The Best Way to Reach the Marketplace Is to Live There

Originally published 2021-02-19Robin’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 2021-02-19. Translated 2026-10-29 with AI assistance. Historical figures and claims have not been updated or independently verified. 中文原文

Reading guide

The best way to get to the market is not to rush there, but to live there. When everyone else arrives, you discover that you have long been part of it—and have inadvertently become one of the earliest arrivals. The same goes for catching a trend: rather than chase it deliberately, be firmly in position when the wind picks up. Robin uses Kuaishou as an example. The arrival of the 4G era suddenly propelled its existing short-video business, helping it grow rapidly among users in third- and fourth-tier cities and small towns. An entire era helped create Kuaishou. He suggests studying its development and following how a small company manages the strategic transitions involved in becoming a large one; there should be much to learn.

Key points

Live in the marketplace rather than rushing to reach it.
Rather than chase the wind, be in position before it starts blowing.
Kuaishou: a winner in lower-tier markets shaped by its era.

Distinct modular elements joined into a coordinated, balanced whole. — Management & organizationsThematic illustration · AI generated

Full text — English translation

The best way to get to the market is not to rush there, but to live there. When everyone else arrives, you discover that you have already become part of the marketplace—and have inadvertently become one of the earliest arrivals. The best way to catch a trend is also not to chase it deliberately, but to be firmly in position, waiting for the wind, when it arrives. ----- The wave unleashed by the 4G era suddenly propelled Kuaishou’s existing short-video business. It targeted rapidly growing markets in third- and fourth-tier cities and small towns. An entire era helped create Kuaishou, while also bringing it considerable competition and challenges. If you have the opportunity, study its development and continue watching how a small company manages the strategic transitions involved in growing rapidly into a large one. There should be plenty of insight to gain.

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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