From Pulling Weeds to Building Dreams
Welcome to Dream Garden Koh Chraeng Island. That’s me, Phonh, standing in front of the bamboo heart that became a symbol of our persistence.
Hi, I’m Phonh.
I am not a “business guru” in a fancy suit. I don’t have a rich family, and I didn’t become successful overnight.
I am a gardener turned entrepreneur. I am the co-founder of Dream Garden Koh Chraeng Island in Cambodia.
If you are looking for get-rich-quick schemes, you won’t find them here. But if you are looking for the honest truth about how to find business ideas, survive failure, and build something meaningful with your own hands, you are in the right place.
The 15-Year Journey (The Short Version)
Most people see Dream Garden Koh Chraeng Island today—with the happy families, the flowers, and the boat tours—and they tell me, “You are so lucky.“
They don’t see the 15 years that came before the luck.
- 2008: I started as a general garden worker. My job was pulling weeds and sweeping dirt under the hot sun.
- 2011: I worked as a waiter and stock manager to learn how businesses actually handle money.
- 2014 & 2017: My partner and I started two businesses. Both of them failed. I lost money and I felt ashamed.
- 2023-Present: I took everything I learned from the dirt and the failures, and my partner and I built Dream Garden Koh Chraeng Island.
What You Will Find on Business Growth Diaries
I have organized this site into four main categories to help you navigate my journey and learn specific skills:
1. Founder Mindset Success isn’t about being the smartest person in the room; it’s about refusing to give up when things go wrong. Here, I write about the psychological side of business:
- Overcoming the shame of failure (and why I failed twice).
- Developing the “Bamboo Heart” (resilience).
- How to stay motivated when you are working in the dirt and nobody believes in you yet.
2. Startup Journey This is my personal diary of the last 15 years. I share the raw, unpolished story of how I went from a daily garden worker earning small wages to the co-owner of Dream Garden Koh Chraeng Island.
- The reality of the “Invisible Years” (2008-2010).
- How I transitioned from employee to employer.
- The specific mistakes that crashed my first two businesses (so you don’t have to make them).
3. Resort Build I believe in bootstrapping—building valuable assets with creativity instead of just cash. In this section, I take you behind the scenes of our construction process:
- DIY Projects: How we built our colorful bungalows and the viral Umbrella Walkway.
- Landscaping Design: How to turn an empty field into a photo-worthy destination.
- The Dirty Work: Real photos of laying bricks, fixing solar panels, and building with bamboo.
4. Growth Strategies Once you have the idea and the mindset, you need the systems to grow. I share the practical lessons I learned from my time as a stock manager and business owner:
- Marketing: How to attract tourists and create “viral” moments without a huge budget.
- Management: How to lead a team that feels like family.
- Money: How to manage cash flow when sales are slow.
My Philosophy: Get Your Hands Dirty
I believe that real business isn’t learned in a textbook; it’s learned by doing.
Even today, as a business owner, you will still find me climbing roofs to fix solar panels or driving the tour boat myself. I believe that if you want to lead, you must be willing to serve.
Meet The Team (Me and Dudo)
I do most of my writing right here at Dream Garden Koh Chraeng Island, usually with my “Supervisor” beside me—my dog, Dudo. She doesn’t know much about business strategy, but she is excellent at reminding me to take breaks and enjoy nature.
Ready to Start?
If you are just beginning your journey, or if you have failed and are afraid to try again, I want you to know: It is possible.
Thank you for being here. Let’s build something great.
— Phonh Co-Founder, Dream Garden Koh Chraeng Island