Episode 11: Interview with Long Au, from boat refugee to successful entrepreneur
Today's guest is my friend and client Long Au. Long's family escaped Vietnam in 1979 as boat refugees when he was just a baby. Now in his early 40's, he is a successful entrepreneur who started his business in the automotive industry in Qinhuangdao, Hebei.
Within a decade, he managed to make it his own business, owning the largest part of the shares and having 2 overseas subsidiaries set up in Poland and Mexico. After 10 years, he sold his shares, started new ventures and moved back to Canada with his family. His China adventure is still not over as he is going to start a new project again in Tianjin. Always traveling, always super alert and energetic, always focused: I am curious to learn from Long how he managed to build his business and what mentality you need to succeed.
In the interview he gives the following tips:
Work hard – which is easy when you love the work. Combine it with meeting your clients and really listen to what they need.
Seize opportunity – take the risk (like going to China) but let the business go if it does not work for you anymore (end of partnership, or max growth potential reached).
Work together with the right people – work with those people with whom you have chemistry. Regardless of language or culture barriers, you know when there is a click, when you have a good feeling about the person. Go for that feeling. If you need to end the relationship, end in good terms as you can continue to work together in the future in a different form.
Reflect on your actions – take the time to think about your decisions, your development, your goals, etc and learn from those.
Have a good life and work balance – spend time with your family where possible.
When Long ended things with his business relations, we were able to advise him and help him to end the situation in good terms and under good conditions.
Let me know what you think or if you we can help you!
