In an era of information chaos, how can one cultivate the strategic resolve of "remaining unmoved"?

Title: “Strategic Resolve”

Article by: Long Dian MrDAO

“People who can see through the essence of things in half a second are destined for a completely different fate than those who spend a lifetime unable to see clearly.”

This classic line from the movie “The Godfather” sharply and almost coldly delineates the profound difference between excellence and mediocrity. Behind this divide is not simply talent, resources, or luck, but a more fundamental ability—strategic resolve. Strategic resolve is far from the blind persistence or stubbornness often misunderstood; it is the external manifestation of deep cognitive ability in decision-making and action. It is the core algorithm that individuals and organizations rely on to survive and grow in an uncertain world. The biggest difference between “speculators” and “entrepreneurs” lies in whether they possess strategic resolve.

Deep Cognition: The Foundation of Strategic Resolve

The foundation of strategic resolve is a person’s deep cognitive ability. Without this ability, one cannot establish a true strategy. Because they cannot instantly see through the essence of things, cannot systematically understand the overall picture, cannot predict the future from a cyclical perspective, and cannot form a systematic understanding of past patterns through strong inductive reasoning. Without strategic resolve, all learning may become “useless study,” and all efforts may turn into “monkey moving the corn” self-consumption. For any individual pursuing long-term development, this is a huge disaster.

Deep cognitive ability mainly rests on three pillars:

First is the ability to perceive the essence. This requires thinking based on “First Principles.” The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle first proposed this concept, believing that every system contains a fundamental proposition that cannot be omitted or deleted. Elon Musk applied this in business practice, describing it as “viewing the world from a physics perspective, peeling back layers of surface appearances to see the essence inside, then climbing up from the essence layer by layer.” This way of thinking helps us pierce through the fog of phenomena, reach the core of problems, and avoid losing direction amid complex appearances.

Second is constructing a systemic global perspective. The development of things is not an isolated linear process but a complex system composed of countless interconnected and interacting elements. People lacking systemic thinking tend to see only the trees and not the forest; their decisions and actions are often fragmented and contradictory, unable to form a cohesive force. Strategic thinkers with systemic thinking can connect seemingly unrelated nodes into a dynamic global network, understanding its internal transmission mechanisms and evolutionary laws.

Finally is the ability to forecast the future with foresight. This is not mystical prophecy but rigorous logical deduction based on a profound understanding of the essence of things and systemic laws. As Sun Tzu said: “He who wins before fighting has already won many battles.” This deductive ability allows strategists to foresee the future trajectory and multiple possibilities of emerging phenomena, enabling them to plan ahead and seize the initiative. This ability is like a time traveler in a web drama, confidently predicting what is about to happen.

Traversing Cycles: The Magic of Strategic Resolve

This strategic resolve, based on logical deduction to produce certain conclusions, has left a profound mark on human history and today’s business world.

In the 1930s, faced with internal unrest and external threats, and the disparity of forces between enemies and ourselves, there was widespread pessimism within the Party and the military about “how long can the Red Flag fly.” However, Mao Zedong, in “The Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire” and later in “On Protracted War,” never wavered from the conclusion that victory was inevitable. His “terrifying” strategic resolve was not mere enthusiasm but rooted in systematic deduction from fundamental logic. He deeply analyzed China’s social structure, the strength of the people, the fundamental weaknesses of the enemy, and the laws of historical development, ultimately concluding with certainty: the reactionaries may seem strong, but they will ultimately fail; revolutionary forces may seem weak, but they will ultimately triumph. This embodies the philosophy of “despising the enemy strategically, but respecting them tactically.” For those who have deduced the final outcome from fundamental logic, all difficulties and obstacles along the way are merely hurdles that must be crossed on the road to victory.

Turning our gaze to the digital asset field, the historical rhythm is eerily similar. In every grand cycle of Bitcoin, there are speculators (jokingly called “leeks”) who are harvested amid violent fluctuations. They chase the highs and sell the lows, their emotions ruthlessly toyed with by the market. Meanwhile, another group remains calm, viewing the turbulent waves as nothing more than gentle ripples heading toward the ultimate goal. These individuals possess remarkable metaphorical ability—they compare Bitcoin to “digital gold” or a “decentralized global bank.” When faced with complex wallets and security doubts, their responses are enlightening: “Such complex, hard-to-operate blockchain wallets, Bitcoin keys, and so-called smart contracts are not for humans; they are for future AI.” The metaphors and insights I heard from these people date back to 2017.

Their ability to traverse cycles stems from their fundamental understanding—like Mao Zedong’s deduction of war outcomes—from first principles. They understand Bitcoin as a global, decentralized value storage and transfer network based on mathematics and cryptography, unaffected by any central authority. When one truly builds this understanding from this height, short-term price fluctuations become mere noise. Compared to the ultimate goal of “building a fairer, more transparent global financial system,” these waves are insignificant.

Unity of Knowledge and Action: The Operating System of Strategic Resolve

People often blame weak execution for strategic failure, but this is a misconception. True “powerful execution” is not about individual ability but a natural result of clear strategic cognition. Like a painter with a plan, a prolific writer, or a Tesla modeling in their mind—when you have clear strategic understanding, pathway navigation, and attention to detail, execution becomes a joyful rehearsal.

When a path is clearly deduced and laid out by top decision-makers, with goals, resources, and risks defined at each step, a clear and certain roadmap appears naturally. Strong execution will follow. Conversely, if a task is not executed swiftly and effectively, the root cause is almost always at the level of top-level cognition.

The “cognitive bug” of decision-makers is the root of strategic failure, and the culprit behind this bug is “arrogance”—the “I understand!” (We will discuss specific solutions in the “Learning Scale” chapter). Cognitive ambiguity, wavering, and contradictions inevitably lead to a lack of strategic resolve. They must stumble and correct repeatedly in practice, a costly process that can severely erode confidence and resources. It’s like an AI system: if its core algorithm (computing power) is weak or its data sources are heavily polluted, the results are likely to hallucinate and fail to meet expectations.

Behind every individual and enterprise, there must be strong “computing power” and clean “data sources.” Strong “computing power” refers to the decision-making team’s deep cognition and systemic thinking ability; clean “data sources” are especially valuable in today’s society.

Information Navigation: The Trap of Strategic Resolve

We are in an era of extreme information chaos. The overload and fragmentation brought by the internet are systematically eroding our ability to think deeply. We rely on fragmented social media information, algorithm-fed viewpoints, and AI-provided ready-made interpretations to build our understanding of the world. This pattern greatly reduces our willingness and ability to think independently, causing our brains to passively “offload” cognition.

As a result, the sources of our information have long been heavily polluted. Content and resources circulating in the market are filled with “cognitive traps,” and most people lack the ability to discern them. A Stanford study shows that long-term information overload leads to a decline in decision-making ability. In this context, individuals easily lose strategic positioning, cannot stick to one thing, and cannot execute long-term plans clearly. Ultimately, they shuttle between complex social networks and affairs, constantly consuming themselves, leading to strategic ambiguity and falling into “endless consumption and fruitless cycles.”

To escape the frustration of failure, people even activate psychological defense mechanisms—by shifting concepts or changing goals—to build a false “logical wall,” creating a sense of “no guilt” about unfinished results. This self-deception through illusion is the ultimate collapse of strategy.

This phenomenon, caused by differences in cognitive depth, is playing out dramatically in the Web3 and RWA (Real World Assets) fields. When policies shift—such as regulatory signals at the end of 2025—some speculators react almost frantically, attacking and trampling as if the industry’s end has come. When policies ease or favorable interpretations emerge, the same group shifts to praise, as if spring has arrived.

Their emotions and actions are entirely driven by short-term external fluctuations. The reason is that their cognitive depth only stays at the surface. They chase policy dividends rather than technological waves; they care about short-term prices rather than long-term value.

In contrast, teams and practitioners who truly understand the essence of Web3 and RWA respond differently. They do not stop because of temporary policy tightening nor gloat over market hype. They understand that tokenizing hundreds of trillions of dollars of real-world assets to improve liquidity and composability is an inevitable trend that will reshape future business landscapes. This trend cannot be halted by any single event. Short-term policy fluctuations are just normal bumps in this grand historical process—they will eliminate speculators but strengthen genuine builders. This unwavering confidence amid noise and doubt is the most valuable strategic resolve in our industry.

Learning Scale: The Engine of Strategic Resolve

How can we rebuild strategic resolve amid chaos and noise? The answer ultimately lies in inner cultivation. The “Unity of Knowledge and Action” proposed by Ming Dynasty thinker Wang Yangming offers profound insight. He believed, “Knowing without acting is just ignorance.” True cognition can only be completed through “actual doing.” Strategic resolve is forged through continuous cycles of practice, feedback, and correction.

But how do we measure whether we truly “know” or have “learned” something? Many people hear about RWA, Web3, read a few books, articles, buy some tokens, lose a little money, attend a few conferences, and then mistakenly think they are experts.

This is the root of “hearing many truths but still living poorly.” Without a clear coordinate system, we cannot determine our learning nodes or the depth of our absorption.

Therefore, I share a set of “original theories” about learning I summarized years ago—the Learning Scale. It deconstructs the learning process into nine levels (Nine Yang Divine Skill), forming a continuous leapfrogging cycle.

• Heard of: The shallowest impression, a vague name.
• Know of: Deeper than hearing, but still superficial, knowing some scattered information.
• Familiar with: Richer information dimension, beginning to form a preliminary structure.
• Understand: Able to empathize and see the deep logic.
• Practice: Gaining real feedback from the physical world, personal verification.
• Repeated Verification: Continuously calibrating through practice, discarding falsehoods.
• Cognition: Establishing a systematic cognitive framework, able to see the essence.
• Habit: Knowledge internalized, becoming your default problem-solving mode.
• Instinct: Knowledge sedimented into subconscious, driven by intuition.

Most people remain at the “understand” or even “know” level; their knowledge systems are fragile and untested, so their beliefs are easily swayed. Strategic resolve begins precisely at the “cognition” level and peaks at the “instinct” level. Unless you are an exceptional chosen one, without such a structured learning path, it’s difficult to draw correct conclusions in a complex industry and easy to go astray.

The competition in business is akin to a martial arts duel—true skill is not superficial moves but deep internal strength cultivated over time. The Learning Scale, as a tool, helps us abandon illusions, block hallucinations, and constantly remind ourselves: “At which level of the Nine Yang Divine Skill have I practiced?”

Conclusion: Becoming a Long-termist with Strategic Resolve

Furthermore, we need to cultivate the “unchanging mind.” Wang Yangming’s “unchanging mind” does not mean numbness but refers to an inner state where the heart is not moved by external things—maintaining high focus and extreme clarity. This is a powerful internal strength, the fundamental guarantee for resisting external noise and sticking to the established strategic direction. It stems from confidence in one’s foundational abilities and long-term dedication in the professional arena—an external manifestation of strong internal power.

At the same time, we must beware of the temptation of “only skill matters.” Zeng Guofan, a renowned official of the late Qing Dynasty, advocated “clumsy sincerity,” saying: “Only the utmost sincerity in the world can overcome the utmost falsehood; only the utmost clumsiness can overcome the utmost skill.” In complex strategic games, the simplest and most fundamental principles are often the most effective. Rather than chasing fleeting techniques and trends, it’s better to return to the essence of things, with a nearly “clumsy” persistence, to stick to the right direction.

Ultimately, strategic resolve is the victory of deep cognitive ability. It is the comprehensive capacity to stay alert amid information floods, see through complex changes, and execute decisively despite resistance. In this era of uncertainty, each of us—especially practitioners at the forefront of Web3 and RWA—should strive to enhance our cognitive “computing power,” purify our information “data sources,” and follow the “Learning Scale” ladder to cultivate the inner strength of “Unity of Knowledge and Action.”

Only then can we escape short-term temptations and noise, anchor on truly valuable long-term goals, and ultimately become long-termists with strong strategic resolve, confidently steering our own future.

Postscript

Since 2017, I have been deeply impressed by blockchain technology, community, and governance philosophy. I silently vowed to bring this brilliant yet still experimental fire into the real business world. To this end, we launched the industry summit brand “Guanhuo” Conference, meaning “Watching the fire from across the river is not as good as understanding the fire.” I believe that one day, blockchain technology will seamlessly integrate into all aspects of daily life, just like today’s internet. When that day comes, we will no longer mention the term Web3; this experiment may have succeeded, and we may have ushered in a new era of digital civilization.