AsianFin  — Xiaomi Group Chairman and CEO Lei Jun wrote on Weibo Wednesday morning that the decisions to enter the electric vehicle business and restart chip development were made almost simultaneously, putting nearly all of the company’s accumulated resources from its first decade on the line.

Lei likened the pressure at the time to “sending two children to college at the same time,” adding that looking back, he marvels at where the courage came from to take such bold steps.