Aaron Cheng's guest appearances

Aaron Cheng

Asia Tech Podcast

Yoel's Hang Outs Podcast

Tim Ferriss

Jen Loong

LeBron James

Ashley Lewis

Jason Goldberg

Jerry Chen

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Smith

Nitin Sawhney

Horace Dediu

Stephen Covey

Will Lee

Kerry Brown

Simon Dixon

Andrea Loubier

OwlTail

Charles Laughlin

Jalen Haines

Yoel Aynalem sat down with some hometown buddies who have made their way to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. My besty Charles Laughlin and buddies Jalen Haines and Aaron Cheng share their perspective on LA people, how people change and how they've grown from different perspectives of the industry. 

Yoel Aynalem sat down with some hometown buddies who have made their way to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. My besty Charles Laughlin and buddies Jalen Haines and Aaron Cheng share their perspective on LA people, how people change and how they've grown from different perspectives of the industry.

*rough audio* The secrets about LA and how to get started in entertainment ft Charles Laughlin, Aaron Cheng, Jalen Haines

Sabrina Wang

[18:48] Entrepreneurship is difficult. Dealing with the criticisms from people around you and sometimes those harshest voices are the ones in your own head. All entrepreneurs deal with uncertainty. How do you deal with it?Aaron: There's no real answer. Everyone takes a different path. You have to find something you're really passionate about. If it was easy, everyone would be an entrepreneur, but it's not easy. The most difficult thing is to get over the fear to start something new.[37:58] Your companies are not huge. You're not an Apple or an Amazon. How do you get people to want to come and work with you?Aaron: I do things the Singapore way, which is to say if you want to learn and work here then by all means come. If you don't want to work here, then don't come.Kyriakos: It's not that difficult to get good people. We don't necessarily want the people who just want to work for a big name. It has been easier than we first expected. In the end it requires a bit of luck and a bit of hustle.Sabrina: We treat everything like a pitch as if we're the next big thing. We are big believers in culture. We try to give our employees a vote and say in the direction we're going. But it's difficult to find people. We don't have the resources to pay a big bonus to attract talent, for example. The struggle is to get the right people.[49:20] What advice would you want to leave listeners with?Graham: For me it's surround yourself with the right people. You can't underestimate how important this is.Kyriakos: You have goal and you shared it with people. This is important. Share your idea, and not just to the people you feel comfortable with--tell the world! Not everyone will like it or think you're right, but share your idea.Sabrina: Rejections are normal. Maybe 99 people will say you're wrong, but all it takes is that one person to believe in you and what you're doing. Also, don't feel bad towards the people who reject you. Maybe the next time you meet they will come around.Aaron: Think for yourself. Believe in yourself. Do it!

[18:48] Entrepreneurship is difficult. Dealing with the criticisms from people around you and sometimes those harshest voices are the ones in your own head. All entrepreneurs deal with uncertainty. How do you deal with it? Aaron: There's no real answer. Everyone takes a different path. You have to find something you're really passionate about. If it was easy, everyone would be an entrepreneur, but it's not easy. The most difficult thing is to get over the fear to start something new. [37:58] Your companies are not huge. You're not an Apple or an Amazon. How do you get people to want to come and work with you? Aaron: I do things the Singapore way, which is to say if you want to learn and work here then by all means come. If you don't want to work here, then don't come. Kyriakos: It's not that difficult to get good people. We don't necessarily want the people who just want to work for a big name. It has been easier than we first expected. In the end it requires a bit of luck and a bit of hustle. Sabrina: We treat everything like a pitch as if we're the next big thing. We are big believers in culture. We try to give our employees a vote and say in the direction we're going. But it's difficult to find people. We don't have the resources to pay a big bonus to attract talent, for example. The struggle is to get the right people. [49:20] What advice would you want to leave listeners with? Graham: For me it's surround yourself with the right people. You can't underestimate how important this is. Kyriakos: You have goal and you shared it with people. This is important. Share your idea, and not just to the people you feel comfortable with--tell the world! Not everyone will like it or think you're right, but share your idea. Sabrina: Rejections are normal. Maybe 99 people will say you're wrong, but all it takes is that one person to believe in you and what you're doing. Also, don't feel bad towards the people who reject you. Maybe the next time you meet they will come around. Aaron: Think for yourself. Believe in yourself. Do it!

263: Aaron Cheng, Sabrina Wang & Kyriakos Zannikos - The Singapore Entrepreneur Edition