Secret 2. Consistent challenges

  The second secret is rooted in his attitude to constantly challenge new things. His first challenge began when he quit his dream job. With his positive energy and resilience, Mr. Lee joined the Samsung Corporation for his first job after majoring in Business Administration. However, in the 1997 financial crisis, he resigned, though it was a dream job for him. The retirement was not forced, it was chosen. After he left Samsung, he moved to the Carrefour Company and moved again to a satellite broadcasting company, Sky GhemTV. “I have a clear vision to become an entrepreneur. So working as an employee was the run-up stage for me to set up my own company. For this reason, I consciously thought about the things I had to learn while I was working at those companies,” he said.

  In a similar vein, Mr. Lee also emphasized that no experience should be wasted. “Anything we have been through can be nutrients for our lives and this is up to us… At Samsung, I could learn its organization and management practices. At Carrefour, I learned about France’s unique philosophy of operating systems and personnel matters. Also, at Sky GhemTV, I learned about having a challenging spirit because it was a new venture company, and a new-media industry which became the basis of my first business,” he added. He also knew that it is necessary to be able to give up old things to achieve something new. In that way, he replaced the video business and started an English- language academy.

  After acquiring various experiences, he finally made his dream, being an entrepreneur in the English video-education business, come true. He persistently made efforts to persuade EBS officers to be in association with him. Finally, he succeeded in publishing the videos. “I was really happy when I achieved my first dream,” Lee said. Then, he started a new business and left his first one. “Success too fast could be poison for some people,” said Lee. “I believe heaven helps those who have the courage to back off,” he added.