I quit my £80,000 job to make ice cream - here's how

At the age of 28, Vivien Wong abandoned a £80,000-a-year accounting position to venture into the ice cream industry with her brother. Her journey began in her family's bakery, where she had always harbored the dream of running her own business. The catalyst for her decision was her father's cancer diagnosis, which spurred her to take the leap and establish Little Moons.

The mochi balls filled with ice cream quickly gained popularity on TikTok, though her ascent to success was the result of a decade-long endeavor. Wong offers insights into her entrepreneurial journey and advice for those contemplating starting their own business. One of the most common pitfalls aspiring entrepreneurs encounter is waiting for perfection, and Wong advises against it, advocating for an 80-20 rule.

She suggests launching a product that is 80% complete, then refining it as you progress. Initially, Wong sold her mochi to restaurants and cinemas, saving money to invest in branding and supermarket distribution. To cut costs, she opted to work with her brother, moving in with him to minimize expenses. Adjusting from a polished corporate environment to a more hands-on, self-reliant lifestyle, Wong took on roles such as IT, product development, and manufacturing.

She even handled the company's finances, even preparing accounts on Sundays to save money. Wong emphasizes the importance of defining your brand and learning to say no to opportunities that don't align with your values. She advises picking and choosing what to embrace, staying focused on your core principles. Wong also cautions against blindly accepting expert advice, urging founders to think critically and apply suggestions to their unique circumstances.

Working alongside her brother has been both a strength and a challenge, as they learned to balance their professional relationship as colleagues rather than siblings. When considering expanding from a 5,000 sq ft factory to a 30,000 sq ft site, Wong was more inclined to take the risk, while her brother remained cautious. Their contrasting perspectives contributed to more informed decision-making.

Wong advises family-run businesses to set clear boundaries for professional interactions, ensuring respect is maintained as colleagues, not family members. Now that Little Moons has a CEO and leadership team, Wong and her brother are less involved in day-to-day operations, allowing them to reconnect as siblings. Despite appearing to achieve overnight success, Wong reminds aspiring entrepreneurs that the viral moment is just the culmination of years of hard work and small steps.