● Only by emphasizing getting a "head start" (提前量) beforehand can one afterward have fewer regrets of the kind: "If I had known it would come to this, why did I ever start?"
Some time ago, the following scene unfolded at a garrison training site of a certain detachment: two companies arrived at the garrison training location at the same time. Faced with a sudden downpour, one company quickly erected rain tarps and laid moisture-proof mats, and after completing interior arrangements immediately launched into training; the other company, because its supplies were inadequately prepared, scrambled to borrow rain tarps in the rain, and the resulting chaos drew criticism from higher authorities. From this incident, the author cannot help but be reminded of a fable: there is a creature called the cold-号 bird (寒号鸟), which in autumn does nothing but enjoy itself, always feeling that there is still time for everything, and fails to build a nest in advance to ward off the cold winter. When winter arrives, the cold-号 bird freezes to death in the bitter wind.
The story reflects a simple truth: in all things, those who plan will succeed; those who do not plan will fail. Sharpening one's spear only when battle is upon you is no substitute for solid preparation in ordinary times. If combat training and war preparation cannot get a "head start"—calibrating the rifle in advance, stocking ammunition, and completing all manner of preparatory work—then on the battlefield one may suffer defeat and pay a price in blood. Yet at present there are still a small number of officers and soldiers who fail to recognize the importance of advance preparation. Some subscribe to the belief that "the boat will straighten itself out when it reaches the bridge," and when faced with new tasks and new environments they hang back, drift, and respond passively. Others are accustomed to making "blitz-style" (突击式) efforts—"cramming at the last minute"—putting off work until "the exam paper is almost due" before working overtime in a rush, which easily leads to mistakes made in haste. Countless facts have proven that muddling through and going through the motions in ordinary times may appear to conserve energy in the short term, but in reality it plants countless hidden dangers. When confronted with problems encountered in work, only by calming down and making preparations in advance—giving work more of a "head start," leaving sufficient time and space for maneuver—can one, when facing sudden situations and unforeseeable factors, respond with composure, adjust in an orderly manner, and avoid losing one's footing.
The key to getting a "head start" is to consistently plan before acting (谋定后动). Once we have clarified our thinking and anticipated risks before taking action, the most critical thing is to be down-to-earth and to advance step by step. All composed and unhurried responses originate from thorough consideration at the outset. A difficult start and many variables are nothing to fear; as long as one remains vigilant in times of stability, prepares for rain before the clouds gather (未雨绸缪), takes a long view, and works diligently in practice, one can continuously avoid risks and achieve success. Of course, getting a "head start" does not mean piling layer upon layer of additional burdens onto work or creating bad habits such as "assembling early" (提前集合); rather, it means emphasizing that space be reserved in all things, so as to seize the initiative from a position of ease and flexibility.
Only by emphasizing getting a "head start" beforehand can one afterward have fewer regrets of the kind: "If I had known it would come to this, why did I ever start?" In our work we should strive to overcome "procrastination syndrome" (拖延症), proactively anticipate work demands, plan ahead, and arrange matters scientifically, thereby tightening the "safety valve" for achieving expected objectives. Only by learning to plan with foresight and cultivating the habit of getting a "head start" can one continuously improve one's capabilities and level through practice, and through repeated trials of mission—weathering storms, broadening experience, strengthening sinew and bone, and growing in talent and ability—reach the point where the organization can entrust one with responsibility and rest assured.