From Humble Beginning To Success: 5 Lessons I Learnt In My Journey

I was recently asked to share my podcasting journey at the HCMC Content Creators Meetup, which I was excited to accept.

You may know a little bit about my podcasting story, as I usually talk about it at the beginning of each episode. But at this event, I want to share more about the story behind the story—the journey that shaped who I am today. This story isn’t just about podcasting; it’s about the challenges I’ve faced, the turning points, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

The journey to where I am now has been anything but straightforward. It’s been a mix of passion, hard work, setbacks, and some lucky moments.

You can watch or listen to this story.

Podcasting As A Hobby

For those who don’t know yet, I only started podcasting in 2019. This was a major shift for me, as I had a whole career before I even thought about picking up a microphone.

I worked as an English teacher in Saigon, which was rewarding in many ways. 

I am a big fan of podcasting. Since I was young, I have always listened to podcasts while commuting. That’s why I was bored one day and I decided to grab a microphone.

As an English teacher, I met so many people who introduced themselves as “just a teacher,” and it struck me as such a limiting way to describe themselves. Yet these individuals had so much more going on beneath the surface, so many hidden stories that I felt more people should hear about.

I came across a quirky article in VN Express, noting that the city had 7 million motorbikes for just 9 or 10 million residents. It was a catchy image, one that captured Saigon’s energy and density, so I named my podcast Seven Million Bikes.

I wasn’t expecting much—I had a basic microphone, a cozy space in my front room, and the hope that maybe 15 people might tune in. To my surprise, more listeners found the show than I’d ever anticipated, and I quickly became hooked on the whole process. Like many creators, I spent hours watching those early listener numbers tick up, refreshing the stats to see if one more person had tuned in.

During this time, I was also starting to organize live events around Saigon—networking gatherings, comedy shows, and even music events. I had begun doing stand-up comedy myself and running shows around town, which added a live element to what I was building. Everything felt like it was coming together; 2019 was shaping up to be a year of creative breakthroughs, where both my podcasting venture and my personal passions were taking off.

Sliding Door Moments

For those who don’t know yet, I only started podcasting in 2019. This was a major shift for me, as I had a whole career before I even thought about picking up a microphone.

Reach My Dream Job of Helping People

I was fortunate to have my dream job in fundraising for charities, where I could focus on raising money to help others. Landing this role in Saigon was truly meaningful, as it allowed me to work on projects that made a difference in the lives of underprivileged children, giving them opportunities they otherwise might never have.

In my first year, our goal was to raise $70,000 to build a school in the Mekong Delta, and I’ll never forget the day we reached that target. Visiting the school and seeing the children walk through its doors for the first time, their excitement and joy were unforgettable moments that made me feel that all the hard work had truly paid off.

Pandemic Hit – The Turning Point

Everything felt like it was lining up. Then came 2020, and we all know what happened. The pandemic hit hard in March, and the world changed almost overnight. 

As COVID disrupted everything, our plans to raise another $70,000 for a new school had to be postponed. The organization faced budget cuts, and I had to cut back on my hours as well. With limited resources, I found myself going back to teaching to fill in for teachers who couldn’t be there. It was a tough transition, but at the time, we all had to do whatever we could to keep things going.

By the end of 2020, my contract wasn’t renewed, and I had to make a big decision. The charity offered me three options: transition to a full-time or part-time teaching role or move into academic management. This was my own “sliding doors” moment—a time to decide whether I should continue in education or take a risk on my side project, the podcast, which was starting to gain traction.

After some deep talks with my wife, I chose the latter path. We decided that I would go part-time as a teacher, allowing me to focus more on the podcast and related events, even though it was risky.

Navigating Uncertainty and Wearing Many Hats

Struggle To Make Ends Meet

As 2021 rolled on, my work was gaining momentum, with more podcast episodes, comedy shows, and other events. But then, another wave of lockdowns hit, halting everything. I couldn’t host live shows or events, and my business came to a standstill. By 2022, I was struggling to make ends meet, juggling any gig I could find—from teaching and hosting shows to public school jobs, even a bit of acting and creating TikTok videos. At one point, I counted eight different jobs that I was managing just to stay afloat.

On the outside, people praised my hustle, telling me how impressive it was to do so many things at once. But I knew the truth: I wasn’t doing anything particularly well. I was stretched too thin, struggling financially, and feeling more overwhelmed than successful.

Refocusing: Choosing Podcasting as My Path

At the beginning of 2023, I took a trip back to the U.S. with my wife. That break allowed me to reevaluate everything. Reflecting on my goals and desires, I realized that I was saying “yes” to everything without focus. It was time to make a decision—my number one passion was helping people share their stories through podcasting. So, I came back with a renewed commitment to focus solely on podcasting.

This meant saying “no” to other opportunities, which wasn’t easy when money was tight. But as I began to turn down gigs outside of podcasting, I saw an almost immediate shift. Business picked up, my podcast started growing, and I could finally pour my energy into what I truly cared about. I went back to setting “SMARTER” goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Evaluated, and Readjusted) and began to see real results.

Building My Team and Gaining Success

Since making that decision, 2023 has been a transformative year. I’ve expanded from being a one-person operation to leading a small, global team with members in the Philippines, Singapore, and Saigon. With everyone working remotely and on flexible schedules, we’re reaching goals I once thought were out of reach.

Podfest Asia

One of the major milestones in this journey was being invited to speak at Podfest Asia. Podfest is one of the world’s largest podcasting conferences, and they were holding their first-ever event in Asia, in the Philippines. This was an enormous honor and a validation of the hard work I’d poured into my podcast.

Britcham Vietnam

Another pivotal moment was connecting with BritCham Vietnam (the British Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam). They invited me to collaborate on various events and initiatives, which gave my podcast a new level of exposure.

At the BritCham Vietnam Awards this year, I was honored that the Seven Million Bikes podcast won the award for “Best Company” (or similar recognition) for our work. This acknowledgment meant a lot because it highlighted the dedication we put into producing podcasts that amplify Vietnam’s unique stories and showcase the incredible things happening here.

Asia Podcast Awards

The Asia Podcast Award celebrates outstanding podcasts and creators who bring unique voices and perspectives to the Asian audience. 

Winning Best Interview Podcast in Asia and being named Best Audio Producer in Asia last month was nothing short of mind-blowing. These awards were more than just a feel-good moment; they were powerful validation of all the hard work, persistence, and countless hours poured into this journey.

Advice for Aspiring Podcasters and Content Creators

As someone who has navigated the ups and downs of podcasting and content creation, there are a few key lessons I’ve learned that I wish I’d understood earlier in my journey. Here’s what has truly made a difference for me:

1. Focus on One Thing

In the beginning, I was doing so many different things—teaching, running events, producing shows, and more. But when I decided to focus solely on podcasting, that’s when everything started to change. By saying “no” to things outside of this focus, I was able to direct all my energy into making my podcast the best it could be. So if you’re trying to make a mark, pick one thing to focus on and give it everything.

2. Set SMART Goals

For a long time, especially during COVID, I was just trying to survive without any clear goals. When I got back to goal-setting, I chose SMART goals—specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound—and checked them daily. This habit helped me stay on track, and any decision I made had to align with those goals. If you want real progress, set goals and use them to guide your choices every day.

3. Learn to Say “No”

Saying “no” was one of the hardest but best decisions I’ve made. I had to turn down jobs, even when they offered decent money, to stay focused on my vision. It takes confidence, but it’s essential. When you start saying “no” to things that don’t support your goals, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you see results.

4. Use LinkedIn for Growth

I’m not great at social media, but this year I started using LinkedIn more to connect with people in the industry, and it’s been a game changer. Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn has led to real business opportunities and meaningful conversations that actually help grow my business. If you’re looking to build a professional network, I highly recommend LinkedIn.

5. Recognize the Value of Your Knowledge

For the longest time, I thought my podcasting skills were just basics that everyone knew. But thanks to my wife’s encouragement, I came to see that my experience and knowledge are valuable to those just starting out. If you have skills that others need, recognize that you can help—and get paid to do it. Sometimes, what seems obvious to you is gold to someone else.

Conclusion

Every success story is built on countless challenges and tough choices, and mine is no different. So to anyone out there chasing a dream, my advice is this: stay focused on your goals, no matter how tempting the distractions may be. Don’t rush the process; success takes time, patience, and a lot of resilience.

If you have any questions or need support for your podcast, don’t hesitate to Contact Me, or Let’s Have A Quick Call.