I lost 100lbs over 16 years. It taught me the one skill that makes me unstoppable as a founder.
Last week, I flew to Hong Kong to speak at Entrepreneurship Roundtable hosted by Tina L. and Emily Ho.
A budding female founder asked: "When did you know you were ready to quit your job?"
My answer: I was never ready.
The questions asked by the room made me realize how far I've come… and how much is about to change.
Here's what my weight loss journey taught me that translates directly to entrepreneurship:
The ability to suffer and push through pain when the results aren't showing yet.
When I was obese, I tried every program that promised quick fixes.
None worked.
I had to create my own method: years of showing up when no one believed in me, when I was the only one in my corner.
I remember when I first started running at 118kg. I'd go pre-dawn so no one could see me struggling.
Walkers would pass me as I huffed and puffed, "jogging" at a snail's pace.
But I kept showing up for those 5am runs.
Because all defeat is temporary until death.
Just like those initial years when the scale wouldn't budge, I learned that being in your own corner when no one else believes in the vision is the only way forward.
5 years ago, I quit teaching after being nominated youngest department leader - right after a huge bonus.
Everyone thought I was insane. For months after, so did I.
But I'd made a decision: "I'll never turn back."
When there's no plan B, plan A HAS to work.
I asked myself: What would I regret more: not trying, or failing while trying?
One thing I've noticed in rooms full of founders: the audacity gap.
Women overthink limitations. Men just... go. With the assumption they'll figure it out.
So I learned to move forward while figuring it out. Fail forward faster.
Imposter syndrome doesn't disappear but I learned to keep building anyway.
That same discipline I learned at 5am runs? I've applied it to everything since.
I didn't start out technical. I'm an English Lit major who pivoted from teaching to coaching to AI.
But I've gotten good at starting from scratch and refusing to stay stuck: Strength training. Muay Thai. Business. Tech.
The pattern is the same:
→ Show up before you feel ready
→ Push through the discomfort
→ Be in your own corner
→ Master it anyway
Self-awareness > ego. I know my limitations.
But I also know I can close the gap if I commit.
So when everyone said "find a co-founder, don't go solo..."
I applied the same discipline:
→ Learned to code to understand technical language
→ Hired strategically: technical advisor, QA analyst, AI intern
→ Moved fast with clarity, without needing consensus
What accelerators won't tell you: being solo is viable if you architect smartly.
And the same skill that got me through 16 years of invisible progress?
I'm betting my all on it.
Thank you Tina, Emily, Joey, Wing Sze Lee, Ayeisha S, Blandine Devlin, Wai Julia Cheung, Lily M., Jasmine Yin for the invigorating chat.
Hi, I’m Mabel.
I’m the founder of Maibel. I write about emotional AI, women’s wellness and learning to build the things I wish existed.
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