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The 64 Hexagrams
of the I Ching

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7: Organized Discipline

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9: Small Influences

8: Holding Together

Holding together produces success. High-level teamwork is achieved when the right players, on the right team, share a clear goal at the right time. A team forms its relationships in a delicate manner; chemistry is brewed in the vat of shared experience. A strong sense of unity and wholehearted commitment is required for team success.

All successful teams have a shared vision and a good leader. If its leader can rise to the challenge, the team will prosper. In political and business affairs, just as in basketball, it is hard to win without a strong center.

Accept the structure of the team if you wish to receive its benefits; otherwise, go off on your own. In holding together with others, cling to your own principles, but be willing to subordinate personal desires when they compromise the good of the group. If you would like to become a leader, remember that to become the center of influence requires binding people together, which is a serious challenge and responsibility. Assess yourself carefully to see if you qualify for such a role. If not, it would be better to pass on the opportunity than for you to lead now, without proper preparation. In due time and with the right experience, you could still become a quality leader in the future.

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