Zhang Yiming Faced This Struggle That Teens Should Know About

Hey teens (and parents who are sneakily reading this),
So, you want to be the next top business mogul, huh? Dreaming of yachts, custom sneakers, and your own personal drone army? Cool! But before you go full CEO mode, let’s talk about one of the biggest names in the business world: Zhang Yiming, yes, the guy behind TikTok, the app you use to perfect those 15-second dance moves.

Believe it or not, Zhang didn’t just wake up one day with a billion-dollar app idea. Nope, he had to face his own battles. And guess what? One of his biggest struggles is something you might be dealing with too!

Struggle Alert: The “Am I Doing the Right Thing?” Syndrome

Zhang Yiming is a classic example of someone who didn’t exactly follow the “expected path.” Imagine this: He studied software engineering, safe, solid, parent-approved. But instead of sticking with the boring 9-to-5 grind, Zhang decided to break the mold.

When Zhang founded ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, many people around him thought he was nuts. “Short videos? People swiping endlessly on their phones? Nah, that’ll never work.” Even Zhang admitted that he had doubts about whether he was doing the right thing.

Lesson for You: Doubts Are Normal

If Zhang had let his doubts control him, TikTok might not exist (and where would we be without the endless scroll of cat videos?). The key is that he didn’t let fear stop him.
So here’s the takeaway:

• Feel the fear and do it anyway. Doubts will come, but they’re just a part of the process.
• Experiment. Zhang kept tweaking his ideas until he found one that clicked. You don’t have to get it right the first time!

Struggle 2: Balancing Passion and Pressure

Zhang also had to face the dreaded parental pressure. Yep, even a future tech billionaire wasn’t immune to that. His family wanted him to play it safe and stick with a traditional career. Sound familiar?

But Zhang was stubborn (in the best way possible). He was passionate about creating something unique and stayed focused on his vision. This wasn’t easy, there were late nights, failures, and a lot of explaining his “crazy” ideas to skeptical investors.

Lesson for You: Balance Is Key

It’s okay to respect your parents’ advice (they do know some things, after all), but it’s also okay to follow your passion. Here’s how you can balance both:

• Show them your plan. If you want to start a business, don’t just say, “I’m gonna be rich!” Create a mini business plan, even if it’s for your lemonade stand.
• Prove you’re serious. When your parents see you’re working hard and not just daydreaming about Lamborghinis, they’re more likely to support you.

Struggle 3: Learning from Failure

Here’s a secret: Before TikTok, Zhang Yiming worked on other projects that didn’t take off. Gasp! Shocking, right? Not everything he touched turned to gold. In fact, he once said, “If you hit all your goals, you’re probably aiming too low.”

Some of his early ideas flopped, but instead of giving up, he took those lessons and used them to build something better.

Lesson for You: Failure Isn’t Fatal

• Reframe failure. Think of failure as feedback. If something doesn’t work, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?”
• Keep moving. The faster you try again, the closer you’ll get to success.

Struggle 4: Handling Haters

Oh, Zhang definitely had his share of critics. When TikTok started gaining popularity, people said it was a waste of time or just a “kids’ app.” Zhang didn’t argue with them; he let TikTok’s success do the talking.

Lesson for You: Ignore the Noise

• Not everyone will get your vision. And that’s okay!
• Use criticism as motivation. Prove the doubters wrong, not by arguing, but by succeeding.

Struggle 5: Staying Humble Amid Success

Even after all his success, Zhang Yiming isn’t the flashy billionaire type. He stays focused on improving his products and helping others succeed. That’s a pretty good role model if you ask me.

Lesson for You: Stay Grounded

• Celebrate your wins, but don’t let them go to your head. Success is a journey, not a destination.
• Give back. As you climb the ladder, remember to lift others up too.

Your “Zhang Yiming Starter Pack”

Want to channel your inner Zhang Yiming? Here’s what you need:

1. Curiosity: Keep learning. Read books, watch videos, and ask questions.
2. Perseverance: Don’t let one setback stop you.
3. Creativity: Think outside the box.
4. Humility: Stay grounded and focused.

Final Thoughts: The World Needs Your Ideas

Remember, Zhang Yiming was once just a guy with a dream and a lot of doubts. Now, he’s changed how the world communicates, one swipe at a time. If he can do it, so can you.

So, teens, what’s your big idea? Whatever it is, start small, stay consistent, and don’t let the struggles scare you away. Who knows? Maybe in a few years, someone will be writing a blog post about your journey.