In the face of the constant changes in the industry, some choose to switch jobs, while others, with their keen insight and opportunities, have successfully achieved a stunning transformation. This time, we will explore an admirable career leap story, filled with elements of wisdom and courage.
This female compatriot had impressive achievements at ByteDance—with a monthly salary of 55,000 before tax plus stock option income, totaling an annual salary of about 1.2 million. Despite having an attractive position and income, she resolutely chose to leave and join a business she had worked with before as CEO. The business not only offered a monthly salary of 60,000 but also generous bonuses and commissions, with an annual salary total up to 3 million.
She used her experience and resources accumulated on the platform to help the business gradually establish itself on the TikTok platform. She not only helped the business increase its value but also won trust and a stable career opportunity. From an employee at a major company to a successful company CEO, this lady has shown extraordinary courage and foresight.
When asked about her intention for the change, she shared her thought process. Forced by the pandemic to work remotely from a hotel away from her team, it was during this time that she began to deeply reflect on her career path. Previously, she and her colleagues found certain industry views ridiculous, but upon rethinking them, she realized that her development within the corporation reached a ceiling. The true essence of professional advancement lies in whether one can grasp the pulse of industry development and its rise and fall.
She realized that despite her achievements in her field, achieving substantial growth was still a daunting challenge. This profound awareness and vision ultimately led her to make the decision to change her destiny.
It is such a story that shows us an extraordinary journey of personal growth and transformation. It reminds us that no matter what position we are in, when we have a deep understanding and prediction of the industry, transformation and success are no longer elusive phantoms.
Although I am aware that the outcome may not be optimistic, I still have to carry out the arduous task of reporting, and I can almost foresee the development of the upcoming presentation. Fully knowing that success might not be achievable, we must still confidently report progress to our superiors. As for the leaders, their performance task is even more daunting, needing to demonstrate even firmer belief. These seemingly enthusiastic reports often turn out to be empty talk without substance, which I find to be an immense waste of time.
A lady who knows the inside story showed me the reality of the promotion system within large corporations: Once you reach a certain job level while working in such big factories, unless you are very lucky and happen to engage in a rapidly growing project, it’s almost impossible to achieve greater accomplishments and promotions solely based on one’s abilities. Anyone observant should understand that the operations of a large corporation aren’t much connected to your personal ability. It often relies more on whether you are fortunate enough to ride the historic wave and seize certain opportunities.
However, she told me, the most important stroke of luck was not uncovering an issue at the big company but meeting her current boss, the founder of the company, there. As a manager responsible for specific categories, she selflessly helped capable merchants, leveraging platform resources to help them make money without asking for anything in return. Consequently, she enjoys a good reputation in the industry. She mentioned that, even though she seemed to have a lot of authority, her influence was limited. What was truly valuable to her boss were these informational resources. By utilizing the information she had, she exchanged social resources with business leaders.
The lady revealed that her decision to leave the big company was due to six months of in-depth conversations with her current boss and a profound understanding of the company’s operations. What she needed was a solid business foundation from the merchants and an in-depth understanding of the specific industry, which coincidentally, her boss needed her expertise in platform operations and the professional conduct cultivated in large enterprises. Combining their respective strengths, they clicked instantly.
Working with bosses who come from grassroots backgrounds, the key is to establish mutual trust. These supply-chain driven entrepreneurs tend to foster a relaxed and pleasant working atmosphere by sharing life anecdotes, marriage stories, and even monthly family gatherings to strengthen connections between team members. This sense of belonging originates from her previous experiences on the platform assisting these merchants in succeeding, and both parties respect each other due to aligned values.
She believes that this relationship of trust and aligned values is the luck most needed when transitioning from a big company to other industries—finding a partner and founder who both ensures a steady cash flow and fully acknowledges your business capabilities is no easy feat.
So, what’s the right course of action? Firstly, become someone who enjoys helping others succeed. At the same time, build up enough savings to ensure financial security, so that you dare to venture into new things. Moreover, maintain caution regarding the idea of starting your own business because the environment in startups is very different from large corporations, with tremendous risks.
Lastly, in response to countless consultations and complaints from people desperate for change after leaving big corporations, we should understand: there are no shortcuts in life; hope must be nurtured in despair, and we must work silently, waiting for the right moment to come. This is my conclusive summary on the big company series—surviving in the complex ecology of a large enterprise is never easy, and each of us is striving to find our own path.
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