Pivoting: Embracing Change and Finding New Paths

By Hansheng Lee – Lee Hansheng Studios

The Dream of Chahwa Teahouse

Life has a way of shaking things up when you least expect it. For Chris and I, that moment came when we were just about to open Chahwa Teahouse, a Taiwanese fusion teahouse ~ a dream we’d been pouring our time, energy, and hearts into. We envisioned a space where people could gather, sip on traditional teas, and experience the warmth and flavors of Taiwanese culture. But then, COVID hit, and everything came to a grinding halt. Just a week shy of signing papers and documents, the world was put on hold, and so were we. 

Learning to Pivot

At the time, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under us. Years of planning, investing, and dreaming were suddenly on hold indefinitely. But as my grandmother always said, "You always have to be able to pivot at any point in time to survive." Those words, spoken to me in Taiwanese, echoed through my mind as I tried to figure out what to do next.

16 Years in a unnameable job.

Before the teahouse, I spent 16 years in the -redacted because I don't want to be sued- industry and companies, working behind the scenes on projects I can’t even claim as my own. It was a world of 12-18 hour days depending on the season, six days a week, a relentless grind that left little room for anything else. On paper, it was the dream ~ working in a field I was passionate about, surrounded by art and stories. But the reality? Burnout, exhaustion, and a gnawing sense that I was just another cog in the machine. And on top of that, I was also side managing our family's restaurant's social media account and catering, AND doing e-commerce marketing on the side. I had every moment packed full. 

I couldn’t talk about what I worked on because it was all under the guise of a 'team effort' and I had signed several NDAs. I couldn’t put my name to the work, couldn’t celebrate my contributions, couldn’t even say, "I did that." And then, life kept throwing punches ~ a divorce, college, and the loss of several family members, each hit leaving a scar. It was like I was constantly bracing for the next blow, waiting for life to stabilize, but it never did.

Embracing the Pivot: Art Collective International

And that’s when my grandmother’s words sank in. Pivot. Adapt. Survive.

Art Collective International was born out of that necessity to pivot, to create something that felt like mine ~ a space where Chris, Emily, Storm, and I could finally put our names to our work, along with anyone who wanted to join, tell our stories, and build something with intention. Instead of a teahouse, we’re now blending art and storytelling, using our voices and our experiences to create work that resonates.

And while the dream of Chahwa Teahouse is still there, waiting for its time, right now, this is where we need to be.

Finding Your Own Strength

Life doesn’t ask permission to throw curveballs, and sometimes the hits keep coming. But it’s in those moments ~ the hard, relentless ones ~ that you discover your own strength. It’s not just about pushing through but about using those experiences as a mirror to reflect what you don’t want in life. Let those challenges be the foundation upon which you build something better, something that’s undeniably yours.

The Takeaway: Adaptation is Key

Pivoting isn’t about giving up. It’s about finding new ways to thrive when the old ways no longer work. It’s about taking what you’ve learned, the good and the bad, and using it to build something stronger, something that’s undeniably your own. 16 years of being a background, copy artist, translator, illustrator, intern development, manager, and eventually art editor..... brought me here.