Chapter 21: Life Perspective

In this world, let''s not talk about birth and background, only individual abilities.

一个人活在这个世界中，不论出生和背景，就论个人实力。

Society questions us about our educational backgrounds: What kind of school did you graduate? A world-renowned university? One of China''s top-tier "Double First Class" institutions (Project 985 and Project 211)? Or an ordinary first and second-tier university? Or a private university?

社会会问我们的学业背景：你是从什么类型的学校毕业？世界一流大学？国内985双一流院校？还是普通的一二本？或者是私立大学？

Next, they inquire about our work background: what kind of company are you working for? Government agency? Civil service? Public institution? State-owned enterprise? In a fixed position or outside of it?

接着会问我们的工作背景：你是在什么类型的公司上班？政府机关？公务员？事业单位？国有企业？编制内还是编制外？

If you are in a fixed position, what type of position is it? Administrative position? Public institution position? Educational position? Medical position? Scientific research position? Corporate position?

若是编制内，你是哪种编制？行政编制？事业单位编制？教育编制？医疗编制？科研编制？企业编制？

If it''s outside the official establishment, then are you in a foreign company? A Fortune Global 500 company? A publicly traded company? A private enterprise? Or do you have your own company?

如果是编制外，那么你是在外企？世界500强？上市公司？私营企业？还是自有公司？

In reality, when most people hear that you work in a private enterprise or own your own company, their evaluation and first impression of you might not be very favorable. It''s difficult to impress others.

其实大部分人一听到你在私营企业上班，或者自有公司后，对你的评价不会太好，对你的第一印象也不会太好。你想要让人刮目相待是很难的。

As the library friend mentioned, many people without higher education start businesses and run their own companies.

因为就像这位图书馆的朋友所说，现在很多没学历的人创业，自己开公司的人多了去了。

However, how many of them end up with nothing but exhaustion and regret by their forties or fifties?

可是多少人立志创业，一生折腾到了四五十岁还是两手空空，一身疲惫，满心沧桑？

Ultimately, they may not be better than those who lead stable lives as employees with regular nine-to