From Failure to Focus: How Pivots (and an Unexpected Mentor) Built My Career—and Me

Entrepreneurship often gets glamorized as a highlight reel of milestones—funding rounds, product launches, and exponential growth. But the reality, as I’ve learned, is far more nuanced—a journey full of setbacks, unexpected turns, and moments that test your resolve.

When I co-founded DaliTech, we set out with bold ambitions to disrupt the contactless technology industry and make everyday life more seamless. But as funding challenges mounted and the years wore on, our momentum stalled, and I found myself facing the collapse of something I’d poured my heart into.

What felt like an ending became a turning point for clarity. It revealed the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the power of embracing pivots. These lessons not only shaped my career but reshaped how I see myself and my priorities.

In this article, I’ll share the defining moments and lessons from this journey. These reflections are not just about navigating failure—it’s a story about how pivots, clarity, and unexpected mentors can shape your career—and you—as you build what’s next.

The Weight of Expectations

Growing up in a traditional Asian family, achievement wasn’t celebrated—it was expected. Falling short wasn’t just a disappointment, but a failure of identity.

I internalized that pressure early on. To cope, I turned overachievement into my survival strategy: being top of the batch, winning competitions, and setting standards that outpaced everyone, including myself.

By the time I earned a scholarship to one of the Big 4 universities in the country—renowned for its history, beauty, and prestige, I thought I’d cracked the code: work harder than everyone else, stay ahead, and success would be predictable.

To my widowed mom, who raised me single-handedly since my dad passed when I was three, this scholarship was a lifeline. To me, it was also a huge validation.

But maintaining that validation came at a cost.

I scraped by on less than a dollar per meal, surviving on oats, apples, and five hours of sleep. While my dormmates were still in bed, I’d already be grinding at 5 AM, determined to stay ahead, until I was also the last to go to bed at midnight.

Every test and every project, I aced with unrelenting focus, earning a near-perfect GPA.

Then life threw me a curveball I couldn’t control.

My mom was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, and major surgery loomed like a dark cloud. The thought of losing her—the last anchor of stability in my life—was unbearable. Fear consumed me, depression crept in, and my academic focus wavered.

When it was time to receive my award for the highest first-year GPA in my batch—my mom couldn’t attend because she was recovering from surgery.

My best friend’s parents walked me on stage instead. The applause thundered around me, but it might as well have been silence.

Seeing that empty chair where Mom should’ve sat felt heavier than what I was rewarded. I remember feeling burnt out, abandoned, and disconnected from the very people I was trying to make proud.

That moment forced me to confront a hard truth: we glorify the grind and the hustle—but at what cost? Who was I doing this for?

First Pivot: Redefining Achievements

That was the first time I questioned my approach.

I shifted focus from being at the top to building something that mattered. I joined Rotaract, led community projects, and found creativity again in Latin dance. These experiences helped me step out of my tunnel vision and see the world in a broader light.

For the first time, my achievements felt lighter because they were rooted in meaning, not expectation.

Success, I realized, isn’t just about what you achieve—it’s about who you become along the way.

Pivots That Clarify Purpose

After graduation, I was determined to rebuild the life we once had when my dad was still with us—a life of comfort and stability.

I landed a managerial role at a renowned bank straight from college—a “dream job” for many. But staring at spreadsheets in a cubicle felt like staring at a life I didn’t want. The corporate ladder felt confining, like climbing it meant losing a piece of myself.

I wanted more than a paycheck—I wanted impact, connection, and purpose. So, I pivoted.

Real estate felt like a natural next step—freedom from the desk and a chance to connect with people directly. Despite my efforts, it didn’t work out. So, I pivoted again.

This time, it was reselling luxury wellness products. Fueled by my ambition and entrepreneurial drive, I thought I’d found my niche. However, scaling the business proved more challenging than I anticipated.

Every failed attempt felt like I was further from where I wanted to be—as if I was stuck in a cycle of trial and error.

But looking back, those pivots weren’t wasted—they revealed who I didn’t want to be. Each failure stripped away the distractions, sharpening my focus on what truly mattered.

Rebuilding Through Uncertainty

When a bootstrapped startup took a chance on me, I found purpose in the chaos. Here, it wasn’t about prestige—it was about building something meaningful. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was raw and real.

Supporting founders gave me a glimpse of the world as it could be, and I saw firsthand how ideas could transform into movements and create lasting impact.

Eventually, I co-founded a startup in my early 20s. It was bold, messy, and exhilarating. For three years, I poured my heart into it. While the venture ultimately unraveled, the failure didn’t shatter me—it shaped me.

It revealed strengths I hadn’t acknowledged and gaps I needed to address.

Finding Flow and Freedom in the Chaos

Dusting myself off, I pivoted once again—this time into solo consulting. I rediscovered parts of myself I had buried: writing, public speaking, and championing causes like social entrepreneurship and animal welfare.

Remote consulting came with challenges: no guarantees, no safety net. But it gave me something I had never experienced before—freedom. Time and location independence weren’t just buzzwords; they were my reality. For the first time, I wasn’t chasing Fridays or dreading Mondays.

Every day blurred into the next, not because I was overworked but because I felt immersed. It became a puzzle I enjoyed solving.

And that flow of mine didn’t go unnoticed. Eight months into a client project, I became the Chief of Staff. It wasn’t a title I sought—it was trust I earned. For the first time, I felt seen—not for what I’d achieved, but for who I truly was.

Lessons from an Unexpected Mentor

It was around this time that Kira, my Border Collie, came into my life.

She taught me what no book, previous mentor, or business failure ever could.

Kira had this uncanny ability to pull me out of my head and into the world. On days when my personal deadlines loomed and delays felt like anchors, she’d nudge my leg, insistently wagging her tail, as if to say: “Walk it off.” Those walks became my sanctuary.

Kira didn’t care about my to-do lists, reminding me that life isn’t a checklist to complete but an experience to embrace.

And somewhere between her wagging tail and those quiet walks, I stopped chasing and started building.

Building Forward: Embracing Failure as the Path

Five years ago, I co-founded a startup that didn’t work out.

Looking back, I realized something profound: I wasn’t starting over each time I failed. I was building forward.

Each failure added a layer of clarity. Each pivot became a stepping stone.

And failure wasn’t a detour—it was the path itself.

Here are my key realizations:

• Redefine Success: Focus on what aligns with your values, not external validation.
• Embrace Pivots: Each pivot clarifies your path, revealing what’s worth pursuing and what’s not.
• Learn from Setbacks: Failure often provides the insights that success cannot.

So if you’re navigating setbacks, remember this: breakthroughs don’t come from avoiding pivots; they come from embracing them.

Lean into the journey, pivot boldly, and know that what feels like an ending is often the foundation for what’s next.