Welcome to VAYA's Official Blog. This exciting new blog provides an opportunity for VAYA to engage in a dialogue with our members, the community, and those interested in our organization. This blog will feature commentary and observations from VAYA Executive Board Members, contributions by VAYA Staff and members, as well as approved guest bloggers from outside of VAYA. This blog will only be a true community if you participate, so please send your thoughts to eboard@vayasd.org. Please be respectful and considerate when posting comments and thoughts. All comments will be reviewed and approved prior to publication. Thank you for visiting this blog!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

My Entrepreneurial Life - The Death

The story I am about to tell will probably relate to you in one way or the other.

"If someone told you they do not have a dream, they are lying"

When I was in high school I had always dreamed of running a business. Everyone has a dream. This was my dream. I had tried to start a few from high school to college that only got me a buck or two on the side. In college I rubbed shoulders with people that were soaring high. Business owners with mansions, pent houses, Ferrari and Lamborghinis. Some of them were in their late 20s. Some who bought new cars every other month like money ain't a thang. This was my motivation to push myself harder.

May 2005 - Graduation

"Sometimes you feel like school was in the way of something better"

I had recently graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Arts and Sciences Art (graphic design in short). I was excited to finish school. Towards the end of school I felt as if school was in the way of me making it big. It was two weeks after I had walked when I got a phone call from an old friend to meet on starting a new business. I was called upon because I had web development skills and matched a position in the business plan. The business I helped created was internet marketing for mortgage brokers.

Start of a new challenge

"Have you ever been in a situation where you thought back a month prior and would never thought you would ever be there?"

This was the beginning of the largest challenge of my life. The business sprinted and started within its first month. We had a 1800sq ft office space with 15 employees over the summer of 2005. We had recruited some of the best salesmen from top companies to work for us. They saw our product and was very enthusiastic about it. I was the Chief Operating Officer overlooking the business. Everything felt great.

It was about a year into the business and we had around 200 clients across the nation each paying us a monthly fee. We had residual income. Our phones were ringing off the hook. I started working 10-16 hour days staggered. Sometimes I would not sleep. We were making our competitors look bad. Clients were switching over to our business. Everything was all good in the hood. It felt good to build something from ground up and see it soar.I had flash backs of hanging out at mansions with nice cars. I had a feeling I was going to be there. I was constantly eating at nice restaurants. I started drinking wine a lot. Actually, this was the start of my wine drinking. I wanted to be classy and fancy with everything I had gained.

Mo money mo problems

But with a steady flow of income and sales every month, things started getting hairy. It seemed as if the more money we made the more trouble we run into. Every dollar that came in was tagged with trouble. It was then that every dollar I helped the company earned went out the door.

I had dealt with law suits from bigger companies trying to stop us from rising in the market. Their tactic was to put us through a lawsuit and try to bleed us out until we had no money left to fight. I had dealt with clients making threats to the business. Some of these clients had a lot of money and a lot of time on their hands. I had dealt with employees stealing from within and taking our business away. Employees who causes emotional stress to other employees to make a stand.

Stress relieversIn 2006, I joined the Vietnamese American Youth Alliance. I needed a break from all the stress i was going through. I met new friends and volunteering helped get my mind off of business. I wanted to change the swing of things and started getting more involved with them. I had dedicated too much of my time working and I needed to get out. They kept me sane.

Image is deceiving

"What you see isn't what you get"

When I was out hanging with my friends and meeting new people they thought I had it all good and gravy. Only those who were really close to me knew what I was going through. It was the image I presented that hid everything else. They saw me in my Mercedes and tagged me as successful. My Mercedes was part of the business marketing plan. Some would ask me why I drive an expensive car.

I said to them, "Would you rather work for someone driving a bucket or someone driving a Mercedes?"

If I wasn't running the business I wouldn't have bought such an expensive car. I would probably still be driving my civic hatchback, the $3k car that got me from point A to point B twice as less money in gas than what I have now.

The collapse of the mortgage industry

Our business's income was from mortgage brokers. No mortgage brokers no money. These guys knew how to sell loans and didn't know how to market themselves on the internet. That was what we were for.It was the beginning of 2007

"How does it feel to have someone you know leave and take advantage of what they know about you and take away what you have built?"

We saw the beginning of the end. Not only was I dealing with business getting taken away from competitors (who use to work for me), I was also dealing with mortgage brokers who went out of business. My business partner had recently gotten married and had a baby coming. He had his plate full.

Money was going out the door. I saw nothing but bills. IP phones, fax lines and internet $600+, insurance $400, rent $3500, loans, servers etc. Cost of running the business was more than $12,000 a month. It was like a ship trying to make it to land but was struck by a cannon ball with gas leaking.

The ship was sinking. On the outside. I looked like I was steering it as if I had just bought it.

"Have you ever looked at someone smiling and was curious if that smile was hiding how they truly feel?"

The dream of making it big was turning bleak. I thought back about all those people I ran into in high places. I would wonder what the other side of the image they presented was like.

It was towards the end of summer 2007. I was struggling.

"The guy behind the McDonald counter was better off than I was"

I had to jump ships. I landed a new job at the beginning September of 2007 right away. I had a job as a 3D graphics designer. I was titled as a "Senior Interactive Designer". I had worked there for almost a year. During the time there it felt like a huge break from everything I was going through.

I was rebuilding myself both mentally and financially

I had carried my entrepreneurial mindset over to the new company. I had downgraded to just a regular employee with a huge leadership aurora. The leadership was a bit disoriented from the transition of the two different environments. Sometimes I felt that the employees there didn't like it. I had to change. I had to blend into the new environment. It is not the same anymore.

Almost a year later, August 2008, I got laid off along with 25% of the work force at that company.

Collecting unemployment

"This is where I am today"

My past came knocking on the door this morning

I am still untangling myself from the business I once ran. It still gets to me here and there. But I try not worry about what I can't control and look on the brighter side.

I think back

You are working so hard you leave out the more important things

What if you just disappear the next day. You are building this huge mansion on your hands and knees so you can be better than your neighbor. Maybe it's to feel good about yourself. Maybe you want to show off your hard work.

"What if one day it all went away?"

What if one day a hurricane knocks it all away. You were too busy building and had no time to enjoy life with your friends, family, and loved ones. Your neighbor was better off than you. Your neighbor's house was decent size and completed long ago. Your neighbor was enjoying his life while you were still building.

The dream I was living towards had its flip side. I was taking in more stress over enjoyment. I was working so hard I didn't socialize and enjoy life as much. Right now I'm on a huge vacation.

This life is too short. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from chasing their dreams. I didn't regret the experience I had. I am just telling you my story.

About the Author: Dang Tran serves as the Webmaster for VAYA.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Dear Members and Supporters,

As November dwindles down, we at VAYA are working hard in full preparation for our 2009 Tet Festival just months away. If you would like to help out and/or join a Tet committee, it is NEVER too late. Feel free to contact me or come to our weekly meetings and get involved. We are ALWAYS looking for new talents and fresh ideas.

As previously mentioned, the month of November will be an extremely busy month for many high school seniors as they apply for college. As most of us in VAYA are either current college students or college graduates, we are glad to assist those who need help with their college application(s) (which includes college application to UCs, CSUs, and various San Diego Community Colleges). Details about this opportunity can be found under the "VAYA Announcements & Other Information" section.

Please save the date for Sunday November 23, 2008. VAYA will be hosting our annual Thanksgiving "Potluck" Dinner that day and we would like for you to join us. Details about our "Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner" can be found under the "Upcoming VAYA Meetings & Events" section.

On behalf of VAYA's Executive Board and Staff, thank you for your continual support. Have a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

About the Author: Anthony (Vinh) T. Nguyen serves as Secretary for VAYA.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

A Letter from VAYA's 2008 Miss Vietnam of San Diego

This past summer I have had the opportunity to board the USNS Mercy to participate in a multi partner nations humanitarian mission in Southeast Asia. Vietnam was one of the destinations. For the first time in 12 years, I came back not only to visit my homeland but also with a meaningful purpose and that was to provide health care to the underserved Vietnamese. Along with the Navy personnel, I also welcomed the opportunity to work with Operation Smile International, Project HOPE, International Medical Relief Team, and doctors from all over the world.

Despite the fact that Vietnam is one of the fastest growing countries in Asia for the past decade, it is undoubtedly still one of the poorest in the world. The Vietnamese deserve and are in desperate needs of basic healthcare especially those in the suburban areas. Being born and raised in Vietnam until 9 years old, I was proud to be back and help the people in my country. What else connects healthcare providers with their patients better than words of encouragement and compassion? It is exactly what I did in Vietnam. My job as a translator in Vietnam proved to be extremely helpful as I was able to break the language barrier between doctors and patients. Being able to speak the language allowed me to have better interactions with the patients. Many Vietnamese though receiving healthcare for free, are nevertheless afraid of the sophisticated machines and the technology that the US Navy is providing. I made sure the patient understands their conditions as well as their options before they opt for surgery. Communication was imperative for this mission because without effective communication between patients and doctors, the mission would not have been as successful. Being able to communicate in the same language, I got the chance to meet people who touched my heart deeply.

When I was at Dien Son clinic, bac Sau, an 88 years old woman whom had lost one eye to cataract, came in with a broken pair of glasses tied together by a string. The glasses were badly broken in the middle with yellow stained on the rims. Bac Sau was a nice and mellow lady and was so poor that she could not even afford a pair of sandals. I liked her instantly because she reminded me of my dear grand mother whom I had the chance to visit a few days earlier before the mission started. The daughter took her to the clinic hoping to get a pair of glasses so her mother can see better. After the exam, the optometrist gave the proper prescription and despite needing this new pair of glasses more than anyone, Bac Sau declined with a simple explanation, "My daughter has been asking me to come and get new glasses for free even after I repeatedly declined. I know it's almost my time, please save it for someone else who needs more than I do. I've been using this broken pair of glasses for the past 10 years, so it makes no difference whether it's broken or not." I stood there feeling heartbroken as tears swelled up in my eyes. I began to realize how lucky we are to be living in the United States. Basic healthcares some of which are taken for granted such as removing a decayed tooth, glasses, medicines... are a luxury for these poor people.

I left Vietnam with a promise to myself to come back on more humanitarian missions in the future not only as a translator but a dentist as well.

Having gone to Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia, I choose to focus on Vietnam because I felt it made the greatest impact on me in terms of patients' interactions and also my role in Vietnam as a translator was unique. My responsibility in each country was different whether it's renovating schools and hospital in Micronesia, and putting fluoride varnish on the Timorese children in Baucau, assisting in extracting root tips in betel nuts land (PNG). I personally learned they all had one thing in common and that was just lending a hand to a stranger in need of help halfway across the world is very satisfying and rewarding.

Overall, the ship provided health care for over 90,000 patients, 1,600 surgeries, 14,500 dental works, in a five months long mission in 5 different countries. However, this once-in-a-life time experience would not have been possible without my family, U.S. Navy, UCSD Pre-Dental Society, and Miss Vietnam of San Diego hosted by VAYA. During last year's Miss Vietnam of San Diego, part of the top 5 question asked, "What would you do after you win the pageant?" I will be joining the US Navy on a humanitarian mission this summer in Southeast Asia and will be providing healthcare and dental work for the underserved," I answered with confidence. Today I am proud to say that having participated in Miss Vietnam of San Diego provided me the opportunity to fulfill my dream and look at the world from a different perspective. I would like to share my gratitude to VAYA and I hope the next Miss Vietnam of San Diego winners will continue this tradition by doing something meaningful regardless of how big or small it is.


About the Author: Van Nguyen was the winner for VAYA's 2008 Miss Vietnam of San Diego.
Dear Members and Supporters,

The month of November will be an extremely busy month for most high school seniors as they apply for college. As most of us in VAYA are either current college students or college graduates, we are glad to assist those who need help with their college application(s) (which includes college application to UCs, CSUs, and various San Diego Community Colleges). If you're a high school student and would like to get some help or advice on your college application, please RSVP to VAYA's External Vice President, Nikki Lam, at collegeinfo@vayasd.org. In the RSVP email, PLEASE SPECIFY WHAT YOU SPECIFICALLY NEED HELP WITH. If you're CURRENTLY a college student and would like to help a high school student out with his/her application, contact Nikki to get involve. FROM NOW ON, Application Assistance is provided EVERY SATURDAY IN NOVERMBER (starting on 11/1/08) @ Tea N' More (Clairemont Mesa Blvd, next to 99 Ranch Supermarket) at 1:00 PM. PLEASE NOTE that there will be NO "College Application Assistance" workshop on Saturday 11/29/08 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. For more information or if interested in participating OR helping out with this event, please contact VAYA's External Vice President, Nikki Lam, at collegeinfo@vayasd.org.

Please save the date for Sunday November 23, 2008. VAYA will be hosting our annual Thanksgiving "Potluck" Dinner that day and we would like for you to join us. VAYA Thanksgiving "Potluck" Dinner will be Sunday 11/23/08 from 6:00 - 10:00 PM at the Santa Fe Room at Balboa Park. Please be on the lookout for a special eVite which will include further details and an option to let us know what you'll be bringing to the Potluck Dinner. Location: Santa Fe Room (Balboa Park Club) - President Way / San Diego, CA 92101. For more information, please contact VAYA Internal Vice President (VAYA Thanksgiving "Potluck" Dinner Coordinator), Michael Thai, at ivp@vayasd.org.

On behalf of VAYA's Executive Board and Staff, thank you for your continual support.

About the Author: Anthony (Vinh) T. Nguyen serves as Secretary for VAYA.