My 30-Year Journey with Dance Costumes (Part 2)

After that, our small storefront grew like a young seedling nurtured by time. Twelve years passed in the blink of an eye. Through unremitting struggle and perseverance, we successfully established our own garment factory. Our dream was taking on more substance, and we began to soar towards higher and farther horizons.

The journey of life is not always a straight line moving forward. Sometimes, it's necessary to pause our hasty steps, calm our minds, and deeply reflect on the direction and meaning of our lives. Only in this way can we perhaps open up a broader and more promising path.

In 2010, as our company's business scope continued to expand, it was like an over-inflated balloon, with the internal structure becoming increasingly bloated and complex. During that period, I was almost always immersed in high-intensity work, spending up to 16 hours a day at work. I was physically and mentally exhausted, my heart became increasingly restless and anxious, and my life was in complete chaos. I knew very well that it was time for me to stop and take a good look inside myself to regain the long-lost original aspiration.

After a long and profound period of self-reflection and inner struggle, I made a crucial decision that would have a far-reaching impact—return to my true self, rediscover my original dream, and wholeheartedly create happiness for children. So, we resolutely wielded the blade of reform and cut off most of our business lines except for ballet skirts and children's dancewear. To our surprise, after streamlining our product line, our company's business not only wasn't affected at all but instead flourished like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. The joy and contentment that had once been lost came back into my life like the warm spring sun, allowing me to regain that long-missed peace and happiness.

It's essential to empty the burdens in our hearts in a timely manner and embrace new things with fearless courage and an open mind, so as to stay afloat in the tide of the times. Since the dawn of the 21st century, the surging wave of the Internet has swept across the world like a powerful force, completely transforming people's lifestyles and the business landscape. At that time, I was working side by side with my partners, struggling hard in the fierce market competition, with every step we took being arduous and determined.

During our breaks from work, we often cast our eyes towards the Internet, a new and promising field full of infinite possibilities. We witnessed wave after wave of pioneers bravely vying for success in this field, one after another, never ceasing. In our hearts, there was a mixture of curiosity about the unknown and a hint of unease and confusion.

In a complex environment where the future was uncertain and full of ambiguity, we once again found ourselves at a crossroads in our lives, facing a difficult choice—should we bravely plunge into the unknown and challenging blue ocean of the Internet? However, I knew very little about the Internet field and lacked systematic knowledge and practical experience. What should I do? After a brief moment of hesitation and contemplation, I firmly made my decision—learn! Nineteen years after leaving home, at the significant age of 37, I put aside all my concerns and fears and stepped through the gates of the campus once again. This time, the classroom became the new starting point of my second entrepreneurial journey. I eagerly absorbed knowledge like a thirsty sponge, preparing myself for the new journey ahead.

As the saying goes, "You have to give up something to gain something." Sometimes, choosing to let go doesn't mean giving up; instead, it's about embracing a broader world and a brighter future. The new business model brought about by the Internet was like a brilliant dawn, illuminating our path forward and making my eyes light up with joy and anticipation.

Even though our offline stores were of a considerable scale and beautifully decorated, due to geographical limitations, they could only serve customers within a few kilometers or dozens of kilometers around. If we wanted to expand our market and attract more customers, we had to keep opening new stores and continuously expand our business territory. However, this not only required a large investment of capital and energy but also carried many unpredictable risks and challenges.