Anything is possible

I started my brand from literally NOTHING (I was an 18 year old university student with zero financial backing). I had no handouts, limited amount of help, resources and as for the financial side... that's a whole other story.

My financial aid came from my part time job and saving my student loan, I was lucky enough to go to a university that was close to home, so I was rent free and bills free which enabled me to save most of my student loan. Obviously my student loan wasn't enough to cover everything, so as I said I worked alongside to save enough to be able to launch my brand. 

Once I felt like I had saved enough, in my second year of university I launched my skincare brand, however at that time little did I know that it would be impossible to juggle a business, work part time and attending university full time. To make things even more difficult, I was torn between working in a 'professional career' or risking it all and focusing on my business. I grew up in a typical asian household where it was drilled into us 'School, College, University, Graduate Job'... as I was studying Human Resources, It was expected of me to go into the HR field FULLSTOP. As you can imagine, being only 18/19 years of age, this all became very overwhelming and daunting experience for me and I began struggling to keep on top of everything. I was struggling to keep on top of orders, run a business, study for exams, go to work etc.

Not only was I doubting myself, my commitment and my goals... everyone around me was too, friends, family and strangers would lecture me about not having enough experience in running a  business and being so you young that it would be impossible to have a successful skincare brand. People would laugh at me and would make fun of me and my business, sadly no one wanted to see me be successful.

Unfortunately due to the enormous amount of stress I was under and wanting to please my parents, I decided to fully focus on my HR career. I hadn't given up on my dream to own a skincare business, it was just on hold...

I graduated from university in November 2018, but I started working as a HR advisor from May 2018 and I thought my career plan was now set in motion. I would work my way up in the HR field and I guess accept the 9-5 office job till I get old and grey lol. As much as I enjoyed my job, deep down something wasn't right, I couldn't put my finger on it but I always felt there was more to life than just being confined to a box room (office), staring at a computer screen ALL DAY and working your ass off for someone else...

So a few months went by and slowly I was starting to realise this 9-5 office job wasn't for me and it never would be for me, I felt like I had more to offer. Any free time I had at work, I found myself researching into skincare brands, natural ingredients, how to successfully start a business etc, any opportunity I would get would be dedicated to this. In December 2018/ January 2019 (7-8 months into working as a HR Advisor), with the help of my amazing Ammie (Mom) I gave my skincare business venture/ idea another shot, we made a few changes and experimented little bit and hoped that this time it would be a success. Bare in mind at this point I was still working full time and I realised very quickly that I had a choice to make, one that could potentially change the outcome of my future...

In March 2019, I resigned from my HR job and it was the best decision I have ever made! I was now fully commited to my skin care brand, putting all my blood, sweat and tears into making it successful. 

The position I am now in, is what I dreamt off all those years ago. Its the best feeling in the world and one that cannot be compared, when you work for your self and be able to make a difference to people. There is still a long way to go, but I remember when I was just an 18 year old girl (now nearly 24) that started from nothing...

So what I'm trying to say is... if you have a goal in life, if there is something you really want to do… do not ever think you cannot achieve it. Do not let anyone ever tell you that you're not good enough, that you don't have the means for it, that your business idea sucks and most importantly NEVER DOUBT YOURSELF because your success depends on you, what you think of yourself and whether you truly believe in yourself.

Regardless of how many trials and tribulations come your way and as difficult and impossible some things may seem, never give up because it will be worth it in the end.

Lastly I would just like to say, I wish when I was 18 that someone would had given me this advice, I just needed one person to give me that motivation, that one person to believe in me... and I want you to know I am that one person that believes in you today, tomorrow, the day after and all the days after that, even if nobody else does x