We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Qicheng Wu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Qicheng, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I used to work full-time at an eco-friendly fashion company in Shanghai, China. The income was decent, and I generally enjoyed the work. However, after the terrifying COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, I decided to quit my job. The reason was pretty straightforward, even a bit naive: I needed to find my own sense of self-worth, and I believed that creating something I truly cared about was the best way to achieve that.
I didn’t realise I was a people-pleaser until I finally had the time and patience to read psychology books. (I hardly read these kinds of books before, thinking that understanding myself more wouldn’t improve my work performance, so why waste the time.) Always needing approval, especially from my father, made me put others’ opinions ahead of my own when making decisions about my life. My father’s constant humiliation and criticism, combined with childhood neglect, left me deeply insecure and self-deprecating. I used to believe that my worth was tied to hard work and career success. As I focused excessively on work, my physical and mental health began to fall. I found myself too drained to pursue personal interests. Gradually, I lost interest in many activities, became more withdrawn, and stopped doing things I once loved. After the lockdown ended, I finally discovered that I had spent so much time worrying about others’ opinions and pretending to be someone I wasn’t, neglecting and mistreating my true self. After quitting the job, I returned to a student-like phase and started learning sound design from artist I admire. I can now exercise regularly, take online courses, and dive into reading and learning about topics I’m passionate about. I’ve also gotten involved in volunteer work, which I’ve always enjoyed. Helping people and animals brings me joy—perhaps it’s part of my desire to please others, haha.
Quitting job in a major city without a backup plan, for me, was indeed a bold and risky move. Fortunately, it’s been a rewarding experience so far, leading to significant self-discovery. I’ve learned to value and respect myself more, and I’m now less influenced by others, focusing on what I genuinely love. I just signed up for a pottery class, which is something I found excited about recently. In the future, I aim to approach life as an simple experiment, prioritizing my own needs over uncertainties and fears. This mindset shift has made me realize that it’s not about achieving perfection or success; instead, every moment spent doing what you love is valuable in itself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m currently a freelancer, specializing in helping brands with various aspects of their communication and marketing efforts. My work mainly involves writing social media copy, primarily for Chinese platforms like WeChat; developing brand-related content, including brand stories and philosophies. I also help brands develop new product lines or series by drafting relevant copy new products introduction. Additionally, I provide initial creative planning for small activities or pop-up events.
When a new brand launches, I help organize content, products, and projects to pinpoint the brand’s core message and craft a story that aligns with its vision.”When a new brand is launched, I can help organize ideas, products, or projects to clarify the brand’s core message, making it easier for me to craft a story that aligns with its vision.”
When a new brand is launched, I can assist in organizing ideas, products, or projects to make the brand’s core message clearer, which helps me write a story that fits its vision. I firmly believe that a compelling brand story helps create a tangible, meaningful connection between consumers and the brand. I aim to keep my content concise while ensuring it remains authentic and reflective of the brand’s current and future projects. Before I start any work, I need to genuinely believe in the brand’s values in order to produce content that both parties will be satisfied with. This authenticity is crucial to me, as it prevents the content from losing its essence. Holding onto this belief i hasn’t brought me many clients or much income though, haha. For individual events or exhibitions, I get involved in the early planning stages, including themes, visuals, copywritings, and press releases.
Beyond earning a living, I volunteer for animal protection and environmental public welfare project. I just love animals, nature, and the ocean, it brings me great joy and healing. This passion drives me to dedicate time and energy to their preservation.
I’m also exploring music creation and hope to release some of my work on Bandcamp soon. :) Additionally, I am eager to try creating sound or music for videos that I admire, so feel free to reach out if you have any projects in mind!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Here are some interesting books and an album I’ve read and listened to recently.
Books:
1. Sex in the Sea: Our Intimate Connection with Sex-Changing Fish, Romantic Lobsters, Kinky Squid, and Other Salty Erotica of the Deep, by Tapa Blanda
If you’re interested in exploring the ocean world, this book is a perfect starting point. However, the personification used to make the science more engaging can sometimes be quite off-putting, particularly to women. I got really frustrated at times. The content itself is genuinely delightful, so I’d still recommend it.
2. The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Castaneda
This book is the first in a twelve-part series, and I’m about to start the fourth one. It’s made me think deeply about self-awareness and question what we consider to be scientific or factual truths. I’m wondering if these ‘truths’ are genuinely real or if we’re just influenced too much by existing biases. The book has opened my mind to the idea that there might be more to “reality” than we realize: are our perceptions of reality true, or is there more to explore beyond conventional views? When our perspectives change, do our experiences still hold true, and do they become part of our reality?

Album: Deep voices – recordings of humpback, blue and right whales, by Dr.Roger Payne
When you listen to the album, you can try closing your eyes, clearing your mind, and immersing yourself in these sounds (high-quality speakers are highly recommended). you might feel as though you’re deep underwater. Perhaps you’ll even try to decipher the language of the whales, or imagine yourself journeying alongside them to explore the ocean—a world still filled with mystery and countless unknowns for humans. Overall, this album has become a wellspring of imagination for me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the best part of being creative is the pure passion and joy of creating. I find the most satisfaction in making things that match my own interests. I’ve moved away from waiting for the perfect time or setting long-term goals. Instead, I dive into what I enjoy right away. Even if I’m not great at it or can’t keep going, the time spent doing what I love is never wasted, and that’s enough for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: qichenng, Janice
• Other: Weibo: yishiqicheng (Chinese social media)

Image Credits

1. Participating in a coastal clean-up event (I’m wearing the khaki bucket hat)
2. A beached pilot whale
3. Helping the whale by observing and counting its defecation and heart rate, and balancing her due to a fin injury
4. Participating in a coastal clean-up event (I’m wearing the khaki bucket hat)
5. Other volunteers assisting the whale
6. At a stray animal adoption event (I’m the third from the right)