Just about two weeks ago, I founded a PR firm with my business partner in New York City. We filed the company by ourselves on New York State’s official website. On the same day, we purchased the domains for our company’s website and email account, and also ordered the business cards for both of us with a simple but very eye-catching design. In the following two weeks, we applied for an Employment Identification Number, elected the appropriate tax filing form, and opened a business bank account. We did all these in a not so formal and serious way, but in a low-key and cost-efficient way.
When I told my parents and some friends this exciting news, they feel somewhat surprised, but not that surprised as I can tell from their reactions. I guess what surprised them is that they may think it’s not the perfect time for me to found my own company at this stage. Because currently I have a full-time job, I’m still a F-1 visa holder with OPT (Optional Practical Training) status, and the most important, they may think I’m still too young to run my own business at this age with limited experience and financial power. But on the other hand, this big step is also expected because they know the idea of running a self-owned business has been on my mind for a long time, and they believe that I will carry it out sooner or later. For me, it’s just a matter of timing!
Yes, timing is quite important for everything, especially for important decisions and movements in our lives. Before deciding to file the company, I had been asking myself for weeks. Am I serious? Am I really ready? Can I undertake the accompanying stress? And can I face the possible failure? Eventually I convinced myself and decided to take action without too much hesitation. Because I really want to pull myself out of the endless thinking and self-doubting situation. I think there will be no affirmative answers to all these questions if I never put them into practice. I believe I will find the answers through hands-on experience, either in a smooth or stumbling way.
Be that as it may, I’m not an impulsive person as you may think. Instead, I’m a person who is quite scrupulous and will usually take many factors into consideration before I decide to do something. I personally think the time is already ripe for me to carry my own business ideas out now. The business scope of my PR firm is based on U.S.-China vision. To be more specific, our target audience is mainly overseas Chinese companies in the United States, and those domestic Chinese companies that want to enter the U.S. market in the near future. Of course, we are also able to serve U.S. companies and help them develop in China. It’s a great time to enter the China-U.S. practices in business, culture, arts. I saw this opportunity and wanted to seize it. Moreover, my academic background in International Relations and my current working experience in China-U.S. business relations provide me with good knowledge and substantial resources to initiate this business. I also understand Chinese and U.S. corporate cultures very well after living in both countries for years.
Well, I also want to admit that another important factor that motivated me to found my own company. I owe it to the city I live, and the like-minded people I’ve met. New York City is so dynamic, full of resources and opportunities. It is a growing incubator for start-ups and entrepreneurs. When I witness many young people like me already running their own businesses and realizing their dreams, (including some of my close friends) I’m more determined to join them. And at that time, I happened to have met my current business partner Adrianna, who owns quite similar living and working experience like me, as well as business ideas and career goals. We see each other as the perfect business partner by sharing similar values and goals.
All these factors have eventually made my business plan happen, and so far, we already solicited two clients, which is a good beginning for us. As for the next step, we will try to develop more businesses, and even want to bring some venture capitals from the U.S. and Chinese markets if possible. I know this is not an easy way to go, and I may encounter more and more difficulties and challenges in the future. But I’m ready to face them since I’ve already made such a big step. I want to be responsible for myself, as well as for others, especially for those who trust me, support me, and count on me.