Lessons from a Hotel Owner in Hue — Steady Growth and the Value of Freedom at 38

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— Words that reached me at 38, a time to turn experience into strength —

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✅ Introduction

I recently visited Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam. The first time I came here was in 2008 — 17 years ago. This time, I had the chance to reunite with the owner of a guesthouse I stayed at back then. He graciously hosted me again.

Time truly flies. When we first met, he was already managing several hotels and planning to open his fourth. Back then, I was just a young traveler, and to me, he seemed like a full-fledged adult.

But in retrospect, he was in his mid-30s at the time — younger than I am now at 38. Today, he’s 53, and during our reunion over breakfast and coffee, he shared some powerful words that struck a chord with me:

“Until 40 is your time to learn. After that, it’s game time.”

💡 Age 40: Not a Beginning, but a Milestone for Shaping

I interpreted his words not as “start at 40,” but rather, that 40 marks the time to give shape to everything you’ve learned until then — to apply and express your accumulated experience through your work and lifestyle.

Though I haven’t reached 40 yet, as someone who’s 38, the message felt deeply personal and real.

✅ Philosophy and Mindset in Business

He’s been in the hospitality business in Hue for decades. Starting small, he gradually expanded his number of rooms and built up his business through steady efforts.

📘 How He Attracted Guests (Back Then)

  • Before online booking platforms, he relied on flyers, word of mouth, and local outreach to get customers.

📘 How He Operates Today

  • Now he uses OTA platforms like Agoda and Booking.com, streamlining operations with fewer staff.
  • Though commission fees apply, it reduces stress and saves on labor costs.

🐢 “Like a Turtle, Move Steadily Forward”

One story that stuck with me was about the fable of the tortoise and the hare. He said:

“Like the hare, some aim for rapid growth and invest heavily. I chose to be the turtle — to keep moving steadily.”

Before COVID, many hotel operators borrowed large sums to invest in real estate and upgrades. But when tourism came to a halt, their revenues disappeared — and debt remained. Many went bankrupt or had to sell their businesses.

In contrast, he focused on risk diversification, avoided overexpansion, and grew sustainably. As a result, he’s still standing strong in this industry.

🕊️ The Value of Freedom — “Freedom is the Best”

After breakfast, he casually said something that resonated:

“Freedom is the best.”

Being tied to an organization can limit your freedom to choose what you learn or experience. But being independent gives you flexibility — to choose where, when, and how to grow. That freedom, he said, is the most valuable asset of all.

That’s exactly the kind of life I’m aiming for: to stand on my own feet, learn on my own terms, create, and deliver. Freedom comes with responsibility, but it also opens up infinite possibility.

🎥 Don’t Rush, Be Steady — Even in Video Production

His story mirrored my own current journey in video production — a path I’ve just started walking. I don’t yet have experience or certainty about the future.

He told me:

“You can’t see tomorrow’s sales or even the next year — it’s like not knowing the weather tomorrow.”

I related deeply. That’s why it’s important to keep learning, gain experience, diversify risks, and move forward step by step.

📝 Conclusion

This trip to Hue brought me valuable insights and a quiet push forward in my video production career.

The message that resonated most was:

“Don’t spread yourself too thin. Focus on the task right in front of you.”

Every small, steady step we take today builds the path to future success. There’s no need to rush. Just focus on doing what I can do now — with care and intention.

Turning 40 isn’t about starting something new. It’s about taking all that I’ve learned and shaping it into something real.

And above all, 17 years later, this ongoing relationship reminded me of the value of time and consistency.

At 38, maybe I’m finally at the real starting line. I’ll keep walking — step by step — until the day comes when I can pass this story on to someone else.

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