See the Future Industry Trends and Their Link to Financial Freedom: Predictions in Preventive Medicine

30 Years of Industry Trend Predictions Proven Today

In 1990, I completed my MBA thesis at NYIT. The topic was: “The Development of a Joint U.S.-Taiwan Venture to Enter the Pacific Rim Automotive Market.” It suggested that American, European, and Japanese car manufacturers should focus on collaborating with Taiwan to develop the emerging Asian automotive market. The industry trend predictions from over 30 years ago have indeed materialized today, particularly with the Chinese automotive market becoming the largest in the world. By 2024, China's electric vehicle production was oversupplying the market and facing heavy tariffs from the US and EU. Such economic market evolutions are indeed foreseeable.

Experts’ Predictions in Preventive Medicine

Imagine it's 1984, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang believes that in the next 30 years, the world will experience an AI explosion and is seeking investors. Would you see this industry trend and seize the opportunity? Many people did not believe it at the time and missed the chance. But 30 years later, in 2024, NVIDIA has surpassed Apple to become a $3 trillion AI empire! Those who missed the opportunity surely regret it.

Top economist Paul Zane Pilzer mentioned in his book "The Wellness Revolution" that by 2010, the consumer group of American baby boomers would spend on young age, anti-aging, health, and well-being, growing from $200 billion annually to $1 trillion! In other words, the American economy will see $1 trillion spent annually on health and wellness products and services, offering people healthier, more beautiful, age-delaying, or disease-preventing products and services. Industries related to this, such as medical aesthetics, gyms, sportswear, fitness equipment, weight-loss clinics, and medical insurance, have been emerging rapidly.

Trends in Taiwan’s Health and Wellness Industry

Focusing on Taiwan, we see a similar situation occurring and it will likely become more severe. The cover of Business Weekly Issue 824, titled “Overweight Taiwan,” reported that 6.99 million people in Taiwan need to lose weight! This means one in every three people is overweight! Last year, almost all of Taiwan’s top ten causes of death were related to obesity! These figures indicate whether there is a problem with medication or Taiwan's health insurance system. The real issue is related to poor dietary habits and environmental pollution. Are you or someone in your family one of those three?

During the pandemic, research reports from domestic and international experts also showed that patients with high fat rates had higher rates of severe illness or death. Statistics reveal that Taiwan’s weight-loss market exceeds 500 billion TWD! This is why large corporations, celebrities, and medical clinics are scrambling to grab a piece of the health and wellness industry pie.

Experts’ Views and Recommendations

Paul Zane Pilzer in "The Wellness Revolution" tells us that the greatest wealth of the 21st century comes from finding better ways to educate consumers and establish marketing channels.

The Secret to Financial Freedom

In 1990, after graduating with an MBA from NYIT and returning to Taiwan, I started a chain business in 1994. Throughout this journey, I experienced family business internships, domestic corporate roles, and foreign company management. After several years of work, I realized that working for a lifetime would not lead to wealth. I then discovered significant health issues among Taiwanese people. My business sense led me to observe that hospitals and temples were booming; many people either went to doctors for medication or sought spiritual help. The truth is that most health issues stem from poor dietary habits and lifestyle.

After a year of advocacy and public speaking, I created the concept of nutritious breakfasts and established five physical stores, investing in a factory as well. Our operations were good for that era, but traditional business required substantial capital and manpower investments—purchasing equipment, stocking raw materials, recruiting and training staff, production management, market development, storage, transportation, and financial turnover, all while facing competition from large corporations.

Despite the thriving business, rapid expansion led to high employee salaries, costly raw materials, and factory equipment loans, causing financial strain and resulting in lost health and family time. At a crossroads, a former foreign company colleague and a European businessman visited me. I was surprised by this young European who traveled the world and enjoyed a high quality of life. I yearned for his lifestyle and he shared with me the secret to financial freedom: "Learn to earn royalties!" I was amazed at how his business concept differed from what I had learned in my MBA and my years of experience.

From Change to Transformation: The Path to Financial Freedom

Honestly, I didn't want to be a talented poor person, and I deeply desired a future with free living. I was determined to change, no matter the cost. Seeing no future in my original chain business, I decided to start over, beginning with a change in mindset. I trusted the market trend and implemented the secret the foreigner had shared. Challenges and setbacks were numerous, but I continuously adjusted and improved, steadfastly advancing towards my goals and building an international market. Years later, I achieved time and financial freedom and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.