“When you’re standing at the风口, even a pig can fly.”
— Lei Jun
We often complain about not having enough money — but if we pause and reflect, we might realize we’ve already let several life-changing wealth opportunities slip through our fingers.
Take me, for example. I was among the first to experience the city’s very first internet café — though back then, it wasn’t called that. It was known as an “Internet Club.” At a time when a meal cost just one yuan, this place charged 16 yuan per hour for painfully slow internet access.
I was that college kid who skipped meals to afford internet time. I rushed in, spent my money, and left without knowing what I was doing or why. Like so many others, my first encounter with the digital world was aimless. I didn’t see the revolution unfolding — only later would I realize what I’d missed.
I was also an early adopter of Taobao and one of the first users of Alipay — which might explain why my Zhima Credit score is over 800 today. Back then, I ran a side business selling smuggled phones from Shenzhen, selling them offline to local customers. But instead of embracing Taobao as a new opportunity, I watched helplessly as it disrupted my entire business model — and ultimately killed it.
Looking back, I missed these massive financial shifts due to three critical shortcomings:
Lack of Imagination
I failed to recognize that every emerging industry carries the seeds of extraordinary wealth. I didn’t study deeply enough, stayed too narrow-minded, and dismissed new ideas too quickly. Without imagination, we interpret innovation through outdated lenses — and end up blind to transformation.
Lack of Execution
Even when I didn’t see the opportunity myself, friends repeatedly told me Taobao was making people rich. Yet none of us took action. How many times have you excitedly discussed a business idea with someone — only for it to die in conversation? That’s the cost of poor execution.
Success often boils down to one thing: just do it.
Lack of Initial Capital
There’s an old Chinese saying: “Money is the courage of heroes.” Many successful entrepreneurs mock those who blame poverty — but when your pockets are empty, it genuinely limits your thinking and action.
That said, capital isn’t everything. Take Jiang Zhuo’er, now a major figure in the crypto world. He started by borrowing money to buy two graphics cards for Bitcoin mining. A friend who entered the space on the same day later became a well-known influencer on Weibo.
The truth is, those who succeeded during the internet and e-commerce boom weren’t magicians — they simply took action.
👉 Discover how early movers gain long-term advantages in emerging markets
The Myth of Overnight Success
Let’s be honest: many so-called “overnight successes” were built on imitation, persistence, and timing.
- Tencent’s QQ (originally OICQ) was inspired by ICQ, a foreign chat app. They even faced lawsuits early on. For years, they struggled to monetize — nearly selling the product before riding the wave of internet adoption.
- Jack Ma didn’t invent e-commerce. He adapted eBay’s model and offered free shop setup for three years — a bold move that helped him survive while competitors collapsed.
- Lei Jun began with a WPS clone before launching Xiaomi, focusing on user experience and emotional branding.
Even 360 Security started as part of the very problem it later solved — pushing intrusive ads like other “rogue software.” Then Zhou Hongyi flipped the script: he turned 360 into an ad-killer, offering one-click cleanup. In its first year, it earned 100 million RMB — much to the fury of former allies.
These stories may seem distant — but real-life examples hit closer to home.
Around 2012, I met a modest office worker in my hometown — a small county town. Only later did I learn she ran a top-tier Taobao store with annual revenues in the tens of millions. I was stunned. My immediate thought: What have I been doing with my life?
Thankfully, I didn’t miss everything. I got into real estate just in time — buying several properties, even convincing relatives to invest in areas I believed in. Thanks to strategic loans and market growth, I not only paid off debts but earned my first substantial fortune.
Real estate taught me patience, financial literacy, and risk assessment. To this day, it remains part of my investment strategy. A declining market doesn’t mean no opportunities — it just means we must look harder.
Each new lesson brought me closer to understanding wealth: saving is wise, but saving alone won’t make you rich.
You must actively seek and study every potential path to financial growth — armed with imagination and relentless execution.
We missed the internet and e-commerce waves. So what’s next?
What’s the Next Big Opportunity?
Look at emerging technologies: 5G, autonomous driving, nuclear fusion, blockchain, IoT.
Most are out of reach for ordinary people — but two stand out: 5G and blockchain. And within that, Bitcoin is the most accessible entry point.
👉 See how blockchain is reshaping the future of value exchange
The Winklevoss twins — who bought 1% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply in 2013 and still hold it — believe Bitcoin could reach $320,000. Why? “Lack of imagination,” they say, is why most people stay poor.
Most view cryptocurrency as just a tool for person-to-person transfers. But Bitcoin enables machine-to-machine transactions — imagine self-driving cars paying tolls or drones settling delivery fees automatically.
Too many people stay stuck because they lack imagination. They judge new technologies through old experiences — dismissing them prematurely.
I have a close friend who works at a stock exchange. When he found out I was researching Bitcoin, he sent me long voice messages urging me to “come back to reality.” His views were based entirely on media narratives — not firsthand understanding.
I tried explaining — but failed. (I even wrote an article titled Don’t Talk About Bitcoin With Anyone.)
Remember 3G? Networks were slow; maps were offline. When 4G launched, people feared burning through thousands in data. Few saw the opportunities — but those who did built companies like Didi Chuxing. In a 3G world, ride-hailing apps were unthinkable. 4G changed everything.
Now, 5G is here — ultra-fast, ultra-reliable. It will power autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and IoT ecosystems. And in this world, fast, trustless digital payments — like Bitcoin — will play a crucial role.
Governments are already developing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) to prepare for this future.
All signs point to one conclusion: a new blockchain era is beginning.
Buying Bitcoin or holding just 1% of a promising crypto asset could be like owning 1% of Tencent or Alibaba 15 years ago.
No one knows exactly how high Bitcoin will go — but if you stay on board and keep learning, you’ll be there when the big waves come.
👉 Start your journey into digital assets with confidence
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it too late to invest in Bitcoin now?
A: While early adopters gained the most, Bitcoin’s adoption is still in relatively early stages globally. Institutional interest, regulatory clarity, and technological upgrades suggest long-term potential remains strong.
Q: How much should I invest in cryptocurrency?
A: Only invest what you can afford to lose. Many experts recommend allocating 1–5% of your portfolio to high-risk assets like crypto — especially if you're building long-term wealth.
Q: Can blockchain really support machine-to-machine payments?
A: Absolutely. With smart contracts and decentralized networks, devices can autonomously execute transactions — such as self-driving cars paying for charging or parking without human input.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make with new technologies?
A: Dismissing them too quickly. Most revolutionary ideas sound absurd at first. The key is curiosity: research deeply before forming opinions.
Q: How can I develop better financial imagination?
A: Study past disruptions (internet, mobile, e-commerce), follow tech trends, and ask: “What could this enable in 5 or 10 years?” Imagination grows with knowledge.
Q: Should I quit my job to chase crypto opportunities?
A: No. Build financial stability first. Use your income to fund learning and small investments. Sustainable wealth comes from preparation meeting opportunity — not reckless leaps.
The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they’re obvious. Missed opportunities teach us humility — but also urgency.
Keep learning. Stay curious. Take action — even if small.
Because the next big wave isn’t coming someday.
It’s already rising.