Epiphany 1 – Jewelry is my calling!

In 2011, I had the pleasure of joining two of my close friends and business partners, Mike and Omar, on a business trip to Guangzhou, China, the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province.

It is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai with a population of more than 12 million.

With camera and notebook in hand, I assisted them in searching for merchandise for them to possibly sell back in the States.

They both are in the automobile business in Tampa, FL and were in the final phases of purchasing the adjoining land of their car lot to expand their booming businesses. We were mainly looking at automobile parts and cellular accessories (BOOORRINNGG) to stock a potential mechanical shop and/or store on their newly acquired property.

After painstakingly scouring the massive markets for several days, we were able to enjoy our last day sightseeing and visited the 2nd tallest building in the world, the Canton Tower.

I also had the urge to frolic in the jewelry markets as I have always had a thing for jewelry. Growing up, my parents often brought back pieces for me from all over the world as they traveled. I knew I admired jewelry, but I never realized the extent of my admiration until I visited the colossal jewelry wholesale utopias Guangzhou has to offer. I had never been so excited to be anywhere in my entire life. It was an angels singing I have died and gone to heaven type of moment for me.

The light bulb had officially gone off – I am to be in jewelry!