I used to ask myself that question a lot. Now, other people ask it occasionally. And coincidentally, one evening while out for dinner, I found another very honest answer.
After work, feeling hungry, I planned to stop by a noodle shop near my house. But as I passed by, I saw a newly opened hotdog stand, so I turned back to support it. Partly out of curiosity, and partly because judging by the location, I guessed it would be a bit difficult to sell.
I looked at the menu and saw nearly a dozen items. To be honest, I'm not usually one to eat hotdogs. So I asked the owner, "What's the most popular item here? Could you recommend something good?"”
You recommended the American-style hotdog. While we waited, an 8-year-old boy, the owner's nephew, came out to help with the bill. He looked bright and cute.
A little while later, the owner came out and asked, "Did you enjoy your meal?"”
I said it was fine, then asked further, "Is selling here going well?"”
You smiled sadly: "It's very slow, brother. Luckily, we got the space from my aunt, so it didn't cost any money."”
As we talked further, I learned that you used to work in market development for a major beer company. After quitting your job, you decided to start your own business.
I asked her why. She said very honestly, "I want to do something of my own, honey."”
Hearing that, I saw my old self again. Then I asked, "Your cosplay must be really tall, right?" She was surprised and asked how I knew. I'm familiar with the profession, so I can guess from the menu.
You whispered: Near 60%, sir.
I paused for a moment. Because at that price, a little careful calculation would show that the more you sell, the more you lose. But because it's "property in your own home," and you "do it yourself," many people unintentionally overlook the actual costs.
And at that moment, I realized one thing very clearly: being an employee and being a boss are two completely different worlds.
When you're an employee, you just need to do your job well. Behind the scenes, there's always a system, department, team, and process. No matter what the market is like, your salary will still be regular every month.
When you're your own boss, everything rests on your shoulders: revenue, expenses, cash flow, marketing, legal matters, human resources, operations…
One wrong decision can cost you years of savings. And sometimes, it can even cost you the peace of your family.
Many people are like that hotdog owner; they may have been excellent employees in their previous organizations. But when they become business owners, they realize they need many more skills: finance, business models, location selection, management, risk assessment, and so on.
And I realized: starting a business is no longer just a "try it out" anymore. It's a journey full of risks, many quiet moments, and times when looking back makes my heart sink. But it is precisely because of this that I believe entrepreneurship is a journey of courage.
Be brave enough to step out of your comfort zone. Be brave enough to look directly at your own shortcomings. And be brave enough to learn almost from scratch again. Passion is still important. But passion alone is never enough.
Starting a business is not just about leaving your old job,
Instead, it means accepting to enter a much more difficult game, where every small decision has its own price.
And then, as I closed the book on the events of that evening,
I suddenly felt a heavy heart, a pang of sympathy for those who are struggling to hold onto their own dreams.
May all those on this journey always have enough perseverance and inner peace to continue on the path they have chosen.
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