Although only 26, Canadian entrepreneur Brian Wong has achieved impressive academic and business success.
‘Success means having freedom and being able to do what you want. Success does not revolve solely around money.’
Wong graduated from high school at 14 and university at 18. At 19, he founded a mobile advertising company called Kiip, attracting major clients such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola, and expects revenue of USD 20 million this year. By 20, he had become a self-made millionaire.
Wong says success stories like his often leave one factor unmentioned: behind every successful person, there is always a team working to support them.
Wong says: “People focus on the brand, on the individual. But an individual never accomplishes anything alone,” as he wrote in ‘The Cheat Code.’
Wong gives the example of the assistant who organizes his schedule. If a disruption delays Wong, his assistant knows and automatically rearranges subsequent appointments.
‘And if that did not happen, I would be facing a mess,’ Wong told CNBC. It made him wonder about all the other assistants we never hear about who nevertheless play crucial roles in the achievements of famous founders.
For Wong, success means freedom. He says: ‘Success is having freedom and doing what you want. Success is not just about money.’
You can have all the money in the world, but if you cannot find the right people to ask for help, give yourself permission to travel, or delegate authority to someone, you will end up stuck.”
Sometimes success involves more than support with organizing work. Wong says that as an entrepreneur, “there will be times when you doubt yourself and moments when you feel discouraged. But we should not face such situations alone; we always need people around us to support and motivate us. “
In return, Wong always makes sure he supports those around him.
He said: “The important thing is to recognize that, when you succeed, you should make sure those accompanying you are investing not only in your success but also in their own. I think these are the people who will stay with you throughout life, and they are the people I am very grateful to.”
