Author: John Hill

What Does It Mean to Face Life’s Tests? You’ve probably heard people talk about “life’s tests” or “life’s challenges.” But what does that really mean? Here’s what I’ve learned: if life gives us tests, then it also gives us lessons to prepare for them. The tricky part? These lessons don’t come from textbooks. They come from our daily experiences—both good and bad. My First Business Failed, and It Changed Everything Let me tell you my story. In April 2012, I opened my first bookstore. I was excited and full of hope. But by mid-2013, I had to close the doors.…

You know what’s funny? We always think we need some massive breakthrough to change our lives. A new job. A complete personality makeover. Winning the lottery. But here’s what I learned the hard way: it’s the tiny, everyday habits that quietly sabotage us. The ones we no longer even notice. In 2013, my business collapsed. My partner left. I felt like a complete failure. For months, I tortured myself with “what ifs” and watched everyone else succeed while I sat there, stuck. That rock bottom taught me something valuable. I wasn’t stuck because I lacked talent or luck. I was…

People talk about hard work all the time, but most of the time it sounds like a slogan printed on a T-shirt. For me, it was never an inspirational quote — it was survival. It was the only path I had. This is the story of how I went from working two small jobs to eventually building my own bookstore, Wardoh Books. And more importantly, it’s about what I learned in the years in between — the long nights, the failures, and the slow progress that nobody saw. The Years Nobody Saw When I tell people today that I own…

Last Sunday, I was outside cleaning the sidewalk in front of my bookstore, Wardoh Books. A young business owner passed by, stopped, and said: “You’re so lucky. Your bookstore blew up overnight!” I smiled and thanked him… but inside, I couldn’t help laughing a little. Not because he was wrong. Not because he meant anything bad. But because he didn’t know what “overnight success” looked like in my life. My “overnight” took 13 years — and it began with a failure that almost destroyed my confidence. Why I’m Sharing This Story If you’re reading this, maybe you’re going through a…

It’s Sunday evening, around 4:30 PM. Most people are out having dinner, watching a movie, or relaxing with their families. Me? I’m at my desk with my laptop open, writing this story. You might wonder why. It is because if there’s one truth I’ve learned, it is this: Your life changes the moment you discover your real ability. This isn’t about luck; it is about finding the strength that comes from experience. The path to finding it is usually not glamorous, and mine definitely wasn’t. What “True Ability” Actually Means People love to say, “He’s talented” or “She was born…

Your first job stays with you forever. Not because of the money—most of us earned almost nothing—but because of what it teaches you about work, about yourself, and about what you actually want from your career. I want to share my story. Perhaps it will help you understand why first job experience is important, even when it may seem insignificant at the time. My Story: Starting at a Local Bookstore in 2001 I got my first job in 2001. I was a book sales staff member at a small bookstore in my town. The pay was tiny. I was basically…

When I was working my regular job, I’d hear people talking about business failures all the time. “Most businesses fail,” they’d say. “Entrepreneurs lose everything.” Honestly? Those warnings didn’t scare me back then. I felt confident, maybe even a bit invincible. That confidence lasted until 2012, when my co-founder and I launched our first business. Fifteen months later, I had to shut it down completely. That’s when I finally understood what business failure really feels like. If you’re reading this after your own business has failed, I want you to know something important: you’re not alone, and this isn’t the…

I’ll be honest with you. Back in 2010, I was terrified. I had been working as a bookshop salesperson since 2001. In 2004, I added another job—working in a printing shop. For six years, I juggled both jobs. The work was steady, the paychecks came on time, and everything felt… safe. But something inside me kept whispering: Is this really all there is? That whisper grew louder each year. I started thinking about building something of my own. Not because I hated my jobs, but because I wanted more. I wanted to see what I was really capable of. In…

It’s 1:15 a.m. right now, and I’m sitting here with my laptop and my spoiled cat, Hulury, curled up beside me. Most people are already asleep, but I felt I needed to write this tonight. Why? Because I remember how confused and overwhelmed I felt years ago when I was trying to figure out my first business. If you’re reading this, you’re probably in a similar situation. Maybe you want to start a business but don’t know where to begin. Or perhaps you have so many ideas bouncing around in your head that you can’t decide which one to pursue.…

Running a business isn’t easy. Whether you’re managing a family shop, launching your first startup, or growing a medium-sized company, you’ll face challenges that test your limits. Team conflicts, money troubles, market competition, economic downturns—the list goes on. I know this firsthand. In 2012, my co-founder and I opened our dream business. Fifteen months later, we had to close the doors. The failure hurt. There were moments when I wanted to walk away from entrepreneurship completely. But here’s what I learned: giving up wasn’t the answer. Understanding how to start a business without giving up made all the difference when…