Prepare First

Invigorating the leading foot. Going without overcoming them. Acting this way is a mistake. If you try to take the lead you will most certainly fail. Prepare your move very carefully. The beginning is humble, but the result will be great. If you simply step into the deep waters around you now you will be submerged and drown. Let the distress you feel return you to yourself. Do not be afraid to act alone. You are coupled to a creative force.

初九, 壯于前趾, 往不勝爲咎.

Mighty in the forward-striding toes. When one goes and is not equal to the task, One makes a mistake. ##### Comments In times of resolute advance, the beginning is especially difficult. We feel inspired to press forward but resistance is still strong; therefore we ought to gauge our own strength and venture only so far as we can go with certainty of success. To plunge blindly ahead is wrong, because it is precisely at the beginning that an unexpected setback can have the most disastrous results.