The Illusion of Investment: Why Business is the Key to Financial Freedom

In today's society, many people dream of achieving financial freedom, and investing is often seen as the path to get there. However, the harsh reality is that investing is not as easy as it seems, and ordinary people face numerous challenges in achieving wealth through investing. In fact, the essence of financial freedom lies not in investing, but in business.

As Louis Pasteur, the French microbiologist, once said, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." In the investment world, ordinary investors face structural traps that are difficult to overcome. Market manipulation is rampant, and large capital controls the market, leaving individual investors powerless.

Information asymmetry is another significant problem. Large financial institutions and professional investors have access to vast amounts of information and advanced analytical tools, while individual investors rely on publicly available information. This puts individual investors at a significant disadvantage in the investment game.

Investing often comes with high risks and low returns. Many people hope to achieve financial freedom through investing in stocks or funds, but most end up with average market returns, which are far from achieving their financial goals. Moreover, individual investors are prone to cognitive biases, such as overconfidence, which can lead to poor decision-making and significant losses.

In contrast, doing business has numerous advantages. At its core, business is about having control and pricing power. Successful entrepreneurs achieve wealth by controlling production, sales, and costs, and continuously innovating and improving their products and services. For instance, entrepreneurs who optimize their production processes, improve product quality, and create well-known brands have control over their resources, which is difficult to achieve through investing.

Business success is not dependent on short-term market fluctuations but rather on long-term market insights and continuous innovation. By providing products and services, businesses can create stable cash flows. Warren Buffett's long-term holdings of high-quality companies are a prime example of this "business" approach. He invests in companies with stable cash flows and good growth prospects, adhering to a long-term operating philosophy.

Similarly, a small restaurant or convenience store can generate stable income over time by providing high-quality products and services. The compounding effect, often seen as a key advantage of investing, can be even more powerful in business. By continuously innovating and optimizing, businesses can achieve exponential growth, as seen in the example of a small coffee shop expanding into a well-known chain.

To transition from relying on investments to doing business, a mindset shift is crucial. First, one must move from "working for others" to "working for oneself," cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit, and actively seeking business opportunities that align with their strengths and market demands. Acquiring basic skills in marketing, finance, and management is essential for laying a solid foundation for entrepreneurship.

Starting small, with a modest project or online business, can help accumulate experience and funds while minimizing risk. Identifying one's strengths and core competencies is key to building a competitive advantage. Understanding one's expertise and interests, and selecting a domain with market demand, is crucial. For instance, someone passionate about baking and with the necessary skills could consider opening a small bakery.

Continuous innovation is vital, and entrepreneurs must maintain an innovative mindset, constantly improving products and services to meet customer demands. By providing high-quality products and services, businesses can establish their brand, increase market influence, and build a loyal customer base. Although building a brand takes time, once established, it can bring stable customers and a good reputation.

Businesses should also prioritize social responsibility, adopting sustainable development principles, and avoiding short-term gains at the expense of long-term growth. This includes participating in philanthropic activities, supporting local community development, and adopting environmentally friendly practices.

In conclusion, investing is not a reliable path to financial freedom for ordinary people. Instead, doing business offers a more stable and controllable way to achieve wealth. By understanding the essence of business, finding one's strengths, and continuously innovating, entrepreneurs can build a successful business and achieve financial freedom.

 Unlocking Efficient Knowledge Management: Exploring Tencent's ima

In the era of AI dominance, many wonder why building an AI knowledge base is necessary when AI models claim to possess vast knowledge. However, AI models are not omniscient. Their training data is often limited to a specific timeframe, making it challenging to update knowledge in real-time. In contrast, a knowledge base can dynamically supplement new information. Moreover, AI models may struggle with specialized knowledge in specific domains, whereas a knowledge base can integrate professional terminology, industry norms, and private data, significantly enhancing the accuracy of responses.

The optimal approach is to combine AI models with a knowledge base, a strategy known as RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation). This architecture has become the mainstream approach for AI applications in enterprises.

Once the importance of a knowledge base is understood, the next question arises: how can one easily build a knowledge base, especially for beginners? Previously, an author introduced a method using Secret to build a DeepSeek knowledge base. This article explores another AI product from Tencent, ima, an AI-powered intelligent workspace.

Let's dive into ima's operational process. Using the WeChat mini-program as an example, simply search for ima, enter the ima knowledge base mini-program, and import files. Ima supports importing files from WeChat, including chat records. After importing, click on the "Based on Knowledge Base Q&A" button to enter the knowledge base Q&A page. Switch to DeepSeek, and you can start testing questions.

For instance, asking "How can ordinary people use AI to make money?" will prompt ima to search for relevant content in the knowledge base, perform in-depth thinking, and provide a categorized and organized text output with key suggestions.

After mastering the basics, ima offers a series of advanced features. Ima supports importing various file types, WeChat public account articles, and web page links. In the WeChat mini-program, you can import articles or web pages, such as Xiaohongshu notes or Zhihu answers.

Ima's computer desktop version allows automatic synchronization of uploaded materials. You can also upload files to specific locations on the desktop version. The scissors button supports screenshot Q&A and image recognition. When reading materials, you can ask ima questions through the "Ask ima" button, supporting both DeepSeek and online search.

Ima's intelligent writing function is powerful, supporting various writing topics, such as papers, essays, and copywriting. During writing, ima can assist with expansion, contraction, and translation. You can also select text for annotation, translation, and note-taking. Ima can even generate mind maps based on article content.

In addition to personal knowledge bases, ima enables the creation of shared knowledge bases, allowing colleagues, friends, and family to collaborate and co-create knowledge.

Effective knowledge management is not merely about storing information; it's about constructing a knowledge system, making experiences reusable, and transforming knowledge input into output, achieving knowledge growth. Those who manage knowledge assets well will inevitably lead those who only browse information feeds.

By building a knowledge engine with ima, every piece of material can become a driving force for upward growth, and every question can become a catalyst for cognitive upgrading. After all, the ultimate goal of knowledge management is to transform possessed knowledge into innovative power.

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Tencent's ima provides a practical solution for building and applying AI knowledge bases, offering convenient operation, rich features, and efficient knowledge management. Take the first step, experience ima, and embark on your innovative journey.

 Where misty clouds in heavens softly drift,

And poets' minds with fancies take their flight,

A tapestry of words, a precious gift,

That paints the sky with ever-changing light.

Through ages past, their feelings find release,

In verses spun, where time and beauty blend,

A soaring thought, a soul that knows no peace,

A vision vast, that knows no earthly end.

If clouds could speak, what tales they would unfold,

Of ancient hearts, and dreams that still remain,

A bridge of words, in stories to be told,

Where souls connect, through sunshine and through rain.

So let us read, and let our spirits fly,

Where poets' dreams, like clouds, adorn the sky.

 无论人生上到哪个台阶

阶下有人在仰望你

阶上亦有人在俯视你

你抬头自卑，低头自得

唯有平视才能看见最真实的自己

No Matter What Stage You're At in Life

Regardless of how high you climb in life,

there are always people below looking up to you,

and people above looking down on you.

If you look up, you'll feel inferior;

if you look down, you'll feel superior.

Only by looking straight ahead can you see the most authentic version of yourself.

 Septic Shock Fluid Resuscitation Strategy: Consensus and Controversy Coexist, Exploring the Optimal Approach

Septic shock, a life-threatening condition resulting from an uncontrolled host response to infection, poses a significant threat to human health. Despite advances in basic research and clinical treatment, the mortality rate of septic shock remains high, around 40%. Effective fluid resuscitation plays a crucial role in managing septic shock patients.

From a pathophysiological perspective, optimal blood flow dynamics rely on adequate circulating volume (preload), cardiac function (pump), and vascular tone (afterload). Septic shock is characterized by distributive shock, with widespread vasodilation and decreased afterload, as well as decreased effective circulating blood volume due to microvascular leak and fluid loss. Approximately 50% of patients also experience septic cardiomyopathy.

The goal of fluid resuscitation is to increase effective circulating blood volume, enhance cardiac output, and improve oxygen delivery. However, the optimal approach to fluid resuscitation remains debated. Early Goal-Directed Therapy (EGDT) was initially recommended, but subsequent studies found no significant reduction in mortality rates and increased adverse effects due to fluid overload.

Currently, a staged approach to fluid resuscitation is adopted, with initial aggressive crystalloid resuscitation (30 mL/kg in the first 3 hours) followed by restrictive fluid management. The choice of fluid and vasopressor agents is also crucial. Norepinephrine is recommended as the first-line vasopressor, with dopamine and dobutamine reserved for specific patients.

Assessing fluid responsiveness is essential, with various methods available, including central venous pressure (CVP), pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume variation (SVV), and passive leg raising (PLR) tests. However, each method has its limitations, and a combination of parameters is often used.

Regarding the endpoint of fluid resuscitation, no gold standard exists. Clinicians often combine markers of tissue perfusion and blood flow dynamics. Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) is used as a marker of tissue reperfusion, with a target value ≥ 0.7. However, its application is limited by various factors, and a single parameter is not sufficient.

In conclusion, the optimal fluid resuscitation strategy for septic shock patients remains a topic of debate. Clinicians should adopt an individualized, staged approach, considering the patient's pathophysiological characteristics and blood flow dynamics. By exploring the optimal approach to fluid resuscitation, we can improve the prognosis of septic shock patients and provide them with more hope for survival.

The Power of Endurance: The Key to Achieving Worldly and Transcendent Success

All accomplishments are achieved through endurance. Anger, like a ferocious beast lurking within, can unleash a torrent of obstacles when provoked, destroying relationships, hindering success, and obscuring the path to spiritual enlightenment. Endurance, however, is the potent antidote, a sturdy reins that tames the beast of anger and clears the path to wisdom.

When we resolve to overcome our flaws and abandon long-held habits, we embark on a perilous journey. Those deep-seated flaws and habits, like gnarled tree roots, are deeply entrenched in our being. Endurance becomes our most powerful tool, enabling us to relinquish attachment to worldly desires and view life with a detached, liberated mindset.

Endurance is not a sign of weakness, but rather a manifestation of profound wisdom and strength. It is the culmination of diligent practice, a deliberate choice to restrain our anger and persevere in the face of adversity. Endurance is the linchpin that connects our pursuit of spiritual growth with a fulfilling life.

Through the practice of endurance, our inner selves become resilient, impervious to life's tempests. Our wisdom expands, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, illuminating the essence of all phenomena. Whether seeking happiness in worldly life or liberation in spiritual pursuits, endurance serves as a bridge, connecting our present to our ideal future, guiding us toward transformation and enlightenment.

 Baidu: Can It Avoid Repeating 360's Mistakes in the Era of AI?

Baidu, once an internet giant, is now facing numerous challenges, and its future development is under scrutiny. The question remains whether Baidu will become the next 360. The explosive popularity of DeepSeek has once again brought Baidu to the forefront of public opinion. Looking back at Baidu's business layout over the past decade, aside from Duxiaoman and iQIYI, it's challenging to find other profitable businesses.

Baidu's search entrance was its cornerstone during the PC and internet era, allowing it to occupy an important position. Despite a decline in market value, its profit performance remained satisfactory, earning it the title of an "evergreen tree" in the internet era. However, with the advent of the AI era, Baidu seems to be facing a similar dilemma to 360's. If it fails to defend its traffic entrance, it may follow in 360's footsteps.

360 dominated the PC era with its 360 Security Guard, which had a massive user base and generated substantial advertising revenue. However, with the rise of smartphones, users shifted to mobile devices, and short-video platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou emerged, capturing user attention and advertising revenue. 360's PC-based revenue ecosystem gradually declined, and its security software struggled to replicate its PC success on mobile devices.

Similarly, Baidu grasped the traffic entrance in the mobile internet era, gaining a nearly decade-long reprieve. It attempted various businesses, including food delivery, e-commerce, ride-hailing, and short videos, but only Duxiaoman (a lending platform) achieved significant success. Today, as one of the two major search giants from the PC era, Baidu's development trajectory is becoming increasingly similar to 360's. Both companies rely heavily on traffic-based advertising revenue, and the advent of the AI era will disrupt many ecological models, posing a significant challenge to Baidu's future.

Baidu's 2024 financial report revealed a decline in traffic entrance revenue, with total revenue decreasing by 1% year-over-year to 133.1 billion yuan. Online marketing revenue, Baidu's most profitable business, dropped by 3%. The rise of platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu may continue to erode Baidu's advertising revenue.

The explosive popularity of DeepSeek has attracted numerous giants to join the user acquisition war, including Tencent, smartphone manufacturers, and others. OPPO and Honor have already launched AI-powered smartphones compatible with DeepSeek, and many phone voice assistants have surpassed Baidu's search experience. For instance, when asking "what to do with a cough that lasts for a week," Honor's voice assistant provides detailed suggestions, while Baidu's search results are mostly ads with little useful information.

In the automotive sector, both Baidu and 360 have struggled. 360's investment in Nezha Automobile has been largely forgotten, and CEO Zhang Yong has left the company. Baidu's automotive business, including Jidu Automobile, autonomous driving, and Luobo Kuai Pao, faces significant challenges. Jidu Automobile, backed by Geely, ended in a fiasco, not only wasting resources but also damaging Baidu's reputation and affecting consumer trust in its future car-making endeavors.

Baidu's autonomous driving business has invested over 10 billion yuan, cultivating a large team of engineers. However, from a commercial perspective, entering the market early does not guarantee significant returns. Currently, few car manufacturers have adopted Baidu's autonomous driving technology, and the failure of Jidu Automobile has increased the difficulty of commercialization. With Huawei, Xiaomi, and other companies entering the market, most new energy vehicle manufacturers will prioritize intelligent driving as a core competitiveness, with some developing their own technologies and others partnering with Huawei.

Baidu Smart Cloud's performance in the 2024 financial report was impressive, with AI-related revenue growing nearly threefold year-over-year, and fourth-quarter revenue increasing by 26%. However, in the overall cloud market, Baidu Smart Cloud is no longer in the top tier. Although it leads the Chinese large model market, this market is still in the burn-money phase, and the price war among cloud vendors has accelerated with the popularity of DeepSeek.

Some argue that MaaS (Model-as-a-Service) might be the worst business model in China in the short term, as the more users, the more losses. The market is crowded with giants, and Baidu's market value lags behind Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance, making it uncertain whether it can sustain its efforts in the long term.

Baidu's old products, Baidu Tieba and Wenku, have been mentioned repeatedly in recent months. There are rumors that Baidu Tieba's 2025 strategy focuses on reducing ads, promoting user-generated content, and encouraging old users to return. Baidu Wenku was also in the spotlight last year, even being listed as an AI product by an unknown institution