At 40, navigating life’s hidden reefs, one encounters countless barriers. Careers, marriages, health, and social relationships all face deconstruction and reconstruction… How to forge a new path in life’s constrictions? How to live a more abundant self within limited time? These are the perplexities of being 40.

Feeling confused at 40 is entirely normal, but the key is to remain undaunted. Such fearlessness is the foundation of living transparently, the resolve to follow one’s own rhythm without conformity, the courage to confront inner doubts—and it’s the true life portrayal of three SIMBA alumni.

May their sharing and insights inspire you: at any age, stride forward with ease in life’s battlefield.

Xu Da, alumni of Tongji University SIMBA 2002 PT3

In the Fortunate Era, Encountering All Beauties

When I studied at university in the 1990s, I became obsessed with programming. At that time, the Internet was just emerging, and individuals couldn’t afford personal computers. The only free access was the school computer lab, but resources were limited—we needed a “computer access ticket” to enter, each valid for one hour, with a fixed quota per student per semester. To get more study time, I collected tickets from classmates and spent all free hours in the lab learning programming.

After graduation, due to outstanding computer performance, I joined a Sino-European joint venture telecommunications equipment manufacturer, responsible for localizing communication software. Starting as an ordinary programmer, I gradually became an expert in corporate computer applications. With the booming internet economy, I was dispatched to a Sino-US joint venture internet company as the Chinese director.

The Changing Era of “No Confusion at 40”

Confucius mentioned in The Analects that “at 40, one has no confusion,” referring to the ability to understand principles without being 迷惑 (bewildered) by external things. This was because of the slow social rhythm and difficult class mobility in ancient times, leading to fewer life perplexities. However, our generation has lived through the 40 years of China’s reform and opening-up, growing up in a race against time. Graduating, promoting, getting raises, buying homes, starting businesses—from nothing to affluence—this stems from personal efforts, but more so from the fortunate era. We fall asleep with dreams and wake up with hope, too busy to pause and reflect. After 40, confusion arises: Am I truly better than others? Were all my choices right? What do I really want?

In the Fortunate Era

When I graduated from university, developing a market economy had become the guiding principle. While introducing advanced foreign technologies, I saw a broader world and opportunities. In the early 2000s, the US-led internet industry was booming, and China’s communications and internet sectors also ushered in rapid development. The company’s communication equipment was highly sought-after then, and I spent over 200 days a year in communication machine rooms across China, getting to know many grassroots technical cadres from telecom companies. A decade or two later, many of them became mid-to-high-level leaders in telecom firms, helping me accumulate valuable professional networks for my future entrepreneurship.

Loving Travel and Exploration, Encountering All Beauties

Due to work, I have visited almost all provinces in China; for learning new technologies, the company sent me to train in many countries, traveling across Europe, Asia, and America. Beyond work and study, I enjoy wandering around each city—strolling through local neighborhoods, visiting markets and malls to see what’s sold, dining at local restaurants, chatting with residents, and of course, exploring museums and art galleries.

“Time is the length of life, while experience is its width.” These experiences have gradually become part of my growth, making me realize the world’s vastness and my own insignificance. Only by learning endlessly can one escape shallowness.

Chen Songtao, alumni of Tongji University SIMBA 2009 PT10

From Employment to Entrepreneurship: My Understanding of Change and Constancy

Don’t Venture into Entrepreneurship Casually, or Do It Early

If changing jobs or industries counts as a major shift, then entrepreneurship is a life-altering change. Don’t attempt it lightly if you’re not ready for the challenge. Economically speaking, excelling in one industry or position through deep dedication might be the optimal life strategy. If you want to start a business merely because you’re dissatisfied with your job, you’ll likely face even greater frustrations in entrepreneurship.

To Change or Not? Resisting Change Means Resisting Life

Change is inevitable, but we must grasp its principles. Pursuing change, depth, and innovation within one’s industry is worthy of encouragement. However, hopping between industries aimlessly is often a waste. If another industry seems easy and profitable, it’s probably because you don’t understand its complexities. A hasty attempt may yield results entirely different from your expectations.

Manage Your Own Company as You Raise Your Own Child

No one can save your business except yourself. Money isn’t omnipotent, and professional managers aren’t always reliable. You must master your own business and commit fully to its management. Don’t mock business owners for getting involved in every detail from a manager’s perspective—just as parents understand that raising their own children is best, entrepreneurs must take personal ownership of their ventures.

Zhou Jia, alumni of Tongji University SIMBA 2012 PT13

Zhou Jia pursues diversified life experiences and lifelong learning. Before studying at Tongji University, he had already obtained a master’s degree in Economics from Canada. Currently, he works for a Fortune 500 French company, overseeing procurement and supply chain management in the Greater China region. Meanwhile, he wears multiple hats as a trainer, career mentor, philanthropist, startup partner, and traveler—having journeyed across half the globe, traversed uninhabited zones several times, and visited Tibet autonomous region more than ten times.

What Does “No Confusion at 40” Mean?

My understanding of “no confusion at 40” is about transcending perplexity, recognizing the boundaries of one’s cognition and abilities, and clarifying what one truly wants. Humans are born free but always bound by constraints. Anxiety accompanies every age, stemming from hasty longings for happiness and insecurities about the future. Acknowledging this underlying logic, diversified experiences can alleviate anxiety and balance risks—similar to the theory of diversified investment.

Experiencing different jobs, lifestyles, and roles challenges personal boundaries and pushes one out of the comfort zone. Without failure, there is no true success; footprints never remain on smooth paths. In middle age, what truly moves people is no longer inspirational stories, but the courage and original aspiration of youth. Like travel—youthful journeys seek scenery, while middle-aged travels seek self-discovery.

The Most Touching Moment in Philanthropy

A decade ago in June, amid heavy snow in Garze, I brought winter clothes to children living in a Tibetan community at 4,200 meters above sea level. Several 7-8-year-old children begged me to stay one more day. It turned out they had braved the snowstorm to dig for caterpillar fungus. When these kids—with red, frozen hands—gave me their only harvest of two fungi as a gift, I burst into tears. The memory remains vivid: the genuine care, mutual support, and the most precious, pure, and beautiful emotions between people deeply shocked me. This is the driving force behind my decade-long commitment to philanthropy. Engaging in feasible charity benefits both others and oneself—happiness can be passed on, and the weight of our lives comes not only from wealth, status, and prestige, but more from the most precious and beautiful experiences of humanity.