We had the good fortune of connecting with Yuheng Zhao and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yuheng, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“People who practice martial arts go through three stages: seeing yourself, seeing the world, seeing all living beings.” — The Grandmaster

Seeing yourself — being honest, and accepting yourself. Emotions and desires are all part of us. If we change them, we will be crowned. When you recognize yourself, you are helping others.

Seeing the world — understand your own insignificance, and see clearly the nothingness of the universe. Let go of good and bad, right and wrong… “Like a tiny drop of dew, or a bubble floating in a stream; Like a flash of lightning in a summer cloud, Or a flickering lamp, an illusion, a phantom, or a dream.”

Seeing all living beings — “there is only one true heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
If one perceives art as a journey of self-discovery, then entrepreneurship and collaboration offer a profound avenue for this exploration. Within a team, the individual ‘I’ seamlessly transforms into a collective ‘we’, and the ‘others’ become an intrinsic part of ‘you’. You encompass multifaceted roles – perhaps a founder, an employee, a friend, or a teacher. Everything and everyone around you shape your identity, just as you imprint a part of yourself onto them. Amidst this intricate dance of identities, one might ponder, ‘Who truly am I?’ Challenges and anxieties are inevitable in this journey, but it’s vital to recognize that they are also avenues for enlightenment. The adage, ‘from troubles come wisdom’, reminds us that adversities often pave the way for growth. Navigating this labyrinthine landscape, engaging with the myriad aspects of humanity, harnessing resources, and delving deep into one’s multifaceted self to achieve one’s aspirations— isn’t this, in its essence, an art form in itself

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Although I live in LA now, I still want to introduce my friends to my hometown. If you know pandas, hot pot, and mahjong, then you should know the city behind these cultures, Chengdu.

If my friends come to Chengdu, after having a special breakfast of soy milk and fried dough sticks, I will take them to the world’s largest panda base in the morning and take some cutest dolls home.

At noon, I will take them to eat mapo tofu, Spicy boiled Beef, twice-cooked pork, and other must-try specialties. After that, we’ll go to People’s Park and find a teahouse to enjoy the slow pace of Chengdu. In the evening, I will take them to the center of the city Chunxi Road experiencing one of the hustling streets in the world, and then eat hot pot for dinner while watching Sichuan Opera Face Changing.

It’s 10 pm and it’s not over yet! The nightlife in Chengdu has just begun. After eating hot pot, we went straight to the top nightclub in China, where young blood is flowing. After several hours of jumping and shaking, at 1 or 2 o’clock in the evening, we went to the roadside to find pork feet soup, which was an indispensable reward after a tiring day. Finally, you don’t need to go home, just find a massage shop in the, where you can enjoy a massage while watching a movie and sleep until dawn.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The reason I’m here today is undoubtedly inseparable from the companionship and support of those around us. I really want to mention my two partners here, Richard and Garfield. Together, we’ve experienced ups and downs and weathered many storms. Since starting our business, San Francisco has become our second home. Whether attending exhibitions or seeking investors, without each other’s company and encouragement on the long self-driving journeys, we would not have come this far.

I also want to express my gratitude to my family and friends. Starting a business is inherently tough and tiring. I am a person with an irregular lifestyle; when inspiration strikes, I can work all night. Without the understanding and concern of my family and friends, perhaps my body would have given out before we even managed to complete our product.

Lastly, I hope all the people who are destined to be in my life can walk their own paths well, supporting and accompanying each other. Thanks you so much!

Website: www.yuhengzhao.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidimente/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuheng-toby-zhao-19139521b/

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