For some, motherhood serves as motivation to not only achieve one’s dreams, but to empower others to do the same. For 20 years, Mary Nhin has been enriching the lives of people of all ages through her companies, like Nhinja and Grow Grit, a publishing company. The Edmond, Oklahoma-based mom of three has quite the background to teach others about the art of resilience. She is a serial entrepreneur and author who has been recognized as a 40 under 40 entrepreneur and an Inc 5000 founder.
It all started with Nhinja, an Edmond, Oklahoma based sushi restaurant. For the past two decades, she and her husband, Kang, as well as their team of chefs ansd managers, have grown a small mom and pop eatery into a five-unit chain. “We did this by constantly learning and innovating, undertaking the latest in technology to improve customer experience, implementing processes and systems, and automating where we could,” she writes on her Linkedin.
Nhin is also someone who aims to uplift other aspiring entrepreneurs, especially fellow moms. She often advises small business owners on setting the proper foundation in which to grow, from processes and systems to real estate, and other strategic business decisions.
While she and her husband thrived as restaurant owners, storytelling is Nhin’s specialty. Her books include biography books like “Elon Musk,” and children’s books like “Angry Ninja.”
But she is particularly proud of her “Ninja Life Hacks” books, a series for kids that have sold more than two million copies worldwide. The social, emotional books touch on themes like mindfulness, grit and how to manage feelings like anger.
Her books have expanded into an online e-commerce and content platform, NinjaLifeHacks.TV. Its main goal is to empower children to develop a growth mindset, thrive at problem-solving, cultivate self-confidence, help them deal with difficult emotions, and prepare them for life’s challenges. With the website, Nhin’s vision has expanded to more than just hardcover and softcover books, but toys, plushies, lesson plans, apparel and more. She said she opted for a .TV web domain because it is “easy to remember” and fits into her goal of branding Ninja Life Life Hacks as an animation series.
Here, Nhin shares what it’s like to launch a multi-faceted business from scratch.
Describe one of the biggest challenges you faced as a serial entrepreneur.
A recent challenge I have had was in the first full year of my publishing business, I lost over $200,000. Self doubt crept in and I wondered if I was just funneling money into a business that was sinking. I had to dig deep again about my purpose. I knew that if I kept listening to my readers and incorporating their feedback that I would eventually succeed in my mission of reaching children and empowering them.
How did you become interested in personal development and creating empowering content? What kind of life challenges inspired you?
When I had my first child, my husband and I had trouble making rent of $500. At the same time, we had a dream of opening a restaurant and were quickly denied by several bank institutions. We committed to reading personal development books and living below our means so we could provide more for our son.
Your Ninja book series focuses on empowering children, but you’re a huge advocate for empowering moms and caregivers as well. What words of motivation do you have for them?
I think there are a lot of stay-at-home moms who don't know if or when they will be able to go for their own personal dreams and goals. I want them to know I, too, felt lonely and frustrated during those times. I was a stay-at-home mom for 22 years, supporting my husband and his dreams of opening a restaurant. It was because I was patient and tapped into my mental strength I was able to later unlock opportunities that arose.
How did motherhood fuel your desire to launch and grow a business?
During my years with my children, I experienced first-hand children's struggles with everyday life that would later form the basis of my Ninja Life Hacks stories. In many ways, my children were my teacher and I was the student, helping them to resolve inner and outer struggles. I want to remind stay-at-home moms, in Steve Job's words, that "you have to believe that one day the dots will connect."
What is your advice for other moms aiming to start their own businesses?
Go for it!