Meet Wei Dai

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Wei Dai. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Wei, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

To me, confidence and self-esteem are built through embracing uncertainty and learning to adapt. I used to be a meticulous planner, preparing for every possible outcome before making decisions. But rather than fostering confidence, this approach often led me to a pessimistic mindset, where I anticipated setbacks to avoid potential disappointment.

However, in recent years, I’ve come to view life’s uncertainties differently. There’s a saying in China, where I’m from, that goes “塞翁失马焉知非福” (“Sai Weng lost his horse; how could one know it’s not a blessing?”). It tells of an old man (Sai Weng) who loses a prized horse but responds calmly, saying, “Who knows if this loss might be a blessing?” Soon after, the horse returns with another, and while others rejoice, Sai Weng again questions if it might bring misfortune. His son later injures himself riding the new horse, which seems unfortunate—until a regional war breaks out, sparing Sai Weng’s son from the draft due to his injury. The story illustrates that fortune and misfortune are often intertwined, and it’s impossible to judge an event’s impact in the moment.

I also draw confidence from another saying: “尽人事，听天命,” which means “do the best you can as a human, and then obey the fate from the Divine.” It isn’t religious; rather, it encourages us to take responsibility for what we can control and accept what lies beyond our reach. As I grow older, this saying resonates more deeply, reminding me to find strength in what I can change while letting go of what I cannot.

At the beginning of 2020, I was working at a production company in Los Angeles. That period was marked by uncertainty—concerns about my career, changes in my social circle, and the city itself didn’t feel like home. Then the pandemic hit, and my visa expired, requiring me to return to China. Although the circumstances seemed daunting, leaving LA also felt like an opportunity. Once back in China, as the economy reopened, I decided to shift career paths and was able to find an internship at an international film sales agency. That position paved the way for me when I later began my graduate program at the University of Southern California.

These past couple years taught me resilience. Each challenge strengthened my self-esteem, not because I was always certain of the outcome, but because I trusted my capacity to navigate life’s unpredictability. As I get older, I feel more confident in dealing with uncertainties. Regardless of what lies ahead, I’ll adapt and grow.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m currently working as an associate producer and assistant editor at a production company based in Los Angeles. We work on nonfiction projects that ultimately aim to spark dialogues and inspire action on critical social issues. I think the special thing about the people we work with is that they are mostly very nice and kind people.

We work a lot with nonprofits and activists who work on the ground for social issues. And most of them chose this career because they care about other people, and want to help society become a better place. When we have conversations or film with participants, we often hear some of the most motivating and moving stories. Working with them makes us better people, too, and keeps us going forward, despite in what many consider as a tough industry currently.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Adaptability
Humor
Sense of responsibility

I think the sense of responsibility and humor can more or less be acquired or learned, almost as a skill, as long as someone wants to have those qualities. Going back to my answer earlier, I think it helps to just do your best as you can, and then treat things in a “nonchalant” way. The sense of responsibility will help with the first part, and humor can help with the latter.

Adaptability comes with experience, I think. The more someone goes into unfamiliar territories or new chapters of their lives, the more adaptable they become. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by force.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m an inherently curious person who loves diving into new ideas and perspectives. Whether it’s exploring deep Wikipedia rabbit holes or discovering hidden facets of society, I’m always drawn to human interest stories—stories that reveal something unique or little-known about the world.

I’m genuinely interested in connecting with people from all walks of life, especially those with fresh perspectives or untold stories. Whether through a Zoom call or a coffee chat, I’d love the opportunity to listen, learn, and explore ways to collaborate on projects that share these stories with a wider audience. If you have a story to tell or a project you’re passionate about, let’s connect! LinkedIn is the best way to reach out to me.

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weidai2130/

Image Credits

Wei Dai