Promoting the Spirit of Social Work
Many people choose their careers based on a sense of mission. Teresa Keung and Garmon Shiu, both with backgrounds in social work, share a passion for helping others, making them a perfect fit for Nu Skin. Teresa loves the spirit of connection within the Nu Skin team, while Garmon appreciates the brand's robust and comprehensive system for improving lives. The human-centered corporate culture has provided the couple with a platform outside the social welfare sector to fulfill their mission and offer more effective and practical help to others.
When they first started with Nu Skin, they faced some challenges. Teresa recalls that her family initially did not understand Nu Skin, hoping she would focus on her social work profession and strongly opposing her spending significant time on Nu Skin, which left her feeling quite lonely. Garmon remembers that even friends in the social work field were skeptical of their choice: "When I found my ideal in Nu Skin and wanted to share it with other social work friends, they thought we were just trying to make money and even distanced themselves from us." During tough times, they maintained their original sense of mission and confidence, never giving up.
A Simple and Practical Start
In the early years, with limited funds, the couple had to set up their center in an old building and do the renovations themselves. Garmon humorously notes that the environment was quite basic, and the makeshift podium often wobbled. The sound of the flushing toilet was so loud that even people outside could hear it. He continues, "Despite the lack of resources during that period, the team was united, managing Nu Skin simply together, creating many joyful memories."
Starting with Self-Cultivation
They believe that running a Nu Skin business aligns with the principles of their initial commitment to social work, allowing them to embody the spirit of social work even more. Teresa emphasizes that the spirit of social work is about helping others help themselves, but past work often failed to enable those in need to achieve financial independence. Nu Skin offers the opportunity to do just that: "To run a Nu Skin business, one must have a heart willing to contribute. This aligns with my aspirations; I love helping people, but not just by offering individual assistance. It's about creating environments and conditions for others."
Teresa, who loves traditional Chinese culture, believes that many ideas within it resonate with business principles. For example, the saying "cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world" encapsulates the essence of Nu Skin. She says, "Success starts with the individual. We must strive to improve ourselves daily, inspire others through our lives. The process of doing business can enhance our IQ, EQ, and AQ, allowing me to see positive changes in myself, appreciate myself more, and only then can I inspire others."
Leadership Focused on "Wisdom, Trust, Benevolence, Courage, and Discipline"
Because self-cultivation is so important, they help their partners improve in unique ways. Garmon, who has a background in psychology, serves as the main training instructor for the team. He has designed self-reflection experiences for partners: "My training method involves emotional experiences that encourage people to confront their inner selves, process negative experiences, emotions, and weaknesses, which helps unlock their potential. Since I am relatively outgoing and active, I tend to incorporate more practical experiences into training."
Before starting with Nu Skin, Garmon had accumulated rich leadership training experience and now trains talent for the social welfare sector as well. When asked what makes an outstanding leader, he references the "Art of War," stating that leaders should embody the five qualities of "wisdom, trust, benevolence, courage, and discipline." He believes, "Wisdom refers to knowledge and insight; trust means integrity—doing what you say; benevolence refers to kindness; courage means leading by example; and discipline means having standards for oneself and others. Achieving these five points leads to comprehensive success, naturally making you a role model for others."
Continuing the Power of Caring
Looking to the future, the couple remains committed to helping those in need. Teresa shares that her parents came to Hong Kong from Yangzhou to make a living when they were young, facing hardships, which made her acutely aware of the struggles of the grassroots: "So I hope to bring more positive impact to those facing challenges in life and to honor my parents." Garmon aspires to establish a university: "Many young people desire success but lack training and resources, and many business ethics still need improvement. I hope to open a direct selling university in the future to provide quality training for these young people, helping them realize their dreams."
Success starts with the individual. We must strive to improve ourselves daily, inspire others through our lives.
