Student Question
I’m a 33-year-old divorced man working at a property management company in Suzhou. The work is idle and I lack motivation — it feels completely unsuitable for me. I’m an energetic, quick-thinking person with strong execution skills who enjoys outdoor activities and extreme challenges. I just want to find an industry that suits me better, but I don’t know where to start.
Master Chi’s Response
First, there are three directions to address this problem.
Switch companies. But if you switch companies while staying in the same industry, there may not be significant changes in salary or in the nature of the work itself.
Switch industries. The job content and approach might change considerably, but this also brings major challenges. Your foundational skills are solid, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to fully adapt to a new way of working.
Since your current job is relatively relaxed, you have more free time — and that’s actually a significant advantage. What I genuinely recommend is starting a side hustle. It can be in an industry you’re interested in.
Second, my recommendation is to explore through a side hustle — gradually discover what you actually enjoy, what you’re willing to invest time in, and what offers better income in return.
1. Starting a side hustle carries very low cost and very little risk.
Someone in my community once came to me with a similar situation. His parents had moved to the city where he worked and had nothing much to do all day. They noticed that nearby fruit shops seemed to be doing well, and they had some savings — but no experience selling fruit.
There are many ways to get started in that business. I gave them quite a few suggestions: rent a small market stall for a modest fee; try street vending for a couple of months; or go work at a fruit shop for half a year to learn how to sell, store, and source fruit properly.
2. His parents didn’t take that advice.
They felt street vending was beneath their dignity. Renting a market stall seemed to earn too little for a year’s work. Going to work at a fruit shop to build experience? Too slow.
So they went straight for what looked like the bigger payoff — but carried far greater risk. They spent around 100,000 yuan opening a storefront: renovation, inventory, marketing. The outcome was predictable. Fruit spoils quickly, they had no industry experience, losses were enormous, and the margins fluctuated wildly.
Pouring too much capital into something only means the potential reward is higher — but it equally means the risk is much greater. It does nothing to improve your actual chances of success.
After six-plus months of barely breaking even, they had no choice but to sell the shop.
3. Many people assume the more you invest, the higher the potential return.
Some people with no real foundation convince themselves they’ve spotted a golden opportunity — they even borrow money to start a business. It’s a gambler’s mentality: “If I win, I’ll have everything.” Without realizing it, they’ve placed themselves in enormous danger.
Yet most people completely overlook low-cost side hustle approaches. If you want to switch industries, why not first dip your toes in through a side hustle — do something related to that field, or start building relevant skills? There’s no need to rush into quitting your job or pouring money into a physical store. The low-cost route gives you exactly the information you need.
My recommendation: whether you stay in your current industry or want to explore one that interests you, start with a side hustle. Use it to understand the basics, develop relevant skills, and earn some income along the way. Once you’ve built that foundation, then plan your next move — rather than blindly switching jobs.