The Day I Realized Business Books Don’t Teach You Everything
You know what’s funny? I spent years reading business books and listening to success stories. I thought I had it all figured out. Then I opened my first café, and reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
Nothing prepared me for the real world of running a business. The theories? They stayed in the textbooks. The overnight success stories I read about? Complete fairy tales.
Here’s the truth nobody tells you: Success takes time, patience, and a whole lot of stumbling around in the dark.
My Café Dream Started in 2016
Let me take you back to where it all began.
In 2016, I enrolled at COFICO Vocational Training School. For two years, I learned everything about coffee—from bean selection to the perfect espresso shot. I was obsessed. I’d practice latte art until my hands hurt.
After graduating in 2018, I landed a job as a barista at a café in Battambang city. For the next two years, I watched customers, studied what worked, and saved every penny I could. By mid-2021, I had enough money to chase my dream.
I opened my own small café.
When Everything Fell Apart in 2023
Here’s where my story gets rough.
By 2023, my café was no longer there. Closed. Failed. Whatever word you want to use, it all means the same thing. I lost everything I’d worked for.
People talked. Some laughed. Others gave me that look—you know the one. The “I told you so” look that makes you want to disappear.
But here’s what I learned during those dark months: Failure isn’t the problem. Giving up is.
Think about it. Every successful person you admire has failed at something. The difference? They got back up.
The Real Meaning of Success Hit Me in Mid-2023
After my café closed, I felt like a complete failure. I thought success meant building something huge right away. A packed café. Long lines. Instagram-worthy moments every day.
I was wrong.
When I started my second attempt in mid-2023, something clicked. Success isn’t about one big moment. It’s about showing up every single day and getting just a little bit better.
That’s when The Press Day Coffee was truly born—not as a business, but as a promise to myself.
What Success Really Means for Entrepreneurs
Let me break this down for you:
Success in business means growth. But not the kind you’re thinking of. I’m talking about:
- Learning from yesterday’s mistakes
- Trying new approaches when old ones fail
- Getting up one more time than you fall down
- Improving your skills bit by bit
- Never, ever quit on your dream
Every small step forward counts. Every lesson learned matters. Every day you keep going is a victory.
The Power of Not Giving Up
You want to know how The Press Day Coffee survived? How is it still operating today?
I can sum it up in one word: persistence.
When my first café failed, I could have walked away. I could have said, “Well, I tried.” I could have found a safe job and forgotten about my dreams.
But I didn’t. And here’s why.
My dream wasn’t something I wanted. It was something I needed. It was part of who I am. Walking away from it would have been like walking away from myself.
So I picked myself up. I studied what went wrong. I changed my approach. And I started again.
If Your Plan Fails, Change the Plan—Not the Goal
This is the most important lesson I’ve learned, and I want you to remember it:
When something doesn’t work, don’t abandon your dream. Change your strategy.
Think of it like this: If you’re trying to climb a mountain and one path is blocked, you don’t give up on reaching the summit. You find another path.
The same applies to everything in life:
- In education: If one study method doesn’t work, try a different approach
- In business: If your marketing strategy fails, test new ideas
- In relationships: if communication breaks down, find new ways to reconnect.
- In personal goals: If plan A doesn’t work, there are still 25 more letters in the alphabet.
Take a breath. Step back. Look at what happened. Then try again with fresh eyes and a new plan.
Perseverance: Your Secret Weapon
I truly believe that perseverance is like a superpower we all carry inside us. Most people just don’t use it.
When things get hard (and they will), perseverance is what keeps you going. It’s that voice inside that says, “One more try. Just one more.”
Whether you’re:
- Building a business
- Finishing your education
- Learning a new skill
- Chasing a big dream
You need to give it everything you’ve got. Pour your heart into it. Work when others rest. Learn when others quit. Keep going when others stop.
My Message to You
If you’re reading this and you’re struggling with something right now, I want you to know something:
Your current situation is not your final destination.
I’ve been where you are. I’ve felt that crushing weight of failure. I’ve heard the doubts—both from others and from that little voice in my head.
But I kept going. And now, The Press Day Coffee stands as proof that persistence pays off.
Your story isn’t over yet. Not even close.
What I Want You to Remember
Before you go, let me leave you with these thoughts:
- Failure is normal. Every successful person has failed multiple times. What matters is what you do next.
- Success takes time. Stop comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle. Focus on your own journey.
- Small steps count. You don’t need massive leaps. Consistent small improvements lead to big results.
- Change your methods, not your dreams. If something isn’t working, try a different approach. But don’t abandon your goal.
- Never quit on yourself. You are capable of more than you think. Keep going, even when it’s hard.
The Bottom Line
My journey from a student in 2016 to a café owner who failed in 2023 to a successful entrepreneur today taught me more than any book ever could.
The road to success is messy. It’s filled with mistakes, failures, and moments when you want to give up. But it’s also filled with lessons, growth, and the incredible feeling of achieving something you once thought was impossible.
So whatever you’re working toward right now—keep going. Adjust your approach when needed, but never give up on what truly matters to you.
Because at the end of the day, winners don’t quit, and quitters never win.
Your dreams are worth fighting for. Trust me on this one.
From a barista who failed, got back up, and built The Press Day Coffee—proof that persistence beats perfection every single time.
