Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrian Lee
Adrian, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In January 2020, I will never forget my friend Jason, whom I am forever grateful to, asked me on a cloudy, cold day in front of a local bookstore: “Adrian, would you be interested in being our local badminton stringer?”
Prior to this point in time, I never dared asking myself of becoming a stringer one day because of many reasons. I never believed that I could handle this type of delicate work, especially recalling how much dedication my high school coach had to manually stringing a racket. I was also struggling mentally and financially from taking care of my father who suffered from a cardiac arrest (health issues) alone. Despite all the struggles, I also wanted to keep my other dream which this is where my main career is, alive: complete my doctoral (PhD) studies. Therefore, my mind at that time was leaning towards “No, I am not interested because of these reasons.”
When I was about to say my response to Jason, I suddenly had an epiphany or realization that my response is also a test of my mindset of whether I am willing to grow by leaving my comfort zone to reach the next level. Furthermore, I have always wanted to start my own business, but it has never happened because of my own mindset. In my mind, this question has transformed into: Adrian, do you seriously want to grow as a person?”
Eventually, I responded: ’Okay, let’s see what I can do about it. If I were to become a stringer, I needed to be even more resourceful.”
As of that day, I have officially departed into my journey as not only as a badminton stringer, but also a small business owner.
I realized that there are two things that I need to have to start: a stringing teacher and a stringing machine. Thanks to my training in problem solving from my academic studies in physics and mathematics, I knew exactly who and where I can achieve this goal. Hence, I immediately contacted a local stringer who worked at a reputable badminton store and asked whether I can learn stringing from him. As a result, not only I was able to learn the basics of stringing, and I purchased an expensive stringing machine with a leap of faith.
However, the learning curve of stringing badminton rackets was not smooth (This section will be explained in the later question in the questionnaire). Besides continue asking my stringing teacher and searching for online resources, I also carefully observed how other stringers perform their work on YouTube by pausing and taking notes on their methods and style. In practice, I also filmed myself as a reference to find out what I have been doing right and wrong using older racket models.
Before I had the confidence to serve my community, I have been practising on the fundamentals such as weaving the correct pattern with the trust of Jason and a few other players until the stringing quality is good enough. One or two months shortly, I immediately started stringing for the community as it is the best way to receive immediate and realistic feedback as well as the necessary training resources to improve my stringing skills.
Note that this journey continues in the next question about struggles.
Fast forward to the present, as my business is entering its 5th year (2025), I am grateful to Jason and to all the players who entrusted their rackets to me. Without their continuous support as well as constructive feedback. I would not have been able to continue this service. The lessons I learned as a stringer and a business owner have really opened my eyes and gained experiences which I could not learned while just staying in academia.
The mindsets that I developed in this journey as well as many other events along the way has allowed me to achieve my main dream: I am now a PhD candidate, and I have become even more stronger than before (see the next section).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Throughout this journey, I have faced numerous struggles on the business and personal side. The three main obstacles since the beginning of my stringing journey.
1) Improving Stringing Skills (at the beginning)
The average time for many professional stringers to string one badminton racket is around 20 to 30 minutes assuming no pre-weave is involved while the string’s tension is pulled with a machine. Also, stringers who string professional players’ rackets at international tournaments usually could take about 20 minutes on average. Therefore, the industry standard does take a lot of time and effort to reach without time, resources, and patience to practice.
To put it in my own perspective, the first ever racket that I strung successfully took almost four hours to string. I recall there were a lot of checking involved. For instance, checking whether the stringing pattern (the string needs to enter the correct grommet) was correct, checking whether the weaving pattern (up and down pattern) is correct. However, I could not recall the length of the strings, it ended up shorter than what it was required which restringing was required.
The next challenge was to find the most economical way to practice since once a racket is strung, I cannot simply untie the knots and redo it. Therefore, I figured that the best way to practice is to start offering the services immediately even though it would take a long time, but I can ensure I deliver the highest quality possible to my fellow players.
It took approximately two years (which includes the period when COVID happened when no one was playing because of the lock downs in Canada) after stringing 200 rackets, I was able to string one racket under 1 hour. Shortly, it took another 1 year to reach under 30 minutes. Currently, I am still improving my stringing skills as much as possible while ensuring it is with high quality as well as it is strung within a good time. As a stringer, my current goal remains reaching about the 20-minute mark while ensuring high quality.
2) Building Trust & Marketing
Building the trust of my fellow players of my stringing skills requires a long time, especially at the beginning. Firstly, the local badminton community is relatively small which means it is harder to have enough rackets to practice. Secondly, it usually takes on average two to three months for a player to break the strings on one racket. Thirdly, I had no foundation or track record to show players to entrust their rackets to me.
More details can be filled in terms of how this problem is solved in the long run as a separate question.
3) Balancing business and professional life
One of the biggest challenges is to find the best balance to continue my services while maintaining my professional/schoolwork as a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
More details will be mentioned in the next question about my professional work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Besides being a stringer, I am currently (as of 2024/2025) a PhD candidate/student (graduate student) who studies applied mathematics at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. More specifically, I am studying with a focus on using techniques in graph theory and quantum computing to studying an algorithm that investigates well known problem in computer science called the Non-Hamilton Cycle Decision Problem.
During my time as a graduate student at my university, I also worked as a teaching assistant and lab (seminar) instructor for first-year and second-year university level math courses in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. In the meantime, I was also supported by my advisor to teach a lecture for my students. My undergraduate background in theoretical physics, I also help students who struggle with their first-year physics courses in my personal time for fun besides mathematics. I also strive to become an even more valuable person by continuing to read a variety of books from business, leadership, personal development, philosophy, and science to enrich myself to become the best version of myself while achieving the highest standard possible.
I am also a seasoned public speaker who has given talks in various occasions besides my life as a graduate student. Sharing small pieces of my personal life and struggles to inspire and grow people to be the best they can be as well as inspiring them to do the same when they become stronger.
The lessons and struggles that I learned throughout my personal, business, and professional life in the past five years have helped me gained the mindset and motivation to give back to my community and grow people as a giver, leader, and entrepreneur are two of my most treasured values.
These mindsets and skills that I learned in my stringing business combining with my academic skills and knowledge have led me to heights that I have never dreamed of. But my story does not stop here as I continue to grow and continue to contribute.
More details can be provided.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have yet to visit your city! Travelling around the world has been a huge part of my life and I would love one day!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niagara_badminton_stringin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076226047443
