The founding of SEEDINO: Establishing a swimming bond between me and my children

Looking back on the birth of SEEDINO, I often feel that it did not come from a carefully planned business plan, but rather from a chance encounter in life, a moment of inspiration as a father.

When people talk about successful brands, they often mention the meticulous market analysis, clear vision, and precise positioning behind them. The paths these brands took to establish themselves seem to have been meticulously calculated and prepared, like classic case studies performed in business school: perfect market research, accurate financial forecasting, and great resource integration... a step-by-step approach.

Hong Kong people have always valued shrewdness and efficiency; no one is willing to take risks without a sure-fire plan. A plan that won't make money will never be implemented; a bet on a lottery that can't be won will never be placed.

But is that really how life is?

I am even more convinced that the wonders of life often come from those unpredictable coincidences.

Especially in my many years of experience in business and investment, I have come to realize that many decisions and turning points are never entirely within our control. Plans often fall short of changes, and true growth often occurs in those unexpected and wonderful moments.

The story of SEEDINO is precisely such a result of "unintentional success".

My child and my growth

The story begins six months ago.

During that time, I noticed more and more parents enthusiastically sharing their parenting experiences on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), covering everything from music and academics to sports. I also started trying to manage my own account on Xiaohongshu. Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book ) is where I record my children's growth. Among them, swimming has become a brand new area that my daughters and I explore together.

To be honest, as a father who knows absolutely nothing about swimming, I was initially filled with trepidation and anticipation. My two daughters, starting from not knowing how to swim, experienced countless failures and struggles in the water. Whenever they tried their best to splash the water, I was always there on the shore, witnessing their setbacks and growth.

However, it was this perseverance that ultimately led the eldest daughter to win her first medal in an inter-school swimming competition.

This process was indeed incredibly arduous, but also incredibly worthwhile.

Along this journey, we have received countless acts of help and encouragement. Whether it's coaches, parents both online and offline, or the schools and swimming clubs that have supported us, we are deeply grateful for every bit of help. It is with this support that we have come this far.

This experience taught me one thing: as a parent, I cannot pave a smooth road to success for my children. What I can do is teach them how to persevere in the face of difficulties, how to find courage in setbacks, and how to start again.

Family responsibility and the pursuit of dreams

This reminds me of the movie Interstellar, a science fiction film about the deep bond between a father and daughter, and how dreams and love intertwine.

The father in the story, Cooper, faces a difficult life choice: should he stay at home and be a good father, or follow his lifelong dream and explore the vast universe?

Before his daughter Murphy was born, Cooper longed to become a space explorer. His heart was constantly torn between "family responsibility" and "pursuing his dream," and this inner conflict runs through the core of the entire story.

Two scenes in the film are particularly memorable: when Cooper decides to leave his daughter, resolutely walks to his car, and drives off into the unknown without looking back; and when the rocket launches, the countdown echoes through the sky, symbolizing his struggle with the meaning of existence and the conflict of his choices. This conflict is not unique to Cooper, but a test that we all face sooner or later in life: how do we choose between dreams and companionship?

What truly constitutes a meaningful life?

The most moving scene for me in the movie was when Cooper was watching video messages from Earth in the spaceship.

He watched his daughter Murphy grow up, from a little girl to middle age, while he, due to time distortion and the effects of gravity, remained stuck in his own timeline. Murphy was now older than Cooper, and as her father, he had missed the most important days of her life, the times when she needed his presence. At that moment, Cooper could only weep uncontrollably.

It wasn't until that moment that Cooper truly understood the heavy price he had paid to pursue his dream. What he had missed was not only his daughter's growth, but also every moment of life he had shared with her.

This scene made me think deeply.

For adults, is the success we've always thought of, such as achieving our dreams or reaching a certain peak in life, really success?

The scale of time is ruthless and cruel. In the endless river of time, how important are those "achievements" that we think we have?

Or perhaps we need to look back and examine whether the most precious thing in life is actually companionship and love?

The movie tells us a cruel truth: time cannot be turned back!

In the blink of an eye, 50 years may have passed quietly. When we finally stop, will we find that all that remains between us and our children is emptiness and regret? What have the dreams we pursued brought to us and our families? At least this makes me realize that accompanying our children as they grow up may be the most irreplaceable value in life.

This is the biggest regret in the movie, and it is also the love and companionship that we should all cherish.

Nothing is more meaningful than growing up alongside your child. Simply demanding progress from your child versus choosing to progress alongside them reflects drastically different values ​​and educational attitudes.

The Birth of an Inspiration

One day, my little daughter came up with a few drawings of little figures she had made herself and innocently asked me, "Daddy, can you print these designs on my swimsuit?"

This question immediately put me into deep thought.

why not?

Why not design a training swimsuit exclusively for them, so that they can wear their own creation while training and feel more accomplished and proud?

This idea excites me immensely!

I started designing exclusive training swimsuits for my daughters, not just to fulfill their wishes, but also to let them feel confident, to feel the power of their own creations, and to feel the spirit of perseverance in the process.

This training swimsuit is more than just clothing; it symbolizes the connection between us, like a bridge, a symbol, embodying our shared efforts and perseverance.

More importantly, it made me rethink the true meaning of education: the essence of education is not just the transmission of knowledge, but also the power of role models, and silent companionship and support.

The belief to persevere

I once wrote an article on Xiaohongshu about the story of Hong Kong swimmer Ho Sze-pui over several decades. She started swimming at the age of 10 and, after 20 years of unremitting efforts, finally reached the stage of a world champion.

Look at this! Geniuses are rare and hard to come by. Even a swimming prodigy like He Shibei took 20 years to become a world champion. This proves that swimming is a sport that requires long-term dedication.

Those who can swim must be willing to swim, and those who are willing to swim must be able to swim to the destination.

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I firmly believe that swimming not only provides children with physical exercise, but also tests their will and perseverance.

My two daughters are not geniuses; they are even more ordinary than the average person. They did not become extraordinary overnight; every bit of progress they made was the result of repeated efforts and perseverance.

From finishing in the teens at the beginning of the competition to finally standing on the podium, the process was incredibly real and incredibly precious.

Sometimes, they feel tired during training and even want to give up. But whenever that happens, I always tell them, "Hang in there a little longer, try a little harder." I believe that many successes in life are accumulated through such "just a little longer" moments.

Watching them strive so hard, I couldn't help but wonder: "Should I challenge myself alongside them and grow together?"

Perhaps I should be their role model, showing them what true perseverance is through my actions. From then on, my daughters persevered in their training in the water, while I devoted myself to creating art, learning alongside them from scratch, designing various unique training swimsuits for them, so they could wear their own creations in the water.

Growth and creation, love and perseverance

And so, SEEDINO was born. The brand name (pronounced: seed-in-no) is a combination of "seed" and "innovation," symbolizing growth and creation. This is not just a product; it carries my love and expectations for my child, and it also embodies the story of each family growing together.

Every SEEDINO product carries a profound educational meaning – a symbol of perseverance and hard work.

As another father, a member of the school's swimming team, shared with me, SEEDINO evokes the words "Seed" and "Dino," which he feels symbolizes the hope that one's son will succeed. Therefore, SEEDINO has a different positive interpretation in each person's mind, and I'm happy to share that sentiment.

I hope that every child who wears SEEDINO products conveys this belief: "As long as you persevere, your dreams are not out of reach."

As parents, we cannot control every step of our children's growth, but we can accompany them, encourage them, and be an inextinguishable light when they need us.

SEEDINO is not just an ordinary brand or product; it is the continuation of my love for my daughters and a testament to every drop of sweat and every effort they have made in their growth.

The chance encounters in life often become the inevitable steps in our growth. Thank you to every parent and child who has accompanied us; thank you for your support and trust.

That's all for today's sharing. Feel free to email me with any questions or comments.

Please don't pity the love and care you have for the child.
Thank you!
I love you~

Father of two daughters
Benice Cheung