Discussion on Career, Income, and Mindset
This article summarizes a conversation between Tu Wang, a programmer at Amex, and Mr. Ke (host), exploring topics related to career paths, income generation, and mindset shifts. The discussion covers various experiences, from working in tech to considering entrepreneurial ventures and personal growth.
Background and Experience
Tu Wang shares his professional background, noting he has been working for 11 years since graduating in 2014. He previously worked at Schneider Electronics, Amazon for four years, and Meta for five years, where he is currently a Tech Lead. His team consists of about ten people. He also mentions interacting with a manager from Mr. Ke's academy and appreciating the different managerial perspectives.
Exploring Alternative Income Streams
The conversation transitions to exploring alternative income streams and entrepreneurial ideas. Mr. Ke recalls Tu Wang's midlife crisis video from 2019 and his interest in content creation. They discuss the possibility of Tu Wang offering professional guidance, resume reviews, and interview services.
Tu Wang expresses reservations about this path, citing concerns about sustainability and the potential for his skills to become irrelevant if his career changes. He prefers not to engage in activities that don't offer him personal learning or growth. This leads to a thought experiment proposed by Mr. Ke, asking if Tu Wang would provide marketing interview or direct launch consulting services if asked. Tu Wang reiterates his disinterest, highlighting the lack of personal gain from such endeavors.
Maximizing Income and Value
Mr. Ke reframes the discussion, assuming Tu Wang needs the income and wants to maximize it in this specific area. He asks how Tu Wang would price his services, focusing on maximizing revenue and attracting clients willing to pay a premium.
Initially, Tu Wang suggests a rate of 100 yuan per hour for interview preparation. Mr. Ke counters that this is too cheap and prompts him to consider the perceived value he provides. He challenges Tu Wang to think about how to deliver 10,000 yuan worth of value in an hour, thus justifying a higher price point, potentially 1,000 yuan. This involves significant preparation and articulating the potential return on investment (ROI) for the client.
Mindset Shifts and Personal Growth
The conversation shifts towards mindset and personal growth. Tu Wang reflects on his upbringing in China, where success is often defined by adhering to a predetermined path of academic achievement and career advancement. He shares an experience of converting his Seattle home into an Airbnb, initially finding it challenging due to the uncertainty and perceived risks. Over time, he adapted to the pressure and eventually embraced the experience by detaching himself from personal belongings and managing the property remotely. This experience taught him the value of outsourcing tasks and spending money to solve problems.
He acknowledges that his mindset is primarily shaped by his work environment. He expresses that a more dramatic shift in perspective would likely occur if he left the corporate world. He also mentions Alex Xu, a system design expert, who also believed a $1,000 price point was too low for his services.
Business and Consulting Perspectives
Tu Wang shares his takeaway from interacting with successful individuals like Alex Xu: the idea of providing limited consulting services to a select clientele. While the concept is appealing, he acknowledges the challenges of identifying and reaching a target audience. Mr. Ke emphasizes that these insights require internalizing and experiencing firsthand the difficulties involved. Tu Wang reflects on his past experiences, including a failed interview, and the lessons learned from those situations.
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