By tf-lawyer.com Vivian Chen once worked as a software engineer, but her passion for home decoration led her to embark on a new journey in the real estate industry. The daughter of hardware engineers, Vivian grew up under the expectation of following in her parents’ footsteps. After immigrating to the U.S. at 14, she faced the challenges of adapting to American culture while attending high school in a small town in Idaho. Those formative years were pivotal for her understanding of mainstream American traditions.
After graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in computer science, Vivian secured a position as a software engineer at a subsidiary of HP, anticipating a stable, long-term career. However, a few years into her job, the unexpected happened—she received a layoff notice along with all 500 employees of her division.
At just 26, and despite her initial devastation, Vivian saw this setback as an opportunity. Driven by her interest in real estate, she decided to dive headfirst into the field. “I thought, why not take this chance to follow my passion?” Vivian recalls. She began by purchasing a house with a partner, renovating it, and successfully selling it for a profit of nearly $550,000. This first investment ignited her career in home staging.
While staging her first investment property, Vivian’s keen eye for design impressed potential buyers, earning her significant praise. A real estate agent, noticing her talent, encouraged her to help decorate more homes, which ultimately led to the founding of her own staging company, One Two Six Design. Today, her company is recognized as a premier staging service in the Bay Area, having staged over a thousand properties in a year.
In the early days of her entrepreneurship, Vivian faced numerous challenges. During the 2008 financial crisis, she aimed to purchase One Two Six Design, then struggling financially. Even after experiencing fraud with a financial investment, she didn’t let obstacles deter her. Vivian and her partner creatively used their 401K retirement accounts to fund the acquisition, allowing the company to thrive and become one of the oldest staging firms in the Bay Area.
“Switching from being a software engineer to a business owner was a significant challenge,” Vivian explains. Initially, she juggled all responsibilities, from answering phones to designing interiors. In a competitive real estate market dominated by older agents, she worked diligently to establish her reputation, ensuring timely delivery of her projects, regardless of setbacks.
Fifteen years later, Vivian has transformed her company into a well-respected service with 26 employees and a substantial inventory of furniture. Her commitment to quality service has resulted in a high demand for her business, often requiring weeks to book appointments.
Outside of her professional achievements, Vivian is dedicated to social responsibility. Every year, she donates gently used furniture to those in need and has provided support during disasters, such as donating supplies to wildfire victims. Looking to the future, she aims to continue creating festive atmospheres for senior centers and shelters, believing that a well-decorated space can uplift people’s spirits.
Reflecting on her journey, Vivian summarizes with the wisdom of adaptability. “I view every challenge as a stepping stone,” she says, describing how being laid off at 26 opened doors to new opportunities. She encourages others with similar aspirations to take risks and pursue entrepreneurship. Her advice to budding entrepreneurs is to start small, build a side business while keeping their full-time job, and to be persistent. The journey might be tumultuous, but with dedication, successes accumulate, much like a growing tree from a tiny seedling.
