I want to share the story of how I started in the tea business. It all began when I was living in Taiwan, where I had the good fortune of meeting many teachers and mentors who guided me on my tea journey. While I did make some mistakes and occasionally got taken advantage of, I viewed these moments as opportunities to learn and grow. As the wise Chinese saying goes, "By taking a loss, one comes out ahead."

Living in Taiwan, with plenty of free time on my hands, I dedicated myself to building relationships with tea experts and vendors. The thing about Taiwan tea is that when you find good tea, it’s truly exceptional. It gets ahold of you, and once you're used to that level of quality, it's hard to accept anything less.

There was one teacher I developed a very deep relationship with. He would often make tea for me during my visits. I was lucky to have met him—he taught me not only about tea but also about Taiwanese culture and health. His expertise ranged from acupuncture and feng shui to fortune telling. Our discussions helped shape my understanding of tea, not just a beverage, but as a culture and a holistic part of life.

At first, I wasn’t consciously trying to start a tea business; I was simply following my passion. I would visit my parents in Oregon, and on one trip, I brought back a large amount of tea and teaware, figuring that others here would love it as much as I did. During that trip, I connected with a tea dealer who purchased some of my wares and tea, which set me on a path I hadn't fully planned. In our meeting, he mentioned a tea from Taiwan he was interested in—Wen Shan Bao Zhong. Although I hadn’t heard of it at the time, I didn’t let that phase me. By then, I had developed enough connections in Taiwan to know exactly where to find it.

Wen Shan Bao Zhong is one of Taiwan's six famous oolongs, though in Southern Taiwan, where I lived, people typically drank high mountain teas. Regional preferences play a big role in what teas you’re exposed to. Nevertheless, when I returned to Taiwan, I located the tea, sent samples of three different grades to the dealer, and we agreed on a price.

However, being new to the business, I was cautious about getting paid. I negotiated terms to ensure payment before shipping the tea. Once we had an agreement, I purchased two large boxes of Wen Shan Bao Zhong—one for the tea dealer and one for future clients—I waited for payment. Days turned into weeks, and then months. Every time I checked in with him, he reassured me that payment was coming. At one point, I began to wonder how long it would take to drink 30 pounds of tea on my own if I had to. (For reference, a hardcore tea drinker might go through a pound of tea a month. These days, I drink less than I used to. I go through about a half pound per month)

After about five or six months, the dealer finally paid me. I sold the rest of the tea over time, which helped me secure accounts with other shops. That first sale, back in 2004, wasn’t smooth, but it was a valuable learning experience. I remember mailing that massive box of tea from the local post office, not realizing how difficult it would be to transport such a large package. But as I did it, I thought, "This is a learning experience."

Looking back, I had no idea what I was doing, but I pieced it together. That first transaction had its hiccups, but nothing went seriously wrong—and for that, I’m grateful. If the package had been lost or damaged, I might not have continued down this path.

If you're thinking about starting a business, my advice is simple: just do it. You might not make much money at first, but that's how you learn. Be brave enough to try things on your own. Of course, learning on someone else’s dime—by working for them first—is a safer route, but that comes with its own risks. Once you have a secure paycheck, it can be hard to leave. Many people start out wanting to be independent but become followers, stuck in the comfort of their job.

If you set out as a “wolf,” you’ll make more mistakes, but you’ll also learn more. And most importantly, you’ll remain a wolf.