Does the World Need You? A Question About Your Startup’s Mission

Originally published 2022-04-22Robin’s commentary

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Collected in Robin Shen’s Field Notes · Content type and attribution are shown above

English translation of the Chinese post originally published 2022-04-22. Translated 2026-10-30 with AI assistance. Historical figures and claims have not been updated or independently verified. 中文原文

Reading guide

Robin takes the same view of entrepreneurship: what important problem have you solved, and for whom? What value have you created, and what contribution have you made? Would the world be any different with or without you? He closes by asking: does the world need you?

Key points

What important problem have you solved, and for whom?
What value have you created, and what contribution have you made?
What difference would your presence or absence make to the world?

One clear path continues into the distance among several branching routes, suggesting choice and focus. — Entrepreneurship & strategyThematic illustration · AI generated

Full text — English translation

I take the same view of entrepreneurship: “What important problem have you solved, and for whom? What value have you created? What contribution have you made? Would the world be any different with or without you?” Does the world need you?

These articles are personal notes, book excerpts, and collected reprints. Figures and events reflect the time of the original publication, are not current information, and do not constitute investment advice.

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