Episode 8: A dreamer foots the bill

In 2015, I was in the bustling New York City. The pulse of this city was beating with infinite vitality and creativity.Directly opposite the library of my school, there is a huge billboard with the WeWork logo and their slogan: “Do What You Love”.To me at the time, these simple words were just an attractive slogan, so I curiously took a photo of it as a souvenir.

At that time, WeWork was at its peak, its expansion rate was staggering, and it became a leader in the field of shared office spaces.Adam Neumann, the founder and former CEO of WeWork, became a star in the entrepreneurial world because his personal image was closely tied to the company's success.His vision and passion have infected countless people, making countless young people believe that on the WeWork platform, they can pursue their passion and achieve the perfect integration of work and life.

However, behind the prosperity there are often unknown stories.As time went by, WeWork’s various problems began to gradually come to light.The tight capital chain caused by over-expansion, management misconduct, and instability of the business model... These problems are gradually eroding this once dream kingdom.The illusion began to shatter, and the truth about innovation, work, and life that was once promised by WeWork was gradually revealed.

It turns out that behind all this is just the grand vision of a dreamer and the expectations of countless investors.WeWork's success is largely based on capital support and market optimism.When capital cools down and the market becomes more rational, this empire built on the beach becomes vulnerable.

Adam Neumann's “manifestation” moment was also accompanied by his fall.He went from a respected entrepreneur to a target of public criticism.His personal image is closely tied to the company, and he is not immune when problems arise in the company.This close connection made him the biggest victim of WeWork's failure.

However, even so, we cannot deny the inspiration and reflection that WeWork has brought us.It allows us to rethink the relationship between work and life and allows us to see the huge potential of the sharing economy.At the same time, it also allows us to see the hardships and uncertainties of starting a business.In this era of rapid change, every dreamer needs to face reality more cautiously and rationally to ensure that his dreams can truly take root.

Today, WeWork is no longer the eye-catching unicorn company, but the experiences and lessons it has left behind are still worth pondering.On the way to pursue our dreams, we need to keep a clear head and a firm pace, and continue to learn and grow in order to gain a foothold in this era full of challenges and opportunities.