Charles Zhang recalls the course of "retreat"

Absrtact: I think I have a problem, I told my team, I can not work, I am going to find my solution ... I really have everything, but I'm so miserable. Zhang, chairman of Sohu, who has not appeared in public media for a long time, recently accepted

"I think I have a problem," I told my team, "I can't work, I'm going to find my solution ... I really have everything, but I'm so miserable. "The chairman of Sohu, who has not appeared in public media for a long time, has received an interview with Yang Lan for the first time, exposing himself to the process of his retreat for more than a year."

2012 Internet changes, the world, mobile Internet number for the first time beyond the PC, Micro-bo, micro-letter sweeping social networks, the Giants fought one after another ... and in this particularly lively year, the retreat of 1.5-hour Zhang also announced the "Back to the lake."

In January 2013, Charles Zhang released a microblog: "Retreat for more than a year, re-enter the Earth, found three things, 1." Everyone is using micro-letters. 2. Everyone is talking about sounds and Liangbo names that are unfamiliar to me. 3. As if it were 18, it turned out to be constructive and wait-and-see, and reform and opening-up seemed fashionable again. ”

What happened to Charles Zhang during this time?

"Happiness has nothing to do with money."

Last year, there was an internet-circle gossip circulating on Twitter, which said that one of the big guys had been suffering from depression. Now it seems that the big guy is Charles Zhang. The man who once claimed to be the first person to be rich and famous in China's internet is under pressure to be in a mental crisis.

"More than two years ago, we are playing Micro Bo, Sohu is doing everything possible to do micro Bo, and now do not have to compete with Sina, as if now playing micro-letter." This is the biggest change I've found. Not only that, Charles Zhang, who had been in the entertainment circle for many years, also found that the people who are now in the entertainment circle don't know themselves.

2012, described in Zhang's words, is his "most sad reminder" of the year. Anxiety, depression, and spirit are often in a state of fear beyond the comprehension of outsiders. "I have a lot of fear, but no way to describe ... The idea of some false thoughts in the mind is very frightening, and the brain has been excessively used to cause some dead loops. ”

How do you explain this state of mind? Zhang said that after the success of the media after the pursuit, leading to their own success in the management of some problems. "Winners often have to follow their own intentions, I become more perfectionist, want to control the outcome of things, even think I can live 150 years old." ”

With 2012 years of the most popular phrase "you Happy" to ask Charles Zhang, the answer is no, "happiness and money really does not matter." Under pressure, Charles Zhang began to explore the pain, rescue the psychologist, and even in philosophy to find his reasons for anxiety.

Loneliness is also a Black hand who pushes Charles Zhang into the abyss of spirit. "Are you afraid of marriage?" Faced with such a problem, Charles Zhang's answer began to be vague, "the topic is not yet conclusive." I do not conflict with marriage, nor do not like children, but because of the growing popularity, suddenly found that I do not have to marry. However, I have begun to change and will not try to contradict traditional customs. ”

"I have no other pride."

"China's Internet rich and famous first person" is Zhang Chaoyang himself to give himself the title. Of course give him this self-confidence has his own career success, as well as around the crowd and the media in pursuit. "This nourishes my vanity and my ego, and I am outwardly humble, and in fact very arrogant, a measure of pride that I have not seen around celebrities and stars." ”

This kind of psychological state also manifests in Zhang Chaoyang's career. Charles Zhang from an early age demanding, and even the exam did not first punish themselves to winter swimming. In the Chinese Internet giant competition, see Robin Li and other opponents beyond, Charles Zhang once felt "very not angry son."

1998 Sohu began to become popular, in 1999 Zhang went to Shenzhen to promote the "Wired" magazine columnist Negroponte's "digital survival" concept, the popularity of the same as rock star, "later Ma told me that he was sitting in the audience," Zhang said.

In fact, the scenery behind Charles Zhang's entrepreneurial road is also exceptionally difficult, and even suffering. He recalls that financing was "particularly tragic" from 1996, in 1999, Sina's rise, quickly overtook Sohu, when the board of Trustees did not trust him, "The most afraid of the board to a city to eat lunch, because said that may replace me, once this sohu will be dispersed"; 2000, Sina successfully listed, Sohu is still in the future, until the last minute of the market is almost not up.

In the complex struggle with the board, Charles Zhang learned to play politics, from a student to a person with a clear sense of interest. "My life is full of competition, crisis and stress. Far from the scenery and pride that outsiders see, the conviction and loneliness of which only one person can bear, each with a share, "Zhang said," from 1999 to 2003, it took me 4 years to get the board war to a basic end. ”

2006 began, Tencent, Baidu. Alibaba, 360 and other companies rise, challenge the status of Sohu, 2012 micro-blog and micro-letter began to become popular, with Charles Zhang said, "Just like fan my two slaps."

Zhang said that, compared to Sohu, Baidu and other companies such as financing later development relatively easy. When Robin Li's Baidu went to raise money, can use the success of Sohu as an example, Li's investors do not require him to make money first, but first to do a good job, but Sohu's situation is completely different, investors do not understand the Internet, the profit is particularly important, forcing Zhang Chaoyang "where the business model to go".

After the 2012, Charles Zhang believes that the new pressure is the advantage. "What to do," he said, "after the retreat, these scuffles constituted my interest in life, and I had no previous entanglements." ”

"I used to think that life is fun, I also want to be able to retire when I forget, Sohu to others to take care of, I sit all day flying, to Paris to drink coffee." "Charles Zhang's mentality has also changed," People always have a place, work is a part of the happiness of life, I now face the work is more calm state. ”