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The First Decade: My Journey from Blogger to Entrepreneur
Not your typical business-autobiography-‘I’ve made it in life’ book I started a blog. I borrowed USD 16,000. And now, I’ve built a multimillion dollar fashion company, garnered 1.8 million followers on Instagram and managed to squeeze in time to get married and give birth to not one, but four children. Perfect for young entrepreneurs, this book shares the secrets of my entrepreneurial journey so far—from starting a business with my boyfriend (telling my dad sure was fun), to fundraising, to managing a team of 400 people, to dealing with the good and bad of social media, and to pretending to nod when my tech team talks about cookies. I share my proud wins for you to get inspired by, and my juicy failures for you to eat popcorn to. Always a work in progress, my story is unfinished.
But for now, allow me to present to you, The First Decade .
But for now, allow me to present to you, The First Decade .
224 pages, Hardcover
Published March 29, 2023
46 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 14, 2022
{78/2022} 4/5🌟 Non-Fiction | 220 pages
Before you ask, no, I didn’t pre-order this. It just so happened that I was quite on the lowest point of my life, and reading Babel has taken half of my sanity (just kidding!), and during an outing, my kids decided to enter Popular. I didn’t have the energy (budget too 🥴!) to buy any new book - and upon entrance, there was a lot of ‘Vivy’s posing at the shelves staring at me. I had never had any intention of buying but Popular is giving discounts for members and quite a good bargain too! Ah, well. I need something light 😅.
I am not her fan but that doesn’t mean I hate her and I do not have any Duck scarve in my possession - partly because most of their scarves are chiffon and chiffon and me have very complicated relationship. However, I have been reading her ‘proudduck’ since very long ago and I have to admit that I have a penchant for her funny and witty writing style because I was beaming and laughing at most of her blog posts. I just wanted to see if her book was any different.
I was not wrong. It certainly felt like reading her blog the reason how I sailed through the book in one day. The writing style caught me, in a lot of ways - and she didn’t use that much of difficult or over the top bombastic words which made the reading light and easy (except for some business terms). Most importantly, it made the audience felt closer to her, akin to a bestfriend sharing her secrets.
She shared with the audience how she started off doing the business since her background was in law and her husband, engineering. She shared how Fashion Valet and Duck came into visuals. She shared a lot of her business ups and downs which made me think that this would be a very good book to be read by budding entrepreneurs as she was very generous in giving her do’s and don’t’s in doing business. I now understand why Duck scarves are Duck scarves.
She also made clear of some issues that she did not have the chance of clearing up - come to think that internet and social medias are definitely crazy places. She also revealed behind the true story of her being labelled as “privileged” much to her chagrin.
What I can summarise is that Vivy Yusof is the type of person who is very competitive, sometimes impatient and very passionate about what she’s doing. My four-star score is mainly because of her writing style which I love when it comes to reading non-fiction. I can’t judge based on the content because I don’t know her at personal level. She is telling her side of story. Whether you like it or not, she is already at the top of her place. Most importantly, Vivy Yusof is only human. If you think she made mistakes, we make mistakes too. Humans are never perfect.
Recommended read if you are Vivy Yusof’s fan as well as one of the Duckies, and most importantly if you have the idea of doing business one day. So, will I become her fan and own a Duck scarf after reading this? 🤔 You’ll have to come and find me to know the answer!
#justreaddontbawang #DecemberReads #DecemberTBRs #bookmehnia #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #mybirthdaymonth #vivyyusof #thefirstdecade
Before you ask, no, I didn’t pre-order this. It just so happened that I was quite on the lowest point of my life, and reading Babel has taken half of my sanity (just kidding!), and during an outing, my kids decided to enter Popular. I didn’t have the energy (budget too 🥴!) to buy any new book - and upon entrance, there was a lot of ‘Vivy’s posing at the shelves staring at me. I had never had any intention of buying but Popular is giving discounts for members and quite a good bargain too! Ah, well. I need something light 😅.
I am not her fan but that doesn’t mean I hate her and I do not have any Duck scarve in my possession - partly because most of their scarves are chiffon and chiffon and me have very complicated relationship. However, I have been reading her ‘proudduck’ since very long ago and I have to admit that I have a penchant for her funny and witty writing style because I was beaming and laughing at most of her blog posts. I just wanted to see if her book was any different.
I was not wrong. It certainly felt like reading her blog the reason how I sailed through the book in one day. The writing style caught me, in a lot of ways - and she didn’t use that much of difficult or over the top bombastic words which made the reading light and easy (except for some business terms). Most importantly, it made the audience felt closer to her, akin to a bestfriend sharing her secrets.
She shared with the audience how she started off doing the business since her background was in law and her husband, engineering. She shared how Fashion Valet and Duck came into visuals. She shared a lot of her business ups and downs which made me think that this would be a very good book to be read by budding entrepreneurs as she was very generous in giving her do’s and don’t’s in doing business. I now understand why Duck scarves are Duck scarves.
She also made clear of some issues that she did not have the chance of clearing up - come to think that internet and social medias are definitely crazy places. She also revealed behind the true story of her being labelled as “privileged” much to her chagrin.
What I can summarise is that Vivy Yusof is the type of person who is very competitive, sometimes impatient and very passionate about what she’s doing. My four-star score is mainly because of her writing style which I love when it comes to reading non-fiction. I can’t judge based on the content because I don’t know her at personal level. She is telling her side of story. Whether you like it or not, she is already at the top of her place. Most importantly, Vivy Yusof is only human. If you think she made mistakes, we make mistakes too. Humans are never perfect.
Recommended read if you are Vivy Yusof’s fan as well as one of the Duckies, and most importantly if you have the idea of doing business one day. So, will I become her fan and own a Duck scarf after reading this? 🤔 You’ll have to come and find me to know the answer!
#justreaddontbawang #DecemberReads #DecemberTBRs #bookmehnia #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #mybirthdaymonth #vivyyusof #thefirstdecade
February 13, 2023
At this point, most Malaysians have heard of Vivy Yusof and/or at least of FashionValet & dUck, so I'll spare you a detailed introduction. Vivy's ascension into the lands of entrepreneurs is a gradual and very public affair, since not only is she the founder of the two companies (FV & dUck), but she is also the face of the companies when it comes to social media, and she was the star of a reality show at one point. One wonders when she gets to sleep at times. (Admit it, Vivy, you're secretly a vampire, aren't you?)
But before there was all that, there was Vivy: a blogger in her 20s who had some enterprising ideas on how to make money since she was a little girl. Through trials and errors, she found herself starting an e-commerce fashion company (one of the first in Malaysia at the time) which catapulted her into a trajectory beyond anyone's wildest imaginations.
"The First Decade" is Vivy's story of how she came to kickstart her major business and wound up where is today. This memoir is written by Vivy herself, and fans of her blog back in the day would likely enjoy this book, as Vivy's sense of humor and her flair for writing really make this for an entertaining read. She didn't shy away from sharing all the hardships and her blunders throughout the first ten years of her business, and it was illuminating to get firsthand insights into what it takes to start a multimillion dollar company. While Vivy acknowledged her privileges in terms of her upbringing and getting an injection of cash from family when she first started FV, she also shared so many things she had learned from starting the business from scratch, which is no mean feat considering she didn't have a formal education in commerce or finance when she first started out. (In her own words, "LAW. DEGREE. FOR. WHAT?!", lol.)
Say what you want about Vivy, but there's no denying that she has the storytelling skills down pat and used them to their full potential through dUck's branding as well as by writing this engaging memoir. "The First Decade" gives readers a backstage seat for readers to witness the challenges of starting your own business which is educational in a sense, plus it's also just really high-quality drama if you're into that. Lots of tea spilled, but if you'd like to find out what kind of tea Vivy spilled, you'd have to read on to find out for yourself *wink*
Thank you to Penguin Books SEA for this highly entertaining read, I truly appreciate it! All opinions are my own.
But before there was all that, there was Vivy: a blogger in her 20s who had some enterprising ideas on how to make money since she was a little girl. Through trials and errors, she found herself starting an e-commerce fashion company (one of the first in Malaysia at the time) which catapulted her into a trajectory beyond anyone's wildest imaginations.
"The First Decade" is Vivy's story of how she came to kickstart her major business and wound up where is today. This memoir is written by Vivy herself, and fans of her blog back in the day would likely enjoy this book, as Vivy's sense of humor and her flair for writing really make this for an entertaining read. She didn't shy away from sharing all the hardships and her blunders throughout the first ten years of her business, and it was illuminating to get firsthand insights into what it takes to start a multimillion dollar company. While Vivy acknowledged her privileges in terms of her upbringing and getting an injection of cash from family when she first started FV, she also shared so many things she had learned from starting the business from scratch, which is no mean feat considering she didn't have a formal education in commerce or finance when she first started out. (In her own words, "LAW. DEGREE. FOR. WHAT?!", lol.)
Say what you want about Vivy, but there's no denying that she has the storytelling skills down pat and used them to their full potential through dUck's branding as well as by writing this engaging memoir. "The First Decade" gives readers a backstage seat for readers to witness the challenges of starting your own business which is educational in a sense, plus it's also just really high-quality drama if you're into that. Lots of tea spilled, but if you'd like to find out what kind of tea Vivy spilled, you'd have to read on to find out for yourself *wink*
Thank you to Penguin Books SEA for this highly entertaining read, I truly appreciate it! All opinions are my own.
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December 23, 2022Review by an Indonesian reader here!
Vivy Yusof adalah seorang blogger asal Malaysia yang menuliskan kehidupannya di blog bertajuk #proudduck. Seiring dengan pertumbuhan popularitasnya, Vivy juga merintis startup fashion bersama suaminya (then boyfriend) Fashion Valet.
Buku 'The First Decade' ini merangkum perjalanan Vivy sebagai seorang entrepreneur. Dimulai dengan kisah masa kecilnya yang sudah sering berjualan, hingga kini sukses mendirikan perusahaan dengan cabang di mancanegara.
Melalui buku ini, Vivy menceritakan bukan hanya kesuksesannya dalam berbisnis, namun juga berbagai pahit dan kegagalan yang dia alami: mulai dari munculnya kompetitor 'raksasa', kegagalan FashionValet di Indonesia, hingga dilema untuk pivot dan meninggalkan business model yang lama dan fokus kepada brand barunya.
'The First Decade' terasa jujur dan personal. Mungkin sedikit 'terlalu personal' bagi pembaca yang belum familiar dengan nama Vivy Yusof. Namun, inilah yang menjadikan buku ini menarik karena advices & wisdoms yang dibagikan sangat manusiawi. Misalnya, di buku motivasi bisnis, kita selalu dianjurkan untuk tidak takut dengan kompetitor. Di buku ini, Vivy menggambarkan pengalaman dan rasa takutnya atas kehadiran kompetitor, baru kemudian dilanjutkan dengan pengalamannya dan ditutup dengan advice yang sesuai dengan pengalaman yang telah ia jabarkan.
Satu hal yang pasti. Walau perjalanannya seperti rollercoaster, Vivy seperti selalu bisa membuatnya jadi KOCAK 🤣 Yah seperti orang yang suka kasih celetukan buat kalimatnya sendiri. If you're (or were once) a blogger, pasti terasa deh bahwa Vivy ini memang biasa menulis. Flownya enak, cerita personal dan professional advice dipadukan dengan baik sehingga membuat buku ini tidak membosankan.
Buku ini akan saya rekomendasikan bagi: tentu saja penggemar caption-caption @vivyyusof, para perempuan yang sedang merintis ataupun scaling up bisnis! 🧡🧡🧡🧡
Vivy Yusof adalah seorang blogger asal Malaysia yang menuliskan kehidupannya di blog bertajuk #proudduck. Seiring dengan pertumbuhan popularitasnya, Vivy juga merintis startup fashion bersama suaminya (then boyfriend) Fashion Valet.
Buku 'The First Decade' ini merangkum perjalanan Vivy sebagai seorang entrepreneur. Dimulai dengan kisah masa kecilnya yang sudah sering berjualan, hingga kini sukses mendirikan perusahaan dengan cabang di mancanegara.
Melalui buku ini, Vivy menceritakan bukan hanya kesuksesannya dalam berbisnis, namun juga berbagai pahit dan kegagalan yang dia alami: mulai dari munculnya kompetitor 'raksasa', kegagalan FashionValet di Indonesia, hingga dilema untuk pivot dan meninggalkan business model yang lama dan fokus kepada brand barunya.
'The First Decade' terasa jujur dan personal. Mungkin sedikit 'terlalu personal' bagi pembaca yang belum familiar dengan nama Vivy Yusof. Namun, inilah yang menjadikan buku ini menarik karena advices & wisdoms yang dibagikan sangat manusiawi. Misalnya, di buku motivasi bisnis, kita selalu dianjurkan untuk tidak takut dengan kompetitor. Di buku ini, Vivy menggambarkan pengalaman dan rasa takutnya atas kehadiran kompetitor, baru kemudian dilanjutkan dengan pengalamannya dan ditutup dengan advice yang sesuai dengan pengalaman yang telah ia jabarkan.
Satu hal yang pasti. Walau perjalanannya seperti rollercoaster, Vivy seperti selalu bisa membuatnya jadi KOCAK 🤣 Yah seperti orang yang suka kasih celetukan buat kalimatnya sendiri. If you're (or were once) a blogger, pasti terasa deh bahwa Vivy ini memang biasa menulis. Flownya enak, cerita personal dan professional advice dipadukan dengan baik sehingga membuat buku ini tidak membosankan.
Buku ini akan saya rekomendasikan bagi: tentu saja penggemar caption-caption @vivyyusof, para perempuan yang sedang merintis ataupun scaling up bisnis! 🧡🧡🧡🧡
February 6, 2023
Who ever thought that I would love this book? I had to confess it felt like reading through her blog but with proper stages and development. She started FV at such a young age with unexpected complaints from Fadza about shopping *laugh* then the idea came out instantly to start Fashion Valet as the only catering local fashion hub. With unforeseen circumstances, later comes duCk which you guys see nowadays standing strong.
Putting aside all her reputation, in the beginning, she does admit that she comes from a well-known family however I conceded at a certain time that her family feeds everything best they can to their child. Logically, her parents get the privilege and she got nothing during that time. Even, she creates FV from scratch with a loan, and from there goes the hell ride.
I felt like she was being so translucent in this book. Every misstep that she made in her business, she offer me as a reader with something practical input. It's like a leader giving direction and telling you what's the best action you can made. I learned that there's no right or wrong in arranging your next action for your brand business, you just need to figure out which suits best for the business model. Some might work depending on your niche, some don't, so in her case was fashion and beauty.
Her story was so well-written between personal and business life. However, it was solely about her entrepreneur's up and down. I love her tone here. Catchy, spontaneous, and funny, and if you read her blog before, you'll know her intonation. Or just read her ig caption.
Besides, I love how she's spilling some tea #gossipgirl *evil laugh* and some viral things she got into, revealing something from her end. Good to know the unclear story, at least directly I know from her side. Oh gosh, I can talk more and more about this book but let's just stop here. Otherwise, I'll be writing a book and publishing it elsewhere *hate to admit I don't have a talent to write like Vivy*
If you want to feel inspired, go grab a copy at the bookstore. Big thanks to Times Read Distribution and Miss Putri for the review copy. Love it!
Putting aside all her reputation, in the beginning, she does admit that she comes from a well-known family however I conceded at a certain time that her family feeds everything best they can to their child. Logically, her parents get the privilege and she got nothing during that time. Even, she creates FV from scratch with a loan, and from there goes the hell ride.
I felt like she was being so translucent in this book. Every misstep that she made in her business, she offer me as a reader with something practical input. It's like a leader giving direction and telling you what's the best action you can made. I learned that there's no right or wrong in arranging your next action for your brand business, you just need to figure out which suits best for the business model. Some might work depending on your niche, some don't, so in her case was fashion and beauty.
Her story was so well-written between personal and business life. However, it was solely about her entrepreneur's up and down. I love her tone here. Catchy, spontaneous, and funny, and if you read her blog before, you'll know her intonation. Or just read her ig caption.
Besides, I love how she's spilling some tea #gossipgirl *evil laugh* and some viral things she got into, revealing something from her end. Good to know the unclear story, at least directly I know from her side. Oh gosh, I can talk more and more about this book but let's just stop here. Otherwise, I'll be writing a book and publishing it elsewhere *hate to admit I don't have a talent to write like Vivy*
If you want to feel inspired, go grab a copy at the bookstore. Big thanks to Times Read Distribution and Miss Putri for the review copy. Love it!
January 6, 2023
I give this book 3.5. Vivy is a good story teller, I feel like Im reading her blog.
However, if you are an entrepreneur and hoping that this book will teach you about business, you’ll be disappointed. This book is about Vivy’s journey in business and I think if you’ve been following Vivy since her Proudduck days, I feel like there’s not much new info in this book. Sorry.
But it is still a nice book to read. It’s fun and Vivy is funny. So congratulations Vivy!
However, if you are an entrepreneur and hoping that this book will teach you about business, you’ll be disappointed. This book is about Vivy’s journey in business and I think if you’ve been following Vivy since her Proudduck days, I feel like there’s not much new info in this book. Sorry.
But it is still a nice book to read. It’s fun and Vivy is funny. So congratulations Vivy!
February 4, 2023
I have a few reasons to pick up The First Decade, but the main ones are (1) it wasn’t ghost-written and (2) Vivy Yusof was a blogger first, prior to influencer. I read Proudduck before, though I am not following her blog closely, the one I came to read was always funny and interesting, like hearing it in her own voice instead of reading the words. And her YouTube channel is always fun to watch, especially book recommendations (@vivyyusof , we miss this!).
Reading The First Decade was a realisation that social media are not a good platform to interpret an entrepreneur’s life. Vivy makes it look easy on social media but little that the world know, the sweat and tears of being an entrepreneur, a leader, a mother of four and also a woman (dealing with emotions and hormonal spikes sometimes), and the First Decade depicted that well enough.
It was interesting to find out what is happening behind Fashion Valet, the operations, marketing and fund-raisings, how they solve issues and problems with local designers and the story behind the closing of Fashion Valet stores.
It was an easy read, funny and witty. Easy to understand too! I would say this is a good book to pick up for young entrepreneurs or planning to be one. Also, if you are trying to get into non-fiction, this is a good book to start with!
My favourite quote from the book, “Even if people say things about you, you start to realize that they’re mostly just noise that is masking the unhappiness that they have within themselves. People who say things behind your back will always be behind you, so leave them there while you charge head to achieve even greater things.” – Vivy Yusof.
The first one of 2023, and it was a good one. 4🌟 for The First Decade.
Reading The First Decade was a realisation that social media are not a good platform to interpret an entrepreneur’s life. Vivy makes it look easy on social media but little that the world know, the sweat and tears of being an entrepreneur, a leader, a mother of four and also a woman (dealing with emotions and hormonal spikes sometimes), and the First Decade depicted that well enough.
It was interesting to find out what is happening behind Fashion Valet, the operations, marketing and fund-raisings, how they solve issues and problems with local designers and the story behind the closing of Fashion Valet stores.
It was an easy read, funny and witty. Easy to understand too! I would say this is a good book to pick up for young entrepreneurs or planning to be one. Also, if you are trying to get into non-fiction, this is a good book to start with!
My favourite quote from the book, “Even if people say things about you, you start to realize that they’re mostly just noise that is masking the unhappiness that they have within themselves. People who say things behind your back will always be behind you, so leave them there while you charge head to achieve even greater things.” – Vivy Yusof.
The first one of 2023, and it was a good one. 4🌟 for The First Decade.
March 11, 2023
I was asked to buy this book so I gave it a cheeky read. In fairness I had absolutely no idea who she was apart from the fact that she sold some scarves. Her story is really well told, given that she wrote it herself in the style of a blog - which isn't something I would normally gravitate to and something I didn't really enjoy. Personal preference.
Albeit, her warmth was really conveyed through this style and her story is one that is relatively admirable. Highly encourage reading for those loyal dUCkies out there.
Albeit, her warmth was really conveyed through this style and her story is one that is relatively admirable. Highly encourage reading for those loyal dUCkies out there.
December 18, 2022
As a reader of proudduck since way back when, this book was what fed my soul.
Vivy writes so honestly, you feel like you’re just having a chat with your close friend who is just caught you up on everything she’s been up to.
She forgoes the use of bombastic words or jargons that many, many authors tend to abuse in their autobiographies. At the same time, she opens the readers’ eyes to the world of an entrepreneur.
An easy read that warms your heart and makes you think of the dream you have for yourself —- why not me?
Vivy writes so honestly, you feel like you’re just having a chat with your close friend who is just caught you up on everything she’s been up to.
She forgoes the use of bombastic words or jargons that many, many authors tend to abuse in their autobiographies. At the same time, she opens the readers’ eyes to the world of an entrepreneur.
An easy read that warms your heart and makes you think of the dream you have for yourself —- why not me?
February 2, 2023
A book full of inspirations and humour hahaha
February 20, 2023
Dear Readers,
How are your readings going these days? I honestly had a blast reading this book particularly. I mean who doesn’t know Vivy Yusof?! If you have been using blogger in the early days you surely had your own favorite bloggers and of course you would come across proudduck, Vivy Yusof’s very own blog.
This is not your ordinary autobiography talking about success, hardships of the process and boasting the brand itself. It is in my opinion, of her sharing her experiences as an individual who had the opportunity to offer something good on a big scale. She did so well in the eyes of many but she is also a human being with feelings and loved ones to be taken care of.
Reading through this book does feel like reading her blog in the old days. The writing is miraculously fascinating and using simple modern English, this book is an easy read and you shall be done with it in no time. She has this skill of storytelling and the way she curates them is simply amazing and I believe you will feel it in your heart too for every story she portrays and delivers especially in any dUCk campaigns! I mean they won’t sell out without the background stories she carved precisely and carefully to match with the brand’s essence. She is pretty amazing with her dreams, visions and narrative.
I honestly love this book so much tho I am no dUCkies, I have tremendous respect for this brand (well I have dUCk bags and scarfs given as presents mostly🤭). Wishing dUCk to keep on soaring, flying there are no stars in heaven that we can’t reach! (iykyk😛). So, my message to you is, go and get yourself this book, especially dUCkies out there, support your girl here and I guarantee it will bring you the smile and joy the way the purple box did all this time.
To @vivyyusof, congratulations on this book. Dreams can come true.
Sincerely,
Azie
Rate: 4 🌟
#zeereads #bookstagrammalaysia #thefirstdecade
How are your readings going these days? I honestly had a blast reading this book particularly. I mean who doesn’t know Vivy Yusof?! If you have been using blogger in the early days you surely had your own favorite bloggers and of course you would come across proudduck, Vivy Yusof’s very own blog.
This is not your ordinary autobiography talking about success, hardships of the process and boasting the brand itself. It is in my opinion, of her sharing her experiences as an individual who had the opportunity to offer something good on a big scale. She did so well in the eyes of many but she is also a human being with feelings and loved ones to be taken care of.
Reading through this book does feel like reading her blog in the old days. The writing is miraculously fascinating and using simple modern English, this book is an easy read and you shall be done with it in no time. She has this skill of storytelling and the way she curates them is simply amazing and I believe you will feel it in your heart too for every story she portrays and delivers especially in any dUCk campaigns! I mean they won’t sell out without the background stories she carved precisely and carefully to match with the brand’s essence. She is pretty amazing with her dreams, visions and narrative.
I honestly love this book so much tho I am no dUCkies, I have tremendous respect for this brand (well I have dUCk bags and scarfs given as presents mostly🤭). Wishing dUCk to keep on soaring, flying there are no stars in heaven that we can’t reach! (iykyk😛). So, my message to you is, go and get yourself this book, especially dUCkies out there, support your girl here and I guarantee it will bring you the smile and joy the way the purple box did all this time.
To @vivyyusof, congratulations on this book. Dreams can come true.
Sincerely,
Azie
Rate: 4 🌟
#zeereads #bookstagrammalaysia #thefirstdecade
March 29, 2023
3.5 🌟
she deserves everything she has achieved
she deserves everything she has achieved
March 28, 2023
I’ve flown through these pages a lot faster than I thought. True to where Vivy Yusof first started- a blogger, this non-fiction book sounded like you’re reading a long blogpost where it could take days to finish. Either that, or it’s like reading an extremely long caption on Instagram.
The new generation might not know about this but blogspot used to be SUPER HUGE back then among now, the so-called millennials. l think people around Vivy’s age can relate. If you didn’t own one, you were at least following one. Vivy’s blog was where she first started to gain her audiences (which later some turned into FashionValet’s customers).
and that’s the thing about it- while the words of choice in her book isn’t particularly bombastic, the writing feels easy and friendly to follow. Since I’ve already familiar with how she always writes her captions on Instagram- her witty writing, humours etc (and you can definitely tell she’s legit reader who reads a lot of books), The First Decade IS SO HER, SO VIVY YUSOF (at least, at how she presents herself on social platforms).
I believe most Malaysians nowadays have heard about Vivy’s name and the in-house brand she carries, which is dUCK. dUCKscarves, dUCK Cosmetics… The brand itself is huge and coming from a small Asian country like Malaysia, we cannot deny how amazing the journey has been for dUCk when they collaborated with international brands like Disney, Barbie and Marvel.
I’m nor her fan or a regular customer of any her brands, neither am I a hater, I just ‘idgaf’ about Vivy, just like a truer ISTP I’m (I can’t believe I’m quoting this stupid mbti in a book review), so as a reader, I’m very much neutral about her. I find it interesting to read her takes on a couple of ‘controversial things’ that made herself on news headline before.
I appreciate that The First Decades feels very organic, like you can see through her personalities when you read it, although, technically, a lot of us don’t know Vivy Yusof on a personal level.
Some readers might not agree with her takes on certain issues but then again, that’s the thing about The First Decade: it’s indeed written from her perspective, of course at some parts could be biased or would read as ‘explanation on my side of the story’.
I minus one star because of chapter 13, “If I were to list down all the challenges of growing a company, this book would be many inches thick”. Oh I would want to read about those but also, I get where she’s coming from and her perspectives on ‘bad’/negativity things, as mentioned on Chapter 12. I don’t think the book is enough and fits the ‘perfect for young entrepreneurs’ as quoted on its blurb, but all of Vivy’s notes on her first decade, on how she builds FV, dUCK and Lilit is enjoyable to read. I didn’t realise this, but FV store closed its operation late last year in 2022, you can find the reason whilst reading her book.
Challenges during Covid?, discussed.
Remember last time she had her own reality tv show on Astro, ‘Love, Vivy’, discussed.
The controversial Marvel x dUCK’s silk tie?, discussed.
Her social media backlash about SMEs that went viral, discussed.
and many more.
4⭐️
The new generation might not know about this but blogspot used to be SUPER HUGE back then among now, the so-called millennials. l think people around Vivy’s age can relate. If you didn’t own one, you were at least following one. Vivy’s blog was where she first started to gain her audiences (which later some turned into FashionValet’s customers).
and that’s the thing about it- while the words of choice in her book isn’t particularly bombastic, the writing feels easy and friendly to follow. Since I’ve already familiar with how she always writes her captions on Instagram- her witty writing, humours etc (and you can definitely tell she’s legit reader who reads a lot of books), The First Decade IS SO HER, SO VIVY YUSOF (at least, at how she presents herself on social platforms).
I believe most Malaysians nowadays have heard about Vivy’s name and the in-house brand she carries, which is dUCK. dUCKscarves, dUCK Cosmetics… The brand itself is huge and coming from a small Asian country like Malaysia, we cannot deny how amazing the journey has been for dUCk when they collaborated with international brands like Disney, Barbie and Marvel.
I’m nor her fan or a regular customer of any her brands, neither am I a hater, I just ‘idgaf’ about Vivy, just like a truer ISTP I’m (I can’t believe I’m quoting this stupid mbti in a book review), so as a reader, I’m very much neutral about her. I find it interesting to read her takes on a couple of ‘controversial things’ that made herself on news headline before.
I appreciate that The First Decades feels very organic, like you can see through her personalities when you read it, although, technically, a lot of us don’t know Vivy Yusof on a personal level.
Some readers might not agree with her takes on certain issues but then again, that’s the thing about The First Decade: it’s indeed written from her perspective, of course at some parts could be biased or would read as ‘explanation on my side of the story’.
I minus one star because of chapter 13, “If I were to list down all the challenges of growing a company, this book would be many inches thick”. Oh I would want to read about those but also, I get where she’s coming from and her perspectives on ‘bad’/negativity things, as mentioned on Chapter 12. I don’t think the book is enough and fits the ‘perfect for young entrepreneurs’ as quoted on its blurb, but all of Vivy’s notes on her first decade, on how she builds FV, dUCK and Lilit is enjoyable to read. I didn’t realise this, but FV store closed its operation late last year in 2022, you can find the reason whilst reading her book.
Challenges during Covid?, discussed.
Remember last time she had her own reality tv show on Astro, ‘Love, Vivy’, discussed.
The controversial Marvel x dUCK’s silk tie?, discussed.
Her social media backlash about SMEs that went viral, discussed.
and many more.
4⭐️
January 11, 2024
This was my first read of 2023! (Yes, you read the year right haha) I’ve been following Vivy on ig for a long time now and I am absolutely in awe at how she juggles motherhood, her social life and her entrepreneurship. She seemed so put together and always has time for everything, and is always present for her family and friends. I also love how witty she is in her captions, always makes me laugh. So it goes without saying that when she released her book, I HAD TO READ READ IT!
The First Decade focuses on how Vivy came to kickstart her entrepreneurship and how she became a household name today. There is also a history on how Vivy got the idea to start a business – from a blogger in her university days and being creative and confident enough to begin a new adventure. On top of that, she chose to do this with Fadza from the very beginning – which seemed so risky at first but they pulled through and was stronger as ever, not only as a couple but also as business partners. Starting an online business during that time was definitely challenging as it was such a new concept and she did not shy away from sharing her struggles and blunders over the years.
I honestly enjoyed every bit of her writing. She is unapologetically herself and her personality really shone through her writing. I love her sense of humor and how she approaches her ups and downs in life. Vivy also showed that she is no wonderwoman and that juggling motherhood and work is challenging for her too. I also love that she acknowledged her privileges through her upbringing and getting support from her family when she first started her business.
Although this is her memoir, I felt that she gave really practical advice in every setback or wins she made. Reading this is like chatting with your bestie over coffee and cake because she really pulled me into her story and have me nodding and smiling at every chapter.
The First Decade focuses on how Vivy came to kickstart her entrepreneurship and how she became a household name today. There is also a history on how Vivy got the idea to start a business – from a blogger in her university days and being creative and confident enough to begin a new adventure. On top of that, she chose to do this with Fadza from the very beginning – which seemed so risky at first but they pulled through and was stronger as ever, not only as a couple but also as business partners. Starting an online business during that time was definitely challenging as it was such a new concept and she did not shy away from sharing her struggles and blunders over the years.
I honestly enjoyed every bit of her writing. She is unapologetically herself and her personality really shone through her writing. I love her sense of humor and how she approaches her ups and downs in life. Vivy also showed that she is no wonderwoman and that juggling motherhood and work is challenging for her too. I also love that she acknowledged her privileges through her upbringing and getting support from her family when she first started her business.
Although this is her memoir, I felt that she gave really practical advice in every setback or wins she made. Reading this is like chatting with your bestie over coffee and cake because she really pulled me into her story and have me nodding and smiling at every chapter.
January 24, 2023
This was more like a blogpost read. Light-hearted, frank and quite a breezy read. However I personally did not enjoy the rant post of sorts at the tail end (where she recounts her 2020 saga and plagiarism allegations). The feeling that I got in the end was that this book was ultimately an "I have to explain my side of the story" piece, which is fine by all measures except, I would not want to read it in a...book? I guess I expected a bit more if this is categorised under business.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2023
Why I picked up the book?
I have problem empathising with the rich, and I believe part of maturity is to be able to have a balanced perspective.
Vivy, from her social media—is a talented & amusing storyteller, authentic and wears her heart on her sleeves—so I believe I would be able to finish the book even if her point of view were to significantly contrast mine.
What was the story?
Ample of lessons learnt from her entrepreneurial journey that she generously shared in the book on upscaling & upstreaming—these are really valuable, raw and thrilling. I would recommend to anyone who would want to embark on an entrepreneurial journey! I picked up the book for a different reason so I would write a review corresponding to my intention.
On the writing style:
All of the things that I’ve described on Vivy’s captivating storyteller persona made the autobiography a page-turner— It was a swift and pleasant read.
On the narrative:
1. First Impression
Vivy sounded slightly defensive and self-absorbed, both in addressing her controversies and the struggles that she went through as the result of her actions—I couldn’t help but to think that her introspective journey does not involve putting herself into other peoples’ shoes—but she might have done that but it didn’t get through the editorial cut?
One of the part that had me chuckling was that she took pride in being called bossy and believing that it’s just a negative connotation to being entrepreneurial (well Vivy, it could be that but could also be more than that—something worth reflecting and not entirely romanticised …
…but then on the second thought, I asked myself “so what?”)
2. Adjusted Impression
I wanted to believe that what was written was intended to describe her perspective on her entrepreneurial journey more than it was written to paint herself in a good light—
In my opinion, an autobiography or any form of writing or art was not supposed to have the writer to align their perspective with ours (or mimic our own introspective journey), their job is to pour their story in their most authentic form for us to reflect and learn from and I believe Vivy has done justice to such storytelling.
I especially love that she acknowledges her material privilege and my favourite line from this book would be “I could, but I choose not to,” which for me, summarises what it feels like to be materially privileged—(but a well capitalised privilege, that is)
Yet, a key downside to being materially privileged was that you’re on the forefront when it comes to making mistakes, because you get to embark on a journey ahead of others. To make it worst, her powerful brand is the reason why every little steps of hers are under the magnifying glasses of the netizens.
Can us, the middle class & less-privileged maintain our sanity under such pressure? Can we thrive under constant scrutiny?
Food for thought.
I have problem empathising with the rich, and I believe part of maturity is to be able to have a balanced perspective.
Vivy, from her social media—is a talented & amusing storyteller, authentic and wears her heart on her sleeves—so I believe I would be able to finish the book even if her point of view were to significantly contrast mine.
What was the story?
Ample of lessons learnt from her entrepreneurial journey that she generously shared in the book on upscaling & upstreaming—these are really valuable, raw and thrilling. I would recommend to anyone who would want to embark on an entrepreneurial journey! I picked up the book for a different reason so I would write a review corresponding to my intention.
On the writing style:
All of the things that I’ve described on Vivy’s captivating storyteller persona made the autobiography a page-turner— It was a swift and pleasant read.
On the narrative:
1. First Impression
Vivy sounded slightly defensive and self-absorbed, both in addressing her controversies and the struggles that she went through as the result of her actions—I couldn’t help but to think that her introspective journey does not involve putting herself into other peoples’ shoes—but she might have done that but it didn’t get through the editorial cut?
One of the part that had me chuckling was that she took pride in being called bossy and believing that it’s just a negative connotation to being entrepreneurial (well Vivy, it could be that but could also be more than that—something worth reflecting and not entirely romanticised …
…but then on the second thought, I asked myself “so what?”)
2. Adjusted Impression
I wanted to believe that what was written was intended to describe her perspective on her entrepreneurial journey more than it was written to paint herself in a good light—
In my opinion, an autobiography or any form of writing or art was not supposed to have the writer to align their perspective with ours (or mimic our own introspective journey), their job is to pour their story in their most authentic form for us to reflect and learn from and I believe Vivy has done justice to such storytelling.
I especially love that she acknowledges her material privilege and my favourite line from this book would be “I could, but I choose not to,” which for me, summarises what it feels like to be materially privileged—(but a well capitalised privilege, that is)
Yet, a key downside to being materially privileged was that you’re on the forefront when it comes to making mistakes, because you get to embark on a journey ahead of others. To make it worst, her powerful brand is the reason why every little steps of hers are under the magnifying glasses of the netizens.
Can us, the middle class & less-privileged maintain our sanity under such pressure? Can we thrive under constant scrutiny?
Food for thought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2023
“Adaptability is a skill because it involves changing—and if I hadn’t made it clear, people hate change.”
That’s Vivy Yusof on the trait of a leader, among a long list, that stood out for her. Her book, The First Decade, documented her journey from being a blogger to an entrepreneur.
I found Vivy Yusof on instagram in the middle of 2010s while I was looking for a hijabi fashion inspo. At the time, I only knew of two, an Indonesian and a British-Japanese Muslim revert. I started following her on social media and found my way to her blog, which I thoroughly enjoyed for her humorous interjections. That’s how this book made me feel, it’s like reading her now-defunct blog all over again.
She paints a picture of a perfect woman, or at least what is seen on her social media platform— sophisticated, fashionable, a gorgeous wife to her instagram husband, a present mom to her adorable kids, she reads multiple books in a month amidst her busy schedule (this really blows my mind 🤯 like howww?); and ultimately, she’s a biggie in the fashion industry. She seems to have an extra 12 hours a day to be able to do all that.
This book is not a memoir, but should Vivy writes one, I would gladly read it so I would know how she juggles everything in her life. In this book, she gave us a behind-the-scene exclusive on how she started her business from scratch with her then-boyfriend Fadza, to growing it into a multi-million dollar company. I remember they made a vlog about it clearing accusations that their success is perched on their privileged background.
Vivy demonstrates that a person’s success is based on many factors playing out in one’s life but the most important are the inherent skills that one possess, for her are her talent in writing and entrepreneurship. Her law degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the world played a miniscule role in growing her business, but her attitude and the wisdom she gained while attaining the degree are significant for her growth as a person.
That’s Vivy Yusof on the trait of a leader, among a long list, that stood out for her. Her book, The First Decade, documented her journey from being a blogger to an entrepreneur.
I found Vivy Yusof on instagram in the middle of 2010s while I was looking for a hijabi fashion inspo. At the time, I only knew of two, an Indonesian and a British-Japanese Muslim revert. I started following her on social media and found my way to her blog, which I thoroughly enjoyed for her humorous interjections. That’s how this book made me feel, it’s like reading her now-defunct blog all over again.
She paints a picture of a perfect woman, or at least what is seen on her social media platform— sophisticated, fashionable, a gorgeous wife to her instagram husband, a present mom to her adorable kids, she reads multiple books in a month amidst her busy schedule (this really blows my mind 🤯 like howww?); and ultimately, she’s a biggie in the fashion industry. She seems to have an extra 12 hours a day to be able to do all that.
This book is not a memoir, but should Vivy writes one, I would gladly read it so I would know how she juggles everything in her life. In this book, she gave us a behind-the-scene exclusive on how she started her business from scratch with her then-boyfriend Fadza, to growing it into a multi-million dollar company. I remember they made a vlog about it clearing accusations that their success is perched on their privileged background.
Vivy demonstrates that a person’s success is based on many factors playing out in one’s life but the most important are the inherent skills that one possess, for her are her talent in writing and entrepreneurship. Her law degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the world played a miniscule role in growing her business, but her attitude and the wisdom she gained while attaining the degree are significant for her growth as a person.
November 25, 2023
I can’t believe I cried reading this. But Vivy’s writing style has always amused and inspire me. And some of the things she talked about really hits deep.
I started off really slow though because its nonfiction, eventhough it was written in a casual & blogger type of way. But still. After getting the momentum at somewhat towards the middle of the book, I was pretty hooked.
I don’t really follow her journey on social media or her blog. I actually got to know her I guess when FV or Duck started and my uni friends were obsessed with her & the website. So you can say that I’m not a fangirl but I do like her. But reading her story is an eye-opener and inspiring. You gotta appreciate her hustle & determination.
And I just gotta say again that I love her writing style. Some of the words and phrases she used were so creative. Well at least to me.
“…you will naturally develop the ability to lower the volume of the negative toxic noise and turn up the volume of the positive music of life.” (Pg 186)
Some of my takeaways from this book:
1. Stay close to God & always purify your intentions.
2. Always have a dream and its ok to dream BIG.
3. This is a bit generic but ya you can work hard but really, work smarter is KEY.
4. Don’t beat yourself up for making mistakes. Just swallow your pride, and just learn from it.
5. You write your own script in life.
6. Be adaptable, in personal and/or work life.
7. “Obsession is needed to make something successful” (pg 121). I’m 50/50 on this especially in the situation where she said this in, but she IS successful so I guess she’s on to something.
8. Uncle Yusof’s 5Fs of Happiness 🙌 & his “Life is from B to D and in between there is C” 🤯
9. The phrase “Never give up” should really depend on context.
10. This isn’t her quote but she read it on Instagram but it’s still a great takeaway for me, “If you focus on you, you grow. If you focus on shit, shit grows”.
Glad I read this :)
I started off really slow though because its nonfiction, eventhough it was written in a casual & blogger type of way. But still. After getting the momentum at somewhat towards the middle of the book, I was pretty hooked.
I don’t really follow her journey on social media or her blog. I actually got to know her I guess when FV or Duck started and my uni friends were obsessed with her & the website. So you can say that I’m not a fangirl but I do like her. But reading her story is an eye-opener and inspiring. You gotta appreciate her hustle & determination.
And I just gotta say again that I love her writing style. Some of the words and phrases she used were so creative. Well at least to me.
“…you will naturally develop the ability to lower the volume of the negative toxic noise and turn up the volume of the positive music of life.” (Pg 186)
Some of my takeaways from this book:
1. Stay close to God & always purify your intentions.
2. Always have a dream and its ok to dream BIG.
3. This is a bit generic but ya you can work hard but really, work smarter is KEY.
4. Don’t beat yourself up for making mistakes. Just swallow your pride, and just learn from it.
5. You write your own script in life.
6. Be adaptable, in personal and/or work life.
7. “Obsession is needed to make something successful” (pg 121). I’m 50/50 on this especially in the situation where she said this in, but she IS successful so I guess she’s on to something.
8. Uncle Yusof’s 5Fs of Happiness 🙌 & his “Life is from B to D and in between there is C” 🤯
9. The phrase “Never give up” should really depend on context.
10. This isn’t her quote but she read it on Instagram but it’s still a great takeaway for me, “If you focus on you, you grow. If you focus on shit, shit grows”.
Glad I read this :)
January 13, 2023
Just like the back of the book written "not your typical business autobiography” and it is true.
Absolutely different from other autobiography books. It is a non-fiction book but it seems like reading a fiction book.
The languages used are simple and easy. It is very nice for a light reading.
Some good points I can pick up from the book personally are:
1. That you should never borrow money. If you must then be honorable & have a plan how to pay it back.
2. No matter how tired or stressed, rarely tell your parents. Don't wan them to be sad.
3. Digital marketing doesn't always work. What might work for your competitors might not work for you.
4. Took every opportunity to mingle & must people come out from your comfort zone & meet as many people as possible, network expanding tremendously.
5. It's important to stay true to yourself. If something doesn't feel natural to you or the brand, don't do it. Don't follow trend if it doesn't suit you. Don't be pressured to join the pack. People can see right through the inauthenticity, so you do yo but be consistent.
6. That's life full of surprises and twists and turns. That's why to every card you're dealt in life, give your full heart and soul. Do not do things half-heartedly because only then you will live your life with no regrets.
7. Do you want to be the person who only sees the problems and then complains or do you want to be the person who sees potential and then bulldozes through.
8. God is never late. Wherever you are, trust that is where you meant to be right now.
These are things from the book which I can relate to myself and for my reference. What about you?
Absolutely different from other autobiography books. It is a non-fiction book but it seems like reading a fiction book.
The languages used are simple and easy. It is very nice for a light reading.
Some good points I can pick up from the book personally are:
1. That you should never borrow money. If you must then be honorable & have a plan how to pay it back.
2. No matter how tired or stressed, rarely tell your parents. Don't wan them to be sad.
3. Digital marketing doesn't always work. What might work for your competitors might not work for you.
4. Took every opportunity to mingle & must people come out from your comfort zone & meet as many people as possible, network expanding tremendously.
5. It's important to stay true to yourself. If something doesn't feel natural to you or the brand, don't do it. Don't follow trend if it doesn't suit you. Don't be pressured to join the pack. People can see right through the inauthenticity, so you do yo but be consistent.
6. That's life full of surprises and twists and turns. That's why to every card you're dealt in life, give your full heart and soul. Do not do things half-heartedly because only then you will live your life with no regrets.
7. Do you want to be the person who only sees the problems and then complains or do you want to be the person who sees potential and then bulldozes through.
8. God is never late. Wherever you are, trust that is where you meant to be right now.
These are things from the book which I can relate to myself and for my reference. What about you?
May 16, 2023
This book is an easy non-fiction to read. I wouldn’t say it’s a really really business book, because there weren’t depth to the failures but this book brings you down a memory lane of being an entrepreneur. It touches lightly on a lot of lessons learned throughout the journey. If you follow the brands closely, you could easily put your perspective as an audience/customer with the things and feelings they experienced in the backstage.
I personally enjoyed this book so much because I wouldn’t really go through straight business books because I’m done with it in uni plus I wanna sip some teas behind these brands. I have always appreciated Vivy’s creativity and resiliency in steering her businesses and backlashes, so by reading this book, it strengthens the reason why I have always been a silent supporter throughout the backlashes. Sure, seeing her material life, relationship and children is entertaining but I love seeing her connections and creativity in creating her brands because you must admit you’ve never/rarely seen it before.
Neways, this review looks like I am just one of those supporters supporting everything she did. Skjsskjdsk
Am i denying it? Not really haha despite i only have one dUCk tote bag and a makeup bag given by a friend.
Also, I the acknowledgement of Fadza (her husband) is a tearjerker. I’ve shed tears for what she had written about him twice (because i read the section twice). It just reminds me of my own loml, who had supported me and been through it with me since the beginning.
I personally enjoyed this book so much because I wouldn’t really go through straight business books because I’m done with it in uni plus I wanna sip some teas behind these brands. I have always appreciated Vivy’s creativity and resiliency in steering her businesses and backlashes, so by reading this book, it strengthens the reason why I have always been a silent supporter throughout the backlashes. Sure, seeing her material life, relationship and children is entertaining but I love seeing her connections and creativity in creating her brands because you must admit you’ve never/rarely seen it before.
Neways, this review looks like I am just one of those supporters supporting everything she did. Skjsskjdsk
Am i denying it? Not really haha despite i only have one dUCk tote bag and a makeup bag given by a friend.
Also, I the acknowledgement of Fadza (her husband) is a tearjerker. I’ve shed tears for what she had written about him twice (because i read the section twice). It just reminds me of my own loml, who had supported me and been through it with me since the beginning.
March 16, 2023
My first ever biography and I had fun.If you ever think that Vivy Yusof just got lucky and she's that one bad founder,I recommend you people to read it.
Its proven that to be Vivy Yusof is very hard and we need determination and of course,hard work to be an entrepreneur.She wrote her ups and downs,the behind the scenes of each incidents that happened and the ideas behind each business she own now such as Fashion Valet,Duck and LILIT and of course,lesson that she learned throughout TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCES.
Few of my favourite sentences in this book:
1.Big brands also have to work hard;in fact,that's most probably why they became big and now most likely will have to work even harder because the responsibilty is bigger and the stakes are higher.
2.A brand that called "duck" selling scarves?That doesn't make sense at all.Just like how it doesn't make sense to sell gadjets and name your brand after a fruit.Look where Apple is now.
3.What I thought was "so lame" turned out to be the reason for all that I have right now.Careful what you call "so lame"
Its proven that to be Vivy Yusof is very hard and we need determination and of course,hard work to be an entrepreneur.She wrote her ups and downs,the behind the scenes of each incidents that happened and the ideas behind each business she own now such as Fashion Valet,Duck and LILIT and of course,lesson that she learned throughout TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCES.
Few of my favourite sentences in this book:
1.Big brands also have to work hard;in fact,that's most probably why they became big and now most likely will have to work even harder because the responsibilty is bigger and the stakes are higher.
2.A brand that called "duck" selling scarves?That doesn't make sense at all.Just like how it doesn't make sense to sell gadjets and name your brand after a fruit.Look where Apple is now.
3.What I thought was "so lame" turned out to be the reason for all that I have right now.Careful what you call "so lame"
January 1, 2023
I honestly didnt know who Vivy Yusof is when I spotted The First Decade at my local Kinokuniya. It stood out among the rest of business books and I was so intrigued. This book is unlike the majority of business biographies that usually feature billionaires and all their big stories that seems irrelevant to new entrepreneurs and small businesses. Vivy's journey is so relatable to me on a personal level, she did what I was too scared to do when I was 23 y.o. I highly recommend this book to whoever is just starting out a business, especially if you're into fashion.
Vivy I hope you read this post, thanks for sharing your journey. It's absolutely the best business biography that I've ever read.
Vivy I hope you read this post, thanks for sharing your journey. It's absolutely the best business biography that I've ever read.
Read
January 6, 2023i honestly love how casual the language used in this book, it felt like Vivy was talking to my face page to page. the whole book really describes the whole journey from building FV to facing the challenges of being someone well-known in the country. i love how i can read her pov as someone who always got backlash from something that wasnt 100% true, i mean all this time i mostly got to see haters pov but now i finally read her pov. it must be really hurt to have your words got twisted into something that you didnt even say.
all in all, i love reading the whole journey, if i were to become an entrepreneur, i'll be inspired. i adore your journey, the hard works, etc.
dear Vivy, i'll be waiting for your second decade book. 🤣
all in all, i love reading the whole journey, if i were to become an entrepreneur, i'll be inspired. i adore your journey, the hard works, etc.
dear Vivy, i'll be waiting for your second decade book. 🤣
February 6, 2023
Vivy’s right. This is not your typical business-autobiography-‘I’ve made it in life’ book and I loved it. Maybe I’m biased because I was a long-time blog reader of hers, and I worked for FV for a few years.. but I guess that’s what made me appreciate this a whole lot more. I had many “omg I remember this” moments while reading her recollection of store openings, business blunders, and angry customers. I’ve always loved her sense of humour so I found myself giggling throughout the book too. Another part that I love is that she also touches on faith — her relationship with God, why wearing the headscarf is so important to her, and other epiphanies during the first (turbulent) decade of her entrepreneurial journey.
June 25, 2023
This is a must read book, not typical biography book. It is funny full of joy sorrow ups and downs and all things you need to know for business and start-up. Reading it was fun and no boring, gaining much knowledge, self reflection and chapter 12 was really nice.
After reading this I start follow Vivy and Duck honestly I know nothing about her previously.
I remember when a lot of viral issues back then about her is the only things I heard about Vivy Yusof but reading this make me understand more and chapter 12 clarifies the issue which fair enough to reflect ourself regarding social media behavior
After reading this I start follow Vivy and Duck honestly I know nothing about her previously.
I remember when a lot of viral issues back then about her is the only things I heard about Vivy Yusof but reading this make me understand more and chapter 12 clarifies the issue which fair enough to reflect ourself regarding social media behavior
February 6, 2023
I've known Vivy from her blogging years. OK, it was my wife. But I've read her posts before, and I could recognize her writing style in this book.
Overall, I think it's a good autobiography, minus the real-life drama (who doesn't).
Entrepreneurship is hard. She shared it in her book. All the VC grants stories aren't all sunny and bright.
They should translate this into Bahasa (Malay), because we don't have many of these types of books that local Malaysians can relate to.
It's always about the Murdochs, the Gates, the Steves' (Jobs and Cook), etc.
Overall, I think it's a good autobiography, minus the real-life drama (who doesn't).
Entrepreneurship is hard. She shared it in her book. All the VC grants stories aren't all sunny and bright.
They should translate this into Bahasa (Malay), because we don't have many of these types of books that local Malaysians can relate to.
It's always about the Murdochs, the Gates, the Steves' (Jobs and Cook), etc.
June 9, 2023
Vivy Yusof's book is a captivating and immersive read that keeps readers captivated from start to finish. With honesty and depth, she sheds light on the realities of entrepreneurial life, offering profound insights that go beyond the glitz and glamour. Through her story, Yusof opens our eyes to the struggles and challenges she has faced, revealing the true essence of her journey. This book is a testament to her authenticity and offers valuable insights that resonate beyond the realms of fashion and lifestyle
December 23, 2022
If you enjoy reading Vivy's blog, you would enjoy this (AAAND, on top of that, you get to learn at least a few things about running a business). The book contains mostly her business journey and a bit of the emotional challenges she faced as a social media influencer (if you ask me, this was my least favourite part of the book but it was pretty short and still insightful). The reading experience was even better as a plenty of humor was included throughout the book.
February 12, 2024
I want to say that I enjoyed this book. It was written in a lovely conversational style and the author was able to bring you along for her entrepreneurial journey. A light hearted book which made me smile as I read and yet you can see that Vivy had time to reflect on some of the things that happened to her over the years. You get the sense that she is learning from every episode she faces, whether good or bad. And you can’t help rooting for her.
January 24, 2023
I love ittttt. My only complaint is the book is only200+ pages. Its not enough details and im dying to know more about her adventures running her bussiness. If u guys are looking for personal life updates you wont find it in this book, its more about her journey as an entrepreneur..which i loveeeee. Cant wait for second dacade!!!!
February 1, 2023
Breezed through the book in a day, Vivy's style of writing is really fun and engaging. I was planning to give 3 stars in the beginning where its mostly about how they start up the business but halfway through, its was very inspiring even if you are not an entrepreneur. She talks about duck, address all the controversies and opens up about her heartbreaks.
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