From Corporate C-Level to Solo Entrepreneur: A Journey of Passion and Perseverance
Hello everyone! I'm Jason. In April of this year, I resigned from my C-level position at a tech startup to pursue my passion in a niche market. Seven months later, in November, I secured my first order, achieving a 0 to 1 milestone. During the recent holiday shopping season, I successfully sold out my first batch of products, marking a solid first step for my project.
Looking back, I've realized that quitting my job wasn't as daunting as I imagined. The life you dream of might not be as unattainable as you think. Everything is possible if you strive for it; nothing is if you don't.
I'm starting this channel to share my experiences as an ordinary person pursuing my passion, quitting my job to start my own business, investing, and growing personally.
The Pursuit of Passion and Value
My ideal life has never been about earning a salary and working towards someone else's dream. Instead, it's about doing what I love and creating value. If I can provide value to the market, then earning money will naturally follow. By finding and persisting in this state, I believe I can gradually achieve freedom of time, location, and finances.
Steve Jobs often said, "You've got to find what you love." Work occupies a significant portion of our lives, and true satisfaction comes from doing what you believe is great. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep searching and don't give up. Your heart will confirm it when it appears.
The Reality of the Dream
I've heard many motivational speeches over the years, and while I acknowledge that pursuing your passion is a powerful engine for success, I also realize that it's not easy. It's difficult for ordinary people like me to abandon the best, most realistic outcomes of completing school, working hard, and getting promotions and pay raises for doing what they enjoy and earning a good money. Those who have had amazing lives, such as the top DJs, elite athletes, Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk, are best left to others.
But over my ten years in the workplace, I've been searching for my own path. And unbelievably, I've found it! My solo venture is about building my own brand and product in a small, niche market. To put it simply, I've traded my high-paying CFO position to run a small business. I went from managing billion-dollar deals for financing and IPOs to now focusing on a tiny silicone tip that costs a few cents!
I will be sharing my journey with you on this channel in detail. Don't forget to click like, subscribe, and turn on notifications!
A Delayed Debut and the State of Nude Resignation
I had planned to launch this channel after achieving my 0 to 1 milestone in November, but I developed a stye that required surgery. Now that I'm still recovering, I've decided to launch right away!
Welcome to the Jungle! It's been nine months since I quit my job, and I want to share my experiences, which I hope will be helpful to those contemplating a similar move. Everyone has a different story, but there are common stages and mindsets that people experience after quitting their jobs. Some people want to take a break before starting up again, and that is totally fine. As for myself, I was convinced that my old work was squandering my life and had a clear vision and route for adjusting the direction of my life.
I am having the best and worst times of my life after leaving my job. Would I choose differently if time turned back? I will just come to a conclusion: It is taxing, slow, and difficult to take this route. I am aware that I would afterwards feel bad if I didn't go. I discovered something worthwhile to accomplish in something I love after a long time. Even if I hadn't discovered such a thing, I would have been aware that I would regret it if I hadn't tried. The sun will rise as usual tomorrow if you get up and do it, regardless of how exhausted you are.
I think it's important to prevent regret because it can haunt you for the rest of your life. A little exhaustion and suffering can actually improve your sleep, but regret can keep you awake at night and even cause nightmares. Getting a good night's sleep is very important. That's why I made the decision to give up my career and pursue my passions in ways that were both beneficial and meaningful to me. How would you respond if you were you?
Reflections on Quitting: Finding a Better Fit
Looking back on the past nine months, I realize that quitting my job wasn't as scary as I thought. I'm sharing my experience of finding something that better suits me and excites me. I wasn't able to achieve my dream life while working a normal full-time corporate job, even though it appeared good to others but was one I didn't enjoy or care about.
It's interesting because I had just changed jobs three weeks before I quit. I have a background in finance and accounting, and the new firm gave me a raise and a new title. I was already a CFO before, so there was no room for promotion. Regardless of the startup's title inflation, I was still in charge of finance and capital markets. The new venture was backed by a financial group, making it less unstable than other startups. I could have easily stayed for at least a year, which is a valuable opportunity in the current environment. So, why did I quit after only three weeks?
Key Reasons for Resignation
- Limited Strategic Input: The boss seemed to value me, but I realized that he only needed me to agree with his ideas, not to contribute to development or strategy. He just wanted someone who could give him affirmation and emotional support. While I understand that the boss has the right to use employees as he sees fit, I've reached a point in my career where I need to create real value and do the right thing for the long-term benefit of the company and myself.
- The Need for Meaningful Impact: There are many jobs that involve providing emotional support or simply agreeing with the boss, but these jobs don't suit me. I need to see that my contributions are making a positive impact and creating value. Otherwise, I become negative and self-doubting.
- Incompatibility: Although this work was well-paid and stable, it was not a good fit for me. I've learned from experience that awkward situations never last.
The Challenges of Being a Slashie
The second main reason for my quitting was that I had initially thought I could be a "slashie," working full-time while pursuing my own business. While this is a common approach, quitting a full-time job before a project is established can increase risk. The financial pressure and the desire to see quick results can create stress.
I've been a "slashie" for almost five years. In the spring of 2020, I started helping my mom create short videos because I saw her talent in front of the camera. Almost five years later, she has over 500 videos on Xiaohongshu, with a substantial following and consistent endorsements that supplement my parents' retirement income. It's amazing! Now that I'm preoccupied with my own projects, I've hired a team to handle the planning, photography, and editing, while I focus on business and project management.
However, I didn't take the "slashie" route with my own startup project. I quit my job entirely. Each person's situation and goals are different. I'm sharing my story as an example. If you have significant short-term financial pressures, quitting your job is probably not the best option. You may need to resign in order to pursue your own interests if they demand a great deal of time and effort and you do not have sufficient time and energy outside of your full-time job.
For me, it was a question of priorities. I had financial pressures, but I had savings and the startup costs were low. My wife's income and support also played a role. She understands me well and knows that I wouldn't be happy working for someone else. She supports my entrepreneurial spirit and knows that I would regret not pursuing this project.
I love my wife!
Timeline: From Inspiration to Validation
Let's walk through my timeline from the initial inspiration to start a business, to quitting my job, to achieving the 0 to 1 milestone.
I want to prove two things:
- Quitting your job is not as scary as it seems.
- Things you think are unattainable may not be so distant.
Believe in yourself, work hard, and make a little progress toward your goals each day. The effects of time and effort will compound. Looking back, you'll realize how quickly time has passed and how far you've come. Don't be afraid. Listen to your heart. Once you've thought things through, take action. You'll be grateful for your decision a few months from now.
I started feeling burned out with my mom's Xiaohongshu project and my full-time job in 2023. I was looking for "the next thing," as Steve Jobs said, to find my passion. I started exploring my passions for fitness and golf.
In November 2023, I came up with the idea of creating a golf training tool. After researching the market and analyzing the potential for differentiation, feasibility, and profitability, I felt it was viable. I began development in December and planned to sell through an independent website. I registered the domain in January.
Progress was slow due to my full-time job and my mom's short video project. In early April, I realized it wasn't sustainable and decided to quit my job to focus entirely on the golf startup.
From April to June, I focused on product development and other business elements, including company establishment, website construction, and logistics.
In late July, the first batch of products went into production. I didn't prepare many at first.
In August, the products were manufactured and transported by sea to the United States, the biggest golf market.
In September, my independent website was initially finished, and brand-building initiatives, such as visual materials, videos, and images, got underway.
In early October, the products arrived in the United States and brand building continued. That period was the darkest because the products were ready for sale but there were no orders. It required great resolve to believe in myself and keep working hard.
In mid-November, seven months after quitting my job, I finally received my first customer order, completing the 0 to 1 milestone. I wasn't overly excited then. I was more relieved and confident that I was on the right path.
During the recent Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year shopping season, my first batch of goods sold out quickly. The first shipment was an experiment and not very large. However, it exceeded my expectations.
The product was designed by me. Different sizes were sold this time. In addition to the United States, advertisements were also placed in Australia and the United Kingdom, and organic orders were received from Canada, which is close to the United States. The product and market verification from 0 to 1 was successful in all four major golf nations. Other countries besides the United States did not receive any stock, and the products were delivered by air, resulting in a loss in profits.
I am now gradually moving on to the next phase, where I will focus on brand and marketing efforts, inventory management, and avoiding stockouts, all while controlling expenses and dangers.
This project is growing at a rate that isn't too slow but certainly isn't too quick either. It demands great confidence and patience. It is now taking a strong initial step and still developing.
I want to use this channel to share my experiences, both to document and encourage myself, and to provide useful advice and inspiration to those in similar circumstances. While everyone's experiences, personalities, and resources are different, my authentic and honest sharing may spark some resonation, or even inspiration and encouragement, and offer practical and emotional benefits.
Please leave your questions or comments in the comment section, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay up to date on my experiences and discoveries!
I did not expect to talk for so long in the first film. That's all for today! Remain tuned; there will be more to come! Jason here, and I'll see you in the next movie! Bye bye!
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