I often receive requests from student groups and universities inviting me to share my experience in starting up Twenty3, but with the breakneck speed at which we’re growing, it’s been hard to find time to fit in all these invitations. Entrepreneurship is basically constant firefighting, so I feel really sorry about this!

However, with KL Fashion Week ticking ever closer, I’m reminded of what it took to get us to this point – determination and humility. It’s always been my passion to help the next generation of entrepreneurs, and to encourage them to live in the present, follow their hearts, and to chase their dreams.

I was the stereotypical good girl in school. When I was in university, I never dared to do the things that I loved. I wanted to please everyone but myself; it was just the way I was brought up. I did everything that my parents thought was best for me, just so others would think that I was a good student, and they were therefore good parents. In that regard, I succeeded – I obtained a first class honours.

But at what cost? I was a good student, but I learned nothing. I gave up my passions, all for good grades. It’s a common problem in Asian societies.

If I could do it all over again, I would have done it differently. I would have started my entrepreneurial journey earlier in my uni years, and if you’re a student thinking about chasing your dreams, that’s the advice I would give you too.

1. There’s nothing like the unbound optimism of youth with nothing to lose. No responsibilities to tie you down and kill your dreams. With nothing, you dare to dream.
2. When you start a business, you’ll discover that the most previous resource is time. When you’re young, you have time to fail, time to pick yourself up, and time to grow. You’ll find you have time to experience both failure and success, and you will learn a thing or two about yourself and the career you’ve chosen.
3. Youths have more energy and drive! (I sound like an auntie)

On Wednesday, August 16, we’ll kick off the first leg of the Twenty3 Campus Tour at UTAR Sungai Long. I’ll be there from 10am to 12pm, and I’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have about starting a business. There will also be a pop-up store, so if you’re on campus, we’d love to meet you!

If I could inspire just one of you to chase your dreams, it will be completely worth it :)

Keep dreaming,

Sherlyn

PS. If you’d like us to visit your school, please feel free to leave a comment below or send us an email at marketing@twenty3.my