The Mid-Autumn Festival* is here again. Moonlight spills across the eaves, carrying the faint sweetness of osmanthus on the wind. Centuries ago, the famous Chinese poet Li Bai once wrote:
“The people of today do not see the moon of old,
But the same moon once shone on those before us.”
A founder friend recently asked me: “After a year of chasing projects and partnerships, what’s your most honest feeling this Mid-Autumn?”
My answer is simple: cherish what’s in front of you.
Not “someday.” Not “later.” Not after product-market fit or the next funding round. Right now.
- The project you’ve been meaning to start with someone—do it together today.
- The gratitude you’ve been holding back—say it now, directly.
- The people you love—don’t save it for “after I’ve made it.” Offer your heart while you still can.
These aren’t lines from a self-help book. They’re truths learned the hard way—through regrets that cannot be undone.
I. A Missed Goodbye
The summer before I went to university, my grandmother came to visit. Afternoon light poured like warm amber across the room as she asked softly, “Shall I take you to register at university?”
Eager for the future, I declined gently, worrying she was too old for the journey. I promised I’d bring her once I had settled in. She smiled, said no more. That moment—sunlight in her hair, her quiet voice—turned out to be our last real goodbye.
There is no “later” for some promises.
II. A Mentor Without a Photo
In my darkest professional valley, a mentor stood by me. He saw a “blooming flower” and a “rising sun,” when I saw only data points of failure. Our most pivotal conversations happened on walks, a moving boardroom for strategy and soul.
When I began my startup, he fell gravely ill. To avoid distracting me, he chose radio silence—a final, devastating act of support.
I arrived at the hospital to find a man, once a towering figure, reduced to a whisper. I had to stand at the foot of his bed for our eyes to meet.
We knew each other for over a decade. We never took a single photo. Always waiting for a better moment, a less rushed day, a time when we weren’t so focused on the work itself.
III. The Dog Who Walked Closest to the Street
And then there was my dog, Bubble—forever cheerful, forever protective. On walks, she always positioned herself closer to the road, nudging me gently toward safety. When I called my parents on video, she would push her big head into the camera, competing to see whose face was bigger.
Through every triumph and every setback—funding wins, product failures—she was there, offering joy or quiet companionship. Her short life taught me the purest definition of love and loyalty.
Technology has given me a way to preserve fragments of those moments. Photos, videos, and even AI reconstructions keep traces alive. But they are no substitute for the living presence we too often take for granted.
What This Means for Us as Founders and Leaders
Entrepreneurs often live in the future—thinking in terms of scale, milestones, and exits. But life is happening now. And leadership is not only about building the next platform, product, or company; it’s also about how we honour the relationships and moments that give meaning to what we build.
The truth is: what softens us, sustains us, and makes us human is rarely the grand narrative. It’s the small things—the afternoon sunlight, a word of encouragement, a wagging tail.
As another Mid-Autumn moon rises, I return to an ancient line:
“Ancient and modern, like a flowing stream—
We gaze upon the same bright moon.”
Time carries us all forward. But tonight, under the same moon as countless generations before, we still hold the power to pause, reflect, and treasure the present.
So I leave you with one question:
Who—or what—deserves your attention right now, before “later” becomes too late?
Final Note:
As founders, investors, and leaders, may we learn not only to build companies that last—but also to live moments that matter.
Note: The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrating family reunion, observed on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, coinciding with the brightest full moon. A key tradition is eating mooncakes—dense, round pastries with a variety of sweet or savoury fillings that symbolize the full moon.