Finding My Calling: How My Deep Connection with Business Shapes Zenify Investments

We all have something in life that speaks to us on a deeper level - something we inherently understand and feel compelled to nurture.

For some, it's people. I have a friend, Alicia, who connects with others in a way that's almost magical. She sees every person as a unique story, spending hours ensuring they feel seen and valued. She finds genuine joy in others' happiness, whether through kind words or simply being present when they need someone.

Others have this connection with plants. They walk into a garden and instantly know which plant needs more sunlight, which requires pruning, which just needs patience. They can revive wilting greenery and see the potential in every seed.

And some have an innate bond with animals - advocating for their welfare with a passion that runs deep in their core.

My Connection With Business

For me, that calling is business.

There's something about businesses that pulls at me - I see them as living entities with potential waiting to be developed. Each one, regardless of size or industry, carries possibilities that can be nurtured and grown. I see how they can be healed when struggling, how they can evolve, how they can become something truly remarkable.

This isn't just about profits or growth metrics. It's about seeing the living essence of a business - its people, its purpose, its place in the community - and helping it flourish.

Roots in Eastern Medicine and Family Business

This perspective didn't come from business school. It came from childhood, watching my mother practice Eastern medicine in her small shop. She was the ninth generation in our family to heal the sick through these traditional methods.

As a child, I witnessed both bustling days full of patients and quieter periods when worry lines appeared on my mother's face. I found myself instinctively trying to help - organising the shop to make it more inviting, ensuring everything looked neat and welcoming.

On quiet days, I remember doing this traditional ritual - burning special herbs meant to dispel negative energies that might be keeping customers away. Whether it was superstition or coincidence, I often saw customers arrive afterward. And that's maybe where the seed of my belief took root: that you can always do something to change the fortunes of a business. That with the right care, attention, and sometimes even a little bit of faith, even a struggling business can come back to life.

A Journey Through Business Development

Throughout my career, this connection deepened. At Dragon Capital in Vietnam, I joined during their formative years - their 13th year in business - when they were still growing. Watching them become the leading funds management firm in Vietnam reinforced my belief that with proper nurturing, businesses can reach extraordinary heights.

At another company, I spent eight years helping build their foundation. When I eventually left, it was with the comforting thought that "they have strong wings now" - they had developed enough strength to soar independently.

Then came starting my own business from nothing - no established reputation, no existing client base. Building something from scratch taught me even more about the delicate art of business development and further strengthened my connection to the business world.

Why SMEs and Why Zenify Investments

This journey has led me to where I am now - focused on SMEs through Zenify Investments' buy-side M&A advisory services. I choose to work with small and medium-sized enterprises for two important reasons:

First, I connect with them better. Their challenges, aspirations, and potential resonate with me in a way that large corporations often don't.

Second, I believe SMEs frequently need just a touch of support, a bit of strategic guidance, or fresh perspective to unlock their full potential. More than large companies with extensive resources, SMEs benefit most from someone who truly believes in what they could become.

Beyond Transaction to Transformation

When clients choose to work with me, they're getting more than someone who can analyse financials or negotiate deals. They're partnering with someone who sees businesses as I saw my mother's shop - as a living entity deserving care, attention, and belief in its potential.

I bring both technical expertise and emotional investment to every project. I evaluate businesses not just as assets on a balance sheet but as organisms with strengths to be amplified and weaknesses to be healed.

This perspective shapes everything at Zenify Investments - from how we identify potential acquisitions to how we evaluate their future possibilities. We don't just seek good businesses; we look for businesses with untapped potential that proper nurturing can release.

A Lifetime Connection

Just as some people will always be drawn to nurture other humans, plants, or animals, I believe I'll always be connected to nurturing businesses. It's more than a career choice - it's answering a calling that has been with me since those childhood days in my mother's shop.

If you share this view of business as something alive with potential - something that deserves to be developed thoughtfully rather than simply acquired and exploited - I believe we'll work well together. At Zenify Investments, we don't just help clients buy businesses; we help them find businesses they can help flourish.

I'd love to hear about your business journey and discuss how our approach at Zenify Investments might align with your vision. Reach out today to start the conversation.