Author: Phonh
Phonh
I am a gardener turned entrepreneur. I didn't go to business school—I learned by building Dream Garden Resort from scratch with my own hands. Here, I share the real costs, the DIY mistakes, and the lessons learned from the mud up.
I’ve failed twice. Not small failures—complete business shutdowns where I lost money, time, and confidence. But here’s what nobody tells you about business failure and success: sometimes you need to fail before you truly understand what it takes to win. Let me share my story. Perhaps it’ll help you avoid some of my mistakes, or at least make you feel less alone if you’re struggling right now. My Journey: From Two Failures to Finally Getting It Right 2014: Started my first business. I was excited, full of energy, and honestly? Pretty naive. Within a year, it collapsed. 2017: Tried again.…
Running a flower garden should be easy, right? Plant some flowers, open the gates, and watch people come in. Except nobody was staying. My partner and I opened Dream Garden on Koh Chraeng Island four months ago. Beautiful flowers everywhere. Nice walking paths. But visitors would show up, snap a couple of photos, and leave in twenty minutes. That’s not great when you’re trying to build a business. We realized what was missing. Every popular garden has that one spot—the place where everyone stops, pulls out their phone, and takes ten different angles of the same photo. We didn’t have…
It’s almost 8 p.m., and I’m still on my boat. The sun has disappeared, and the Mekong River is peaceful. I can hear the waves and see happy faces around me—more than ten tourists enjoying their evening ride. While other boat operators finished work hours ago, I’m still here. Why? Because I discovered something powerful about small business marketing that changed everything. Let me share my story with you. My Small Business Success Story: The Pink Boat That Changed Everything I run a boat tour business in Kratie province, Cambodia. When I started, my boat looked exactly like everyone else’s—plain…
Right now, I’m sitting by the Mekong River at Dream Garden, watching the sunset paint the sky orange and pink. I feel peaceful, but also a little emotional. Why? Because getting to this moment wasn’t easy. I failed in business—not once, but twice. Those failures hurt. They cost me money, time, and pride. But they also taught me something valuable: the past is your best teacher, but it’s not a place to live. If you’re reading this after a business failure, I’d like to share what I’ve learned. These lessons from failure can help protect your future and turn your…
I was standing in my garden this morning, watering plants under the hot sun. My shirt was soaked with sweat, and honestly? I was tired. But you know what? Ten years ago, I would never have thought to do this. Back then, I sat in my comfortable office and worried about getting my hands dirty. That difference? It’s all about mindset. Let me tell you my story—and maybe it’ll help you too. Why Is Mindset Important for Success? In 2014, my business partner and I launched our first business. We were so excited! But by 2015, we had to close…
I wasn’t planning to learn anything today. I just wanted to relax by the river with my dog, Dudo, and maybe catch some fish. However, something unexpected happened that completely changed my perspective on success. The Moment Everything Changed Dudo suddenly froze. Her ears went up. She’d spotted something moving inside a small burrow near the water. Before I could even blink, she was digging like crazy—dirt flying everywhere, paws working non-stop. I tried calling her back. “Dudo! Stop! Come here!” She completely ignored me. That dog was on a mission. Why Is Determination Important for Success? Watching Dudo dig…
When visitors come to Dream Garden now, they see bright flower gardens everywhere, a walking bridge adorned with heart decorations, boats floating on the river, and a bustling little café. They usually tell me, “You’re so lucky! Your business grew so fast.” I smile and thank them. But honestly? Luck had nothing to do with it. Growing a business requires real work and some tough decisions. Over the past two years, I’ve tried many things. Some failed completely (and yes, they cost me money I couldn’t really afford to lose). But three strategies worked incredibly well. If you’re wondering how…
It’s 2:20 in the afternoon, and the sun is blazing overhead. I’m on my knees, digging small holes in our newly built star-shaped garden, working side by side with my team. We’re planting flowers, and honestly? It’s exhausting work. This scene is worlds away from where I started as a manager back in 2014. Back then, I sat comfortably in an air-conditioned office, reviewing daily reports and giving orders. I thought that was what management was supposed to look like. Nine months later, my business collapsed. I learned the hard way that effective management isn’t about staying comfortable—it’s about truly…
Look at this photo. That’s a boat full of happy people coming to visit my business, Dream Garden. And here’s the crazy part: I didn’t pay a single dollar to get them there. No Facebook ads. No Google ads. No influencer payments. Just smart thinking and a little creativity. Let me tell you how I learned to market a business with zero budget—the hard way. My Expensive Marketing Mistake Back in 2014, I opened my first restaurant. I thought I knew how marketing worked. I printed hundreds of colorful flyers and paid for radio ads, spending money I didn’t have.…
Last month, I stood in our garden staring at a crooked bamboo heart. After five days of work, countless mistakes, and more than a few choice words, I finally understood something: building a heart shape is way harder than it looks. But you know what? When those wildflowers bloomed around it a month later, every frustrating moment was worth it. Today, I’m sharing exactly how we built our giant bamboo heart garden structure for just $40 in materials. I’ll walk you through what worked, what didn’t, and how you can avoid the mistakes that cost us three extra days. Why…