This Keepsake Reminds Me of My First Dream — And Why I'm Grateful It Never Came True
This story appears in the May 2025 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
At age 24, I planned my life out: I got a job at the State Department in Washington, D.C., which I planned to use to enter the Foreign Service, which I thought would help me achieve my ultimate goal — to become a diplomat. But then life got in the way. I fell in love with a friend who would become my husband, and he got a job in Houston, my hometown. So in 2012, I chose to follow him home, giving up one dream for another. As I prepared to leave D.C., I bought a small, porcelain dish engraved with the U.S. Department of State's seal. It was touristy, but it felt like a souvenir of my old life.
My job search in Texas was frustrating. I'd stare at that porcelain dish and feel nostalgic. I didn't want to take some random job just to make money. I was looking for a path — something meaningful and reliable, like the predetermined career framework I'd left behind. I was passionate about sustainability, and kept wondering: Who will give me a job in this field?
Related: What No One Tells You About Entrepreneurship — 5 Hard Truths
Honestly, I never considered entrepreneurship. I thought I needed a specific set of credentials to be in business. After all, that's how government and corporate jobs work: You must be qualified. I had no MBA and no big consulting firm on my resume. But after a year of dead ends, I came to realize something: Nobody is going to do this for me. And isn't that the seed of entrepreneurship?
I started a consulting firm. I had no idea what I was doing, but I worked hard, found good advisors, and followed the breadcrumbs. As it turns out, I didn't need qualifications! All I needed was curiosity, a trust in myself, and an acceptance that most paths aren't as predictable as the one I had left behind. My consulting firm grew and thrived. My partner and I sold it in 2021, and then I decided to pursue another business for which I had no qualifications: I launched MendIt, a platform for clothing repair, where I'm now figuring things out all over again.
I still have that porcelain dish sitting on my desk, but it no longer makes me nostalgic. Now it reminds me that, sometimes, our "plans" can blind us to the greater opportunities ahead. Anything is possible when you relentlessly follow your passion, drop the stories about credentials and worthiness, and simply roll up your sleeves to get started.
Related: Stop Trying to Be the Next Unicorn — and Start Building a Real, Sustainable Business. Here's How.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Restaurants and tourists speak out on Virgina Beach meal tax increase
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Meals are set to become a bit more expensive in Virginia Beach as the city's meal tax increase is set to go into effect on July 1. Starting on Tuesday, the total meal tax will now come out to 12%, one of the highest in the country. The Virginia Beach Restaurant Association has opposed this increase, even starting a to try and get it overturned, stating that the increase 'doesn't just hurt restaurants—it impacts every consumer who purchases a prepared meal, from family-owned or national chain restaurants to grocery stores to fast-casual favorites.' Meanwhile, the City of Virginia Beach has stated that the tax increase is necessary to raise funds for capital projects stating, 'The City is experiencing a significant cost increase in capital projects which is largely being driven by inflation and the redirection of these resources and meals tax increase are dedicated to a newly established Major Projects fund.' One Virginia Beach restaurant owner says the fund needs to be raised elsewhere. 'Look internally, don't make us your cash cows. Plain and simple,' said Honest Pastures owner Dacia Thorson. 'It's extremely stressful because we're already working with constrained budgets and now the city is gonna be taking 6%. That's more than what we're making. It's gonna hurt tourism, the small businesses that built this area for the tourism. I just don't think it's a good decision.' One tourist expressed concern for the restaurants, saying they're apart of what make his vacations special. 'These are things that really make our vacations, you know? We don't want to go to some massive chain like Applebee's or whatever,' said tourist Brian Greenspan. 'My question is what is the city's end game? I mean, sure, they're grabbing a little more money, but where does that leave the heart and soul of the city, the personality of all these businesses? It's going to have a seriously negative effect on them. There must be an alternative where it's a win-win for everybody.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Faraday X Privately Unveils the FX Super One EAI-MPV, the FF Super EAI F.A.C.E. System, and the FF EAI Embodied Intelligence AI Agent 6x4 Architecture During the FX Super One Preview & Co-Creation Event
This intimate preview offered attendees a first-hand look at FX Super One's innovation, design philosophy, and market vision, while fostering meaningful Co-Creation among the minds shaping the product's next phase. The Company will host a large-scale public-facing launch event on July 17 in Los Angeles, the Super One First Online Global Product Launch, which will be open to audiences worldwide and will offer a more detailed look into the Super One MPV. The July 17 event will mark the kickoff of the B2C Paid Pre-Order Campaign, inviting users to become early adopters and co-creators of this next-generation mobility experience. LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: FFAI) ("Faraday Future", "FF" or the "Company"), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, today announced that it held its first private preview and co-creation event for the much-anticipated first product and technologies from its Faraday X (FX) brand, and unveiled the much anticipated FX Super One, the world's first FF Super EAI F.A.C.E. (Front AI Communication Ecosystem) System, and the FF EAI Embodied Intelligence AI Agent 6x4 Architecture during the FX Super One Product Launch. The event, which was held in the Los Angeles area, was attended by over 100 guests, including FF's stockholders and investors; B2B sales partners and prospects; global supply chain partners; media; key opinion leaders (KOLs) and influencers; and Co-Creation officers. Numerous executives attended and spoke at the event including FX CEO, Xiao (Max) Ma, FF founder and Global Co-CEO YT Jia, Global Co-CEO Matthias Aydt and Global President of FF, Jerry Wang. The Super One launch event marked the official commencement of FX's product execution and launch season that will lead up to the first Super One vehicle coming off the line at FX's manufacturing facility in Hanford, California, with a target date of the end of 2025. This intimate preview offered attendees a first-hand look at the FX Super One's innovation, design philosophy, and market vision, while fostering meaningful Co-Creation among the minds shaping the product's next phase. Following this event, the Company will host another large-scale public-facing launch event on July 17 in Los Angeles, the Super One First Online Global Product Launch, open to audiences worldwide. FX will also kick off the B2C Paid Pre-Order Campaign at that time, inviting users to become early adopters and co-creators of this next-generation mobility experience. Highlights and Updates from Today's Event Included: The FX Super One unveiling. The Super One isn't just about upgrading ones experience with cars — it's going to redefine it entirely. It will come equipped with the groundbreaking FF Super EAI F.A.C.E. (Front AI Communication Ecosystem) System, and the FF EAI Embodied Intelligence AI Agent 6x4 Architecture. These technologies mark the start of a major tech leap and product revolution in the AIEV era. FX Super One will be available with two powertrains: battery electric and AIHER (AI Hybrid Extended Range). The Super EAI F.A.C.E. system, as a key tangible component of the FF EAI system, will replace the fixed "impersonal mask"— the static, lifeless look of traditional front grills. It not only brings each vehicle a unique expression — "a thousand faces for a thousand cars" — but more importantly, it brings the car AI agent the ability to perceive through five senses and express emotions, as well as the gateway to connect and communicate with the world. The FF EAI Embodied AI Agent 6x4 architecture is built on pure vision, end-to-end VLA and world model. This enables AIEVs to evolve — with soul, personality, intelligence, and emotions — ushering into a new era where EAI EVs become truly intelligent. From introducing the concept of the Companies Bridge Strategy in May 2024 to unveiling the FX Super One today — when FF was preparing for the final Bridge Closure — it only took 14 months. There are two main reasons for the Companies "FX Speed" being so fast. First, the unique Light 4, Swift 4, Focused 5, and Empowering 5 model of FF's Global Automotive Industry Bridge Strategy. Take technology empowerment as an example, FF could empower the mass-market FX vehicles with much of the core technology, software, and AI capabilities of the $300,000 FF 91. The FF AI 2.0 system, which was launched through OTA on the FF 91, will also be deployed in the potential FX lineup in the future. Second, the incredible support from the Companies' S Tier 1 Bridge Strategy suppliers that helped us get here. The total B2B deposits for the FX Super One have now reached 4,000 units, covering four key sectors: FF Par (partners), rental car companies, live commerce MCN agencies, and real estate brokerages. Stay tuned for our July 17 event where many more details, specifications and images of Super One will be officially released. The FX Super One, an affordable mass market EAI-MPV, is targeted to have the first vehicles off the line by the end of 2025. Offering a spacious, meticulously crafted interior with high-end materials and advanced technology, the FX Super One prioritizes passenger comfort with a host of features including spacious seating, ambient lighting, and premium entertainment systems, to name a few. ABOUT FARADAY FUTURE Faraday Future is a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company. Founded in 2014, the Company's mission is to disrupt the automotive industry by creating a user-centric, technology-first, and smart driving experience. Faraday Future's flagship model, the FF91, exemplifies its vision for luxury, innovation, and performance. The FX strategy aims to introduce mass production models equipped with state-of-the-art luxury technology similar to the FF 91, targeting a broader market with middle-to-low price range offerings. FF is committed to redefining mobility through AI innovation. Join us in shaping the future of intelligent transportation. For more information, please visit FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release includes "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "plan to," "can," "will," "should," "future," "potential," and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the Super One MPV, Super EAI F.A.C.E., and EAI Embodied AI Agent 6x4 architecture, are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company's control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include, among others: the Company's ability to secure necessary agreements to license or produce FX vehicles in the U.S., the Middle East, or elsewhere, none of which have been secured; the Company's ability to homologate FX vehicles for sale in the U.S., the Middle East, or elsewhere; the Company's ability to secure the necessary funding to execute on its AI, EREV and Faraday X (FX) strategies, each of which will be substantial; the Company's ability to secure necessary permits at its Hanford, CA production facility; the Company's ability to secure regulatory approvals for the proposed Super One front grill; the potential impact of tariff policy; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern and improve its liquidity and financial position; the Company's ability to pay its outstanding obligations; the Company's ability to remediate its material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and the risks related to the restatement of previously issued consolidated financial statements; the Company's limited operating history and the significant barriers to growth it faces; the Company's history of losses and expectation of continued losses; the success of the Company's payroll expense reduction plan; the Company's ability to execute on its plans to develop and market its vehicles and the timing of these development programs; the Company's estimates of the size of the markets for its vehicles and cost to bring those vehicles to market; the rate and degree of market acceptance of the Company's vehicles; the Company's ability to cover future warranty claims; the success of other competing manufacturers; the performance and security of the Company's vehicles; current and potential litigation involving the Company; the Company's ability to receive funds from, satisfy the conditions precedent of and close on the various financings described elsewhere by the Company; the result of future financing efforts, the failure of any of which could result in the Company seeking protection under the Bankruptcy Code; the Company's indebtedness; the Company's ability to cover future warranty claims; the Company's ability to use its "at-the-market" program; insurance coverage; general economic and market conditions impacting demand for the Company's products; potential negative impacts of a reverse stock split; potential cost, headcount and salary reduction actions may not be sufficient or may not achieve their expected results; circumstances outside of the Company's control, such as natural disasters, climate change, health epidemics and pandemics, terrorist attacks, and civil unrest; risks related to the Company's operations in China; the success of the Company's remedial measures taken in response to the Special Committee findings; the Company's dependence on its suppliers and contract manufacturer; the Company's ability to develop and protect its technologies; the Company's ability to protect against cybersecurity risks; and the ability of the Company to attract and retain employees, any adverse developments in existing legal proceedings or the initiation of new legal proceedings, and volatility of the Company's stock price. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. View source version on Contacts Investors (English): ir@ Investors (Chinese): cn-ir@ Media:
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Equity Risk Premium in Focus: 3-Minute MLIV
Guy Johnson, Tom Mackenzie, Valerie Tytel and Ven Ram break down today's key themes for analysts and investors on "Bloomberg: The Opening Trade." (Source: Bloomberg)
