Stick #79
Average蘇秦封相
Su Qin Becomes Prime Minister
Wealth and fame are but dreams of illusive pleasure.
Why waste one's fleeting life seeking unreal treasure?
For even the prime minister in the Emperor's Court.
Will eventually turn into dust and come to naught.
Asking about: Career
The Story Behind This Stick
Su Qin lived during China's Warring States period, around 300 BCE. Born into poverty, he studied rhetoric and diplomacy, dreaming of political power. After years of rejection, he finally convinced six kingdoms to form an alliance against the powerful Qin state, earning himself the title of prime minister across multiple courts simultaneously.
At his peak, Su Qin wore the seals of six different kingdoms and commanded respect from emperors. Yet his story ends tragically — he was eventually assassinated in a palace conspiracy, his body dismembered and displayed as a warning. His meteoric rise and brutal fall became a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of political ambition.
Chinese scholars have retold his story for over two millennia as a reminder that even those who reach the absolute pinnacle of worldly success ultimately return to dust.
Your career ambitions are getting a reality check right now. This stick isn't telling you to abandon your professional goals, but it's asking you to examine why you're chasing them. Are you pursuing that promotion, salary bump, or prestigious title because it genuinely aligns with your values?
Or are you caught up in the endless game of keeping up with others? Here's the thing about career success — it's more fragile than we like to admit. I knew a marketing director who worked 80-hour weeks for three years to make partner, only to get laid off during a merger six months later.
The company moved on instantly, but she was left wondering what those missed dinners with her kids were actually worth. This sign suggests you're at risk of overvaluing external markers of success while undervaluing what actually sustains you long-term. Your current career situation is neither terrible nor extraordinary — it's average, which honestly might be exactly where you need to be right now.
Sometimes the most profound career growth happens when we stop frantically climbing and start asking whether we're on the right mountain. The poem's message isn't pessimistic; it's liberating. When you realize that titles and salaries are temporary, you can focus on building skills, relationships, and experiences that actually matter.
What To Do Next
Take a step back from any major career moves for the next few months. If you're job hunting, keep applying but don't pin your happiness on landing that dream role. Instead, focus on what you can control: developing skills that interest you, building genuine relationships with colleagues, and doing solid work without burning yourself out.
This is actually perfect timing to reassess what 'success' means to you personally, separate from social media LinkedIn posts and family expectations.
Even prime ministers turn to dust — maybe it's time to redefine what career success actually means.
What you feel reading this is already part of the answer.
Next comes specific guidance — when to act, how to move, what to watch for.
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Further Reading
FAQ
- Is Stick #79 (Average) good or bad?
- "Average" is a middle-tier fortune. It suggests your situation has room for growth but requires attention and direction. The real value is in the specific guidance — fortune sticks are tools for self-reflection, not prediction.
- How accurate is Wong Tai Sin Stick #79 for career?
- Fortune sticks work as a mirror for self-reflection rather than prediction. If the interpretation resonates with you, that's the stick doing its job — revealing what you already sense but haven't articulated.
- Can I draw fortune sticks for the same question again?
- Traditionally, you should ask about the same matter only once. Drawing repeatedly often means you're seeking the answer you want rather than the guidance you need. To explore different angles, try a different life topic for the same stick number.