From Refugee To CEO: 5 Hard-Earned Skills That Helped Me Succeed
Behind every business is a story, and mine started long before I ever opened an education center.
When I escaped communist Vietnam and arrived in Canada as a refugee, I didn't speak the language and had very little to my name. What I did have was a fierce determination to rebuild. I put myself through school, moved to the United States, became a teacher and eventually built a national education franchise.
The journey came with a lot of twists and turns and taught me more than just how to grow a business—it taught me how to lead one. Success isn't just about having the right idea at the right time. It's about developing the mindset, skills and habits that carry you through the uncertainty that comes with every stage of growth.
Here are five hard-earned skills that shaped my journey from refugee to CEO—skills I often share with other entrepreneurs working to build a company grounded in purpose and growth.
1. Grit And Resilience: Keep Going, Especially When It's Hard
I wish I could tell you there's a stress-free path to success. There isn't.
You will be underestimated. You will frequently feel stretched thin. You'll need to find harmony between work and the other integral parts of your life. You'll face moments of self-doubt. Entrepreneurship, while a rewarding career path, is certainly not an easy one.
What enables entrepreneurs to build something lasting is the ability to keep moving forward when things get uncomfortable or uncertain.
Grit is about persistence, but resilience is about how you recover when something doesn't go as planned. I didn't get here because I avoided hard things—I got here because I faced them, got knocked down and kept showing up. Resilience is built every time you choose to keep going when quitting would be easier.
2. Vision With Execution: Don't Just Dream—Deliver
It's easy to get excited about the big picture. Entrepreneurs are full of ideas. But vision execution is where the real work begins.
The entrepreneurs I admire most are the ones who can see where they're going and also put a plan in place to get there. They don't just talk about growth—they map it, test it, revise it and make it real.
At my company, our growth wasn't accidental. It came from defining our 'why,' putting systems in place and ensuring our teams knew how to translate our vision into results, center by center and student by student, to achieve a collective win. If you're seeking sustainable growth, start with a clear vision and the operational discipline to carry it forward.
3. Connection-Centered Networking: Lead With Value, Grow With Others
In the early days of growing my business, I made it a point to show up to conferences, local events and networking groups—anywhere I could learn and connect. But I wasn't there just to hand out business cards or gain a referral. I came to ask good questions, offer insight where I could and build relationships that mattered.
The best networkers I know are subject matter experts who lead with generosity. They don't just ask, 'What can I get?' They ask, 'What can I offer?'
When you build relationships based on trust and shared values, referrals happen naturally. Those same relationships often lead to mentorships and meaningful peer accountability. Opportunities open up because people know you're showing up with intention, not ego.
4. Humble Leadership: Lead By Listening
One of the most underrated skills in entrepreneurship is humility. The moment someone assumes they know it all, growth stalls, especially when they become daunted by others who know more instead of learning from them. When I've been open to listening to other leaders, I've gained insights I might never have uncovered on my own.
Some of the best ideas we've implemented at Best in Class came from team members, franchisees and parents who saw something I didn't. Being the CEO doesn't mean I'm always right; it means I'm always responsible for building a better company for those we serve.
When we lead with vulnerability, invite honest feedback and create space for others to shine, we foster a culture of growth and success. This kind of leadership is foundational to a team that's engaged, resilient and rooted in shared values.
5. Accountability With Optimism: Know Where You're Headed, And Keep Believing It's Possible
Entrepreneurship is full of detours and unknowns. But as I discussed in my previous article, if you're clear about your defined goals, you can course-correct without losing momentum.
Setting SMART goals and reviewing them regularly—with mentors, my team and myself—has been instrumental in ensuring that my steps toward growth are intentional and never left to chance. At regular intervals, I ask myself, 'Am I moving toward the outcome I want or away from it?'
But alongside structure, you need optimism. Optimism isn't blind positivity but a grounded belief that your work matters and that growth is possible, even in tough times like economic uncertainty or the kind of disruption we all experienced during the pandemic. An optimistic mindset doesn't just inspire, it sustains. It keeps you moving forward, even when everything else tells you to stop.
Leadership Is Earned And Always In Progress
I didn't set out to become a CEO; I set out to survive. But in the process, I discovered that the same inner drive that helped me rebuild my life could help me build something meaningful for others.
Success doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen alone. It comes from cultivating the right habits, owning your story and growing through every challenge you face.
Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling your next one, focus on the skills that stand the test of time: grit, vision, connection, humility and accountability. These are more than traits—they're tools. And when you use them with intention, you'll create more than a business. You'll build a legacy.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Returns At Success Transformer Corporation Berhad (KLSE:SUCCESS) Appear To Be Weighed Down
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Success Transformer Corporation Berhad (KLSE:SUCCESS) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Success Transformer Corporation Berhad is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.052 = RM22m ÷ (RM453m - RM32m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2025). Thus, Success Transformer Corporation Berhad has an ROCE of 5.2%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Electrical industry average of 11%. Check out our latest analysis for Success Transformer Corporation Berhad While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you'd like to look at how Success Transformer Corporation Berhad has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of Success Transformer Corporation Berhad's past earnings, revenue and cash flow. How Are Returns Trending? In terms of Success Transformer Corporation Berhad's historical ROCE trend, it doesn't exactly demand attention. Over the past five years, ROCE has remained relatively flat at around 5.2% and the business has deployed 23% more capital into its operations. Given the company has increased the amount of capital employed, it appears the investments that have been made simply don't provide a high return on capital. The Bottom Line As we've seen above, Success Transformer Corporation Berhad's returns on capital haven't increased but it is reinvesting in the business. Unsurprisingly, the stock has only gained 29% over the last five years, which potentially indicates that investors are accounting for this going forward. Therefore, if you're looking for a multi-bagger, we'd propose looking at other options. Success Transformer Corporation Berhad does have some risks though, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Success Transformer Corporation Berhad that you might be interested in. While Success Transformer Corporation Berhad isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Subdued dollar firms after ECB leaves rates alone; tariffs and Fed in focus
By Alden Bentley and Stefano Rebaudo (Reuters) -The dollar traded sideways versus the euro on Thursday after the European Central Bank held rates steady, and was confined to a tight range against the yen as prospects for higher Japanese rates offset worries about political risk after Sunday's elections. The greenback showed fractional gains late in a subdued U.S. session, with investors girding for a busy news flow next week. The European Central Bank left its policy rate at 2%, as expected, on Thursday, taking a break after a year of policy easing to wait for clarity over Europe's future trade relations with the United States. "The view that the ECB is probably on hold here is probably gaining a bit more traction. We've trimmed expectations for the cuts in September to certainly less than 50/50," said Shaun Osborne, chief foreign exchange strategist at Scotiabank in Toronto. The Japanese central bank's deputy governor, Shinichi Uchida, said Tuesday's trade deal with Washington had reduced economic uncertainty, comments that fuelled optimism in the market about the potential resumption of interest rate hikes. Analysts believe the yen will face persistent headwinds after Sunday's upper house election, with the opposition considering a no-confidence motion. The European Union is nearing a deal that would impose a broad 15% tariff on EU goods, diplomats said. The rate, which could also extend to cars, would mirror the framework agreement the United States struck with Japan. "The ECB faces a challenge that is quantitatively different from the BoJ's," said Thierry Wizman, global forex and rates strategist at Macquarie Group. "The euro has appreciated by far more than the JPY so far in 2025, meaning that the disinflationary impulse from U.S. import tariffs may be greater in the EU than in Japan, or the ECB may suspect as much," he added. PMI data showed fragility in France following budget-cut proposals there, but also resilience in Germany and other parts of the euro zone. Data showed that German business activity continued to grow marginally in July. "As of now, there has been very little tariff impact on the hard data," said Mohit Kumar, economist at Jefferies. ECONOMIC FALLOUT Meanwhile, risk assets rallied as the trade deals eased fears over the economic fallout of a global trade war. Next week the Federal Open Market Committee meets and is expected to leave rates where they are as policy makers wait for the expected impact from tariffs on inflation and growth to show up. Traders are now pricing in a 60% chance of a quarter point September rate cut, according to CME's FedWatch tool. A number of U.S. employment releases next week culminate with Friday's big June payrolls report, while the July Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index and the first revision to 2nd quarter Gross Domestic Product could also move markets. "A lot of event risk next week and not just from the Fed, we've got a lot of data next week as well, so that's probably going to shape expectations to some extent for September," Osborne said. The euro was last off 0.03% $1.1766, near the $1.1830 high from earlier this month, which marked its strongest level in more than three years. Against the yen, the dollar was 0.27% firmer at 146.88, having hit a two-week low earlier in the session at 145.86. Olivier Korber, forex strategist at Societe Generale, expects the yen to strengthen further, citing support from the trade deal and prospects for higher interest rates. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba denied on Wednesday he had decided to quit after a source and media reports said he planned to announce his resignation to take responsibility for a bruising upper house election defeat. Currencies mostly shrugged off news that U.S. President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, will visit the central bank on Thursday, a surprise move that escalates tensions between the administration and the Fed. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six currencies including the euro and yen, rose 0.17% to 97.36. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin rose 1.17% to $119,376.30. Ethereum rose 4.62% to $3,735.62. Sign in to access your portfolio
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Analysis: Trump lands another big win with EU trade deal, but he can't dodge the Epstein saga
Donald Trump European Union Tariffs FacebookTweetLink President Donald Trump claimed another win for his campaign to transform the global economy and American life, but he still can't escape intensifying questions over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein controversy. The United States clinched a framework deal with the European Union on Sunday that averted a damaging trade war. Trump believes such moves will revive US manufacturing. But the resulting 15% tariff on EU goods entering the US likely means American consumers will face higher prices in the long term. This is a significant step. So Trump's insistence that it was not simply a bid to distract from the Epstein saga is reasonable. 'Oh, you have got to be kidding with that,' the angry president told a reporter. But his irritation underscored his failure to shrug off weeks of revelations about the case and his own past friendship with the accused sex trafficker, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial. Mystery surrounds the administration's motives after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, met last week with Epstein's imprisoned accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Her lawyer implied that Maxwell was open to a presidential pardon. Trump's record of using such power for political purposes has critics warning he may be seeking a deal that would politicize justice. The storm back home isn't abating. Two lawmakers, one Democrat and the other Republican, vowed Sunday to force a vote on the House floor on the release of Epstein case files. Such a vote could embarrass the administration and create a major political showdown. This came on a typically frenetic weekend that Trump spent in Scotland and that served as a metaphor for his turbulent influence on America and the globe. He juggled the highest-level diplomacy — talks with the EU's top official, Ursula von der Leyen — with a trip promoting his business empire, in this case his portfolio of exclusive Scottish golf clubs. His visit was greeted with street protests by caustic Scots and featured outbursts of extreme rhetoric — including his social media call for the prosecution of former Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump will come face-to-face Monday with pressure to force Israel to do more to mitigate a growing famine in Gaza. He'll see British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry resort in southwest Scotland before traveling with Starmer to Aberdeenshire, where Trump will inaugurate a new course at another club. Starmer last week said of the crisis in Gaza that 'we are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe.' Much is unknown about the scope of the trade deal with the EU, which will see a 15% tariff imposed on most of the bloc's exports and billions of dollars in purchases of US energy. But it extends a winning streak and a record of implementing campaign promises for a president who is imposing personal power and often idiosyncratic beliefs — for instance in the effectiveness of trade tariffs — on the US and the world. 'This was the big one. This is the biggest of them all,' Trump said Sunday after meeting von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. Von der Leyen followed the accepted wisdom that praising Trump personally can provide political payoffs. 'He is a tough negotiator, but he is also a dealmaker,' she said. Trump has recently announced framework deals on trade with Japan and the Philippines — which both include higher tariffs that represent a fracturing of the 21st-century global free-trade arrangements. Trump believes that this system, which helped make the US a dominant global power, is nevertheless unfair on American workers and industries. And he rejects economists' arguments that raising tariffs increases prices for already-stretched US consumers. Trump is flexing power everywhere. He is gutting the federal government, dominating Congress, and exerting unprecedented pressure on law firms and universities to impose his right-wing ideology, all while seeking to intimidate media outlets. These are wins for his populist 'Make America Great Again' movement and its program to buckle what supporters see as liberal power. But as with Trump's outlier belief in tariffs, the long-term impacts that his actions could have on American society, the economy and democracy are alarming critics. Trump has politicized the legal system; his government funding cuts have hampered vital scientific research on critical subjects such as cancer; and his expanding of presidential power often tests the Constitution. Still, markets may welcome the EU trade deal framework, assuming it is fully implemented — hardly a given considering Trump's volatile history of threats and reversals. An EU-US trade war would have been a far worse outcome. But the agreement confirms suspicions that Trump's goal is not fairer trade but higher tariffs. Although existing tariffs have so far not harmed the economy as much as some experts feared, Americans will pay more for cars, food, luxuries and consumer goods. The inflationary impact on the economy, and Trump's likely appointment next year of a new Federal Reserve chair who will lower interest rates, could mean greater economic threats to come. There's also an important geopolitical aspect to the EU trade deal. The Europeans committed to buying $880 billion of energy from the US. This could make America's NATO allies less vulnerable to pressure from Russia at a time when the Western alliance is opposing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. 'We still have too much Russian LNG (liquid natural gas) that is coming through the back door again to our European Union, and some Russian gas and oil still in the European Union, which we do not want anymore,' von der Leyen said. Trump's frustration that a key political achievement has been overshadowed by the Epstein saga is unlikely to dissipate in the coming days. The controversy started because of conspiracy theories among Trump's base that claimed the disgraced financier did not take his own life in prison but was murdered, and that he left behind a client list of rich and powerful Americans who'd taken advantage of his alleged sex trafficking. These claims were promoted by Trump and allies including Pam Bondi and Kash Patel. When all three assumed positions of great power (Bondi is attorney general, and Patel is FBI director), their failure to release the files as promised caused a rupture in Trump's MAGA base, which the administration has failed thus far to repair. The political uproar explains why Blanche's meeting with Maxwell last week caused such consternation. Maxwell's lawyer told reporters after her second day of meetings with Blanche in Tallahassee, Florida, that she had answered every question truthfully and honestly. He also noted that the president has the power to pardon those convicted of crimes. 'We hope he exercises that power in a right and just way,' the attorney, David Oscar Markus, said Friday. Blanche has so far not offered a detailed public account of the meetings. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Trump in his relationship with Epstein, and the president appears to have severed the friendship long before the accused sex trafficker was charged with federal crimes. But the Justice Department's unorthodox approach is raising concerns that it goes beyond a public relations effort to convince MAGA voters the administration is doing something. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison term, has an incentive for providing information that could ease her situation — and Trump has the power to do so. Questions over the president's motives became even more important when CNN and other outlets reported last week that Trump's name was mentioned in the Epstein files, along with those of some other prominent Americans. This does not mean that he or anyone else is guilty of wrongdoing. In fact, Bondi might have made the correct decision legally in refusing to release information that could harm the reputation of people not accused of crimes. But beyond a joint Justice Department and FBI statement on the rationale for not releasing the files, the administration has rarely attempted to justify a policy that has put it at odds with its own supporters in the MAGA movement. 'I'm concerned that the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, is meeting with (Maxwell) supposedly one-on-one,' Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California said on NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday. 'Look, I agree … that she should testify. But she's been indicted twice on perjury. This is why we need the files.' Republican leaders hoped the case might simply disappear over the summer recess. But Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, a co-sponsor with Khanna of a House bill demanding the release of the files, isn't giving up. 'This is going to hurt Republicans in the midterms. The voters will be apathetic if we don't hold the rich and powerful accountable,' Massie said on NBC. 'I think when we get back, we can get the signatures required to force this to the floor.' The Trump administration has asked the courts to release grand jury testimony pertinent to the Epstein case. But one federal judge refused last week, in a ruling that may have given the DOJ political cover. 'We want them to release the files. However, we can't make them release it because of separation of power,' Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin told Jake Tapper on CNN's 'State of the Union.' That may be the case. But grand jury testimony is believed to be only a fraction of the evidence against Epstein that the government holds — and hasn't made public. And the entire controversy has been worsened by the administration's clumsy approach and unwillingness to confront the anger of the MAGA base. 'I think that part of this problem is that there were some false expectations that are created, and that's a political mistake,' Missouri Republican Rep. Eric Burlison told CNN's Manu Raju.
