"A lot of people dislike sales. Most people start a startup because they're passionate about creating a technical product and making a difference. However, there's a common misconception that if you build a product, customers will automatically come. That rarely happens unless people are aware of you. So, often, you need to focus on sales-led growth initially, show people the product, and get them excited about it. I believe that if you just focus on selling by talking through the features and benefits, people might not be interested in buying. Instead, if you're genuinely solving a problem and helping them, people are more likely to be interested in purchasing your product." - Serena Lam, CEO & Founder of Fuzzy Sequence" - Serena Lam
"I've discussed this with customers as well. They’re open to conversations, but if the content isn't relevant, it frustrates me. There are two extremes: On one hand, customers are actively seeking the software, have posted about their needs in their network, and appreciate when someone takes the time to understand and provide a tailored solution. This not only meets their needs but saves them months of work, which they really value. On the other hand, it boils down to authenticity. Are you engaging the right people in the right way? If you address an actual need, they respond well; if not, it just annoys them." - Serena Lam, CEO & Founder of Fuzzy Sequence" - Serena Lam
"When I decided to quit and break away from those golden handcuffs to pursue my passion and dreams, it was one of the scariest moments in my life. Watching my bank balance decline over those months, without any funding, handling everything on my own, it was scary. But seeing the business grow has made all the difference, even though those moments were some of the scariest I've faced. On the other hand, I'm not as brave as my family. My great-grandparents fled China for Vietnam, and my parents left Vietnam to bring us to Australia as refugees. Their bravery surpasses mine by far. I draw so much of my own courage from their stories; everything I've done doesn't seem as brave compared to their sacrifices." - Serena Lam, CEO & Founder of Fuzzy Sequence" - Serena Lam
In this episode, Jeremy Au speaks on the Vietnam refugee inspiration, IBM to SaaS founder journey, and sales automation consequences.
Keywords: Serena Lam, Vietnam Refugee Inspiration, IBM to SaaS Founder, Sales Automation Consequences, Singapore, Vietnam, Women, Startup, Founder Story
