07/30/2026
The energy at Dream Big completely shifted when award-winning author of the Tao Derek Lin took the stage. The diverse crowd gathered, eager for fresh ideas on growth and leadership. Known for his warmth and humility, my friend, Derek didn’t just give a standard business talk. Instead, he captivated everyone by showing how the ancient wisdom of the Tao can be the ultimate roadmap for modern success. To bring this to life, he shared a classic, beloved story that left the entire room inspired. Derek smiled as he asked the audience a counterintuitive question: "How do you sell wooden combs to a monastery full of bald monks?"
As a ripple of laughter went through the crowd, Derek used the parable of three sales candidates to show how different mindsets approach a seemingly impossible challenge:
The First Candidate forced his way through, begging an itchy-headed monk to buy just one comb to use as a head-scratcher. He represented the exhausting struggle of fighting against the current.
The Second Candidate took a step back and looked at the environment. He noticed pilgrims arriving at the mountain temple with hair messy from the wind. He convinced the Abbot to buy ten combs so visitors could neat up before entering the sacred shrines out of respect.
The Third Candidate blew everyone away. He didn't look at the monks' heads, and he didn't stop at the pilgrims' hair. He looked at the spirit of the temple itself. He told the Abbot, "Let’s engrave your sacred blessings onto these combs. Let the pilgrims buy them as a blessed souvenir to bring the temple's energy back home to their families." He left with an order for a thousand combs and a lifelong partnership.
As the story wrapped up, you could feel a collective "aha!" Derek’s presentation was a powerful reminder that when we align ourselves with the natural flow of life and lead with empathy, the universe naturally opens up for us.
