CEO Insights | April 26: Lessons from Duolingo, the Art of Purposeful Learning, and the "Ordinary World"

This morning, I completed my routine 30km run. The heat was relentless. I consumed nearly three liters of water during the run and another three liters afterward just to rehydrate. It was physically taxing, but the podcasts I listened to along the way provided some profound insights that I feel compelled to share—especially as we continue to evolve the Globevisa brand and our internal methodologies.

1. Cracking the Social Media Code (My Current OKR)

My first listen was a deep dive into social media content strategy featuring a guest who was an early employee at Musical.ly (the predecessor to TikTok) and spent eight years at ByteDance. He shared the "inner mechanics" of short-form video and the algorithms that drive engagement.

As I’ve set a personal OKR (Objectives and Key Results) to break through in social media content over the next two months, this was an essential masterclass. I am preparing to launch more personal creative content to better connect with our global audience.

2. Rethinking Corporate Training: The Duolingo Philosophy

I also listened to an interview with the CEO of Duolingo. While I’m not a frequent user of the app, I am currently leading a major training reform within Globevisa, and I want our internal systems to mirror Duolingo’s engagement model. Three points stood out:

● Designing for the Non-Expert: Interestingly, the founders of Duolingo weren't "language people." They designed the app for those who struggle with languages, not those who love them. Similarly, when they built a chess feature, they put people in charge who were beginners. The insight: Experts often forget the pain points of a novice. At Globevisa, we must ensure our services and training are built from the perspective of the user’s real-world challenges.

● The Power of Motivation: Learning requires constant "psychological massage" and external motivation. The Duolingo CEO spends a vast amount of time researching how to keep users incentivized. I couldn't agree more—whether it’s learning a new skill or navigating the global immigration process, keeping the end goal in sight is everything.

● Long-termism as a Moat: When asked about Duolingo’s future, the CEO said they want to develop things that "require a human a long time to learn." This is the essence of Long-termism. In an era of instant gratification, the most valuable assets—be it knowledge or a successful international life—require time and accumulation.

3. AI and the "Franklin Method" of Learning

A discussion featuring Li Dan sparked a realization about Artificial Intelligence (AI). He mentioned that AI makes learning so easy that one can become "lost" in learning for the sake of learning—dipping into philosophy one day and astronomy the next, without a clear purpose.

This reminded me of Benjamin Franklin, a man who learned purely to apply. Unlike Einstein, who focused on theory, Franklin’s inventions had to be practical. In the age of AI, I’ve decided to focus my energy on what truly matters to my life and career: Philosophy, Psychology, and mastering the nuances of the Immigration Industry. After 27 years in this field, I realize that even an expert must spend time learning the "new era" of global mobility, while delegating non-essential knowledge to AI.

4. Returning to the "Ordinary World"

Finally, I heard an interview with two food delivery riders. Their stories of grit and daily struggle instantly transported me back to my post-graduation days. Those early years of my career were very much like theirs—a time of raw effort and survival.

It made me nostalgic for the spirit of the classic novel The Ordinary World. It’s hard to explain to the younger generation why we felt such a deep connection to characters like Sun Shaoping, but that interview brought me back to the "beautiful struggle" of my early entrepreneurial journey. It’s a reminder that Globevisa was built on that same foundation of hard work and resilience.

PS: Congratulations to the athletes at the London Marathon today! We have officially entered the "Sub-2" era for humanity, with two runners achieving the unthinkable. It’s a testament to the fact that with the right training and mindset, no limit is absolute.