Let me tell you something that took me years to understand: hitting restart doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re brave enough to try again.
In 2023, my small café business collapsed. I watched everything I’d built fall apart. The money was gone. My confidence was shaken. But you know what I didn’t do? I didn’t stay down.
Instead, I picked myself up, enrolled in entrepreneurship courses at CamEd Business School in Phnom Penh, and learned what went wrong. By mid-2023, I opened The Press Day Coffee. Same dream, smarter approach.
Why We Fear Starting Over
I get it. The thought of beginning again from scratch is terrifying. Most people would rather stay stuck in a job they hate or a life that doesn’t fit anymore than face the unknown.
But here’s the truth: staying trapped in a place where you can’t grow is scarier than any fresh start could ever be.
Three Reasons You Should Never Fear a Fresh Start
1. You’re Not Really Starting from Zero
When my first café failed in 2023, I felt like I’d lost everything. But that wasn’t true.
Yes, I’d made mistakes. I spent too much money trying to look successful right away. I grew too fast. I picked the wrong location. My prices made no sense, and my service was slow.
But when I started The Press Day Coffee, I brought something priceless with me: knowledge. I knew exactly what not to do.
Think about it. Even if you switch careers completely, you’re not empty-handed. You have skills. You have experience. You understand things now that you didn’t before.
Every mistake you’ve made? That’s not baggage. That’s a map showing you which paths lead nowhere and which ones might take you somewhere amazing.
2. It’s Your Chance to Become Better
Starting over forces you to look hard at yourself. What habits held you back? What beliefs about yourself weren’t serving you?
For me, it was ego. I wanted everyone to think I was already successful. So I bought expensive equipment I didn’t need just to impress people. I was bleeding money to feed my pride.
The second time around, everything changed. Before buying anything, I asked myself: “Will this actually help my business, or am I just showing off?” That simple question saved me thousands of dollars.
A fresh start lets you redesign your life. You get to build something that actually matches who you are now and what you really want—not who you thought you should be.
3. There’s No Deadline on Success
Society loves to make us feel behind. “You should have figured this out by 25.” “It’s too late to change careers at 40.”
Forget all that.
Everyone’s life runs on a different timeline. Some people find their path at 20. Others don’t hit their stride until 50. Neither is wrong.
I failed and lost money, yes. But I didn’t quit on my dream. I kept pushing until the Press Day Coffee found its footing. Today, it’s still running, still serving customers, still growing.
Age is just a number. What matters is whether you still have the fire inside to chase what you want.
The Bottom Line
Starting over isn’t the end of your story. It’s actually the beginning of a better chapter.
You bring your experience with you. You get to shed old habits that were weighing you down. And you can move at your own pace, without comparing yourself to anyone else’s timeline.
So if you’re standing at a crossroads right now, wondering if you should take that leap—whether it’s a new business, a career change, or a complete life transformation—I’m here to tell you: don’t be afraid.
The courage to start again is already inside you. You just have to trust it.
After all, I did it. And if a café owner from Battambang who lost everything can build something new, so can you.
Have you ever had to start over? What did you learn from it? I’d love to hear your story.
