When I was younger, I was one of those kids who knew exactly what they wanted to do with their professional life. My vocation? To become my own boss by starting my own company. Now, has that changed over the years? Yes… and no. That entrepreneurial spirit very much still lives in me, but as I encountered numerous people that had the same aspirations but that had felt the bitter taste of failure, I developed a fear of taking risks. This made me question whether I had what it takes to become an entrepreneur.

So, during my time in Seoul, Korea, I set myself to meet and interview business owners from various backgrounds, to hopefully find the inspiration and motivation that I need to begin my own journey in the risky world of business ventures.

Interview #1:  Owner of a Hair Shop & Beauty Salon in Itaewon 

Being an African studying abroad in Korea, I have experienced how difficult it is to find hair products for my natural hair. And after a long search, I decided to walk around Itaewon to see if I could find a Hair Shop to buy the hair products that I desperately needed.

Several Kakao Map searches later, I finally found a hair shop that suited my needs. And that is where I met Eugene, the owner of the hair shop.

As I told him about my dream to become a successful entrepreneur, Eugene told me that he could relate to my story and that for him as well, the entrepreneurial urge had always been in him. “My creativity was partly developed, through my education, from a very young age,” he said. “Entrepreneurship, I got that from my parents. I remember being the kid at recess who sold packs of gum.”

Eugene then went on to say that he quickly understood that there was no magic formula; you had to work hard to succeed. After his studies, he decided to follow a training course where he learned about business creations and takeovers.

After several setbacks, this young entrepreneur learned through his mistakes to separate a good business idea from a buzzword and to recognize an expanding market. Today, he keeps in mind the ambition to grow his vision of a new untapped opportunity. As soon as there is a possibility to set up a project, he studies it, and if necessary, he seizes the opportunity. However, being entrepreneurial is not simply a matter of innate competence. Like any project, it must be based on experience as well.

I could not agree more with Eugene’s words. I have realized over the years that I am the most passionate about things that I have some kind of connection with. This thought makes me realize once again how important it is that I broaden my experience.