When starting a business, capital is usually limited, and entrepreneurs must use these limited resources well to achieve their goals.
Tạ Minh Tuấn – Born in 1988, the entrepreneur began his startup journey at age 19, playing key roles in founding and running HELP International, YUP Institute and JCI Central Saigon Chapter. He shares practical experience for young people's startup plans today.
– Could you share the memorable milestones from your first project at age 19 until now?
– I began my entrepreneurial journey at 19. Although that project did not succeed, it was a firm stepping stone toward founding HELP International at 21, pioneering the home healthcare model. Then, at 23, I became President of BNI Master Chapter and founded the YUP Institute entrepreneurship training center. That same year, I was honored as one of Vietnam's 15 outstanding social entrepreneurs, as assessed by CSIP, the British Council and the World Bank.
Two years later, I also became President of JCI Central Saigon Chapter, part of the world's largest young entrepreneurs' federation. This year, Forbes magazine named me one of Vietnam's 30 successful and influential figures in its prestigious “30 under 30” ranking.
– What lessons have you drawn for yourself from that journey?
– I realized that I own the business; the business does not own me, and success fades over time. So do not define yourself only by your current position. Be willing to leave center stage to embrace new opportunities. Never miss an opportunity to become outstanding.
Moreover, on the entrepreneurial journey, human resources are the key to survival. However strong you are, do not shoulder everything alone. Otherwise, failure is certain.
– When running small and medium-sized businesses, what factors should young people focus on to improve employees' effectiveness?
– The key to a business's success lies in its ability to manage resources. Resources here comprise the 6M: Man (human resources), Machine (machinery), Material (raw materials), Milieu (environment), Method (methods) and Money (finance). Improving the first M — Man — will improve the remaining 5M.
Workforce effectiveness depends on many aspects: leadership, training, evaluation systems, work policies, organizational structure… Even seemingly minor workplace factors affect performance. For example, in printing, waiting times and technical issues can reduce productivity and employee satisfaction with working conditions.
– How important is capital for young entrepreneurs?
– If we approach problems as though they can never be solved, we will not find solutions. In a startup, capital is usually a limited resource, and entrepreneurs must use their limited resources well to achieve their goals.
Moreover, every business speaks a common language: ROI (Return on Investment). What matters is not having a great deal of money but the ability to use money to generate profit. Once again, businesses must solve the problem of financial optimization.
– Through your own experiences, do you have a message specifically for young people contemplating entrepreneurship?
– Business management and operational skills are things you can learn and gradually accumulate. But from the very beginning, to reach success, you need to identify your goal. Suppose the goal is to address a need: the key to finding that need is to identify and fill existing gaps. If people around you think your goal is crazy, you may well be on the right path. Be brave and start acting now!
Minh Trí
Source: http://kinhdoanh.vnexpress.net/…/toi-uu-von-khoi-nghiep-de-…
