So, you want to start your own business? That’s awesome — but before you jump in, let me share something important with you.
I’m not here to discourage you. I just want to help you get ready for what’s really ahead.
Back in 2012, I opened my first bookstore. I was excited, motivated, and ready to take on the world.
But guess what? A year and three months later, my business completely failed.
That failure taught me more than any success ever could. And now, after rebuilding the brand and finally making it work, I want to share the real lessons I wish someone had told me before I began.
1. Getting Rich Quick? Forget About It
Let’s get one thing straight: starting a business is not a shortcut to easy money.
You’ve probably seen those Instagram posts of people sitting on beaches with laptops, saying they work only two hours a day. But that’s not the full story. Maybe they work two hours now, but they probably worked 80-hour weeks for years to get there.
When I started Wardoh Books, I worked constantly. Weekdays, weekends, holidays — it didn’t matter; I was always working.
Some nights, I stood by my printing machine until 3 a.m., making sure everything was ready for the next day.
And the hardest part? My income was unpredictable. Some months went well. Others were really tough. I never knew if I’d make enough to pay rent or buy supplies.
Key Takeaway: Success in business takes patience, dedication, and resilience through uncertainty.
2. You’ll Wear Every Single Hat (At Least in the Beginning)
When you own a business, you do everything.
When you work for someone else, you have one job title — maybe you’re a salesperson, or an accountant. You clock in, do your work, and clock out.
But when you own a business? You’re the salesperson, the marketer, the accountant, and sometimes even the janitor sweeping the floors at closing time.
Some days, I felt completely overwhelmed. How could one person handle it all?
Luckily, I’d worked in a bookshop back in 2001 and in a printing shop in 2004. Those experiences gave me a head start, but I still had to learn new things — like managing inventory and handling difficult customers.
Key Takeaway: Doing every job yourself early on gives you deep business knowledge.
3. Money Management Can Make or Break You
I’ve seen great businesses fail simply because they couldn’t manage their money.
Here’s what you must get right:
- Know Your Starting Capital. Before opening your doors, figure out exactly how much money you need. Don’t guess — write down every expense: rent, equipment, supplies, licenses, marketing, and a safety cushion for emergencies. I made mistakes here. I underestimated how much I’d need for slow months, and it nearly destroyed me.
- Track Your Cash Flow “Cash flow” might sound fancy, but it simply means knowing where every dollar comes from — and where it goes. Even if customers are buying from you, you can still run out of money if you’re not paying attention. Maybe you bought too much inventory. Maybe customers haven’t paid yet. Maybe you forgot about that big tax bill coming up. I started using a simple notebook to track everything daily. It saved my business.
- Keep an Emergency Fund. Things go wrong. Equipment breaks. Suppliers raise prices. A pandemic hits (who saw that coming?). Always keep some extra money aside. I learned that lesson the hard way during my first attempt — when trouble came, I had nothing to fall back on.
The truth is, most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they run out of money. Master your finances, or your business won’t survive.
4. Failure Happens — But It’s Not the End of Your Story
Remember one of my first books I stayed up printing until 3 a.m.? The cover looked terrible. Seriously, outdated, dull, and printed with poor-quality ink, making it hard to read.
I felt embarrassed and frustrated. I’d worked so hard — was this really the result?
But I didn’t give up. I studied what went wrong. I looked at successful books, talked to designers, tested new printers, and never made the same mistake again.
When my entire bookstore failed after just over a year, I could have quit completely — and honestly, many people expected me to.
But I didn’t see it as the end. I saw it as expensive education.
I relaunched Wardoh Books with everything I’d learned. And this time, it worked.
The truth is, every successful entrepreneur has failed — often more than once. The difference is they got back up. Failure isn’t something to fear; it’s part of the process.
5. Your Customers Are Your Real Bosses
When I relaunched my bookstore, I made a crucial change: I started listening to my customers.
Before, I only sold what I thought was good. But when I started listening to what people wanted, everything changed.
- Listen and Learn, I noticed older customers browsing nostalgic classics from their youth, while younger readers wanted educational books that were also fun. So, I adjusted — I stocked more classics for the older crowd and more entertaining educational books for the younger ones. And the result? My sales doubled within months.
- Make Them Feel Valued It’s not just about selling products — it’s about creating an experience people remember. When someone asks a question, I don’t rush them. If they need a recommendation, I take time to think about what they’d enjoy. And if they have a complaint, I fix it immediately. These small things build loyalty. Customers don’t just buy once — they come back, and they bring their friends.
The truth is, your business exists to serve real people. If you’re not focused on making them happy, you won’t have customers for long.
6. Your Network Is More Valuable Than You Think
I used to think success in business meant working alone and grinding harder than everyone else.
I was wrong.
During my breaks, I started visiting local coffee shops and chatting with other business owners in my area. Those conversations changed everything.
- Learn From People Who’ve Been There. One restaurant owner taught me how to deal with difficult suppliers. A clothing store owner shared marketing strategies that actually worked. A veteran entrepreneur warned me about mistakes he’d made — so I could avoid them. That free advice was worth more than thousands of dollars.
- Find Someone Who Can Guide You. If possible, find a mentor — someone who’s already succeeded in business and is willing to help you. I met my mentor, a publisher named Shen Xuan Hui, at a local networking event. He didn’t give me money or customers, but he gave me something far more valuable: perspective. Whenever I was stressed, he’d say, “I dealt with that same problem five years ago — here’s what worked for me.” That kind of guidance helped me avoid countless mistakes and make smarter decisions faster.
The truth is, business isn’t a solo sport. The more real connections you build with other entrepreneurs, the stronger your support system will be. And trust me — you’ll need that support.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
It will be harder than you expect, and you’ll face failures and setbacks — that’s part of the journey.
But it’s also one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do.
Yes, I failed the first time. Yes, I worked countless sleepless nights. And yes, there were moments when I questioned everything.
But now? I own a bookstore that serves my community. I make my own decisions. I’ve built something that didn’t exist before. And I’ve learned more about myself than I ever could in a regular job.
If you’re thinking about starting your own business, my advice is simple: go for it — but go in with your eyes open.
Be ready to work hard, keep learning, manage your money wisely, and never give up when things get tough — because if you do all that, you just might build something incredible.
Good luck, future entrepreneur — the world needs what you’re about to create.
