BANGKOK, THAILAND – An entrepreneur is celebrating three decades of self-employment, reflecting on a journey that began in Kenya and led to a thriving bakery in Thailand.
June 2026 is a particularly special month for one entrepreneur, marking not only the tenth anniversary of his current bakery but also a significant personal milestone: his first company was founded exactly 30 years ago, on June 16, 1996.
This marked the inception of the Ennsvalley Bakery, named after his native region in Austria. It was the beginning of an entrepreneurial voyage that spanned continents and provided a wealth of experiences, encompassing joys, challenges, and moments of adventure.
A Tale of Two Bakeries
Both his initial bakery in Kenya and his present-day establishment in Thailand faced typical early-stage difficulties. However, the nature of these challenges was strikingly different.
In Thailand, essential services like running water and electricity are reliably accessible with the flick of a switch. This was far from the daily reality in Kenya, where mornings often brought unforeseen surprises. Issues ranged from a lack of water or insufficient supply to power rationing.
Supply chains proved equally precarious. Flour shipments would go missing en route to the bakery. Night shift employees faced the risk of robbery on their commute, and delivery drivers were sometimes detained by corrupt officials demanding bribes.
Overcoming Adversity
These conditions might seem almost unimaginable by European standards, yet they were an integral part of the daily business operations. Many entrepreneurs would likely have succumbed to such pressures.
However, it was precisely these hardships that fortified his resolve. The determination to continue day by day and advance the company step by step was strengthened by these obstacles.
Evolving Challenges
Today, he lives and works in Thailand, where the major, existential problems of the past are no longer a concern. Water, electricity, and security are no longer defining aspects of his daily life.
One might assume that the life of a self-employed individual would now be entirely free of worries. However, anyone with prolonged experience in self-employment knows that problems never truly vanish; they merely change in scale.
As the life-threatening or existential difficulties recede, attention shifts to smaller challenges. Issues that once seemed insignificant now come to the forefront.
The Spice of Life
With time, he has learned to perceive a positive aspect in these ongoing, smaller hurdles. The everyday obstacles now serve as the spice of life, keeping him alert, fostering creativity, and ensuring that no two days are the same, even after decades as an entrepreneur.
Looking back on the past 30 years, a profound sense of gratitude prevails. Gratitude for the people who have accompanied him on this path, for the experiences gained on two continents, and for the opportunity to learn from every challenge.
Ten years of successful business operations in Thailand and three decades of entrepreneurship overall are not perceived as an endpoint, but rather as an incentive to continue looking forward with the same passion and motivation he had on that first day in June 1996.