These past few days I had some free time, so I decided to write this before March arrives. This year I've just turned 40, which is something to celebrate. Since the establishment of the company, it feels like we've broken through a three-year curse. For me, these three years have been risky and full of challenges. But for many other companies, my struggles might seem like mere complaining. Whenever I chat with other entrepreneurs or second-generation heirs to family businesses, I realize how fortunate I am. Despite the daily work pressures, I've managed to maintain a certain level of freedom. In each work schedule, I carve out a buffer to handle emergencies. Through the practice of the past year, I've learned to demand that others adhere to my rules and timelines. However, in the early part of this year, I've reverted back to my old habit of turning a blind eye to certain matters, to lend a hand to the young ones still climbing the social ladder.
Closure Last Year
My own physical condition started acting up last year, causing a six-month hiatus. But towards the end of last year, I experienced a surge in income, the most profitable month since starting the business. This trend of clients readily paying rightous prices has continued until now (end of February), partly due to the Lunar New Year break, which pushed some scheduled meetings and works collabs to March. We hope to capitalize on this momentum and sustain a more stable income.
Outlook for This Year
Now, onto a more candid note, I am the head of my company, not your confidant. This year, I aim to restrain myself from offering unwarranted assistance. Although I already maintain a considerable distance, I've realized that offering unsolicited advice based on my experiences, especially between friends and work colleagues, requires careful consideration. Even a mere hint or suggestion may not be appropriate.
If someone is headed for trouble, let them face it. If they realize their mistakes and seek to rectify them, don't even show that you're happy for them. Judge everything based on whether your involvement can resolve the issue at hand. You might think you're being indifferent, but in most cases, the other party will appreciate your newfound maturity and improved communication. It's a win-win situation.
Mastering the Art of Silence
Last month, my wife and I made several trips to the labor insurance office and discovered that I had received benefits for seven years of my life. I'm grateful for those seven years because I dealt mostly with a demographic older and wealthier than my own family circle. Their drunken ramblings and daily complaints now serve as valuable lessons for me. I often find myself telling those around me...
"The arrangements under such conditions are unfeasible."
"The risks and costs of sudden changes in this collaboration should be borne by this party for things to proceed smoothly."
However, nobody wants to freaking hear these words because I'm not in their shoes; how would I know the subsequent developments? Yet, it's precisely because I've seen the outcomes of different approaches by seasoned predecessors who had been in the same situations. I want to, in some way, show you how frustrated they were even with their level of wealth, and you're almost at the same financial level as me, so stop messing around like that. But I find that many people prefer to rely on passion, hard work, and endurance to change their fate, rather than listen to the advice of an outsider who seems clueless.
Thank you for ignoring me.
I won't say what needs to be said in the future.
And I won't board a sinking ship either.
Spring 2024, a time when even Costco pizza can be in short supply,
BoxHill Studio had survived it's first closure.