My journey with Zoom began with a desire for the independence to

"My journey with Zoom began with a desire for the independence to build something that would make users happy, a true video-first unified communications platform." — thus spoke Eric Yuan, the founder of Zoom, a man whose vision carried the world across distance and silence. His words, though born of the modern age, speak with the timeless rhythm of creation itself: the call to independence, the pursuit of joy, and the labor of building something that serves not self, but the greater harmony of humankind. Beneath his quiet humility lies the eternal truth — that freedom of purpose and love for others are the twin engines of true innovation.

To understand these words, one must first know their soil — the humble beginnings of Yuan’s journey. Born in China, he dreamed of connecting people across oceans, inspired by the ache of separation from his loved ones. For years he worked within another company, building bridges of technology but constrained by the walls of another’s vision. Then came the spark — the yearning for independence, not as rebellion, but as liberation of the spirit. He longed to build something of his own making, something that reflected not corporate ambition, but human happiness. And from that longing was born Zoom, a creation that would one day unite millions across the globe when the world itself fell into isolation.

In Yuan’s words, we hear an echo of the great inventors and builders of ages past. Think of Thomas Edison, who refused to rest until light itself could be harnessed to banish darkness from every home. Or of Steve Jobs, who dreamed not merely of machines, but of tools so graceful they would make people feel joy. Like them, Yuan understood that true creation begins not with profit, but with purpose — with the heart’s need to serve, to bring happiness, to restore connection where distance has divided. His “video-first platform” was not just a product of technology, but of compassion — a bridge of light built to remind humanity that even apart, we are not alone.

Yet, Yuan’s journey also speaks to the sacred struggle for independence — the fire that drives every creator to step away from safety into the unknown. Independence is not defiance; it is the courage to trust one’s own vision. The ancients knew this truth well. Did not Daedalus, the mythical craftsman, forge wings to rise beyond the limits set upon him? So too did Yuan craft his own wings, not to escape, but to lift others. His independence was an act of devotion — to create freely so that others might live more connected, more joyfully, more humanely.

And what of the phrase “to make users happy”? In those few words lies the soul of his philosophy. Happiness is not a mere side effect of success — it is its foundation. The greatest works of humankind, whether temples or technologies, are born not of pride but of empathy. Yuan understood that every user on his platform was not a number, but a person — someone with hopes, families, and stories. By seeking to make them happy, he aligned himself with the oldest law of creation: to serve is to endure; to love is to lead.

But even as we honor his success, we must hear the deeper lesson beneath it. Independence alone is not enough — it must be guided by purpose. Many seek freedom only to serve themselves; the wise seek it to serve others. Yuan’s story reminds us that true independence is not the rejection of authority, but the pursuit of integrity — the right to create what aligns with one’s deepest values. To walk such a path demands courage, patience, and the humility to build something greater than oneself.

So, children of innovation and seekers of destiny, take these words as a lantern. Let your independence be guided by compassion, and your ambition be tempered by service. Build not for applause, but for joy — not for control, but for connection. When your work springs from the desire to make others happy, your creation will carry the breath of eternity within it. And remember always the wisdom of Eric Yuan: that independence, when joined with love, can give birth to wonders — and that the greatest technology is not in the machine, but in the human heart that dares to imagine something better for all.