March has been an exhilarating month for me as an entrepreneur, filled with excitement, anticipation, planning, and hard work. Alongside maintaining consistency in my work at Joyce Tsang Content Marketing and staying on track with my annual plan and content calendar, I shared with all of you last month that I was exploring a potential business takeover. I'm thrilled to announce that I have now confirmed and officially begun this new venture, embarking on a journey of growth and opportunity!
Before revealing the new brand, there's still much to be done. However, what's truly fascinating is how the values of Joyce Tsang Content Marketing naturally align with this new venture, and how my marketing expertise can contribute to its success.
In addition to this exciting development, I'm proud to share all the accomplishments I've achieved in the past month:
i) Expanding my entrepreneur network - connecting with virtual faces in person for the first time for growth
i) Expanding my entrepreneur network - connecting with virtual faces in person for the first time for growth
I had the opportunity to attend my first CanCham event last month, where I had engaging conversations with individuals from various industries. I spoke with a personal investor, a lawyer, and a UX designer, stepping outside of my own industry. It was fascinating to observe the differences between this Canadian-specific networking event and others I've attended. The casual icebreaker of asking, 'Which province are you from?' made it easier to start conversations without feeling pressured by sales pitches.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Alan, a long-time LinkedIn connection. Alan is an expert in helping businesses expand, and I gained valuable insights into the local business scene, as well as his approach to pricing for significant projects and services.
Furthermore, I had a meaningful conversation with Kira, a young professional currently working at Ocean Park. While she initially reached out to learn more about my story, she also wanted to share information about an MLM network she represents. Although MLM is not something I consider, our conversation proved fruitful as Kira shed light on the concerns and challenges faced by Gen Z.
They are tired of working in jobs that don't appreciate their value, the rigid hierarchy of traditional workplaces, and the lack of flexibility and growth opportunities. They are driven by the idea of 'financial freedom' and genuinely believe that things can improve when they take control of their own destinies. I wholeheartedly agree with their perspective.
My conversation with Kira further reinforced my belief in investing in the Slasher community. Ultimately, the best way to achieve job satisfaction and security is by exploring our full potential and continuously upskilling ourselves.
ii) Connecting with students - continuously hosting workshops at secondary and tertiary institutes
In addition to dedicating my time to Cocoon Foundation's step one program, I had the fantastic opportunity last month to speak to a journalism class at Baptist University. I was invited by their lecturer, Daniel, whom I had previously met at a GenieFriends dinner. It was an honor to be included as a guest speaker, and I also had the pleasure of meeting Francis, another marketer, during the event.
Connecting with the older tertiary students was an enjoyable experience, and I found their questions to be insightful. I gained valuable insights into the contrasting goals of Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students. While the former are primarily concerned with securing a livelihood, the latter are more focused on finding a job that brings them genuine fulfillment.
iii) Learning from experts - attending the Marketing Pulse event
I also made sure to allocate time to attend Marketing Pulse. I dedicated a full day to the event, attending over 9 talks. However, towards the end, I began to feel fatigued, which impacted my ability to fully absorb the last two presentations. It was undeniably a long day, but I also took the opportunity to explore various booths and learn about the services and offerings provided by different companies.
One company that particularly caught my attention was the one offering post box advertisements. It struck me as an affordable and often overlooked method for executing local advertising.
Among the talks, I found Tommie's, the founder of Preface, to be particularly enjoyable. His personal journey and passion for education resonated strongly with me. I had the privilege of participating in a Q&A session after his talk and even visited his coffee shop with one of his colleagues.
While AI remained a prominent topic throughout the event, there wasn't anything in particular that stood out to me, except for a point made by Zack Kass. He mentioned that in the upcoming year, many of us can expect to have our own AI virtual assistant. He already utilizes one to manage and respond to emails. This prospect definitely excites me. Another noteworthy insight was that AI has opened the knowledge gate for everyone, leveling the playing field for all brands. Consequently, having extensive knowledge can no longer serve as a unique selling proposition (USP). Therefore, brands should strive to create genuine value as it will ultimately be the sole differentiator in the near future.
iv) Growing my business - successfully taking over a new brand!
I would be lying if I said I wasn't dreading the work as much as I was excited about this new acquisition. Venturing into a completely new industry, I can only approach it with the knowledge and logic of running a business that I have acquired thus far. Recognizing my own weaknesses, I am grateful to have invited two individuals to join me and provide their expertise. A special shoutout goes to Gigi, my interim operations manager, and Jason, my interim facilities operator. Without them, along with the continuous advice and support from my 24/7 advisor and husband, Nelson, the idea of acquiring a new business would have remained a mere dream.
Despite the fact that most of the daily operations were already established by the previous owners, there is still an overwhelming amount of work to be done. Managing different platforms, inventory, suppliers, and decor has pushed my mental capacity to its limits. I am hopeful that our team can successfully streamline everything before the end of April, ensuring a smooth and seamless launch in May.
Wish me luck! Joyce