Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Zhang, Co-Founder of STAY FINE INC., located in Redding, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Hello, we are Chao (or Paul) and Michelle. We co-founded STAY FINE, selling men's wallets and watches with a personalization service. Our customers love purchasing our items as gifts during special occasions for their father, husband, son, brother, fiance, boss, etc. For every order, we also include a small note with a book list recommending books we personally love - improving marriage & relationships.

Our wallets have very high quality and are often complimented by customers. We have had a really good reputation and ratings on Etsy for years.

Tell us about yourself

We love how business and entrepreneurship not only bring provisions to our house but also challenge us to be a better person and couple. At this stage of our life, we're mainly motivated by our ability to provide for staff and serve customers, making their special occasions more loving and memorable. At last, we're both motivated to be financially more prepared to do a ministry (non-for-profit) we have dreamed of for years that's related to bringing healing and restoration to people who are broken-hearted and have sexual addictions.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

  • Creating a healthy and honoring business culture for our staff.
  • Becoming a millionaire at the age of 31.
  • We care about our customers with not only good quality products but also good marriage and relationships. Like we said, there's a book list encouraging them to keep sharpening their relationship with their beloved ones.
  • Providing free counseling sessions (we partner with a third party) to encourage our staff to get holistic healing, rest, and strengthening.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

At first, running a business as a couple was very challenging. Who should listen to who? It took us at least a year to figure that out and make sure our marriage relationship is always prioritized before business. We even set a house rule that "no work after 5 pm", only family time :) It's important!!

Other than that, it's always a challenge hiring and training staff and seeing them leave (lots of people left California in the past few years).
Balancing the role between being both their employer with high standards and being a friend who cares about their wellbeing and wishes them the best deep down in our hearts. It's a pretty hard rule, especially for me because I'm the Store Manager.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Work on yourself harder than work on outside performance/business. What we mean by that is working on healing over your heart and traumas because our heart is where our life is built upon. Because we are the source, we create the business, not business creates us. Think harder than doing stuff.
  2. Family is always more important than financial success and performance. Make sure your calendar shows that (we're learning to do it, too!).
    Don't waste your time on social media, news, TV, etc., especially if you feel you don't have enough time. Only if you're attracting customers through these platforms, and it's working!
  3. Surround yourself with good quality people who encourage you and keep you accountable for being a better person.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

At the end of the day, your capacity determines how much you can steward. We are all just stewards, and God is the real owner. So the true question is, how much can I manage? Am I reliable? Am I trustworthy for more abundance? Because when we are ready, the abundance comes. They follow you.

So get healing, and make sure your heart is healed and strengthened.
Also, develop your ability to discern and read people. If you find one good friend, be very grateful and make sure you steward the relationship well. Intentionality is everything.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website:
https://stayfine.co/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/StayFinePersonalized

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3IMibEp
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3yTl5Ta

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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