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Through a forgotten-open window, rays of sunshine in an early summer morning filled my room. The gleaming sun awoke me, a 19-year-old girl whose room is full of toys, after a night of sleeping at my desk. "Oh my god", I mumbled to myself, as usual, when I looked around my room sunken in a sea of hodge-podge. Apart from handmade playthings laying around, there were also tons of materials waiting to be handled: colorful clay, paper, wool, rubber, seeds, leaves, even eggshell. Like a robot automatically performing a task, I was rapidly tidying up the mishmash when the image of cute little kids holding the Miracle Trees at the fair for children and family I joined filled my mind.
Every memory I had of the fair is still fresh. I remember feeling like I was in a completely different world-a world of childhood then. From banners to walls, from shops to products, everything was professionally decorated in lively colors and vivid cartoon images. At first, among mountains of other usually striking products like attractive clothes, cuddly Teddy bears and hi-tech toys, my plaything called Miracle Trees seemed to be eclipsed because of its simplicity.
I began to be confident when two little boys came into our stall, pulling their parents' sleeves and asking curiously, "Miracle Trees? What are they?" Looking at their brilliant waiting eyes, my excitement rose and I explained thoroughly to my first customers what they were and how these products worked. Making a Miracle Tree was simple. All they had to do was cut out two shapes of a leafless tree from paper, join them to make the 3-D tree model, place it in a plastic container and then imbue it with an accurate amount of chemical solution. After that, they just had to wait for several minutes to see the paper-shape turning into a small colorful tree covered with crystal "leaves" In every step of the instructions, I was full of quiet joy-especially when they shouted happily to their parents, " Look! It's turning into a Tree! " Meanwhile, Miracle Trees attracted more and more people. Watching tree after tree leave the stall in the hands of happy customers, a buzzing sense of satisfaction seemed to fell the air. For me, these were truly unforgettable moments.
Prior to this, my family members and friends were familiar with the sight of me immerse in sea of stuffs, handling seemingly worthless materials carefully and then combining them to make vivid plaything. Everything was restricted in my little room, but honestly, I had never considered selling these toys. It was not until my aunt invited me to take part in this huge fair that significantly changed my mind one year ago. Ultimately, it clearly allowed me to exhibit my individuality, creativity and aptitude through products.
After the fair, my father-a successful and experienced businessman told me that: "Business not only is a way to fulfill your dreams of design but also gives you chances to understand yourself" The simple statement, as well as his bedside books such as " Public Speaking and Influencing Men in Business" or "How to Win Friends and Influence People " seemed to open up a different horizon. The more I read and pored over these bestsellers of Dale Carnegie- a prominent American writer, the more I realized that business, to some extent, is an artistry of persuasion in communicating, acumen in grasping market and creativity in proposing wise strategies. It is not just about rigid numbers or transaction. For me, it also contains hidden innovations.
All of the newfound knowledge about business made me in the dilemma of academic decision in college for months: "Art and Design - my strengths or Business- my new aspiration? " Actually, the former had become a part of my life since I was a little girl that it seemed to be my undoubted choice for career. However, right after the fair, I recognized that my inspiration for business was growing day by day. Besides, I also comprehended that every moment selling each toy, I felt ecstatic as I could bring a simple but meaningful happiness to little kids.
Embarking in business is somewhat like inventing a toy. Every time thinking of a new plaything, I have to observe and experiment unceasingly to find the best combination of materials, design and color. In business, what I have to comprehend are customers' psychology and flexible needs to figure out appropriate response and timely strategies. For me, the "art and design" road is based largely on my creation and passion. Instead of continuing to walk on this familiar way, I really want to start first steps on the different road of business, which is waiting for me to discover.
