You're reading for free via Janet Tseng's Friend Link. Become a member to access the best of Medium.
Member-only story
My First Quarter of Life in 3 Minutes
Oh hey there, yeah, you! I’m Janet, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.
(For non-member, click here to read the full article)
I was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, in the ‘90s — probably a place you may not have heard of, or perhaps you might confuse it with Thailand.
I started learning classical piano when I was three and a half (I don’t remember how that happened — my mom probably learned more than I did at the time!). I almost pursued a professional music path until I realized I wasn’t “talented” enough, and my family didn’t have the resources to support that choice.
So, I gave up and endured three miserable years at one of the top high schools in Taipei. Afterward, I studied economics at university, although I had no idea what I wanted to do. I simply crossed out all the departments I was 300% sure I wouldn’t graduate from, and my score happened to land on economics at that school.
After 12 years of not knowing what I wanted to do, I headed to Paris, France, with a working holiday visa after graduating. It was August 2019. I brought €1,000 and two suitcases, hopped on a one-way flight, and stayed for seven months. Well, seven months because — like everyone knows — 2020 changed everything. I even experienced the very first (and strictest) “confinement” (lockdown) in Paris. I remember sneaking out with a paper that had my address and signature, which you had to show to the police to prove you were allowed to be in that area if you bumped into them on the street.
Upon returning to Taiwan, I joined a fine-dining restaurant group (or as I prefer to call it, a start-up, filled with passionate chefs and dynamic souls!). I learned a little marketing, a little operations, a bit of e-commerce, and product development. It opened a door to the exquisite and creative world of food for me. But since the company was still in its early stages, I eventually decided to move on.
Next, I dived into the world of manufacturing — specifically, audio products! Growing up as a pianist, aside from classical music, I’ve always been a big fan of pop, indie, and jazz. I worked as a program manager for two years before transferring to their factory in Thailand, where I spent another year on the production line. I learned how products are designed, quoted, trialed, and mass-produced — things I never thought I’d know. While I experienced a lot of growth, the stress eventually became overwhelming, and I decided to leave because I had no work-life balance (sad but very typical in a Chinese/Taiwanese company).
Now, here I am, sitting in front of my computer, opening Medium again, and writing my story. I don’t have the most experience in everything, but throughout my years of living, traveling, and working, I’ve gotten to know myself a little better.
I’m currently working to turn my ideas into reality, which is a huge challenge for me. I’m still exploring, reading The Lean Startup, refining the plan, and doing more research. I’d be very happy to welcome you to my journey. If you’re interested, follow along with My Venture Diary.
I’m still unsure about precisely how I’m going to execute my ideas, but I’m proud to say that I’ve finally found a path to dedicate myself to. I’ve always said that people who know exactly what they want from the beginning are the luckiest. But for those of us who aren’t as lucky in this aspect — who consider ourselves “normal” — it’s OK. We’re all here to experience life, learn, and grow. I’m right here with you.
Yours most sincerely,
Janet
