Passion, Purpose, Profit: My Entrepreneurship Journey

More than 10 years ago, I joined the 8-5 band wagon. Even though I was just fresh from college, I was already yearning to have my own business.

As a kid, I would sell stationery to my classmates. I even would even carry a stroller full of sweet valley books to rent it out to my classmates. I high school, I would visit our town's dry goods market fancying fabrics and beads. I would often buy some from the allowance I saved and would make fashion accessories. In college, I would bake brownies using our microwave oven in our apartment and sell it to our classmates. And right before I left college, I opened my online clothes and accessories store. I was one of the first multiply stores that flourished. I would spend my after school and weekends joining bazaars in Makati and Quezon City.

So naturally, I was leaning towards starting my own business. I had a problem deciding which one to pursue. Unlike most people who doesn't have any idea what business to start, I had too many of them. While working, I studied photography and accepted a few photography gigs. I also organized several arts & crafts fair.

Three months into my fifth year at my first employer, I resigned. I just broke up with my long time and first boyfriend. I decided to take a break which later on led to my journey as a full time entrepreneur.

I was blessed to have a very supportive father. He also wanted to start our own business. We considered franchising since this was both our first time to start a business. We looked into convenience store and attended several presentations. To be honest, I was not eager to start that business because I felt like there was no room for creativity.

Since both of us love coffee, we decided to talk to a local roaster where my dad would buy his coffee grounds. We were interested to franchise their business but unfortunately they are not franchising it. Instead they offered us to carry their coffee but we can use our own name.

The original plan was to become a micro roaster but due to shortage in funds, we entered to coffee retail. Just like any start ups, our first attempt was a failure. But when God closes a door, he opens a window.

It has been almost six years now when we first opened our doors. We've had our fair share of birth pains and heart aches. And to tell you honestly, we still repeat several mistakes. But stubborn as we are, we still press on. We are far from what most people would call success. We've gained friends,lost money and learned some lessons. We are still a work in progress. We know our passion and we have discovered our purpose. And in God's time, we will profit abundantly and give back.

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

If you want to be inspired on how to discover you passion and purpose and turn it into profit, join us on August 15 during the Passion, Purpose, Profit Talk by Marian Clarisse Medina. This is part of #ConnectedWomen Rizal meetup. Hear the stories of other women freelancers, entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs.

RSVP here