring to others. To live a life of purpose, we must build ourselves. We must develop our potential, face challenges, and keep moving forward. This is how we grow into…

Introduction In my previous article, I shared practical tips on job applications. In this piece, I want to go a step further and discuss how to keep your current job, perform well, and grow with stability and progress. Before diving into details, let’s briefly explore the idea of building oneself. Self-development isn’t just about using your skills to serve a company or organization—it’s also about applying your energy and effort to your own work and growth. This means being committed to your responsibilities, improving your results, and sharpening your potential. As the old saying goes: “Work is the essence of…

Introduction: Why Reading Matters Read widely, listen carefully, and think deeply to learn new things. If you go a day without reading, you miss a chance to grow. But if you make reading a daily habit, you keep building your knowledge and sharpening your mind, since there’s always something new to discover. No matter who you are, try not to stay quiet or passive. Make reading and listening a habit. After you take in new information, spend some time thinking about it. If you do this often, you’ll become wiser over time. Building Knowledge Through Daily Reading If you are…

Introduction To love and honor is to know how to protect your own worth. Every one of us—myself included, as well as you who are reading this—has honor. By “honor,” I do not mean simply rank, titles, or high positions, such as those of generals or ministers. Rather, I am referring to the good deeds, moral actions, and upright conduct that one has consistently practiced over time. If a person holds a leadership or managerial role, it is even more essential to safeguard their honor and reputation. In truth, everyone must protect their honor as carefully as they would their…

Politeness: A Treasure of Dignity Politeness is a treasure of dignity. Good manners are a virtue that reflects the true quality of a person. When someone demonstrates courtesy, respect, and humility, they naturally draw others toward them. A person with good manners is not only admired but also possesses a charm that captivates people. A Lesson from Siem Reap: Politeness in Action I once joined a study field trip in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, under the theme of rural development, led by a professor from the University of Management and Economics. During the trip, we were assigned to interview families…

Strength and Self-Confidence: A Foundation for Growth What if the one thing holding you back from success isn’t your skills, your education, or your resources — but your belief in yourself? Around the world, talented people stay stuck not because they can’t succeed, but because they don’t believe they can. This is the hidden cost of low self-confidence — and the untapped power of believing in yourself. Strength and self-confidence are two of the most valuable qualities a person can have. Someone who truly believes in themselves always stands out among others. Yet in today’s society, many people struggle with…

Reason: The Foundation of Success A person guided by reasoning is truly admirable. Whatever they do is grounded in fairness and correctness. This stands in sharp contrast to someone who acts without reason, because unreasonable perspectives are rarely acknowledged or accepted by others. Of course, every individual has different viewpoints. But when discussions are built on sound principles and good reasoning, they naturally lead to greater understanding. Reason brings clarity, helping us distinguish between right and wrong—truths that shape every person’s journey through life. A Real-Life Example of Reason in Action Take my aunt, Mony Chan, who is also my…

No matter who we are—you or I—we all want to succeed in the things we do. Nobody sets out hoping their efforts will fail. Many people believe that if they’re doing something they love, success will naturally follow. But reality often proves otherwise. Even in the work we enjoy most—and feel most confident about—mistakes and failures still occur. Why does this happen? What causes it? And why do our results sometimes fall so short of our intentions? The Hidden Reason Behind Failure The truth is, failure often comes from something small and overlooked: a missing detail, an unasked question, or…