Embracing the Journey From Acting, to Sobriety to Entrepreneurship
My journey hasn't been a smooth ride, and my story doesn't involve skyrocketing to a billion-dollar brand overnight (which we aren’t). It all began in 2020, when I recognized the demand for alcohol alternatives and a movement called "sober curious." I saw an opportunity to leverage my personal journey of over 6 years of sobriety to contribute to this growing category.
I reached out to established companies, offering my expertise as an advisor or brand ambassador, as I noticed none of them were founded by someone who had experienced sobriety firsthand. But all I got in return was silence. That's when I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I embarked on this venture without a co-founder, without any capital, and with no prior experience in the beverage industry—except for my own journey to sobriety back in 2015 and a vision. Instead of relying on a distributor or an investor to handle everything, I surrounded myself with individuals who wanted a larger stake in the company, believing their "connections" would be the key to our success. Ultimately, this approach proved to be a dead end, and I'm grateful I navigated away from it.
I sought out legal counsel, attended countless meetings to build relationships, and personally found a co-packager. Challenges arose after the launch, and if I were to start over, my top advice to myself would be to find a co-founder who excels at fundraising, understands numbers, and can impart crucial business knowledge.
In the 4th quarter of 2022, things got super interesting. I had to decide about my acting journey, which I started way back in 2009. It wasn't always easy to get noticed at the time as an Asian actor.
People say sometimes you do the right thing but at the wrong time. It was kinda like that in 2009. Eventually, I took a break for a bit because of health and money issues, just when more and more Asian stories and actors were getting famous. Talk about bad timing.
Then, out of the blue, a reality TV show found me because of my support for the AAPI community. This changed everything. I thought I might have to leave my home and chase my dreams in Asia at the time, but now I didn't have to.
In 2022, There were so many parties and events that wanted not just Sans, but me to show up as an appearance. It was fun but also tiring. After Bling Empire Season 3, it felt like everyone wanted me at their events. They saw me as a business person, not just an actor.
Now that some time has passed since Season 3, I can see who was really interested in my business and my mission. I want to show that being sober is cool and awesome. I've seen people have a tough time when they start using alcohol again, and I want to help.
My acting manager asked if I really wanted to pursue acting still. He didn't want me to miss out because Asian actors were finally getting the attention they should have had all along. I asked for a few months to figure things out. I did, and I'm so glad I didn't have to pick just one thing.
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My first role and acting debut, "Asian Persuasian," is coming out in the Philippines on November 29th, and it's been 14 years of trying, and not giving up. Now we’re seeing more momentum with Sans by Taejin and in 99 Ranch.
I always knew I was a late bloomer. One big thing I've learned is to trust myself more, because I’m not the same unreliable guy before I was sober.
Trust your instincts when you sense someone may have ulterior motives and trying to milk you. Also, I learned to choose my battles wisely.
I built this venture from the ground up. I'd advise other public figures entering the business world to consider partnering with someone whose strengths complement their own. In my case, it was my branding, my network, my authentic message, and my vision. My background in acting and reality TV helped me connect with audiences, but it also attracted the wrong crowd. It's essential to be comfortable with that too.
I learned valuable lessons from encounters with the "wrong people." These experiences made me into an entrepreneur who wanted to become the opposite of them. This experience also changed my view on money and the extreme wealthy who have it.
Many times, I extended favors to others, only to fade into the background once they got what they wanted. I've learned, and this journey has transformed me into smarter individual for future business endeavors, extending beyond Sans by Taejin. I used to not even know what a cap table or what a valuation or SAFE was.
Through this process, I also came to realize that some of my acquaintances weren't genuine friends. It reinforced the notion that quality far outweighs quantity when it comes to meaningful connections. Cherish those who stand by you, both personally and professionally, and keep them close.
Next post if you like this….”Why I never want to hear I’m rooting for you and I’m here to support.”
Luxury | Project Consultant | Ex-General Electric/GE Capital
1yI have been waiting for you to share your insight on your journey in the start up process. It speaks much about your character and improved my opinion of you. I look forward to you sharing more about your journey. I agree with you on the importance of having a base of knowledge such as knowing about "...cap table(s) or what a valuation or SAFE was..." Having foundational knowledge enables one to ask the right questions when speaking with others on your team such as cofounders, legal counsel, and consultants that "...can impart crucial business knowledge." I also feel having an enlarged view of who is your stakeholder results in better decision making. I applaud your support and sponsorship of ACE NextGen. I would encourage you to continue to share the reality of your start up experience.
Strategic Partnerships @ KidsHealth®
1yThank you for sharing. This is awesome. So proud of you!! Truly a remarkable journey!
Startup Founder with Successful Exit | Open to Operations, Finance, or Entrepreneurial Opportunities
1yChoosing the right co-founder is so critical and difficult, especially in an arena as cutthroat as specialty food/beverage. My background before starting ChipMonk Baking was in finance/accounting so if you ever want to talk through numbers let me know. Keep pushing and growing! Both your acting career and beverage company have foundations in helping and inspiring others. I know if you stay true to that you will find fulfillment and success even if the success you think you want now turns out to be something entirely different :)
Versatile Marketing & Branding Professional | Skilled in Operations, Events, and Client Management | Transitioning to Arts/Entertainment
1yThanks for sharing, Kevin! I found this very inspiring.
I help business leaders to improve their wellbeing and perform better in life and business. Take control of alcohol, develop a growth mindset, create healthy habits to positively impact you and those around you.
1yGreat stuff. It's interesting how friend groups can evolve. I was only discussing this with a client yesterday.