A few years ago, when I was running another business, I pushed through all kinds of pressure — constantly expanding the client base, constantly growing the internal team, and using numbers to motivate myself and my team. But with expansion came a series of challenges: the capacity and resilience of my partners and team were tested, and I personally fell ill on the day before Christmas holidays for two consecutive years due to irregular eating habits and stress.
After accumulating more client experience and seeing my team grow, I reflected on the entire journey and came to a realization: the essence of business is not merely about transactions, profit, systems, management, or technology — it is about people.
I became more convinced that the core of business is people, not other factors. Whether you are serving a dish, selling a house, or providing any service, at its heart, it is an interaction between people. Products, technology, and services are only bridges; what truly defines value is the understanding and care between people.
Looking back, one-off transactions are not difficult. The real challenge is how to earn lasting trust and reputation. When clients feel that you and your team respect, understand, and genuinely care for them, they will not only continue working with you but also recommend you to others.
A company should focus not only on its clients but also on its team. A respected and motivated team generates greater creativity and stronger execution. Only within a people-centered culture can a business truly achieve long-term growth.
When I first came into contact with technologies like artificial intelligence and big data, I felt a wave of anxiety. Thanks to the growth of my team, I had the space to reflect and realized that while these technologies are indeed reshaping business models, no matter how fast the world changes, understanding, respecting, and serving people remain at the core of business. More recently, I’ve grown more confident that my team and I can go further. With limited energy, we can now harness leading technologies to allow both our team and our clients to focus on what people are meant to do — the things that come from the heart.
Chasing profit is, of course, part of doing business. But only when we truly put people first can business go further. There is no such thing as perfection in this world; we are all learning and practicing along the way.