Young Entrepreneur Skips College for Jewelry Business

At age 20, Kiana Mei has achieved financial independence without attending university. Instead of pursuing higher education, she committed fully to Kiana Mei Designs, a business she started at 15 selling origami artwork. Today, she sells affordable, customizable jewelry at Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne.

While she has moved out of her parents' house and runs her business full-time, Mei admits there were unexpected challenges. She highlights three specific lessons she wishes she had known before skipping college to focus on her company: the feeling of isolation, the necessity of prioritizing physical health, and the reality that her products are not for everyone.

Kiana Mei began her entrepreneurial journey at 15, initially driven by her father's encouragement to start a company rather than getting a standard café job. She utilized a skill acquired during a school trip to Japan, honing her ability to create origami butterfly artwork during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Mei began selling these creations at markets in Melbourne when she was 16. A pivotal moment occurred during her first sale, where a customer purchased three artworks for $100. This transaction was the catalyst for her realization that she could generate income from items she created with her own hands.

She eventually expanded her product line to include jewelry. Her company, Kiana Mei Designs, focuses on dainty, affordably-priced items. Despite passing her 12th grade with high marks that would have qualified her for most college courses, she decided to forgo university.

Mei questioned what she would study in university that she wasn't already learning through running her business. She chose to go "all in" on her business for one year, a decision that led to her current success. She now operates a stall at Queen Victoria Market from Tuesday to Sunday.

The first major hurdle Kiana Mei encountered was the profound sense of isolation that comes with being a young business owner. When she was still in school, she had a close circle of friends who shared similar academic interests. However, the dynamic shifted drastically after she graduated and moved out of her parents' home.

As Mei focused on her business, she noticed her school friends drifting away. The divergence in their lifestyles meant they no longer had much in common. This social gap was compounded by the demographics of the business community in her area.

Mei noted that there are not many young business owners, particularly young female entrepreneurs, in Melbourne and Australia at large. Although she attended numerous networking events, she found herself surrounded by people significantly older than her. This age gap made it difficult for her to relate to peers in her industry, contributing to her feelings of isolation.

The second lesson Kiana Mei learned was the importance of balancing work with personal life and maintaining physical health. She admitted that she struggled to "switch off," citing a period last Christmas where she worked at her stall for 14 consecutive days without a break.

The physical demands of retail work are often underestimated. Mei explained that standing all day and talking to customers takes a significant toll on the body. The impact on her vocal cords was particularly severe; when she catches a cold, she loses her voice completely.

During one instance in August, she lost her voice for five days, which resulted in five days of lost income because her work requires speaking to customers. To mitigate these risks, she now prioritizes her health by working out at 5 a.m., eating a good breakfast, and going to bed around 10 p.m.

The third insight Kiana Mei gained early in her career was the necessity of accepting that her product is not for everyone. In the beginning, she would feel a sense of rejection when customers walked past her stall without stopping to talk.

She would overthink these interactions, wondering why people didn't stop. However, she eventually learned that in retail, one must not overthink customer behavior. It is a reality that not everyone will like the product or the seller.

Mei has since adopted a resilient mindset. She now focuses on finding the people who truly appreciate her work. While she still attempts to speak to everyone at the market, she no longer takes it personally if someone does not respond or stop to look. She simply moves on to the next potential customer.