Episode 2: David Chen - Business, Entrepreneur, Investor

Career Closeup

David Chen is a young businessman, entrepreneur, rally car driver and we found him to be pretty motivational as well! He tells us about his path to success (becoming partner with Deloitte by age 33) and how it contained both wins and losses, and how he picked himself back up, evaluated his situations, adjusted his sails and tried again. He explains what it is like to grow up and have culture identity issues due to having Chinese parents who moved to Taiwan, where he was born, then moved again to the US, where he grew up. David watched his parents work very hard to eventually do well and provide for the family. He describes finding your niche (his is languages and understanding cultures) and learning from your failures, because you are going to fail sometimes, and that's okay. David tells us how the opportunities in the United States are the greatest, and if you want to improve your life, you can by seeking knowledge on your own and working to improve your weaknesses. He notes that you are who you surround yourself with and that life is simple - it's unfair- but that fate is in your hands. If you want to be better in any area, it's up to you to make yourself better. David is candid and motivational, and everyone can learn something beneficial from listening to his podcast.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

1:50 Description of what David does currently

3:10 David's upbringing and family history China-Taiwan-United States

6:23 Cultural identity crisis, what do parents want vs. what he wants

8:00 Moved to El Paso when he was 10, take opportunities that come up, but new challenges come with that

10:48 Inspired by opportunities US provides and wanted to be better and work harder

13:25 Did you want to be a businessman when in high school? Struggles of being successful

14:22 Going from high school (class of 12) to a huge college with a classes of 489 people, adjusting with a "poor me" attitude

17:30 Fate and setbacks happen, reality sets in, who you are is who you surround yourself with, realizes life is actually really hard

20:38 Life is simple, it's unfair. You're going to fail many things, but if you see where you messed up or could have done better, and you change, you will do better the next time. You are not alone if you fail. It's not okay if you use it as an excuse to not try.

24:30 Coming back at 23 to try and take over family business. Ego was too big. Self-awareness had to kick in, but it took a while. Worked 20 hours a day 6-7 days a week, receiving no pay just to save his parent's house. That experience taught him humility and work ethic.

28:44 Meeting people through work opened up opportunities. Speaking English, Chinese, Spanish, and Taiwanese was his niche that made him stand out, despite having no college degree.

32:07 Got a manager position paying $60k/year,worked 8 months and then hits roadblock.

35:05 After analyzing what he could have done differently, approaches manager and gets job back at a 60% pay cut. Educated himself and worked harder, while still working weekends at the restaurant. Manager to Director in 4 years. Developed his niche.

40:50 Made managing partner at Deloitte in 8 years without even a college degree.

43:30 Using EQ to help clients in many ways to develop and maintain relationships with clients. Be willing to do more

47:10 Life after Deloitte

50:10 Successful people have mentors who taught them, important to have faith, find mentors and continue to evolve

52:50 Finding your niche as a student: what are you good at (get better) and what is your weakness (improve that as well)

54:43 Taking time for yourself, enjoying Rally racing

58:00 Finding a mentor

1:04:54 Good things about his job, connecting with people

1:05:30 Hardest part of job is disappointment, failing. Learn from the failures so you can move forward.

1:08:00 What would you go back and tell your younger self?