My Journey to Independence: From Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship

On June 30, 2024, I took a deep breath in front of the firm building, surrounded by cicadas and the bright sun. I returned my gaze to the workplace where I had spent many years. My heart was racing with relief, fear, expectation, and an unexplainable sense of excitement. I had just submitted my resignation, officially ending my corporate career.

This decision was not taken on a whim. It was the culmination of months of reflection and internal conflict. For several months, the company's salary reduction policy hung over our heads like a sword of Damocles. The mounting job strain was suffocating. Every morning, I had to push myself out of bed to face another day, and it was becoming awful. I began to acquire an antipathy to the office. My personal life, which was in full shambles, proved to be the final straw.

In terms of my romantic life, I had recently experienced an unexpected breakup. She married just two months after leaving me and had a child six months later. This sequence of events happened so quickly that it felt like my world had been turned upside down overnight. I vividly recall the evening when I viewed her wedding images on social media. The incomprehensible pain and bewilderment I experienced... I turned off my phone and sat alone in the dark for the entire night, contemplating the unpredictable nature of life and my own future. Several weeks later, my two best friends followed me to KTV, singing and drinking to drown my sorrows..

My direct supervisor was a nice person, which made the decision to resign even more difficult. When I resigned, he attempted to urge me to stay, even pledging to fight for my present wage. The concern in his eyes made me feel guilty. But I declined. I told him about my situation: the work pressure, my emotional problems, and my worry about the future. After listening, he was silent for a long time. Finally, he rubbed my shoulder and stated, "I understand your decision. Take careful care of yourself, wherever you go.

I felt like a free bird when I left the company, both excited and worried. My life would change dramatically from this moment forward. Standing at this crossroads, I took a deep breath and felt the warmth of the summer sun on my face.

In the days that followed, I began to plan my future. I gave myself two options: Chengdu or Chongqing. This seemingly haphazard decision embodied all of my aspirations for life. Chongqing was my favorite city because of its mountainous landscape, spicy cuisine, and distinct cultural environment. When I think about Chongqing, pictures of three-dimensional streets and bright lights along the river come to mind.

However, the reasons I loved Chongqing turned out to be the reasons I didn't choose it. Chongqing's geography is primarily mountainous, with roads that frequently rise and descend dramatically. Due to physical restrictions, such terrain will cause issues in my daily life. I had once been injured in an accident, and while it didn't interfere with my normal life, I still found steep slopes difficult.

After much thought, I decided on Chengdu. This decision made me feel both excited and frightened. Chengdu, a city noted for its relaxed pace of life, could be just what my weary soul needed. I began to imagine myself strolling around the Wide and Narrow Alleys, eating traditional Sichuan cuisine, and experiencing the city's distinct pace of life.

After making my decision, I started packing. Looking at the boxes piling up in my room, I realized that this wasn't just a move, but a significant turning moment in my life. I carefully placed several valuable belongings into boxes, each containing my memories and dreams.

Finally, on a lovely morning, I began my trek to Chengdu. I drove alone for over 10 hours. During the long drive, I had plenty of time to think about my future. Leaving the familiar surroundings of Wenzhou for a new metropolis like Chengdu takes enormous guts. However, I believed that such adventures and adjustments were necessary at times in life.

On the long drive, memories of the past came flooding back to me: laughter at the office, overtime work with colleagues, the problems I had at work, and my accomplishments. These memories evoked both nostalgia and anticipation for the future.

When I eventually got in Chengdu, it was late at night. The city lights twinkled in the darkness, as if to welcome my arrival. I selected a tiny hotel to stay at, and as I laid in bed listening to the new sounds outside, I was both excited and terrified. I knew that starting tomorrow, I'd be faced with entirely new obstacles.

Early the next morning, I started my new life in Chengdu. I got a tiny apartment and began setting up my new home and workspace. While organizing my possessions, I noticed a folder on my laptop that included an outline for creating a travel website. This reminded me of a long-held dream of mine: to create my own website.

In truth, the idea of creating my own website had been brewing in my thoughts for years. Several years ago, I had the idea of starting a travel website for foreigners, believing that China would soon open up for tourism and attract a flow of international visitors. However, for a variety of reasons, including the exorbitant expenditures involved, I had to abandon this concept. I still recall feeling helpless while studying the idea, believing that my ambition was out of reach.

However, the online ecosystem has seen significant changes in recent years. The rapid development of AI technology, along with the advent of e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, has created new potential for independent entrepreneurs. I saw an increase in debates and marketing for independent websites on Xiaohongshu. This information was like a beacon in the dark, directing me forward.

I began delving deeply into the operations of independent websites. Every day, I spent several hours learning about related topics. I joined many online communities and made like-minded acquaintances on the internet. Their experiences and guidance was useful to me.

Because I had no intention of working at the moment, I decided to take advantage of the chance and delve headfirst into the world of independent websites. This decision was both a fulfillment of a long-held desire and a response to contemporary online trends. I felt as if I was standing on the verge of a new era, scared and exhilarated.

However, the path to entrepreneurship proved far more difficult than I had anticipated. Just registering the company took me a month. The most time-consuming phase was opening a foreign currency account, which took about 2-3 weeks. I recall running between banks and various government institutions every day, filling out many documents and describing my company strategy. I felt discouraged and fatigued at times, but when I thought of my dream, I found the strength to keep going.

Later, I discovered that third-party payment methods were also available, which made me feel a little bad because I could have saved all that time. But I consoled myself by believing that all of these experiences were part of the learning process, and that they will provide significant experience in future operations. Each setback helped me better understand how the industry works.

In fact, the most difficult aspect of creating a corporation in China is determining its business address. Because I didn't have an appropriate address, I had to find an agent to manage this situation. This was also one of the reasons the entire procedure took so long. I recall lying awake at night thinking about this dilemma, fearing that it might derail my startup idea. But, with the help of a nice middleman, I was able to address this situation.

Every time I encountered a challenge, I reminded myself why I began this adventure, which gave me the motivation to keep going. I imagined myself standing in front of the corporate building, making that firm decision, and I remembered those days when I was stressed by job and personal concerns. I told myself that no matter how terrible things became, I couldn't give up on my dream.

After finishing the company registration, I began creating my Shopify website. This approach presented numerous obstacles. I continuously went to Xiaohongshu lessons, searched for information on Baidu, and obtained assistance from some helpful netizens. I recall staying up late to resolve a minor technical issue. Sometimes I felt sad and lonely, but every time I saw development on the internet, I was overjoyed.

After much effort, I was able to create my own website, however it was still in need of improvement. When I viewed my website in the browser for the first time, I felt indescribably proud. I was so happy that I told numerous close pals.

However, creating the website was only the beginning. I rapidly discovered how little I understood about e-commerce. SEO and GMC were all new concepts for me. I felt like a youngster who had just learned to walk, bumbling around in a strange environment. Every day, I would spend hours learning these new topics, sometimes studying till my head ached, but I refused to give up.

Of all these obstacles, product selection was the most important. Choosing appropriate items was a lengthy and challenging task. My product selection changed multiple times, starting with carpets, then belts, and lastly 3C items and smart pet supplies. Each adjustment was based on market data and personal judgment, and it resulted in countless restless nights.

To make ends meet during the early days of my startup, I experimented with alternative revenue streams. I created novels, tried to open a shop on Shopee, and even became an international merchant on TikTok. However, none of these attempts were effective. Each failure left me feeling disheartened, but it also reinforced my will to succeed on Shopify. I told myself that these failures were just stepping stones to greater achievement.

I devoted a significant amount of time and attention in product selection as well as crafting product titles and descriptions. During this procedure, I underwent two big changes. The first product descriptions did not feel professional enough, so I changed them all. I recall reworking the description of a single product over a dozen times to find the most appealing way to explain it. Each edit brought me closer to success.

Despite this, my GMC application was not granted. During that time, I was in a constant state of tension and anticipation, refreshing my inbox in the hopes of receiving an acceptance message. Every time I received a "Application Not Approved" email, I felt a wave of disappointment. But I did not give up; instead, I continued to learn and improve.

Finally, with the assistance of a Google specialist, I determined which vital content was missing from my website. I spent several weeks perfecting these aspects. This approach taught me that entrepreneurship is more than simply technology; it also requires attention to detail and patience. I began to focus more on user experience, aiming to make every visitor to my website feel welcome and professional.

After much effort, my GMC application was ultimately granted at the end of October 2024. When I received the permission email, I nearly jumped with joy. At that point, I felt like all of my hard work had been worthwhile.

However, reality hit me hard. I recognized that GMC certification was only the beginning; the major obstacles were yet to come. I began to delve deeper into digital marketing, customer service, and other areas of expertise, hoping to make my website stand out among the competition.

In the days that followed, I came across a variety of new knowledge areas. Building backlinks, creating blogs, optimizing SEO, and so on - each new notion felt like a mountain to climb. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed and considered giving up. But every time I remembered my original objective and imagined myself standing determined in front of the firm building, I found the strength to persevere.

Looking back on this path of creating an independent website, I realize how much I have evolved. From a rookie who knew nothing about independent websites to being able to administer my own site, this process has been both challenging and rewarding. I understood that entrepreneurship is more than just getting money; it's about continuous learning and self-improvement. Every challenge is a learning opportunity, and every failure pushes me one step closer to success.

I understand there is still a long way to go. SEO optimization, product selection, marketing techniques, and numerous other elements require ongoing development. But I feel that if I keep my excitement for learning and determination, I will eventually succeed in this entrepreneurial endeavor.

At the same time, this experience has taught me that changing one's life takes guts. Leaving your comfort zone and trying new things can be difficult, but it can also provide unexpected benefits. As I discovered when I decided to leave the organization, sometimes the greatest risk is not taking any risk at all.

Because I believe that true success is more than just reaching a certain goal; it is also about always surpassing yourself and becoming a better person as you pursue your ambitions. So what if I'm in my forties and still have only one independent website, crazywld.com? This is my life, and as long as it is not over, let the story continue.