Two Street Vendors in Bangkok [Informal City Dialogues]
TLDRThe narrative follows 'A,' a Bangkok native from a middle-class family, who, despite familial expectations of corporate success, opts for a non-traditional path. After earning a master's degree in management, A becomes the youngest supervisor in their company, managing 100 workers. Yet, the desire for more leads to entrepreneurship, opening a mall shop that eventually fails. Undeterred, A transitions to street vending, achieving similar earnings as before and embracing the unpredictable nature of their chosen path, with aspirations to expand further.
Takeaways
- 👨🎓 The individual comes from a middle-class family in Bangkok with expectations for a stable career in a big company.
- 🎓 The family desired that he pursues higher education and the individual obtained a bachelor's degree, followed by a master's in management from England.
- 📈 Despite having a successful start in the corporate world, becoming the youngest supervisor at 25 with 100 workers under him, the individual aspired for more.
- 💡 A significant decision was made to leave the corporate job in pursuit of entrepreneurship, starting with a shop selling earrings in a mall.
- 💸 Financial challenges were faced as the shop incurred losses due to low foot traffic.
- 🚀 Adaptability was key as the individual pivoted to setting up a street stall, which proved to be a profitable venture.
- 🌟 The individual's earnings from the street stall matched what he used to make in his previous corporate job, showcasing a successful transition.
- 🛍️ The script highlights the importance of recognizing opportunities in the market and being willing to change one's business model to meet consumer demands.
- 🔄 The individual's journey reflects a shift from traditional career paths to embracing the unpredictability and potential of entrepreneurship.
- 👨 The father's expectations and the individual's choices create a contrast, indicating a generational gap or differing perspectives on success and stability.
- 🚀 The narrative concludes with the individual's ambition to expand his business, indicating a positive outlook and the beginning of a new chapter in his entrepreneurial journey.
Q & A
What was A's family's expectation for their career?
-A's family wanted them to work in a big company to have a constant salary and get promoted regularly.
What job did A initially aspire to have after graduation?
-A initially aspired to be a manager.
What did A's father do to support their education?
-A's father paid for them to do a master's in management in England.
At the age of 25, what position did A hold in their company?
-At the age of 25, A was the youngest supervisor in their company, with 100 workers under them.
What entrepreneurial venture did A attempt?
-A attempted to open a shop in a nearby mall selling earrings.
Why did A decide to open a street shop?
-A decided to open a street shop because the rent for the mall shop was too high and the people were on the streets.
How did A's father feel about their decision to open a street shop?
-A's father was not aware of the decision to open a street shop, as it was not the path he wanted for A.
What was A's ultimate goal in their entrepreneurial journey?
-A's ultimate goal was to open the most successful street shop, imagining a future where they could make a profit similar to their previous job.
How did A's educational background influence their career choices?
-A's educational background, specifically their master's degree in management, likely provided them with the skills and knowledge to take on leadership roles and eventually pursue entrepreneurship.
What was the outcome of A's first entrepreneurial attempt?
-A's first entrepreneurial attempt, the mall shop, resulted in financial loss, leading them to switch to a street shop instead.
How did A's experience as a supervisor translate to their street shop business?
-A's experience as a supervisor, managing 100 workers, likely equipped them with the skills needed to manage their street shop effectively, even though the scale was smaller.
Outlines
🌟 Ambition and Family Expectations
The speaker introduces themselves as 'A', from a middle-class family in Bangkok. Their family's aspirations for them involve working in a large corporation, receiving a steady salary, and climbing the corporate ladder. However, 'A' has different plans and dreams of a career in animation. Despite their family's expectations, they end up working as a pizza delivery person, which is a significant departure from their family's wishes. The speaker's journey includes obtaining a bachelor's degree and even pursuing a master's in management in England, funded by their father, with the ultimate goal of becoming a manager. However, 'A' eventually becomes disillusioned with the corporate world and seeks a different path.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡middle-class family
💡career expectations
💡educational aspiration
💡career progression
💡entrepreneurship
💡personal fulfillment
💡financial independence
💡family values
💡cultural norms
💡self-determination
💡adaptability
Highlights
Individual from a middle-class family in Bangkok with aspirations beyond traditional career paths.
Family expectation of working in a big company for a stable income and career progression.
Choice of an unconventional career as a pizza delivery person despite educational background.
Aspiration to become a manager with a bachelor's degree and work experience.
Investment in higher education with a master's in management from England.
Achievement of becoming the youngest supervisor in the company at the age of 25.
Leadership role managing 100 workers and desire for more challenging opportunities.
Entrepreneurial venture of opening a shop selling earrings in a mall.
Adaptability and decision to move the business to the street due to high rent and low customer traffic.
Successful transition from corporate job to street business with similar earnings.
Non-traditional career choice conflicting with the father's expectations.
Ambition to expand and open more shops despite the uncertainties.
Personal life narrative and its intertwining with professional aspirations.
Desire for constant and significant change in career and life.
The importance of following one's passion despite familial and societal pressures.
The story encapsulates the struggle and triumph of pursuing one's own path.