THE CONFUCIAN WAY
Vicky Xu, founder and CEO of Areteos Family Office and the driving force behind the Global Group’s new Lifestyle & Sports Club, points to the teachings of Confucius and their quest for harmony and happiness as the inspiration behind her success
For Vicky Xu, happiness is a conscious choice. It comes from deciding to live life in a positive, righteous and optimistic way. And for Xu, that way is to be found in the teachings of Confucius and the traditional principles of Chinese culture, which were passed down to her by her mother.
When Xu’s mother began to study and follow the lessons of the great Chinese teacher, statesman and philosopher Confucius, she felt an immediate affinity with his values, which promote harmony and inner peace. As a result, ten years ago, she decided to set up a non-profit charitable organisation, the Zhuhai Association for the Promotion of Happiness.
This social welfare association is aimed at people who respect the values of Confucianism and who are therefore interested in promoting harmonious communities and serving society. The association’s purpose is to promote traditional Chinese culture and a happy life through a range of activities, including lectures and talks. In such ways, it seeks to guide people to practice good morality and to cultivate both body and mind, which in turn serve to improve the quality of life and promote the harmonious development of society. In 2013, the organisation was approved by the Zhuhai Civil Affairs Bureau as an NGO.
“I have found that it’s meaningful, even invaluable,” says Xu of the association. “The culture and spirit of warmth, mutual assistance, tolerance, friendliness and dedication is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and this can help guide more people and enterprises to appreciate the virtues of happiness and to voluntarily participate in charitable activities in society.”
The association promotes harmony as a means to achieve inner peace, teaching that this is the basis of family life and that it can also bring about good fortune and better relationships both at home and work. “We should always be considerate to others, respect our ancestors, aim for harmony and balance in all things, avoid extremes in behaviour and emotion, and live in peace and harmony, keeping in touch with the spiritual forces of the universe, including nature,” says Xu. This approach has deeply influenced her, both personally and professionally.
“Confucianism governs every relationship, including those of business,” she says. Xu is the founder of Areteos Family Office and recently set up the Global Group Lifestyle & Sports Club at her husband Johnny Hon’s boutique investment firm, the Global Group. Global Group Lifestyle & Sports Club provides its members with access to world-class events. She has found that taking Confucianism’s principles into the workplace can play a role in improving the performance of the business. “Confucianism preaches diligence, respect and consideration, and it also teaches people to use ritual to communicate. In short, it sets out the correct forms of behaviour in any given situation so as to preserve both harmony and face.”
Xu’s approach to achieving a harmonious and happy life has no doubt encouraged her professional success—and has driven her decision to make charitable endeavours and socially responsible practices central to her businesses—as well as personally, helping her to nurture a happy home with her husband and three young daughters.
“Influenced by this faith, we are calm, considerate, united and respectful people, who have strong and close-knit families and help each other to overcome difficulties,” she says. And Xu is already passing on the principles that she has learnt to the next generation, encouraging her children to always behave with “love, justice, respect, wisdom and sincerity.”