Hexagram Bi Line 64: Follow the Right Leader, Cut 10 Years of Struggle From Your Career

There’s a saying in the workplace—you might buy into it, you might not.

Thirty percent comes from effort, seventy percent from choices. No matter how capable you are, following the wrong leader gets you nowhere; even if your skills are average, sticking with the right person lets you climb the ladder faster than anyone.

It sounds a bit like "relationship theory," but you can’t deny it—that’s just how reality works.

The same person, working under Leader A, gets top performance reviews every year and climbs the ranks steadily. Switch to Leader B, and suddenly they can’t do anything right—every task goes wrong, every word they say is a mistake. Did their skills change? No. The person they’re following changed.

That’s why the old saying goes "follow the right person, do the right thing"—following the right person comes before doing the work itself.

The fourth line of the Holding Together Hexagram in the I Ching (Book of Changes) is exactly about this. It reads: "外比之，貞吉 (Wài bǐ zhī, zhēn jí) — Aligning outward, perseverance brings good fortune."

外比之 (Wài bǐ zhī) — Proactively Seeking a Strong Ally Outside Your Circle

The Six in the Fourth Place (六四) is a Yin Line in a yin position, sitting at the bottom of the upper trigram, right next to the Nine in the Fifth Place (九五) above it. What is the Nine in the Fifth Place? It’s the position of the ruler, the top decision-maker, the highest leader.

What’s the dynamic between the Six in the Fourth Place and the Nine in the Fifth Place? A Yin Line and a Yang Line—one yin, one yang—perfectly in Resonance. It’s like a subordinate who gets along extremely well with their leader: the leader trusts them, values them, and promotes them.

What does "外比之 (Aligning outward)" mean?

It means proactively reaching out to connect with, align with, and stand alongside the right person outside your immediate circle.

Pay attention to the word "外 (outward)". It’s not about sticking to your own small clique—it’s about stepping out, looking outward, and finding someone worth following.

Why does the Six in the Fourth Place need to "align outward"? Because it knows you can’t make it on your own. No matter how strong your skills are, if no one above you recognizes your worth, you’re just someone who grinds away in the shadows. With someone in a position of power backing you, you get resources, a platform, and opportunities.

Wen Laoshi often says: "A thousand-mile horse is common, but a Bole (talent scout) is rare." You think gold will always shine? Wrong. If gold is buried in the dirt, who can see it? You need someone to dig you out before you can shine.

A lot of people in the workplace fall into the trap of thinking, "If I just do my job well, the leader will naturally notice me."

That’s not always the case.

Leaders are busy, and they have so many people under them—why would they single you out? You have to be proactive. This isn’t about sucking up, giving gifts, or cutting corners. It’s about proactively showing your value, getting close to people worth following, and making sure a good leader sees you.

If you don’t put yourself out there, why would opportunity land in your lap?

貞吉 (Zhēn jí) — Follow the Right Person, But Never Lose Your Bottom Line

Right after "外比之" come two characters: "貞吉 (Perseverance brings good fortune)."

What is "貞 (Perseverance/Correctness)"? It’s the right path, your bottom line, your principles. "吉 (Good fortune)" is, of course, a positive outcome.

Why emphasize "貞" even when you’re following the right person? Because getting close to power can easily lead you astray.

Some people, once they land a good leader, get cocky. They think they have someone high up backing them, so they start throwing their weight around, looking down on colleagues, and using the leader’s name for personal gain.

People like that never end well. Why? Because they’re clinging to the leader’s power, not the leader’s trust in them. Power can vanish in an instant. When the leader changes, you’ll be the first one to take the fall.

Other people will do anything to get on a leader’s good side. If the leader asks them to do something against the rules, they do it; if the leader asks them to take the fall for a mistake, they take it; if the leader asks them to sabotage someone, they do that too. In the end, if the leader gets in trouble, you won’t escape either.

Wen Laoshi once said: "Following someone isn’t selling yourself. You follow them for their vision, their resources, their mentorship—not for them as a person." You have your own bottom line, your own principles, your own judgment. Follow what’s right to follow, and refuse firmly what’s not.

Why is the Six in the Fourth Place auspicious? Because it holds to "貞". Even though it proactively draws close to the Nine in the Fifth Place, it keeps its bottom line. It helps the leader with tasks because it believes the work is right, not because it blindly does whatever the leader says. It earns the leader’s trust through its own ability and integrity, not through flattery.

Leaders dare to rely on people like this. Because they know this person is reliable, won’t act recklessly, and won’t cause them trouble.

What Counts as "Following the Right Person"

That said, what kind of leader is worth following?

Here are a few criteria to judge by.

First, see if they help you grow. A good leader isn’t just someone who pays your salary—they’re someone who teaches you skills. After working with them for a year, have your abilities improved? Has your vision broadened? Can you learn things from them? If the answer is yes, even if the pay is a bit lower, they’re worth following.

Second, see if they’re willing to give you opportunities. Some leaders say they think highly of you, but they never give you any important work to do—all the good stuff goes to themselves. Following a leader like that is useless, no matter how long you stay. A good leader is someone who, when they get the "meat," at least lets you have the "soup"; when they move up, they’ll give you a pull up too.

Third, see how they react when things go wrong. When a project succeeds, do they take all the credit for themselves, or do they recognize the people below them? When a project has problems, do they immediately look for a scapegoat, or do they take responsibility first and then fix the issue? This is the best way to see a leader’s sense of accountability. A leader with accountability is worth following; one who shifts blame the second things go south? Stay away as soon as possible.

Wen Laoshi has a very down-to-earth point: To judge if a leader is worth following, don’t listen to what they say—watch what they do. Especially watch how they choose when faced with利益 (interests) and difficulties.

When interests are on the line, do they think of themselves first, or the team first? When difficulties hit, do they hide first, or step up first?

The answers to those two questions are more useful than a hundred lines of "I think highly of you."

Three Reminders from the Six in the Fourth Place of the Holding Together Hexagram

After all this, what exactly does this line tell us?

First, in the workplace, you can’t just bury your head in work—you need to find the right person to follow. This isn’t about playing politics or picking sides. It’s about proactively getting close to people who are capable, reliable, and can help you grow. One person walks fast, but a group walks far; follow the right person, and you’ll save yourself a lot of detours.

Second, following someone requires a bottom line—you can’t go along with everything. If the leader is right, listen; if they’re wrong, you can have your own judgment. Do what you should do carefully, and never touch what you shouldn’t. Trust earned through ability and integrity is the only kind of trust that really holds up.

Third, following someone isn’t a lifelong commitment—it’s a stage in your journey. If this leader can carry you for a stretch, follow them well. When you’ve grown enough that this platform can’t hold you anymore, leave when you need to. No one says you have to follow someone forever. People climb higher— that’s normal.

The Holding Together Hexagram talks about "close alignment"—how to build relationships with others. At the Six in the Fourth Place, it applies to the workplace: how to get along with your leader, how to find a strong ally, how to use other people’s strength to move up.

But remember: the premise of "外比之 (Aligning outward)" is "貞吉 (Perseverance brings good fortune)." If you hold to the right path and have solid skills, outside connections will be your boost. If you can’t keep your bottom line and have no real ability, the more outside connections you have, the harder you’ll fall.

Following the right person matters, but what matters even more is that you’re worth the effort. Otherwise, even if a good leader wants to pull you up, they won’t be able to find your hand.