Combining her love for yoga and fashion, Jiwon Maxted Yoon created Flow with Me, a carefully curated collection of apparel from international brands that focus on sustainability, affordability, and high performance.
We love entrepreneurs and small business owners at Honeycombers, which is why we’ve created Launchpad, a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support, and community. It is a privilege and pleasure to learn from so many talented and inspiring folks, so we’ve decided to share the love by interviewing some of the lovely Launchpad members. Looking for inspiration? Check out how Jiwon Maxted Yoon, founder of Flow with Me, gets it done like a boss.
How I get it done: Jiwon Maxted Yoon
What is your backstory and why did you decide to launch your business?
I was born in Seoul, South Korea, but moved to Hong Kong when I was very young. After attending international school here, I went to New York to complete my BBA in Fashion Merchandising at LIM. Next, I worked for a couple years before my husband and I decided I would be a stay-at-home mum and raise our two wonderful boys. While I loved every moment of being home with my kids and was very grateful for what I had, it was also then when I found my passion and love for yoga, which made a huge positive impact on my physical and mental wellbeing. I also discovered various female-owned brands in Hong Kong that focused on sustainability.
During COVID-19 and the long days of being stuck indoors, I was inspired to launch my own business, putting my love of yoga and fashion together – this is how I came up with Flow with Me, a platform that provides Hongkongers with a complete range of unique, sustainable yoga and athleisure clothes and products. I began the project with just three brands and have now expanded to carrying 11 brands within the span of one year – and we plan on adding more!
How do you deal with self-doubt and criticism?
It’s tough being a wife, a mum, and a business owner – I sometimes feel that I have imposter syndrome. But, having my family support me throughout my journey has been so helpful. My boys (aged seven and ten) and my husband constantly encourage me and tell me that I can achieve anything! My husband has been amazing at accompanying me to all the events I attend. And as my kids grow up, they are beginning to understand when I’m away for work and they’d always manage to sort themselves out. They’ve been showering me with support and telling me how proud they are of me. Moreover, I’ve been fortunate to meet some fellow mumpreneurs who have been great sources of information, advice, and support.
How do you keep your stress levels low?
I’ll be honest: life can get very stressful at times, especially when we have to deal with all the strict and unpredictable COVID-19 restrictions! I think the biggest stress was renting out a rack space just as restrictions hit, which meant that gatherings, outings, and such couldn’t happen. Sales were so low during that period that it made me question whether I wanted to continue. But exercising, as well as having some quiet time to pray and meditate, have been beneficial in keeping stress manageable. I try to practise yoga everyday and I like to mix it up with some barre and SUP boarding, which all help with mental clarity and boost my mood tremendously.
How do you stay motivated and energised?
I’m all about keeping a schedule – every task, event, and meeting goes straight into my calendar. This helps me gain an overall view and a sense of control of how my days and weeks pan out. It also keeps me motivated as I can clearly see what I need to get done.
Working out in the morning helps clear my mind, gives me the energy to push through the day, and does wonders to boost my mood – although I must admit that there are also days when I just wake up feeling uninspired and I just give in…! I It’s not bad to let yourself unwind for a day (or two), relax, and just be still. After all, we need to be kind to our body and mind by not taking on too much that we become drained and burn ourselves out.
How do you wind down in the evening?
I spend most evenings at home with my family. We have dinner together at the table and just talk about our day. I love spending this time with everyone, as I can connect with them and be present with our kids. After dinner, we get the board games out for a family game night, or put on a family movie. Cuddling on the couch with my kids is the best way to end my day! They’re getting bigger now, so I’m not sure how many more nights I can spend with them like this.
How I get it done: Lightning round
On a typical morning: I start my day early. First, I drop the kids off at the bus stop and get home to a nice hot cup of coffee. Then, if the weather’s nice, I’ll head to the rooftop and join an hour-long online yoga class to get my body and brain pumping for the day. Next, I dedicate a couple of hours to organising my content calendar and arranging social media posts. I also email blasts to my network, and research new and upcoming brands that could be potential additions to my platform.
On the advice you’d give your younger self: Fear and focus were two of my biggest obstacles growing up. If I could go back in time, I would absolutely tell myself to let go of the fear! I would urge myself to seize every single opportunity, put myself out there, and not worry so much about whether I was good enough to complete a task.
