The reason why we started the business in the first place was because we felt a need to spread the knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine as well as educate non-Asians on its health benefits. There are a lot of misconception about Chinese medicine and we are proud to be able to dispel many of them over the past quarter of a century as well as making people realize that there are natural alternatives to pharmaceutical medicines.

Another thing we have also done is help promote the idea of adding Chinese herbs such as goji berries and ginseng to every day cooking. This has made many of our customers big fan of ‘Asian fusion’ cooking.

Moving forward we are working with local farmers to combine their produce with Chinese herbs to promote not only a sustainable model of food growth but help to expand people’s idea of culinary creativity.

After departing the nine to five world in 2004, I knew two things⎯I wanted to be my own boss and I wanted to experience professional passion. I made a list of things I love to do and things I wish I could get paid to do, not taking into account feasibility or silliness. Some of the entries included:
• Create collages, music mixes, and scrapbooks
• Plan events and retreats
• Watch documentaries
• Talk about Chicago and show it off to the world
• Host others in my home
• Challenge myself
• Karaoke
• Laugh
• Investigate social issues in impoverished communities such as public housing and education
• Network
• Wear flip-flops and jeans
• Work with inner-city youth

I have to admit it feels pretty good to revisit the list five-years later, as I’ve been able to incorporate almost all of the items into my career, even the ones that don’t seemingly have a direct link to digital media. For example, working from home allows me to wear flip-flops and jeans, and being my own boss allows me go to mid-week, late-night karaoke since I don’t have to be “in the office” at the crack of dawn!

There are pros and cons to being a self-employed artist. I miss the security of a paycheck every two-weeks. I miss being able to attend workshops and higher-education courses on the company’s dime. I miss going out to dinner or taking a vacation and enjoying the steak or sun at 100%, with no guilt clouds rolling by. I miss bonuses, someone else researching health insurance plans, the company holiday party, 401K matching funds, and laughing around the water cooler.

Yet I’d trade all of that for being able to go to Trader Joe’s, yoga, and the post-office on a leisurely Tuesday morning. I wake up to the sun, not to an alarm clock. I have time to cook healthy meals. I don’t stress about the number of vacation days I have left, nor do I feel pressure to make my vacations amazing. I commute from my bedroom to my office. If I don’t feel like working, I don’t. Panty-hose, heels and dry-cleaning are things I see in the movies. I’m not asked to do things that don’t make sense and I can make a decision without “going through appropriate channels.” I say no to projects from clients who drive me nuts. I interact with the sun and fresh air. There is no mundane, there is no dread. Sure there are things I’d change, but overall, being self-employed kicks major butt.