The Physics Teacher: Zhang Chaoyang's Return to the Blackboard

Imagine this: Your life has been a series of dramatic highs and lows. You were a celebrated startup star, and you were a patient who fell into the dark abyss of depression. After all this, you return to the company you founded, but you find that mere business competition and management no longer bring you the initial passion and meaning.

What do you do? Do you choose to retire and rest on your laurels? Or do you choose the most unexpected way to return to your life's starting point and pick up the dream you first had?

Zhang Chaoyang chose the latter. At nearly 60 years old, the former MIT physics Ph.D. did something that surprised everyone: he set up a whiteboard in his office and, through live streaming, began teaching physics to the general public.

He was no longer the celebrity CEO chasing fame and fortune, but had reverted to "Dr. Zhang," full of curiosity about the universe. This was his "third act."

What you'll learn from this story:

• The concept of a "third act" in a career, where purpose can shift from ambition to contribution.
• How returning to one's original passions can provide a new source of meaning and fulfillment.
• Using a modern platform (live-streaming) to engage in a traditional practice (teaching).
• How a leader's personal evolution can reshape their public image and company culture.

From the CEO's Office to the Physics Classroom

In November 2021, a live-streamed show called Charles's Physics Class went live on Sohu Video. There was no fancy set, no professional production crew; the background was simply Zhang Chaoyang's own office. Wearing a simple T-shirt and holding a marker, he stood before a whiteboard, seriously deriving complex physics formulas, covering everything from Newtonian mechanics to quantum physics.

The scene was a stark contrast to the flamboyant "Charles" people remembered.

At first, many thought it was another publicity stunt, a PR event planned by Sohu to promote its live-streaming business. But they soon realized they were wrong. Zhang Chaoyang was exceptionally serious about it. His lessons were hardcore, the derivations rigorous, and filled with a genuine passion and reverence for science. He wasn't just "playing around"; he was truly "teaching."

He insisted on live-streaming every week, without fail. After each stream, he would personally compile the lesson content into articles and publish them on Sohu's platform. His dedication and professionalism won over countless netizens, with many commenting, "a physicist delayed by the internet."

The Return: Finding One's "Duty"

Why did Zhang Chaoyang do this?

After the pain of depression and the introspection of his "retreat," his outlook on life had fundamentally changed. He redefined "success." He came to believe that the meaning of life lies not in how much money or fame one has, but in "fulfilling your duty."

He began to reflect on what his "duty" was. As the CEO of a company, managing it well was his duty. But as an intellectual with a Ph.D. in physics from MIT, he felt he had another duty: to disseminate knowledge and enlighten the public.

He discovered that when he was at the whiteboard, deriving the formulas that describe the laws of the universe, he could find a long-lost, pure joy and inner peace. This was a kind of happiness he had never experienced in the world of fame and fortune. Physics was his youthful dream, the starting point of his intellectual structure. To return to physics was to return to himself.

By teaching physics via live stream, he perfectly combined his sense of duty with his inner passion.

The Third Act: From "Hero" to "Teacher"

Zhang Chaoyang's physics class was more than just a display of a personal hobby; it marked a profound shift in his state of being.

• Act One: He was a "hero" returning from America, a "Prometheus" who brought the fire of the internet to China. His keywords were ambition and pioneering.
• Act Two: He was a "patient" struggling in the world of fame and fortune, eventually falling into darkness. After a painful journey of self-healing, he returned with a new understanding of life. His keywords were reflection and redemption.
• Act Three: He became a "teacher," a disseminator of knowledge. He no longer sought external validation but focused on internal value and contribution. His keywords are return and responsibility.

This transformation was also reflected in his management of Sohu. He no longer pursued market dominance as he had in the past, but instead emphasized the company's "duty"—to provide users with reliable news and high-quality content. Sohu's culture, once flamboyant and high-profile, became more pragmatic and introverted.

Zhang Chaoyang's story offers an inspiration for all who feel lost in their careers and lives: the path of life is not a single, upward climb. Sometimes, returning to the beginning, to pick up those forgotten passions and dreams, can lead to a broader and more peaceful road.

Key Takeaways

• A Career Can Have a Third Act: Zhang's story is a perfect illustration of a "third act," where a career shifts from personal ambition (Act One: building an empire) and survival (Act Two: healing) to contribution and legacy (Act Three: teaching).
• Purpose is Often Found in a Return: His return to physics, his original passion, gave him a renewed sense of purpose that his business success no longer could. It shows that fulfillment can often be found by looking back at what first inspired you.
• Authenticity is the Best Brand: The "Physics Teacher" persona is powerful because it's authentic. It's not a marketing gimmick but a genuine expression of who he is. This authenticity has done more for his and Sohu's image than any PR campaign could.
• Redefining Success: Zhang's journey is a powerful lesson in redefining success. He moved from a definition based on wealth and fame to one based on duty, responsibility, and contribution. This internal shift is the foundation of his reinvention.