It was a cloudy day. I stood on the same street corner where I always sold my ice products. The weather wasn’t kind to my business—clouds meant fewer customers, and cold days made my products less appealing. Still, I stayed, hoping for a change, hoping that somehow today would be different. Business was slow, and every passing hour felt heavier than the one before. I watched people walk past, uninterested, while my earnings barely added up.
Not far from me, my friend had set up his stall selling plastic wares. Unlike me, he attracted a steady stream of customers. I observed how he handled buyers, his confidence and efficiency, and I realized there was much I could learn. His success hadn’t come overnight. He had spent more than ten years as a street vendor, building relationships, understanding the market, and improving his products. The numbers he earned at the end of the day were large, and it made me question my choices. Why did his business grow while mine stayed stuck?
I began to wonder if I could ever change my line of work. But trapped in low-income routines and without capital, everything seemed impossible. Each day felt like survival rather than progress. Eventually, I gave in to that heavy feeling like destiny had already made the choice for me. I stopped dreaming and started just existing. With no new ideas, no resources, and no visible way forward, I surrendered to the path that life had placed before me. And that was it.
