At the age of 31, Guan Yaowen entered TVB's 28th artist training class in 2015, alongside Zhou Jialuo and Wu Weihao. Although his career in entertainment did not flourish as smoothly as his peers', he never gave up. Continuously improving himself, he developed multiple roles beyond acting—becoming a senior stretching therapy consultant, pain treatment coach, business trainer, and motivational speaker, epitomizing the \"slash youth\" model.
Recently, Guan Yaowen announced on his IG that the fitness center he co-founded with friends is expanding. Moving from a windowless unit to a new location with unbeatable sea views, his career is thriving. Taking the opportunity, he traveled to Japan with his family, experiencing business class for the first time and joyfully exclaiming, \"It feels so good to fly in business class!\"
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Guan Yaowen shared, \"I started at 21, working as a fitness trainer to make ends meet while pursuing my acting dream at TVB.\" At 25, he invested all his savings to open his first fitness center with friends. Despite initial success, the venture was short-lived due to the pandemic and internal disputes among shareholders.
Facing unexpected challenges, he didn't give up. To protect the rights of prepaid students, Guan Yaowen and two coaches rented the cheapest unit in Kwun Tong, a small windowless space where they cut costs by personally renovating it with help from friends. \"We were really broke at the time,\" he wrote.
After two challenging years, the team moved into a unit with windows and now, after three years, they have upgraded to a new, beautiful fitness center with stunning views of Lion Rock and Victoria Harbour. Excitedly, he said, \"This is amazing! Our new center offers the best views in Kwun Tong. It will be a completely different experience for our members, and we can finally restart group classes!\"
His story has touched many friends in the industry, including Zhang Zhenlang, He Guangpei, Jiang Jiamin, Chen Ying, JW, Xu Wenhao, Li Zeen, who all left supportive messages praising his resilience.
As his career thrives, Guan Yaowen enjoys a happy family life. Two years ago, he married his girlfriend Yun Xuan, and they now have a son and a daughter. Last month, he traveled to Japan with his wife and their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, creating warm family memories. Reflecting on his journey, he realized, \"I used to believe I had to work seven days a week to succeed in life. But now, I wonder, how hard do I have to work to start enjoying life?\" His first experience flying business class marked a mindset shift influenced by friends and students who are senior executives or entrepreneurs. After trying it, he exclaimed, \"It feels so good!\"
Originally named Guan Ziyang, he faced rejection three times before finally entering the TVB training class due to being overweight. To pursue his dream, he worked as a security guard at a major fashion company earning only HK$5,000 per month, while also pursuing fitness to lose weight, self-rehabilitation exercises, and pain treatment courses. His determination paid off when he won awards at fitness competitions, inspiring others as much as a TV drama storyline.
After quietly toiling in the entertainment industry for a decade, Guan Yaowen gained recognition for roles like Hang Ji in \"The No-Nonsense Expert\" (2021), the \"Habby Tribe\" in \"Low Life of Rich Family,\" and as Fan Liuyuan and Qiu Qi in \"Come Home Love,\" becoming well-known among viewers. From overweight to fitness enthusiast, from being shut out to steady progress, he carved out his path step by step. His perseverance and transformation are not only moving but also serve as an inspiring example for many.
