Startups: Breaking walls, breaking limits

Deeper within startups' industrial roles lies the passion of their founders who challenged their rivals, and their dreams of influencing people's lives. From the perspective of CEOs, running their companies could be adventurous, obnoxious, thrilling and triumphant.

Among the CEOs are young and talented individuals who ventured taking the challenge. And they might not realize their fledgling careers can inspire those wondering what the entrepreneurs are like outside workplaces, what they usually think off-duty, and how their businesses will shape their lives.

Because we understand such a personal realm can mean a meaningful impact for many, The Korea Times has come to begin “10 Questions for Startup CEOs,” a relay interview series for those aspiring figures. The interviewees are selected by their antecedents. Think of this as the “ice bucket challenge” without ice buckets. ― ED.

In 2014, Jay Lee established Bucket Place, an online one-stop platform that helps visitors with interior decoration. Courtesy of Bucket Place

Inside Bucket Place's office in Seoul's Gangnam District, giant letters read: "Change your space, change your life." Courtesy of Bucket Place

1. MY COMPANY DOES

We operate a “one-stop interior decor platform,” where those interested in it can contact experts, make purchases such as furniture or parts, or check out related news or other content online. We update our platform with questions our customers raise as they encounter various problems during their tasks. We now have an accumulated membership of six million and our accumulated transactions have topped 350 billion won ($214 million). We won Google Play's 2018 Best App of the Year in December 2018.

2. WHAT I DO OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

I don't distinguish my private time from work. I spend most of my time concentrating to improve our service and our team. When time remains, I chill at my home that was transformed to my taste.

3. MEMORABLE MOVIES OR BOOKS

“L'empire de la honte” by Jean Ziegler. It opened my eyes to the world and immensely influenced me to adjust where my life should be headed. Shamefully speaking, though, it was the epiphany moment that I, having been blinded to nothing but natural science and its principles as an ordinary engineering student, started pondering upon the issues of inequality that transpire from the structures of human societies. Afterwards, I decided to tackle the root of problems at our social structures. It doesn't matter how long that mission will take.

4. WHAT GOT ME INTO STARTUP

I used to enjoy challenging seemingly impossible things and learning from those experiences. My desire has been to do my best at what I sincerely want. In depth, I had dreamed of a startup because, if it were to shape in a form of online network service, that could shatter the limitations a person may have, thereby spreading positive changes to the world to an unlimited extent. In 2013, when I paid an unplanned visit to a friend's house whose altered interior vividly and naturally reflected the inhabitant's peculiarity, I was shocked. I thought I wanted to let people know such an interior facelift is possible in Korea, where people back then seemed to live in same old spaces. I wanted to introduce a service helping people overcome difficulties as they engage in interior tasks. I thought people would be encouraged by such physical changes of space. From that day on, my confidence has grown. That led me to launching Bucket Place.

5. PROSPECT FOR MY INDUSTRY

Compared to Korea, there are many countries with more advanced citizenry understanding of “space” and more evolved local industry markets. Such advancements came into being in Korea around 2013 when I planned my startup, and up to now there have been great improvements here. I look forward to how this industry in Korea will unfold.

Lee's attachment to renovated indoor spaces originates from his shocking experience in 2013 when he visited a friend's house that had a type of interior decor he had never seen before. Now, his company speaks for him: "Everyone can live at pretty home," as shown inside the Bucket Place office. Courtesy of Bucket Place

6. UPSET AT WORK RECENTLY?

As my company and service rapidly grow, I, as the leader, constantly face my limitations. I feel worst whenever I ask myself if I have grown alongside my company and realize that I haven't. At the same time, whenever I feel I overcame those obstacles, I feel most satisfied.

7. I WARN MYSELF MOST FROM...

Since my 20s, I have been living up to Paul Bourget's motto of “one must live the way one thinks or end up thinking the way one has lived.” I distance myself from passively being driven around.

8. ADVICE TO ME

At times of danger, I talked to myself and my teammates, “We will find answers, as we have always done.” I recall so many predicaments that we have somehow managed to overcome until now. I and my colleagues share an ever-increasing belief that most problems are solvable and, likewise, most predicaments we will face are manageable.

9. IF MY COMPANY WENT BANKRUPT

The future I wouldn't even dream of. I will keep pushing forward until such a thing never happens.

10. MY EPITAPH

Dithered to live freely, gone with true freedom.

Jay Lee was designated by n.thing CEO Leo Kim