Many people can’t put their pride down when doing things. They’re always afraid of being rejected, and pride itself is the thing with the lowest cost. Once you truly manage to do something, your pride will naturally come back.

Today, I saw Lei Jun at the CCTV livestream site, actively going over to Elon Musk to pose for a photo. It really struck a chord with me. Looking further back, back then when Huang Renxun came to China, he would also smile and shout “Xiaomi is mighty.” During Xiaomi’s hardest time, when it was being choked by the South Korean supply chain, Lei Jun accompanied tycoons to drink and talk about cooperation. Looking back now, these are simply the road they traveled on the way here.

Many truly great people have come this way—proactively, step by step, getting closer to stronger people. In your youth, don’t be afraid of embarrassment, and don’t be afraid of rejection either. Be a bit more proactive, work a bit harder, keep doing things, and reach out to people who are better than you. Many opportunities open up little by little this way.