A YEAR IN THE MAKING

ONE YEAR

TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE CLASSES

THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO STUDENTS

ENDLESS FRIENDSHIPS

October 6th, 2023 marks the day when Little Miss Mahjong went live. That was the day I had published my website. Until that time, I had been teaching mahjong for a while, but more low-key. It wasn't until I saw my name on Google that I thought of myself as official.  So I suppose I am celebrating an anniversary!

I learned to play mahjong years earlier, and very roughly I might add, and immediately took to the game. I played weekly with friends, daily online and nightly with my family after dinner. Yes I know, I was in need of an intervention.

When I decided to make teaching mahjong a side hustle, I did not have the ease as many do in the US right now, where the game is exploding. I had to do the dirty work. I called many community centers, libraries, schools, and senior centers to try to pitch mahjong lessons to their establishments. Of course, the first thing I was confronted with was, ‘What's mahjong?’  Every phone call was a painstaking deep dive into explaining a bit about the game's history, the mechanics of the game, and convincing them how it could benefit their members. I think my excitement was obvious as I planted tiny seeds around the city. Every one of them said that they would bring it to their committee and get back to me.

Months later, my seeds began to sprout, and I started to hear back from several places. They said they'd give me a shot. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. So, I perfected my lesson plan, got my sets ready and printed out handouts before heading off to teach a game that no one had ever heard of. Each class filled up within minutes with up to 16 eager students. Staff were telling me that they had never seen a class fill up so quickly before. I guess people were excited to get out of the house and embark on a new adventure. I was thrilled that my idea was taking off and I was eager to spread my love of this game with others. I am sure you are not surprised to read that the game gained popularity, and I was asked back to teach at every new season when courses were being offered.

Aside from all the community classes, I began teaching a lot of private lessons, both in my home and in others’. My calendar was filling up quickly. Still, I worked diligently at trying to sell an idea that was almost unheard of.

 As my wee little business grew, I added some more fun to the pot.  My monthly mahjong soirees, with up to 24 players in my home were a huge hit as it provided my students an opportunity to practice their skills in a safe space and meet other like-minded players. Even though, for me it meant moving all of my furniture out of the living room to make space for the mahjongg tables. Thank G-d for the support of my family, who not only encouraged me, but lifted heavy sofas each and every month. Additional classes, such as supervised play and strategy classes were added to the repertoire to accommodate the growing demand.  Many themed parties were celebrated. I held a social tournament last spring and I'm holding a second one next month for 60 players. I am still in awe with every ping that comes in to my phone indicating that someone has signed up for something.

My ultimate goal was, and still is to build a community of mahjong players, not an empire. Contrary to what we see on Instagram right now with several female mahjong entrepreneurs having thousands of followers, that is not my intention. Don’t get me wrong, I am very impressed and in awe of their success, it just isn’t my dream.  I am more of a face-to-face kind of girl; I enjoy the human connection.  I know each one of my student’s names, I know many of their families, I have befriended many of them on a very personal level and am even taking a month-long vacation with two of them. Crazy, I know.

To add to an already crazy schedule, I joined the ranks of collector for the NMJL card and sold their card, raising $658 for the Make a Wish Foundation. I was invited to be a group expert on the largest mahjong Facebook page. I was asked to beta test a new mahjong course. I assisted with the development of a new online mahjong platform. I was invited to teach at the only online mahjong school. I was invited to share my love of mahjong at a weekend wellness retreat and speak at several community centers. I also provided guidance to a few mahjong retailers with helping them perfect their product. It was no small task. Not to mention, a couple of newspaper write-ups and a guest spot on the local news.  It's been a busy year. Did I mention I have another job?

The list of all the incredible people I have met along the way who have supported me, guided me, and believed in me is endless. And it continues to give me strength to move forward, even if I am exhausted. Lol. I, myself have supported other small women-owned mahjong businesses knowing that each one of them has a similar dream to mine.

Where will I be in another year? We shall see. But I promise you that no matter the numbers that increase, I will continue to enjoy every connection I make along the way, continue to nurture those connections and treat every one of them with the importance they deserve.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for being a part of it. And to those who have been by my side through thick and thin, and who have been my biggest supporters (you know who you are), I cherish you.