Lessons from Zhang Yiming, founder of Bytedance

On Mindset and Personal Growth

Maintain an "ordinary mind." Zhang emphasizes the importance of staying grounded and calm, a concept he refers to as having an "ordinary mind." He believes that "ordinary people can do extraordinary things" if they maintain this mindset. [1][2]
"When hungry, eat; when tired, sleep." This is Zhang's simple yet profound definition of an "ordinary mind." It's about focusing on the present moment without overthinking or being distracted by anxieties about the past or future. [1]
Delay gratification. This is a recurring theme in Zhang's philosophy. He believes that the ability to resist short-term rewards for long-term gains is a key differentiator between individuals and is crucial for success. [3]
"Mediocrity has gravity, you need escape velocity." (Chinese: 平庸有重力，需要逃逸速度。) This was once his Weibo signature, reflecting his constant drive to avoid complacency and strive for excellence. [3][4]
Patience is a critical virtue for entrepreneurs. Zhang learned the importance of tolerating loneliness and basing judgments on long-term thinking rather than short-term distractions during his time at Nankai University. [5]
Be optimistic about uncertainty. When faced with ambitious goals, skepticism can prevent you from trying hard. Optimists, on the other hand, are more willing to believe and take on challenges. [5]
Self-reflection is the start of growth. In a Weibo post, Zhang mentioned that approaching 30, he felt he was re-learning fundamentals like how to read, understand himself, communicate, and manage his time. [3]
Focus on the present; treat the past and future with an ordinary mind. He advises against dwelling on past mistakes or having excessive anxiety about the future, as this can lead to missing present opportunities. [6]
"We are what we repeatedly do, not what we repeatedly think or want or say." This highlights his emphasis on action and execution over mere intentions. [3]
When facing a difficult choice, take a step back. He suggests using more important principles and a longer time scale to measure the options, which often makes the right path clear. [7]

On Business and Strategy

Going "all-in" can sometimes be a form of laziness. Zhang cautions against using "all-in" as a substitute for deep strategic thinking. It can be a gamble taken out of a desire to avoid further thought. [2]
A global vision from the start. From the early days in a small apartment, Zhang and his team discussed globalization. He believes that for the mobile internet, Chinese and overseas companies started at the same time, making global competition inevitable and necessary. [8]
Don't confuse external reasons for internal ones, and don't mistake luck for competency. He warns against becoming complacent or fearful after achieving success, urging teams to maintain the same bold imagination they had when they were the underdogs. [2][6]
Focus on creating value, not just on competition. "If you regard society as a system, you will find that you are not fighting for others' share, but creating new elements." [9]
The best way to predict the future is to invent it. This quote, often attributed to others but embraced by Zhang, encapsulates his proactive and innovative approach to technology and business.
Leverage AI as a core technology. Zhang's vision for ByteDance was to build an "AI-driven company, not just a product company," using artificial intelligence to personalize user experiences at a massive scale. [10]
Recognize major trends, like the shift to mobile. Zhang saw the "wave of the mobile internet" as a massive opportunity early on, which was a key motivation for starting ByteDance. [9]
Build a company like you build a product. This implies a focus on user experience (for employees), continuous iteration, and a clear definition of goals. [3]
A company's strongest enemy is a lack of frankness. He deeply believes that a culture of open and honest communication is vital for success. [7]
Don't be overly defined by external evaluations. Zhang is wary of "ByteDance successology," urging his team to set their own high standards rather than being shaped by outside praise or criticism. [1]

On Leadership and Management

Stay calm and be patient. During crises, Zhang's consistent advice is to remain calm, make rational decisions, and not panic, as this often leads to the best possible outcomes. [2][6]
Focus on long-term initiatives. In his letter announcing he was stepping down as CEO, Zhang stated his intention to focus on "long-term strategy, corporate culture, and social responsibility" to create more possibilities for the company over a ten-year horizon. [11]
When communication is difficult, be more candid. He believes the best solution to communication barriers isn't complex techniques but rather greater honesty and transparency. [7]
A leader's job is to create a platform for others. He sees his role as providing the resources and environment for talented people to succeed.
Recruit global talent for a global company. To truly localize and succeed internationally, it's essential to build teams with local talent who understand the culture. [8]
Have a "Martian perspective." In an internal letter addressing geopolitical challenges, he encouraged employees to adopt a broader, less nationalistic viewpoint to understand the cultural conflicts a global company faces. [12][13]
Define and break down goals clearly. He advocates for defining the objective of any task, breaking it down, and communicating it via email to invite feedback, avoid redundancy, and prevent misunderstandings. [7]
Your sense of responsibility pushes you to do more. In his early career, he never distinguished between his assigned tasks and other problems he could help with. This proactive approach allowed him to gain invaluable experience. [5]
Work is a process of accumulating credibility. He believes that every task is an opportunity to build your reputation for reliability and excellence. [3]
Hire people with a strong learning ability and ambition. He values these traits as they are crucial for growth in a rapidly changing industry.

On Product and Users

User-centric product development is core. The success of ByteDance is built on a profound focus on understanding and serving user needs. [9]
The future is in the aggregation, search, correlation, and recommendation of information. He posted this on Weibo back in 2010, foreseeing the core technology that would power his empire. [6]
Embrace short-form content. He understood the shrinking attention spans of users and championed the short-form video format as perfectly suited for the mobile age.
"We push information, not by queries, but by news recommendations." This quote succinctly explains the fundamental difference between ByteDance's content platforms and traditional search engines. [10]
Obsess over product quality. His early experience working with Wang Xing (founder of Meituan) taught him to "pay close attention to each pixel and color choice." [9]
Observe users directly. In the early days, he and his management team would conduct random interviews with users on the streets of cities like Delhi and Chongqing to understand their habits. [1]
The power of advertising is in accuracy. He recognized early on that the value of online ads was not just about traffic, but about how precisely they could reach target consumers. [6]
Technology is about participation. As a student, he switched from chemistry to software engineering because he wanted to create things that had a quick and tangible impact. [14]
Be curious. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to always be learning and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, as technology is constantly evolving.
Don't be afraid to take risks and think outside the box. He believes that innovation comes from trying new things and challenging the status quo.

Learnings from His Journey

Everyone is ordinary. Zhang dismisses the "special person" narrative of success, believing that those who achieve great things are often regular individuals who maintain an ordinary, grounded mindset. [2][15]
Your job is a product you sell to the company. He suggests viewing your output as a product, the company as your sales channel, and your employment contract as a supply agreement. This business-like mindset can offer a new perspective on career management. [4]
Failure is a part of success. "There are many failures along the way, but failure is not the opposite of success; it's part of success."
The importance of a supportive environment. Zhang has mentioned that his parents' open-mindedness and their emphasis on technology from a young age were influential. [14]
A company's culture is shaped by its founder. His personal traits of being pragmatic, low-key, and focused on the long term are deeply embedded in ByteDance's corporate DNA. [3]
Don't just work hard, work effectively. He emphasizes that a sustainable business requires careful planning and adaptability, not just "grinding without a clear direction." [16]
Treat success and failure as essential learning experiences. This mindset helps build resilience and ensures that every event, good or bad, provides lessons for the future. [16]
Embrace competition as a driver for improvement. Instead of fearing competitors, Zhang sees them as essential for sharpening skills and pushing his team to be better. [15]
"Don't be complacent and don't slack off." He encourages young people to have big ambitions and enjoy the struggle of building something meaningful. [5]
Be willing to move on to a better opportunity. He left a successful venture to start ByteDance because he saw a much larger wave coming with the mobile internet, demonstrating a pragmatic and opportunistic approach. [9]
"The biggest room was like 10 square meters. Our ideas were very big. We could talk about globalization in a small apartment." This quote from his early days highlights the power of a bold vision, irrespective of humble beginnings.

Learn more:

Lessons from Zhang Yiming, founder of Bytedance

On Mindset and Personal Growth

On Business and Strategy

On Leadership and Management

On Product and Users

Learnings from His Journey

Written by Antoine Buteau

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