The Entrepreneur Log #47 - Mar 2025 - Going back to my roots

I’ll be frank—March was a rough month. It started with promise, but quickly unraveled as I faced one HR crisis after another. My marketing executive quit and ghosted me, then my shop manager—overwhelmed by the chaos—handed in his resignation. Suddenly, I was buried under their workload, follow-ups, and the urgent need to hire replacements.

Now, two weeks into April, I’m reflecting with clearer eyes. The emotional rollercoaster (more on that later) has settled, and hindsight has brought revelations. It’s as if the universe—since I’m not religious—kept throwing blows to force me back to my roots.

Here’s the truth: Every entrepreneur dreams of scaling. As a solopreneur running Joyce Tsang Content Marketing, I knew growth was tricky—hence buying the bubble tea shop to experience a "traditional" small business. But hiring is brutal right now, and deeper down, I’d never asked myself if I truly wanted a business detached from my personal identity just for the sake of expansion.

For four years, I’ve run my content marketing business solo—happily. I enjoyed four-day workweeks, evenings with my husband, and balance. Sure, I wanted more income and travel freedom, but was conventional scaling really my path? The past year’s struggles—the setbacks, the stress—have forced me to reassess. I became an entrepreneur to control my time, yet last month, that control vanished entirely. I was more stressed than ever.

But I refuse to see this as wasted time. I’ve learned what it takes, given it my all, and now know this version of "growth" isn’t for me.

i) Connecting with people on a personal level

ii) Collaborating with like-minded individuals

iii) Sharing my story

---

i) Connecting with people on a personal level as an entrepreneur

While I frequently attend networking events and always stay true to myself, I’ve noticed a change this past year—I’d begun adopting a more polished, professional persona, likely in pursuit of growth. But March marked a turning point.

I still showed up, but this time, I subconsciously sought deeper, more personal connections. Perhaps it was the stress weighing on me; I craved understanding and shared experiences rather than just business opportunities.

The GEOX Women’s Day event was a perfect example. Instead of forcing myself to network with everyone, I stayed with familiar faces—people I genuinely wanted to talk to. A special thanks to Valerie, who listened patiently as I vented about my shop struggles. She didn’t rush to offer solutions but simply empathized, which felt incredibly refreshing.

At the Marketing Pulse conference, the energy had shifted from previous years, with a heavier focus on Mainland China’s marketing landscape. While insightful, I found myself more drawn to local entrepreneurs like Jacopo. Though he only had time to briefly touch on his journey, hearing him acknowledge, "Yes, F&B is hard," resonated deeply—a small but meaningful moment of solidarity.

Finally, joining the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneurs Committee brought an unexpected sense of belonging. Despite being surrounded by seasoned veterans enjoying the rewards of their long careers, they welcomed me with respect and even applause when I shared my transition from content marketer to small business owner. Their recognition was both surprising and deeply encouraging.

ii) Collaborating with like-minded individuals

Our bubble tea shop recently secured a meaningful collaboration with two local entrepreneurs—the owners of Hong Kong Green House in Yuen Long. As nature lovers living outside the city, this partnership felt particularly special.

Even more exciting? We got to deploy our DIY Bubble Tea Cart for the second time! Thanks to our incredible new staff member Jojo, we expanded what was initially planned as a one-day event into a three-day smoothie-making experience, engaging over 210 students in total.

This experience reinforced two things: First, offering hands-on experiences adds tremendous value to events. Second, I’m not alone in this wild journey—there are other passionate entrepreneurs out there investing their hard-earned money and limited time into ventures they love and believe can make a difference for our city and future generations.

iii) Sharing my story

Last but not least, I continued my long-term partnership with the Cocoon Foundation by hosting entrepreneurship workshops at local high schools this month. While the format remained familiar, this round felt particularly special as I had the chance to engage with the organization’s younger staff members.

Their professionalism and willingness to hear my story repeatedly—each time offering fresh perspectives—created a truly reciprocal exchange. These conversations reminded me how important it is not just to share my experiences, but to listen and be inspired by others in return.

Perhaps most comforting was realizing I’m not alone in my challenges. These young professionals intimately understood my hiring struggles, and we bonded over how today’s students approach part-time work and deadlines differently than our generation did.

As I write this, I realize this might be one of the most significant entrepreneur logs I’ve written in years. What makes it different is the clear pattern in what I’ve chosen to share—not just my activities, but how others made me feel along the way.

I know there’s more to unpack in April (much has already changed), but this moment serves as a powerful reminder: my journey isn’t ending. Rather, I’ve just cleared one of my biggest hurdles and learned some of my toughest lessons—lessons that will fundamentally make me a better entrepreneur.

The essence of these lessons? Resist shiny objects. Keep things simple. And most importantly: before considering what’s good for business, consider what’s good for me.

-Joyce