Where Is the Business Headed After Its First Turn?
Over the past three months, I achieved 100 million KRW in revenue. And it made me reconsider my goals for the rest of the year.
Most entrepreneurs would probably look at this quarterly result and aim for a modest increase—perhaps 120 million or even ambitiously 150 million KRW per quarter going forward.
But I think in the opposite direction.
What if I had to generate more than triple that amount? What if failure to do so meant bankruptcy? What if I suddenly found myself with 2 billion KRW in debt and had to repay it within a year? I wouldn’t have the luxury of being satisfied with the 100 million earned—I’d have no choice but to sprint toward that 2 billion goal.
When your mindset changes, the solutions you seek change too. A 10% growth path is visible and logical, but 10x growth requires transformation. It demands a complete reset of the game board.
That’s why I’ve decided to let go of the comfort brought by the last three months' success. I will push forward with the mindset that I must make 2 billion in the next six months. With that goal in mind, the 100 million is nothing more than a starting point.
My strategy has always aligned with the message of the book Zero to One. For years, I haven't even considered any strategy outside of it. Monopoly—or near-monopoly—is the only force that can drive explosive growth in a company.
You can't maintain premium value by moving in sync with the market. You need to be the only one. A product that exists solely in Korea. When you hold an irreplaceable advantage, that’s when you can truly attach a premium to it.
To achieve this, I’m executing two strategies. If either one succeeds, we’ll grow 5x. If both succeed, 10x growth is within reach.
I’ve waited years for this moment. After countless days alone in a tiny room, enduring and persevering, I finally have the capital to build a team—and customers who will pay for what we create. The stage is set. If I can’t dance now, then I was never a dancer to begin with. Likewise, if the market has opened and I still can’t make the company succeed, it’s nothing but a failure of entrepreneurship.