Being towards death

How to make yourself better?

Here are 16 timeless principles that I hope will help you.

1 Take responsibility for your actions#

When you find yourself in a bad situation, look more at the reasons within yourself.

There is a saying that where you are now is determined by the choices you made over the past two years; where you will be in two years will be determined by the choices you make in the next two years. I completely agree.

Excellence requires effort, and effort is uncomfortable; to persist in doing uncomfortable things over the long term, you must have sufficient motivation. One important source of this motivation is dissatisfaction with the current situation.

This dissatisfaction is something everyone has, but only a few can "transform dissatisfaction into strength."

The bridge connecting "dissatisfaction with reality" and "effort" is taking responsibility for your own actions.

2 Be serious and dedicated#

What does dedication mean? My understanding is to do things wholeheartedly.
"Live in the moment," no matter what you are doing, focus on doing the task at hand well before thinking about anything else. When you are not dedicated, even playing doesn't feel fulfilling.

3 Be pushed by others to improve#

Of course, there are super talented people who manage themselves from a young age, but most people, especially when they are young, need a little push. After all, progress is hard work; how many people are naturally inclined to enjoy it? Of course, those who push you must also have the right skills.

4 Have clear goals#

Progress is often painful. Why? Because progress means change, and change is often uncomfortable.

How to overcome this discomfort? By pursuing another thing or state.

The clearer the goal, the more this desire for progress, or the fear of not achieving it, can drive people to overcome the pain of effort.

5 Do a little more than others#

Sometimes you really just need to put in a little more effort than others to see a significant difference.

6 Interest and persistence#

I put these two together because I think it's hard to persist without interest, and persistence without interest is not very meaningful. Why? Because the meaning of persistence is not just simple repetition.
You may have heard of the 10,000-hour theory, but this theory has a premise:
The difficulty and intensity of practice need to continuously increase; in other words, the person practicing needs to constantly push themselves. If mindless repetition of 10,000 hours could make someone an expert, shouldn't we all become language experts before the age of 20? In fact, simple repetition can improve proficiency, but it cannot truly enhance skills.
In the long journey of 10,000 hours (about ten years if calculated at three hours a day), if you are constantly thinking about how to challenge and push yourself, without interest, you simply cannot persist. Or if you do persist, you are merely going through the motions without truly engaging.
With interest, you can persist, and it becomes a deep, all-encompassing dedication to exploring something... isn't this the famous principle of 1.01 raised to the power of 365? 1.01^365 = 37.8; 1.02^365 = 1377.4; 1.01^730 = 1427.6... Continuing like this, it would be hard not to excel.

7 Don't be too utilitarian#

When the utilitarian mindset is too strong, it inevitably leads to shortsightedness. The result of shortsightedness is that after a little effort, if there is no return, one wants to change direction. Many people have the attitude that unless they can clearly see a return, why bother? The problem is that anything that yields immediate results often has limited value.
If there were truly an opportunity to invest one dollar and guarantee a return of two dollars, wouldn't that attract everyone? But when everyone pursues the same opportunity, it ceases to be an opportunity.
In fact, to put it bluntly, there are no shortcuts to getting things done. If you want to achieve something, you still have to put in the hard work.
Hard work does not mean not using your brain, but it means not constantly looking for the easiest way out.
Some may ask if this contradicts the fourth principle of having clear goals?
My understanding is that having clear goals is from a long-term strategic perspective; the utilitarian mindset refers to the daily attitude. This is also one of the important qualities of excellence, the ability to unify seemingly contradictory aspects.

8 Relying solely on brute force is not enough#

My freshman year at Tsinghua was the time I studied the hardest in my life, yet my grades were almost the worst. Even at that time, I felt something was off, but I was too lazy to change or lacked the courage to face the issue.
On one hand, I was working so hard, yet on the other hand, I was lazy? How could that be? It is very possible.
Laziness is actually directly related to courage. Getting up early and studying late is hard work, but facing one's weaknesses is even harder.
My problem at that time lay in my study methods. I was afraid to confront this issue because I felt that questioning my study methods was essentially questioning my entire self and my life.
I categorize fatigue into three types: physical fatigue, mental fatigue, and emotional fatigue.
For me, the easiest to overcome was physical fatigue; during my freshman year, my efforts were only reflected at this level. However, effort at this level often has very little value.
Do not try to use tactical diligence to compensate for mental laziness. I think this is the same principle.
To be excellent, relying solely on effort is not enough. What else is needed?

9 Actively seek direction and persist#

Any direction will do. You may not need to study hard, but you should at least have a hobby that you are willing to work hard for, right?
You may not need to work hard, but you should have a skill in a certain direction, whether it's calligraphy or playing the harmonica.
If you are unwilling to work hard on things widely recognized by society, you should at least have a direction that you recognize yourself, right?
Excellence is a habit. This phrase has many interpretations.
One interpretation is that mastering a skill excellently through a lot of effort is itself a capability. In other words, becoming an excellent Peking opera performer, an excellent hurdler, or an excellent entrepreneur, there are many similarities among these.
If you truly believe you are excellent, find a space to prove it; do not make excuses. The excellent habits you accumulate in any direction will often benefit you greatly in other areas.
In the past six years, I have interviewed nearly 1,000 people and hired over a hundred of them. One question I almost always ask is what hobbies you have, how many years you have persisted, and what you have learned from them.
Because I firmly believe that once a person has experienced years of continuous improvement in one thing, they can easily transfer that experience to other things. This is an important trait of excellence.
Do you want to become better? Find a direction that interests you, invest your time and energy in it first. Don't think about whether this is the best option or whether it maximizes your return on investment before you have even taken a step...

Most of these thoughts are useless; or rather, these thoughts are meaningful only to those who have already put in the effort. Think while you walk, experiment while you ponder, and let facts, actions, and time prove everything.
In 2000, I went to study in the United States to change myself.
Although I hated engineering, it was the only field where I could possibly get a scholarship, so I had to endure it. I studied hard, and my grades finally improved, but my weariness only increased.

10 No spirit, no success#

Just going through the motions without spirit is meaningless. Coming to America, I really felt the pressure to survive. Under pressure, I had to do many things I didn't like; things done reluctantly were at most second-rate or third-rate, hardly excellent.
Where does the root of the problem lie? I think it lies in interest and passion. What is it like to do things you are interested in and passionate about?
At that time, I found a new job in Indiana, but there were many frustrations.
After thinking it over, I could only think of pursuing an MBA. So I began the preparation process, working harder than ever before.
I spent a full eight months writing the most famous application essay for Stanford Business School, "What matters to you most, and why." I revised it more than 20 times. After the basic draft was completed, I revised it word by word countless times. A 3,000-word essay, every sentence, every phrase, every word was scrutinized.
By the end of the essay, I felt a sense of relief and calm.
Because I felt that for the first time, I could genuinely say that I had given it my all. Under such circumstances, if Stanford did not admit me, it should mean that fate had other plans for me. Of course, it wasn't just because of this essay.

During the year and a half of preparation, I managed to use all my spare time to apply for an MBA. This was not only my first time working so hard, but also my first time working for such a long duration, and my first time doing so without being forced.
Because of this effort, I felt a quiet confidence. Because I knew that even if I couldn't get into an MBA program, as long as I applied this level of effort to other areas, I could certainly take control of my own destiny.

My favorite saying at that time was: Grab life by the horns.
I found it particularly vivid.
Many times, fate can be terrifying and uncontrollable. But being afraid is of no use.
Rather than cowering and letting the horns poke you, it's better to confront it head-on and fight it out.
After a year and a half of preparation, I finally submitted my application. In the days leading up to the Stanford results announcement, it would be a lie to say I wasn't nervous. So many expectations, so much effort, so many emotions.
A strange voice came through the microphone, and when I heard "Congratulations, you have been admitted to Stanford Business School," my hands went numb. I had never been so excited.
I wanted to shout out loud and tell the whole world.
The pride, satisfaction, comfort, and excitement of that moment seemed unparalleled.
Perhaps nothing is sweeter than the fruits of hard work.

11 Dare to take risks, Dream Big#

Do not be satisfied with the status quo, dare to take risks, and dream big. Applying for an MBA taught me many things:

1. When consulting with some seniors, they all advised me not to apply to Stanford because my qualifications were not good enough, and the admission rate was too low (always below 10%). But I felt that I loved everything this school represented, and I had to give it a try. At worst, I wouldn't be admitted; what could happen then?

2. During the preparation, I wrote about my journey on my blog. A good friend said, "Aren't you afraid of losing face if you don't succeed?" I said I didn't want to leave myself any way out.

3. Looking back, the Stanford experience was a turning point in my life; if I lived my life over ten times, I would still make the same choice.

To be excellent, you must first dare to reach for those higher fruits. Many times, just reaching out and standing on your tiptoes has already defeated 90% of the people.

Those who are afraid to reach out often fear not failure itself, but losing face. The question is, who is watching you? For each of us, the person we care about the most is still ourselves. Those who take pleasure in mocking others' failures are almost certainly losers.

Those who are afraid to reach out often have many excuses: What if I fail, and my hard work goes to waste?
My experience is that as long as you put in the effort, it will not be in vain. Even if you don't achieve the most immediate goal, this effort will yield interest someday in the future.
Moreover, many times, even if we don't work hard, the energy saved is not spent on more meaningful things but scattered in social media, TV, and chatting online, leaving no trace.

Another common reason for not daring to reach out is: I haven't figured out my goals/methods/direction yet; once I figure it out, I'll start.
The more complex the matter, the less it can rely on mere speculation; the more important the matter, the more you need to think while you walk. On one hand, speculative ideas often do not hold; on the other hand, getting things done will inspire us with many insights.
Sometimes, Good is the enemy of great. When you already have something in hand, it is easy to be hindered and to worry about gains and losses. Reaching for higher fruits certainly carries risks. But where is the path that has high returns without risks?

More importantly, this time in school is completely different from before.

This is something I voluntarily chose, so I am very clear about why I am here. When the purpose is clear, doing things becomes organized. The school offers many opportunities, from excellent professors to interesting clubs to daily lectures...

Although it can be overwhelming, when I calm down, I can still do things according to my own ideas. For example, for courses I am interested in (Organizational Behavior), I choose them with all my might; for courses I am not interested in, I just aim to pass.

Because it is a conscious and voluntary choice, I have no complaints even when it is tough and tiring. After the hardship, there is more satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment, along with ambition.

Because it is a conscious and voluntary choice, I have less of a comparative mentality with others, focusing more on comparing with my own goals. Moreover, while pursuing my own goals, I can also enjoy the entire process.

Because it is a conscious and voluntary choice, I will be more dedicated. This is in stark contrast to my freshman year. At that time, I dragged my exhausted body to and from school every day, but my mind was not truly engaged. During these two years of the MBA, I genuinely focused on the courses that interested me.

The most obvious example is Stanford Business School's "Odd Course": Interpersonal Dynamics.

Because of the investment, the dedication, and the willingness, this course gave me a transformative experience. It is no exaggeration to say that this course changed the trajectory of my life.

The two years of study allowed me to gain knowledge and friends; more importantly, it broadened my horizons. I realized how rich and colorful this world is and learned that there are so many ways to live in this world.

As career development progresses, the importance of knowledge and skills decreases, while the importance of vision and insight increases.

Knowledge and skills can often be acquired through hard work, while vision and insight cannot be expanded solely through individual effort; they also require surrounding environments and many other factors.

12 A frog in a well? Change the well#

Everyone is inevitably a frog in a well, but we can often change wells to see different perspectives.

The most terrifying thing is not the limitations of our views, but the inability to recognize our own limitations.

How can we become aware of our limitations and be less constrained by them? Learn to look at problems from different angles.

However, it is difficult to change perspectives because the only viewpoint we have of the world is our subjective perspective. What to do?
Spend more time with excellent people. Being around excellent people will expose your limitations:

You may discover that in areas you thought you understood, there are greater depths; things you thought were simple can reveal hidden complexities in others' hands; beliefs you held firmly may not necessarily be absolute truths; theories you dismissed may stem from your own misunderstanding...

Experiencing such things often makes one more humble. My understanding of humility is not just being willing to learn when encountering excellent people, but being cautious and hesitant to draw conclusions at any time, knowing one's limitations.

With a respect for the diversity of the world and an awareness of one's limitations, accepting different perspectives becomes less obstructive, and the willingness to change wells to view the sky will be much stronger. Although ultimately we can only see a small patch of sky above us, at least we can hold in our hearts the vastness of the unseen sky.

The two years at Stanford were joyful and fulfilling. These two years were actually quite luxurious. An adult, giving up work, dedicating two years to learning new things, thinking about the future, and trying different things. Every time I look back, I am grateful for having had such an experience.

Studying for an MBA, the most important consideration may be career choice. Because the vast majority of people pursue an MBA either to change industries or to change functions. In a sense, the MBA reshuffles everyone's starting line, so everyone faces many choices and opportunities.

At that time, I had only three requirements for my career choice: 1) Return to China, 2) Management, 3) Global pay.

With several offers in hand, I quickly chose Danaher because I felt it aligned best with my path.
The opportunity at Danaher was to participate in a General Management Development Program (rotational training for general managers) at a dental medical device company.

The thought of potentially becoming a general manager after a few years, while also filling in my gaps in sales and marketing during the rotations, and receiving pay comparable to consulting firms (with stock options), led me to choose Danaher.

There were other subsidiaries to choose from at Danaher, but I ultimately chose dental. There were two reasons:

1. Dentistry is a new industry in the medical field in China;

2. At that time, this company was one of the top two globally but still small in China, and I felt there was room for growth. It turned out that both of my judgments were correct.

After working at the US headquarters for two years, overall it was quite ordinary, except for my experience in sales. This company was sales-driven, and as soon as I joined, I was told that the biggest shortcoming of the dental business was sales. Although I was extremely reluctant, I had no choice.

One day, the president asked me how sales were progressing. I said, "Uh, I'm working hard." He smiled and said, "When you sell your first order, you can go back to China."

13 What doesn't kill you makes you stronger#

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Sitting in front of the computer reminiscing about the awkward moments of the past, I find it amusing. If I were to do those things again today, while I can't say I would do them effortlessly, I certainly wouldn't feel as miserable. Why? Because I've been through it.

Many times, the hurdles we can't overcome are merely mental barriers.

No one likes to be hung up on a call, but so what if it happens?

No one likes to do things they are not good at, but so what if they stumble a few times?

Excellence comes from progress, and the essence of progress is difference. Only by doing different things and doing things in different ways can there be progress.

And when you first do something different or use a different method, you will certainly not be skilled at it; how could you be skilled at something you've never done before?

Everyone knows they should push themselves out of their comfort zones, but why do so few people do it?

I think the most important reason is the fear of failure, the fear of being denied, and the fear of being mocked. However, upon careful reflection, the ridicule of others, if it causes you any harm, is something you allow yourself.

I'm not saying it's easy to ignore the ridicule of others; even today, I can't fully achieve that.

But being afraid of failure, being mocked, and losing face, and thus not daring to try different things, is probably the greatest enemy of excellence.

If you want to become better, you must actively do those things that make you uncomfortable.
Jack Ma said that a man's heart is expanded by grievances. I say that a person's courage is expanded by awkward situations. Without courage, true excellence is impossible.

Having sold my first order, it was almost time to return to China. In early 2010, I was officially sent back.

At that time, the company was in its infancy. It had just been established for a few months, and there was almost nothing except for the office. I had only been back for two months when the general manager was fired due to a disagreement with the US headquarters, leading to even more chaos, and I became the temporary head. In the following months, I truly experienced what it was like to be both a father and a mother.

For the company to grow, the first step was to hire people. At that time, I was dealing with four or five headhunters simultaneously, screening resumes, arranging interviews, and managing the process; several headhunters even thought I was the HR manager.

To sell products, the first step was to stock up. I was the most knowledgeable about the products, so I had to grit my teeth and select those items among tens of thousands of SKUs that were most likely to sell well in China. If I ordered too much, I was afraid of being scolded by the American boss for high inventory; if I ordered too little, I was afraid of being scolded by the agents for stockouts.

When sales representatives were hired, there was no one to train them, so I stepped in. From product knowledge to philosophy, from company culture to rules and regulations.

Without IT support, I took charge. The US headquarters needed financial data, and we didn't have a finance manager, so I stepped in.

I cobbled together a few Excel spreadsheets that were barely presentable. Fortunately, the American finance team saw our situation and didn't push us too hard.

The CEO of the parent company wanted a strategic plan, but we didn't even have a general manager, so I stepped in.

With two colleagues, I stayed up for two days to piece together a PPT to get by, and surprisingly, it received positive feedback. When we couldn't sign agents, I teamed up with the sales manager, drawing big pictures, drinking, and building camaraderie.

Anything that has value and no one else is doing, I will try my best to do.

And so the team was built, and the performance steadily improved...

Until the company hired a new general manager, at which point I was moved from the temporary head position to the marketing manager role. I felt a bit disappointed, but I had no regrets because I learned a lot during that time.

I graduated from college and went abroad, having no work experience in China. I knew very little about the dental industry in China, starting almost from scratch. In fact, if the company hadn't been in chaos, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to make many decisions.

Perhaps someone in that situation would have made different choices: "The flag on the city wall changes; shouldn't I wait to see the direction before working hard? What if I choose the wrong side?"

Or, "Shouldn't I negotiate terms before putting in effort to avoid ending up empty-handed?" Indeed, some people advised me that I didn't need to be so serious since it wasn't my own business, just a job.
But I still have no regrets.

I fought hard to secure an opportunity that could reflect my value; I didn't want to waste it. My mediocre time had already lasted long enough; I wanted to shine. I wanted to release all my energy and see what I could achieve.

Moreover, from a purely utilitarian perspective, this experience allowed me to quickly understand the significance and methods of various functional departments within the company, and it helped me establish relationships with various departments at the US headquarters. Only by doing more can one learn more; only by caring can one reap rewards. Heaven is fair on this matter.

In fact, my later resignation was largely related to the loss of this state.

14 Don't be too attached to gains and losses#

If you don't care who gains what, your achievements will have no limits.

To be honest, not caring is difficult. However, we ultimately have to make choices. Without taking on responsibilities, there is no learning.

The more you take on, the more you naturally give. I have a theory: if you cannot make decisions, or if you cannot bear the consequences of your decisions, you cannot truly learn.

In fact, coasting in a big company is very similar to riding a bike with training wheels and someone holding you up.

The better the company, the more refined the processes and systems. Processes and systems are like training wheels; their greatest significance is to prevent us from making mistakes and to minimize errors. The highest realm of processes is actually "fool-proofing."

What does fool-proofing mean? It means that even a fool won't make mistakes. So let's think about it: when we work in such a system every day, how much stimulation does our brain receive, and how much progress do we make?

If you have a boss who manages every detail, what can you learn? Because such a boss is like someone who is always holding you up while you ride. Your chances of falling are indeed reduced, but you also lose the opportunity to learn.

What's even scarier is that you might think you've achieved a lot. Working on an excellent platform, it can sometimes be hard to distinguish what is your contribution and what is the platform's contribution. Most people tend to think it is their own contribution at such times. Worse than not learning skills is thinking you are great when you haven't learned anything.

The first three years after returning to China were the most exhausting but also the happiest. Watching the team grow day by day, seeing the business I was responsible for thrive, and witnessing the brand I managed become increasingly well-known, I could feel my understanding of the industry, management, and business deepening.

However, as the company grew, many things began to change.

The first change is that when the number of employees exceeds 100, not every new employee can be called by name; second, with the establishment of various rules and processes, a sense of bureaucracy gradually begins to emerge; third, as the company scales up, layers increase, structures become complex, and political dynamics start to appear.

In fact, these phenomena are difficult to avoid and even necessary. After all, a large foreign enterprise cannot operate too casually. To ensure that the company does not make basic mistakes, it must implement various constraints to prevent one person's carelessness from causing significant damage.

However, for me, this orderly life became increasingly difficult to endure. Processing 200 emails a day no longer made me feel like I was creating value; instead, it felt increasingly formal, as too many emails were about seeking or granting approvals; spending the whole year making PPTs no longer felt like realizing my ideas but rather like just fulfilling duties.

As I became more familiar with the company's business, as the accumulations of the past few years began to yield results in the market, and as the team's structure became more established, my days became easier.

With experienced national sales managers helping with sales, and several department managers in the marketing department handling execution details, I seemed to have more and more time to do what I wanted. But still, something felt off...

For the first time, I felt reluctant to go to work on a Monday morning; previously, I was always excited about the projects I wanted to design and the tasks I needed to complete.

In fact, that year was the easiest year since I returned to China; performance was good, relationships were good, and career development was good. In four years back home, I was promoted three times and was identified as a key talent by the headquarters;

I often attended training and meetings aimed at general manager-level individuals, and I was usually the youngest and lowest-ranked person there. I knew that if I endured for another year or two, I would become a general manager of some company.

But suddenly, I felt I didn't want to endure anymore. Because I recalled a quote from Steve Jobs during his speech at Stanford University.

"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: If you live each day as if it was your last day, someday you'll most certainly be right."

It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself:

If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

At that time, my state was no longer about "if this were the last day of my life, would I want to do these things"; it was fundamentally that I truly didn't want to do this for another day, regardless of how many days I had left to live.

The essence of the problem is that I could no longer accept this way of working.

Even if I changed companies, the situation would not change; in fact, it might be worse. After realizing this, I understood that entrepreneurship was my only path.

Speaking of entrepreneurship, I must mention my Stanford alumnus Chen Ou.

He is a year below me, so we didn't interact much during school. We had a few meals together, chatted a few times, and he even called me once about course selection, but that was about it.

So at that time, he didn't leave a deep impression on me. I heard about him again at a class reunion when someone mentioned he was running a cosmetics website.

At that time, the general opinion was: A big man with no e-commerce experience, how could he possibly succeed in running a cosmetics website? I thought the analysis was quite reasonable.

I heard again about how his website became popular, making tens of millions in a day. Then everyone was envious, and I was no exception.

The subsequent story can basically be found on Baidu. In short, he took a cosmetics website public on the NYSE in three years, becoming the youngest CEO in the 220-year history of the NYSE.

He instantly became the most well-known Stanford alumnus. If you asked me to describe a typical pinnacle of success, it would be something like this.

Such stories happening around me had a significant impact on me. I suddenly felt a bit disdainful of the things I had been doing. I felt that compared to him, the little business I managed was somewhat insignificant.

Compared to his achievements, what I was doing seemed so trivial. What was even more frightening was that according to the trajectory of my work at that time, if I drew a line extending into the future, five years later, I still wouldn't be able to compare with him. This thought deeply shook me.

Comparing oneself to others is the source of all suffering. I understand this principle. However, when faced with such a comparable person and such a stark contrast, it still made it hard for me to remain calm.

Entrepreneurship was almost the only choice. However, when truly faced with the decision, I still felt very uncertain.

Both of my parents are teachers, and I grew up in a school environment. Going to college, studying abroad, and working were all conventional paths.

Now suddenly quitting my job to start a business, facing enormous unknowns, this transition was too big. I felt scared inside.

When discussing this with friends and family, everyone surprisingly supported me.

When I told my wife about my entrepreneurial idea, she said, "I definitely support you. Because I understand how much you want to do this, if I don't support you, you will resent me for life, hahaha..."

At that time, we had just bought a house and were preparing for our second child; entrepreneurship meant taking a salary of less than 20% of my previous one, and our standard of living would definitely decline; and this decline was uncertain in duration... In this situation, she was still willing to support me, and I was very grateful.

When my parents found out, they were worried but still supportive. They had been teachers all their lives and had no savings, but they were ready to put everything they had into my venture.

This is what parents are like, always thinking of their children. Even at over 70, they still worry about their child in their forties. Writing this brings tears to my eyes.

What moved me the most was my father-in-law. He is usually not very talkative.

After he learned about my thoughts, he specifically told me: "My life has been plain and ordinary, with no achievements. But I support you in starting a business; young people should take risks."

"Just do well ahead, and we will support you from behind!" I was particularly moved at that moment, speechless. This sounded like something out of an old-fashioned TV drama, but I knew the sentiment behind it.

However, what ultimately pushed me to take that step was my brother, my biological brother. He is 14 years older than me and very accomplished. Since childhood, he has been my role model: studying abroad, returning home, and doing management; I have followed in his footsteps.

On my journey of growth, he has been more like a mentor, always standing at a higher vantage point, providing ideas and advice.

When the idea of entrepreneurship first emerged, I told my brother first. To my surprise, he was even more excited than I was. He said, "You must do it; such a great market, why not? And your personality and characteristics are very suitable for this."

When my entrepreneurial idea began to take shape, he said, "If I were ten years younger, I would quit my job and do it with you. Even if others don't invest, I would invest in you."

I must admit, my brother's enthusiasm influenced me.

Originally, I was very hesitant, sometimes feeling unprepared, sometimes thinking it was a pity to give up everything I had, sometimes doubting the reliability of entrepreneurship, and sometimes wondering why life had to be so hard when I could live comfortably... But his enthusiasm suddenly made me feel that I didn't need to hesitate anymore.

Three months after the entrepreneurial thought emerged, I officially submitted my resignation letter.

15 People are products of their environment#

Although we all like to think of ourselves as unique, the influence of our environment is immense.

When your classmates take scoring 90 points for granted, and when your classmates consider scoring 60 points as the highest requirement, how will you set your goals?

When your colleagues complain and blame laziness every day, and when your colleagues study, think, and improve every day, what will your state be like?

Warren Buffett said that the most important decision in your career development is who you choose as your spouse.

I couldn't agree more. I think the reasoning is simple: because your spouse spends more time with you than anyone else, they are the most important factor in your environment.

Your spouse's worldview, values, and approach to life will greatly influence you, either positively or negatively.

There is another saying that the wealth you ultimately possess is the average wealth of your five closest friends, which is quite alarming upon reflection.

But it still conveys the same principle.

If someone among your classmates becomes a billionaire, it will lead most people to rethink how to define success in terms of wealth. At least, it did for me.

Is it that you can only excel by entering a good environment, or is it that you can only enter a good environment by being excellent?

I believe they are mutually causal.

The more excellent you are, the more likely you are to connect with excellent people; the more excellent people you connect with, the more likely you are to become excellent.
What does this mean for us?

1. Strive for progress; 2) Carefully choose the people around you.

Entrepreneurship is difficult; this phrase is not just a saying.

The first day after leaving the company felt quite strange. On one hand, I was eager to try, feeling like the sky was the limit; on the other hand, I still felt somewhat uncertain.

After all, I was about to embark on something that generally has a success rate of less than 95%;

After all, I had no entrepreneurial experience whatsoever;

After all, at over thirty, I was giving up a stable job and an opportunity envied by many.

Building a team, determining direction, finding funding, and getting started... In the blink of an eye, more than a year has passed.

I never thought entrepreneurship would be easy, but I certainly didn't anticipate the difficulties I would face. Only by doing it myself did I realize that all the hardships of entrepreneurship that had been mentioned a hundred times were indeed real.

1. No safety net, only challenges ahead.

In a big company, facing clients is the challenge, and returning to the company is the safety net. In entrepreneurship, especially in the early stages, there is no safety net at all. Looking around, there are problems everywhere. If you want to solve a problem, you find that you have nothing to work with.

2. Starting from scratch, everything is in disarray.

I used to rely on the company's resources, my team, and personal accumulations; in a startup, there is nothing. If you want something to happen, you better ensure it happens directly.
3) Freedom.

There is a saying I particularly agree with: "Entrepreneurship gives you freedom, and entrepreneurship gives you the freedom to dedicate all your time and energy to work," and it is indeed so. However, the most exhausting part is not the work itself, but the anxiety.

4. 24x7 anxiety.
   After starting a business, the boundaries between work and life become blurred; regardless of the time or place, whenever I have a moment of leisure, my mind automatically begins to consider work-related matters.
   It is completely involuntary, and I am basically uninterested in everything else. Half the time is spent thinking about various possibilities, and the other half is spent worrying about various concerns: direction, team, business, funding, or even not knowing what I am anxious about...

I am an inherently optimistic person, yet in entrepreneurship, I began to understand what "depression" means.

I feel that depression is unwarranted anxiety. Anxiety has become the norm. When I was in a company, as long as I clocked out, I could usually set work aside if I wanted to.

Because fundamentally, in a big company, nothing is truly catastrophic. If it really doesn't work out, I can just find another job. However, entrepreneurship is different because of responsibility.

5. Responsibility.

As the founder, I must bear the responsibility.

Family: I am earning less than one-fifth of my previous salary, and I am so busy that I can't take care of my family, significantly affecting the quality of life for everyone. The key is that I cannot guarantee how long this situation will last, nor what the outcome will be after several years. So I must consider what entrepreneurship means for them.

Team: Several of them left good companies, giving up a lot to start this venture with me. Although we are all adults making our own decisions, I must be worthy of their trust.

Investors: Without the support of investors, our business cannot even begin. I must be responsible for this support.

Clients: Clients trust us, and since we provide medical services, we must ensure that we do things right. The word "excuse" cannot exist in a founder's dictionary. Because that word is meaningless.

If, due to this entrepreneurship, my family suffers in vain, the team wastes their time, energy, and youth, investors waste their money, and clients' interests are harmed; no matter how good my excuses are, all of this is still caused by me. I must take responsibility.
Such thorough responsibility greatly influences one's mindset. Aside from the pressure, the biggest difference is that I no longer blame others. Because blaming is worthless here. Entrepreneurship is my own choice, so no matter what happens, I have no other path but to find a solution. If I must blame, I can only blame myself.

I am certain that the difficulties I encounter in the future will only increase and become greater. However, I do not regret it at all. If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose entrepreneurship. Because this is the life I want.

16 If you want it, go for it!#

If you want it, take action.

One of the biggest realizations since starting my business is that "good ideas are essentially worthless," and they can even be detrimental. How so?

Do you have people around you who always have a lot of "great ideas"?

When they describe their ideas, they are always full of enthusiasm, vividly painting scenarios that combine current international situations and the latest technological trends, full of cleverness and innovation; yet they always remain at the idea stage.

In fact, this is true for most people, as it is easiest to dabble.

Coming up with ideas is merely the simplest step in making something happen.

When envisioning scenarios in your mind, you do not have to be responsible for the consequences of those scenarios.

When ideas are flying in your head, many details seem unimportant under the brilliance of a "good idea."

However, in reality, it is the details that determine success or failure.

Every person you hire, every decision you make, every supplier you choose, every penny you spend, every strategy you formulate; a business is built upon countless such details.

When we do not take action, our "ideas" can change at any time.

These "good ideas" make us feel excellent and imaginative. Thus, we become more complacent or more inclined to critique others.

However, until we take the first step, these ideas are all just illusions. It is said that no business plan survives to see Series A.

This means that the direction of all businesses is gradually explored through practice.

Most people who think they can succeed in entrepreneurship with just an idea have likely never ventured into business or done anything with high uncertainty.

But once you take that first step, even if it is a small step or a wobbly step, real learning begins, and true progress becomes possible.

Like a girl?

Don't get caught up in whether she likes you, or what the best way to approach her is. Take action immediately, pursue her! Many things can only be understood by doing.

Want to change jobs?

Don't hesitate over the unknowns, don't worry about the risks. Pull out your resume and start revising it now; find the headhunters' numbers and talk to them; check job opportunities on recruitment websites. It's not too late to consider whether to switch after you have an offer in hand.

Want to become excellent?

Start taking action immediately. Reading is fine, writing articles is fine, running is fine, traveling is fine. Anything is fine, just don't be idle. We only live once. Do something. Anything. If not you, who? If not now, when?

Finally, let me share my motto, and I hope you like it.

"Work like you don't need money, dance like no one is watching, love like you've never been hurt."