In the Chinese context, the concepts of “dominant culture” and “subordinate culture” are best known through their portrayal in the novel and TV series *The Way of Heaven*. These are not standard academic concepts in sociology, but rather generalizations of a way of thinking.

Simply put:

• Dominant Culture: Respect objective laws and be guided by facts, capabilities, and results.
• Marginalized Cultures: Relying more on luck, authority, emotions, or the help of others, and hoping to change the outcome through external forces.

There are several ways to understand the differences between them:

Comparison	Dominant Culture	Marginalized Cultures
Approach to Problems	Find the Pattern	Making excuses
Facing Difficulties	Find a way to solve it	I hope someone else will solve it
Reasons for Success	Capabilities, Systems, Long-Term Accumulation	Luck, Connections, Opportunities
Learning Methods	Continuously Improving Capabilities	Looking for a Shortcut
Basis for Decision-Making	Data, Facts, Logic	Emotions, Feelings, Conformity
Concept of Time	Long-Term Thinking	Rushing to Achieve Results

For example, let’s say you’re running an online store:

Powerful Mindset:

• Why is the conversion rate low?
• Is there a problem with the page, or is there a problem with the price?
• Analyze data, optimize products, and test ads.

Victim Mentality:

• The platform isn't providing traffic.
• The market is really bad.
• Bad luck.
• Support from platforms such as...

The biggest difference between the two isn't whether or not there are difficulties, but ratherDifferent PerspectivesThe

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Insights from *The Way of Heaven*

There is a widely quoted line from *The Way of Heaven*:

A strong culture produces strong people; a weak culture produces weak people.

What it really means is:

A person’s way of thinking determines their behavior; and when that behavior is repeated over time, it determines the outcome.

For example:

A business owner's sales are down.

A culture in a position of weakness might think:

• The market is down.
• There aren't enough customers.
• The employees aren't pulling their weight.

A dominant culture would ask:

• Is my product competitive enough?
• What's wrong with my marketing?
• Are there any new channels?
• Am I not managing efficiently enough?

The former attributes the cause primarily to external factors, while the latter focuses more on the aspects they can control and change.

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Misconceptions to Avoid

Many people interpret "assertive culture" as:

• Very tough
• Very domineering
• Very wealthy
• Very successful

Actually, that's not the case.

A person may be very humble, but his mindset still belongs to a "dominant culture":

• Respect the laws of nature.
• Take responsibility.
• Continuous learning.
• When you encounter a problem, first reflect on the factors you can control.

Similarly, even someone in a high-ranking position may exhibit a “vulnerable mindset,” such as consistently shifting blame onto circumstances or others when problems arise.

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A More Objective Perspective

It’s not reasonable to blame everything on yourself. In reality, many outcomes are indeed influenced by:

• Family Background
• Social Environment
• Luck
• Policy Changes
• Market Cycles

and other external factors.

Therefore, a more balanced understanding is:

• Acknowledging the Influence of Objective Circumstances, without denying the reality of the constraints.
• Focus your energy on the areas you can control and improve...by continuously learning and adjusting strategies and actions to increase the likelihood of success.

This way of thinking is more in line with reality—and more conducive to long-term growth—than simply emphasizing “dominant cultures” or “subordinate cultures.”

Notes by Mr. Junke: There is no distant savior; there are only the natural laws that follow the Way of Heaven.