Finding Success Abroad: An Entrepreneur's Journey
This article explores the journey of a young entrepreneur who, despite academic challenges in China, found success in Indonesia's restaurant industry. He shares his experiences, from early struggles to building a multi-restaurant business.
Overcoming Academic Setbacks
The entrepreneur recounts his low score on the college entrance exam (174 points) and his father's disappointment, which led to him having to make up the money spent on tuition. After graduation, he faced financial difficulties, working various jobs like making coffee and tea, working in a mall, and even plumbing to make ends meet (earning approximately 120 RMB for 5 hours as a plumber).
Discovering Opportunity in Indonesia
Feeling lost and uncertain about his future in China, he decided to explore life in Indonesia. He met Dapeng, a successful restaurant owner, which changed his perspective.
Dapeng's Story: A Case Study in Overseas Success
Dapeng, a high school graduate from Guangdong, built a successful restaurant business in Indonesia with his girlfriend and college roommates. Their business started after 2000. Within two years, they expanded to 46 restaurants, generating a monthly income exceeding 1.2 million RMB. Despite not being fluent in English, Dapeng thrived, inspiring the narrator.
Building a Business: Initial Steps and Challenges
Prior to Indonesia, he was involved in shipping and e-commerce, earning over 8 million RMB, with his share being over 2 million RMB. This provided the initial capital for his Indonesian venture. He aims to build a long-term business, focusing on the fundamentals. The initial investment in e-commerce gave him a chance to earn a lot of money. He's now focused on scaling from 1 million to 10 million RMB.
Managing Growth and Overcoming Obstacles
He acknowledges the challenges of managing a growing business, particularly with employee errors and inconsistencies in following standard operating procedures (SOPs). He struggles with not being able to speak English well. He emphasizes the need for patience and meticulousness, highlighting issues like controlling costs by weighing ingredients due to potential over-portioning.
Location and Target Market
Their restaurant is located near a reputable school in Indonesia. This allows for slightly higher pricing (RMB20-RMB30 per meal). Their customer base is primarily Indonesian and Chinese, with Chinese customers being the smallest segment.
Transportation and Lifestyle
Motorcycles are essential for transportation in Jakarta. He purchased a car after becoming successful, noting the significant price difference compared to domestic prices in China (90,000 RMB versus 600,000 RMB for a similar model).
Dealing with Unscrupulous Practices
He recounts a negative experience with a Chinese decoration company in Indonesia, losing over 200,000 RMB due to unfinished work and lack of communication. He adopts a pragmatic approach, accepting potential losses and focusing on moving forward, refusing to dwell on the setbacks.
Balancing Success with Personal Sacrifices
Despite his financial success and owning a car, he maintains a modest lifestyle, finding the cost of luxury apartments (30 RMB per month) too high. He acknowledges the support he receives from his family and associates. He expresses mixed emotions about his accomplishments, feeling happy but also saddened by the prospect of being away from his family for extended periods and the fact that he won't be able to see them often in the future. He doesn't know what he will do when he goes back to China.
Embracing the Entrepreneurial Spirit
He emphasizes the value of trying new things and learning from failures. He does not care too much about money. He views himself primarily as a businessman and emphasizes the importance of understanding one's purpose and the necessary steps to achieve it.