Past Challenges and Failures Series

My First Business Challenge
The Biggest Obstacles I Faced
Lessons Learned from Failures

🔥 Past Challenges and Failures Series

1️⃣ My First Business Challenge – The Leap into the Unknown

Starting a business is always a leap of faith. When I returned to Korea after 30 years in the U.S., I wasn’t just starting a business—I was starting over.

I had built a career in global business, but now I was diving into an entirely different industry: golf putter manufacturing.

✅ A completely new market where I had no existing network
✅ A highly competitive industry dominated by established brands
✅ A new challenge at an age where many consider retirement

The risks were high, but one thing was clear:

💡 “I was doing what I loved, what I did best, and what only I could do.”

2️⃣ The Biggest Obstacles I Faced – The Harsh Reality of Starting Over

As I ventured into the golf industry, I quickly realized that passion alone was not enough.

🚧 Finding the Right Manufacturing Partner – I needed a factory that could precision-machine a putter head with CNC milling technology. Many manufacturers either didn’t have the capability or didn’t want to work with a newcomer.

🚧 Creating a Distinctive Design – I wanted a game-changing putter, not just another product. But translating vision into a high-performance prototype was an immense challenge.

🚧 Establishing Brand Credibility – Customers trust brands like Scotty Cameron, Bettinardi, and Titleist. I had to answer the question:
“Why should golfers trust my putter over legendary brands?”

🚧 Launching Amidst a Pandemic – Just as I was building momentum, COVID-19 halted everything. Manufacturing delays, market uncertainty, and a hesitant investor landscape made it feel like an impossible battle.

Each challenge tested my resilience.

3️⃣ Lessons Learned from Failures – Turning Setbacks into Strengths

Through failure and adversity, I gained insights that reshaped my approach to business and success:

💡 Passion means nothing without execution. A great idea doesn’t matter if you can’t bring it to life through manufacturing, marketing, and sales.

💡 Persistence is everything. It took months of trial and error to find the right factory. My first and second attempts failed, but my third attempt led to a breakthrough.

💡 You must create your own credibility. Rather than waiting for people to trust my brand, I built trust through extensive testing, high-quality craftsmanship, and transparency.

💡 Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of it. Every setback forced me to adapt, improve, and grow. Without those struggles, my product and strategy wouldn’t be as strong as they are today.

🔥 The Power of Rechallenging with What You Love

I faced failure, but I didn’t let it define me.
I kept going because I was doing what I love, what I do best, and what only I could do.

✅ I love golf, and I create the best putters.
✅ I have global business expertise that helps me navigate challenges.
✅ I have a unique vision that differentiates ONE O EIGHT from competitors.

💡 When you align your passion, skills, and unique strengths, failure isn’t an end—it’s just another step toward success.

🚀 What Challenges Have You Faced?

Have you faced obstacles that made you question your path?
🔥 What do you love the most? What do you do best? What can only you do?
💬 Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear it! 🚀

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