#185 What I learned from last week's trip to Shanghai (21/12/2025)

Last week's trip to Shanghai was indeed very enlightening for me, so I'll continue writing this week. As I mentioned in last week's journal entry, sometimes it's helpful to go out and talk to someone, to share the problems you're facing. The other person's answer or solution might not be useful, but it could give you a new perspective on the matter, and you might suddenly realize it yourself. For example, last week in Shanghai, we rented a new Tesla Model Y for commuting. Jason (THINKTHING STUDIO) often mentioned while driving that the new Model Y didn't have a gearshift lever, and you had to use the steering wheel to turn. Every time he had trouble turning, he would say, "Wow, Elon Musk, you said the best part is no part, is that true, sir? Is this okay?" I heard this many times in the car, and it slowly stuck in my head. When I was thinking about the products I was working on, this phrase, "the best part is no part," would come to mind. Thinking about it, although people might laugh at this, if you really think about it, it actually shows his wisdom.

The most interesting thing was when I was on my flight back to Hong Kong. I was reading a book that had absolutely nothing to do with Elon Musk, and I saw similar content. It's possible that when you're thinking about something, you're more likely to encounter similar content elsewhere. What's interesting is that recently at work I've encountered a situation that forces me to improve and advance further. Just when I was struggling, worried, and feeling that it was really too difficult, this sentence really helped me. It helped me understand some things. I think that's sometimes how work is; you can't just focus on one thing. Often, if you think about something frequently, keeping it in your back to mind, you'll understand it when the right time comes.

When I was in Shanghai, I had a major epiphany. I'd done a lot of things, but I'd also lost a bit of direction. I was quite confused. People outside often thought I was doing well, but I was still me, nothing special. I took the same minibus to and from work, and I always brought my own lunch. I tried different directions at work, but it was all pretty much the same. However, after this trip, I gained some inspiration. I feel like I've rediscovered myself. And since returning, my mind has been clearer, and I've found my direction again. I'm very clear about what I want and what I need. I think after talking to people, I'm much clearer! Let's go.