Insights From the Founder of Fashion Startup ZILIO

Founder of ZILIO.

Any entrepreneur can tell you, launching a startup is a learning process. Therefore, one of the best things you can do prior to launching a startup of your own is to learn from those who have blazed the trail. We were fortunate enough to hear some valuable insights during our interview with Anthony Kwok of fashion startup ZILIO that will inspire, motivate, and teach aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

“A master is a beginner who has never given up. Leave your ego at the door and always be willing to learn. Sure, you might bring a lot to the table, but everyone has their own biases, traumas, and limiting beliefs. Be okay with challenging those beliefs and biases. This is how you grow as a leader and an entrepreneur. Remember, the growth of the business will never exceed the growth of its founder.”

What is your advice for entrepreneurs in your industry specifically?

“Anyone can have a clear vision of where they want to end up, but it's hard to know the right steps to take to get there. No matter what stage you're at, make sure you talk to as many people in the industry, whether they'd be potential clients, potential investors, or other founders that have been in your shoes, and get their feedback. It can be scary talking to key people when you don't feel like you're ready or don't have a polished idea or product to show, but if you come from the angle of wanting to learn and network and not sell, you'll receive long-term relationships that can really light the way of the dark road for you.”

What is your advice for coming up with a unique startup idea?

“The best solutions you can come up with are solutions to problems you have in your own life. You know those moments in your day where you go, ‘God, this is so annoying to use’ or ‘I wish there was an easier way to get this done’? Well, if you experience these pain points in your life, chances are many others are as well. So it's your job to be continuously aware, make notes on the spot when these pain points occur, then go out and talk to as many people as you can and validate the problem on a wide scale.”

What is your advice for overcoming challenges and failure?

“I love overcoming challenges and failure; it’s what made me who I am —  not my wins and successes but all my losses, as cheesy as it sounds. Once you get punched a few times and realise that you're not made of glass, the world is your oyster. So don't be afraid of failing; welcome it with open arms, and keep moving forward. Trust me on this, no matter how much it hurts right now, you're going to look back and realise that it's the biggest blessing you'll ever have.”

What is the biggest lesson you learned and what can aspiring entrepreneurs take from it?

“Be very cautious of who you invest your time with. You know the saying, ‘Your net worth is the average of the net worth of your five closest friends.’ If you're trying to do something that requires motivation, grit, and drive, and you're surrounded by people who like to hang out in the pool of mediocrity, chances are you're not going to get very far until they convince you to jump back in and get warm in the pool. This isn't to say cut all of your friends who like to kick back, not at all. Just be measured in how much time you allow yourself to invest with them.

Try meeting some other aspiring entrepreneurs and spend more time-consuming content from your role models like successful founders or speakers. This will make the biggest difference in your success, I promise you.”

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