Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the journey of "working individuals" and explores potential paths for financial freedom, emphasizing the importance of experience accumulation before entrepreneurship and the value of asset accumulation for wealth growth [3][15][57]. Group 1: The Path of Working Individuals - Initially, "working individuals" referred to those taking part-time jobs to supplement their income, but it has now come to represent the broader category of office workers [1][2]. - For most people, securing a job is a good starting point, as it allows for experience accumulation before venturing into entrepreneurship [4][10]. - The article highlights that the average lifespan of companies, even those in the S&P 500, is around 18 years, indicating the high failure rate of startups [9]. Group 2: Transitioning from Employee to Entrepreneur - The first path discussed is transitioning from a worker to an entrepreneur, with examples of successful entrepreneurs who started as employees, such as Huang Zheng of Pinduoduo [20][21]. - However, the article cautions that entrepreneurship carries a high failure rate and is not suitable for everyone [23]. Group 3: Becoming a Partner or Shareholder - The second path is moving from employee to partner or shareholder, which has a relatively higher success rate. This can be achieved through stock options or profit-sharing [25][28]. - The article notes that many early-stage startups offer stock options, which can lead to financial freedom if the company goes public [26][27]. Group 4: Accumulating Quality Assets - The third and most accessible path for ordinary workers is to become "asset holders" by using their salary to accumulate quality assets that appreciate over time [38][57]. - The article cites Norway's government pension fund as an example of effectively converting oil revenues into long-term financial products, ensuring sustainable wealth growth [39][46]. - It emphasizes the importance of investing in quality assets, such as excellent stock funds, as a means to achieve financial independence [50][57].