What began as a graduate school project has blossomed into a thriving business empire for Dr. Jenny Woo, who now generates $142,000 monthly from her Amazon card game sales alone. The Harvard-trained educator and UC Irvine lecturer shares her hard-won insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.
While completing her Ph.D., Woo launched Mind Brain Emotion – a line of educational card games designed to teach emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills. Today, she maintains five income streams including university lecturing, business consulting, public speaking, online courses, and her card game business.
The Costly Mistakes Every Side Hustler Should Avoid
Overengineering Your Product
“Early on, I fell into the trap of adding unnecessary features to compensate for imposter syndrome,” Woo admits. Her initial augmented reality concept for the cards confused users and increased development costs.
Her advice: “Identify your product’s core value proposition first. Ask yourself: What fundamental need does this fulfill? What’s the simplest path to deliver that solution?” Woo emphasizes using customer feedback rather than assumptions to guide product evolution.
Compromising on Service Quality
Woo learned this lesson after negative experiences with vendors transitioning from side hustles to agencies. “When my SEO provider delegated my account to inexperienced staff, my November sales dropped 55% compared to previous highs,” she reveals.
While supporting fellow entrepreneurs is valuable, Woo stresses the importance of maintaining service standards. “If a partnership isn’t serving your business needs, don’t hesitate to make a change – even if it means paying more for quality.”
Over-Reliance on Networking
Despite benefiting from prestigious incubators at Harvard, USC and UC Irvine, Woo found that excessive networking could cloud judgment. “Well-meaning advisors often projected their own experiences onto me, which sometimes derailed my vision,” she explains.
While acknowledging the value of mentorship, Woo advises entrepreneurs to filter advice carefully. “External validation shouldn’t replace your own judgment. Ultimately, you must take responsibility for sifting through suggestions and staying true to your mission.”
Building a Purpose-Driven Business
Woo’s award-winning card games – including the 52 Essential Relationship Skills and 52 Essential Coping Skills series – now reach customers in over 50 countries. The educator-turned-entrepreneur proves that solving real problems with simple solutions can yield both financial success and meaningful impact.
“The journey requires balancing openness to feedback with conviction in your vision,” Woo reflects. “When you create something that genuinely helps people, the business success follows.”
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