From Finance to Food Trucks: A Journey from Goldman Sachs to CupBop

As a former finance professional turned entrepreneur, I've navigated the highs and lows of building a successful business, from the thrill of launching CUPBOP to the challenges of navigating conflicts with co-founders and investors.

1. The speaker got married in 2007 and decided to start her own business.
2. Her husband bought a food trailer for her first venture, a Korean rice bowl food truck.
3. To attract customers, they started playing games and yelling to get attention, which worked.
4. Their financial situation was strong, with good cash flow and growth over time.
5. The speaker's background is in finance, having worked at Goldman Sachs and Citadel.
6. She left her job in finance to join the restaurant industry, much to the surprise of others.
7. Before she joined, the company was disorganized, but her husband brought structure and efficiency.
8. The speaker focused on building a five-year plan for the company after joining.
9. The speaker's husband hired a third-party consulting firm to create a fair company structure.
10. This led to tension when one co-owner didn't want to compete with employees, wanting special treatment instead.
11. The speaker emphasizes the importance of major shareholders sharing the same vision for the company.
12. A coup was orchestrated by some co-owners, leading to the speaker's husband being fired.
13. The speaker's husband remained calm during the meeting and tried to reconcile afterwards, but the other party ran away.
14. The speaker believes in the importance of carefully considering business partnerships.
15. She was shocked by the coup and tried to gather support from general managers, but was unsuccessful.
16. After the coup, many people and partners supported the company and her husband.
17. Three co-owners eventually sold their shares and left the company.
18. The speaker's husband values building a strong company that can endure after his departure as CEO.
19. The speaker encourages focusing on resolving issues and maintaining trust from supporters.
20. After the coup, the speaker's family enjoyed a simple bike ride together, emphasizing the importance of family time.
21. She believes in having a great system if you want to trust people.
22. The speaker wants to establish their brand as the first mover in the industry.
23. Her husband suggested appearing on Shark Tank to increase visibility and credibility.
24. The speaker values the importance of hard work, family, and building a strong company.

Source: EO via YouTube

❓ What do you think? What is the most significant lesson you've learned from your entrepreneurial journey, and how has it shaped your perspective on leadership, relationships, and resilience? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!