The Journey to 2025: Trials and Lessons Learned

The Journey to 2025: Trials and Lessons Learned

It’s 2025 now, and I’ve attempted to start my own business a few times over the years. Each attempt taught me valuable lessons, though they often came with their share of struggles.

First Attempt: A Shared Kitchen Dream
Back in 2019, I was 28 and had just returned to Korea after studying at Le Cordon Bleu, a journey I funded with most of my savings. I started working as a pastry chef at a fine dining restaurant called La Cucina. Around that time, shared kitchens were becoming increasingly popular, and I was eager to explore the idea of starting my business using one.

I even went on a trial trip and had consultations to explore the opportunity. However, I quickly realized I didn’t have enough funds to start. I had already spent most of my savings on my education and couldn’t afford the setup costs. I turned to my father for financial support, but he was skeptical. He worried it might be a scam and doubted whether I could succeed, so he refused. It was disheartening, but I decided to keep going.

Second Attempt: Korean Desserts Collaboration
My next attempt came after working for a few months at Kwon Sook Soo, where I gained experience with traditional Korean desserts like yakgwa, jung-gwa, and dasik. A friend suggested I release a line of Korean desserts paired with her high-quality tea collection on the crowdfunding site Wadiz.

Since my apartment was too small, I prepared everything at her place, but it was far from ideal. I was terrible at asking for help, and she wasn’t proactive either. I worked tirelessly, often pulling all-nighters, but my small 40-liter oven and gas stove made it impossible to meet demand.

We had disagreements about costs and margins—she paid for the ingredients, but I handled the labor. She insisted on higher margins, which left me earning next to nothing. Although I was excited about launching my products, the lack of teamwork and support led to frustration and resentment. Ultimately, the collaboration failed.

Third Attempt: The Bakery Café
Later, I got involved in opening a bakery café with an inexperienced owner—a housewife with three grown sons and no business background. She had connections to café owners and bakery suppliers, so I thought it might work out.

I poured my energy into designing the kitchen, sourcing equipment, and helping with planning. However, the café opened prematurely, with renovations still incomplete, and I didn’t even have time to develop a proper menu. The owner constantly changed her vision, swinging between high-quality pastries and Korean street food based on advice from her friends.

I was exhausted and disillusioned. I began exploring affordable options to start my own business in Seoul, like shared kitchens or street food carts, with a budget of 30 million won (~AUD 33,000). It wasn’t much, but I was determined to work for myself.

Family Expectations and Burnout
At the same time, my family’s expectations weighed heavily on me. My half-brother, who had no bakery experience, wanted to start a business, and my stepmother and father pressured me to help. They even suggested I move to Jeju Island or travel there every weekend to assist.

When I asked, “When can I have a day off?” my stepmother replied, “When starting a business, you need to work 7 days a week.” Her response was crushing. I felt my own aspirations slipping away, overshadowed by their demands.

My panic disorder worsened, and one day, I couldn’t bring myself to board the flight to Jeju. When I apologized, my stepmother dismissed my struggles, saying, “You’ve been in treatment for five years, and nothing’s changed. What’s the point?”

That was the breaking point. I felt utterly drained. No one seemed to care about my well-being or dreams.

A Fresh Start
I decided to reset my life completely. I donated most of my belongings, changed my phone number, and ended my relationship with my boyfriend. I disconnected from my family and isolated myself. For a while, I stayed at a temple, searching for peace and clarity.

One day, a friend recommended the book The Midnight Library. It was a life-changing read. The protagonist, who was deeply depressed, found herself in a library that allowed her to explore alternate versions of her life. The story made me realize I still had choices and the power to change my path.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I left everything behind in Seoul and moved to Canberra, Australia.

In February 2024, I arrived here in Australia, and it’s been a year since then. During this time, I met my partner, who owns his own business and recently launched a new product. Watching his journey firsthand has been incredibly inspiring. He encouraged me to start a blog, connect with people on social media, and explore marketing strategies and business development.

It has been a valuable learning experience to witness his dedication and perseverance during challenging times. His genuine passion for his industry reignited my own ambitions. It motivated me to start blogging, even if inconsistently.

As I wrote about pastries and reflected on my journey, I began to feel that I was ready to start my own business. Slowly but surely, I started collecting tools and researching the custom cake market in Australia.

Now, I feel more confident about taking the next step toward building something of my own.