This post is available in Korean.
이 포스트는 한글로 보실 수 있습니다.
Korea is the second biggest market of $100 Startup in the world, outside of the States.
Korea is changing.
Slow but steady, we are changing.
Last Wednesday, I had a chance to share my stories with the dream-seeking crowd of Korea. Chris Guillebeau, the author of $100 Startup, visited Korea for his book tour, he wanted to include me as a role model for the Koreans. Me two years ago would never think this day would come.
Chris talked about the idea behind the book $100 Startup and the key factors of the entrepreneurship. We need to be desperate, the idea should benefit others, and overall, anyone can do it. One thing got my attention was when he talked about action need to follow the idea. Right on, I wrote something similar recently: To Become Great, Build Something Great.
Chris handed me the microphone, and it was my turn to share. I was thinking hard what to talk after Chris asked me to take over the stage for five minutes followed by him, and I decided to share the critical moment, when I determined to spill the bucket. For five minutes, I unwind my experience from exactly two years ago. My journey from the unhappy cubic farm life, to on the stage at that moment.
Dreamer, that’s who I was, still am. I’m very fortunate to have passion and desire. But that very moment, I was sick of just dreaming. What should I do? There were two ways to solve the problem: stop dreaming, or make the dream come true.
I talked about how difficult it was to break the thick ‘Made in Korea’ mold. Without further description, they already knew what I was going to say. They knew it from the heart. The family, the culture, the society, the mainstream and the office life, we sympathized each other at the very moment.
I felt good. To see the shining eyes in front of me, curious, seeking for inspirations and carefully willing to pursuit their dreams, it made me happy.
This is the time. People are changing. They need something more than stable life and monthly paycheck. Happiness is not something you can buy. It only comes when there is a desire. And now, the great mass of Korean population is realizing they’ve been having the desire to be happy all along.
They were the perfect crowd. Thanks to $100 Startup. My sincere thanks to my good friend Chris Guillebeau, not only an inspirational person, but also generous to let me have the opportunity to show everyone that we Koreans can do it.
