In The Art of War, Sun Tzu (c. 500 BCE) writes:

“The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus, the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”

Sun Tzu is mentioned several times in my novels because of the practical advice he offers. For instance, one can take the appropriate actions to be successful, only to not achieve it. Discouraged, we blame ourselves, and yet we are not the ones at fault. As Sun Tzu points out, preventing our defeat (not giving up) is ours to control. Victory is not. Without an opportunity, that tiny crack in the wall that allows us to advance, we cannot do so. Our victory, our success, just isn’t available at the time.

Stuck, one makes excuses or blames others. Instead, one ought to be cultivating patience—the holding back of our tendency to yield to the seven emotions of hate, adoration, anxiety, joy, anger, grief, and fear. With patience comes harmony and understanding.

Reaching the pinnacle of any endeavor requires patience. It’s like fishing. To catch a fish, one casts a line into the water and waits to see what happens. Changing the bait or trying another lure may work, but in the end, it’s all about having patience and a little luck.

May I suggest a good book while you’re waiting?