Success in the United States is not an entitlement in China. You

Hear now, O seeker of wisdom, the words of Howard Schultz: “Success in the United States is not an entitlement in China. You have to go there and earn it, and earn it the right way.” These words carry the weight of mountains and the sharpness of a sword. They remind us that triumph in one land does not guarantee triumph in another. Each realm has its own spirit, its own customs, its own trials. To walk upon foreign soil with the arrogance of past victories is to invite defeat. Only the humble heart, willing to learn anew, can unlock the gates of honor in strange lands.

This truth is old as the earth itself. For kingdoms have risen and fallen when they mistook their strength for universality. The Roman Empire, mighty though it was, faltered when it could not grasp the ways of the tribes beyond its borders. The legions, trained in discipline, met foes who knew the forests and rivers better, and pride gave way to ruin. So too, the merchant who prospers in one nation may falter in another if he assumes that success is his by birthright, rather than by labor and wisdom.

Howard Schultz, the shepherd of Starbucks, learned this when he sought to plant his coffee empire in the soil of China. In America, the company had already become a symbol of community and culture, yet in China, the people drank tea for centuries, a ritual interwoven with their lives. To stride into such a place with the presumption that coffee would conquer all was folly. Thus, Schultz bent his will to patience and respect. He studied the traditions, honored the tea-drinking culture, and built his houses of coffee not as invaders, but as companions. It was through humility and adaptation that he earned his place.

Consider also the tale of Zheng He, the great Chinese admiral of the Ming Dynasty. He sailed with vast fleets across oceans, bearing not conquest, but tribute and respect. Wherever his ships anchored, he did not assume that the greatness of his empire entitled him to the loyalty of others. He came bearing gifts, honoring the customs of distant rulers, and so the name of China traveled far as a friend rather than a tyrant. The wisdom is the same: greatness must be tempered by understanding, for entitlement breeds only resistance, while respect opens doors.

This quote cries out to us in our own age: “You must earn it, and earn it the right way.” The right way is not through force, nor through arrogance, but through humility, patience, and an eagerness to learn. To succeed in new lands, whether nations or even new ventures in life, one must first listen more than speak, observe more than act, and honor what already exists before offering what is new.

So let the lesson be written upon your heart: success is not a crown you wear forever, but a harvest you must reap again and again. Do not assume yesterday’s victories will nourish tomorrow’s hunger. Each dawn is a new battlefield, each place a new proving ground. To endure, you must labor, learn, and respect.

And what, then, shall you do in your own life? When you step into new challenges—be it a new job, a new land, or a new relationship—remember this truth. Do not carry the arrogance of past glories. Instead, approach as a student, not as a master. Ask questions. Honor the traditions already in place. Adapt without losing your core, and seek not just to win, but to earn trust.

Thus, O traveler of destiny, take these words as both shield and sword. Let humility guide your steps, let respect temper your strength, and let perseverance be your companion. For success is not given—it is earned, and earned rightly, again and again, wherever fate may carry you.