Andy Cheng is the Co-founder of OptiNizers and Freight Genesis, companies specializing in logistics and outsourcing solutions. He has successfully grown multiple businesses, including becoming the largest isolation gown supplier in North America during the pandemic, achieving impressive growth from 0 to $5.5 million in just six months. Andy is also passionate about leveraging outsourced talent and is actively involved in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, where he mentors and supports fellow entrepreneurs.
Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Hear:
- [4:48] Andy Cheng reflects on the culture shock of moving from Taiwan to Canada
- [8:52] How Andy took over the family business amidst a personal crisis
- [13:16] The difficulties of running the family business, including office politics
- [18:58] Why Andy ventured into the iron ore mining business in Mexico
- [23:52] How Andy’s uncle convinced him to start a new freight business
- [26:10] The importance of using virtual assistants to manage the workload
- [28:33] How Mask Guru becomes the largest isolation gown supplier in North America
- [35:44] The inspiration behind launching OptiNizers and the benefits of outsourcing talent
- [38:47] The impact of EO on Andy’s personal and professional growth
In this episode…
Building and growing a thriving business comes with challenges, such as adapting to new environments, navigating unexpected responsibilities, and finding the right talent to scale operations. Entrepreneurs often struggle with balancing personal and professional demands while ensuring their businesses remain competitive in an evolving market. So, what motivates an individual to take the leap into unfamiliar territories and emerge successful?
Serial entrepreneur Andy Cheng shares how he tackled these challenges by leveraging outsourced talent, embracing new business opportunities, and maintaining a resilient mindset. He discusses his transition from market research to entrepreneurship, stepping into his father’s logistics business with no prior experience and later diversifying into other industries like mining and medical supply distribution. Andy emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships, staying adaptable, and knowing when to pivot in business to maximize growth and minimize risk.
Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Andy Cheng, Co-founder of OptiNizers and Freight Genesis, about leveraging outsourced talent and entrepreneurial resilience. Andy discusses his experience stepping into leadership at a young age, adapting to cultural changes, and finding success in different industries. Whether through his pandemic pivot or lessons from managing a freight business, Andy’s story is a testament to perseverance and adaptability.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- John Corcoran on LinkedIn
- Rise25
- Andy Cheng on LinkedIn
- OptiNizers
- EO Los Angeles
- Entrepreneurial Masters Program (EMP)
Quotable Moments:
- “Seize the moment and then figure something out later. That’s pretty much the essence of entrepreneurship.”
- “Once you start training down, when the market tells you it’s going down, you don’t need to prove it wrong.”
- “The market is still big because most of my clients never had a virtual assistant in their life.
- “AI is not here to replace us. AI is here to make us more efficient.”
- “My reputation is that I don’t just do transactions. You verify, I verify.”
Action Steps:
- Explore outsourced talent: Start by exploring the use of outsourced or remote talent to handle certain aspects of your business. This approach can be effective in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
- Network and collaborate: Engage with entrepreneurial organizations like the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) to expand your network and find mentors. Andy Cheng highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with people who can provide guidance and feedback, especially during challenging times, to overcome feelings of isolation and to gain different perspectives.
- Adapt and innovate in crisis: Be proactive in adapting your business model during crises, as seen when Andy pivoted to supplying PPE during the pandemic. This ability to innovate quickly opens new revenue streams and helps sustain your business when traditional avenues are disrupted.
- Maintain financial prudence: Practice financial caution even during boom periods, similar to Andy’s approach during the pandemic when he refrained from over-investing despite increased business demand. This strategy helps mitigate risks and ensures long-term stability post-crisis.
- Embrace lifelong learning: Continuously seek learning opportunities and embrace personal development, such as participating in programs like the Entrepreneurial Master’s Program (EMP). This commitment to growth can equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship effectively.
Sponsor: Rise25
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Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
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Rise25 Cofounders, Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran, have been podcasting and advising about podcasting since 2008.
Episode Transcript
John Corcoran: 00:00
All right. Today we’re talking about how to grow your business with outsourced or remote talent. My guest today is Andy Cheng. I’ll tell you more about him in a second. And so stay tuned.
Intro: 00:13
Welcome to the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where we feature top entrepreneurs, business leaders, and thought leaders and ask them how they built key relationships to get where they are today. Now let’s get started with the show.
John Corcoran: 00:30
All right. Welcome, everyone. John Corcoran is the host of this show. And, you know, I’m sure you’ve listened before. I trust you’ve listened before because we have had some amazing guests this past year, and I’m so proud of all the great guests we’ve had. We’ve had smart co founders and entrepreneurs from all kinds of companies. And if you look at the archives, we’ve got Netflix, we’ve got Kinkos, YPO, EO, Activision Blizzard, LendingTree, Open Table and many more. Redfin, Gusto, you name it, check it out. And of course, this episode was brought to you by Rise25, our company where we help B2B businesses get clients’ furrows and strategic partnerships with done-for-you podcasts and content marketing. And you go to our website at Rise25.com or email us at [email protected] to learn more about what we do.
All right. My guest here today is Andy Cheng. He’s the Co-founder of OptiNizers and Freight Genesis. He is also a lead at Highlight Freight Management, which is a family business. We’ll talk about that. He’s currently very active in the entrepreneurs organization, which is how he and I connected. He’s been president of EO Los Angeles, which is a very large chapter and very active in a lot of different roles and lived a very international life living all over the globe. So we’re going to hear about all these different businesses that he started. And there are some people that call themselves a serial entrepreneur, and they’re not really a serial entrepreneur, but he truly is a serial entrepreneur that started multiple different businesses. So, Andy, I’m excited to have you here today.
And first of all, you grew up in Taiwan. And, you know, I always ask people about what they were like as a kid and, you know, were they doing paper routes and stuff like that? And in your words, you said you were a spoiled kid. You did grow up in an entrepreneurial family, but didn’t get around to money making endeavors until I believe college, you said.
Andy Cheng: 02:09
Yeah. Hi, John. Yeah. Like I said in the practical. Yes, I was pretty spoiled. I think my parents treated me really, really well. And I never need to worry about money. I don’t spend much. But then I didn’t have to spend much. But then there’s no money. Like complaining about money in my life until I want to make some money and doing college. So when I was studying in Canada, I went. I went back to Taiwan during summer and winter. I used that for a couple of weeks or months to become an English tutor.
And that was my first entrepreneur. It was a money making opportunity. I just seized that moment. And then I don’t know how to teach English. I just fake it until you make it, make it, I guess. I make some decent money for college students. I think that was a decent money in Taiwan. So that was my first entrepreneurial experience.
John Corcoran: 03:05
You know, I’ve met so many people that, you know, when they’re given so much that they’re just not motivated to work, to start a hustle, to generate money if they’ve got enough money in their bank account from their parents. Or conversely, I’ve interviewed lots of people that grew up poor, and so they’re motivated to go out there and make some money because they want things. They want a pair of shoes or something like that. Why do you think if you were raised and your parents, as you said, you know, kind of spoiled you? What motivated you to go out there and, you know, teach English during college?
Andy Cheng: 03:38
That’s a good question. I think that also came with a later story. I’m always very cautious about this. I just knew my life was too perfect, too easy, like my parents. Very nice to me on this is Just be a good student and it’s a very Asian mentality. Just your job is to be a good student. You don’t need to be a good son. It’s not even part of the requirement. Just be a good student. Study study study study.
I always knew that was too easy. If you tell me that this is it, be a good student and get a good job, your life is done. I would be sure. I knew that was not true. So I was always very cautious about that. I knew life was not that easy.
John Corcoran: 04:24
If this was a movie, this would be like foreshadowing, like the pandemic which is looming down, you know, down the line and which will play a big part in your story a little bit later. All right. So you, you study in Toronto, I believe. So this is.
Andy Cheng: 04:41
University of Toronto. Yes. Okay.
John Corcoran: 04:42
So so you grew up in Taiwan. Was that a big cultural Change for you moving to Canada?
Andy Cheng: 04:48
Oh, yeah. I mean, I think I was given like a one week notice when I was in Taipei where my mom said, no, you’re gonna you’re gonna quit school. From Taiwan and then Taipei. Taipei. And you’re gonna go to Canada. And then she said Vancouver. I was like, there was no Google in the 90s. So I was like, what the. Where the heck is Vancouver? What’s Vancouver actually?
What’s Vancouver weighing there? Didn’t speak a word of English. Wow. And in public school. And then it took me six months to figure out how to communicate. And then my mom said, no, I’m sending you to a private school, which is on Vancouver Island. And then did they go with you?
John Corcoran: 05:31
Is this high school now?
Andy Cheng: 05:33
It’s a boarding school. So a boarding school? Yeah. My mom sent me to a boarding school in Vancouver.
John Corcoran: 05:37
How old were you?
Andy Cheng: 05:39
I was, and I went to Canada in public school in eighth grade. And then went to the, like, third grade.
John Corcoran: 05:45
So like 13, 13 and 14. And what was that like?
Andy Cheng: 05:51
That was. I think this is actually a funny thing. You asked me this question. It was terrifying at the beginning, but I think it just shows who I am. I just try. So my, my, I, I remember the first year my mom said, oh, at the boarding school, just sign up for everything you see on the board. On the school board, sign up for everything. So anything I just sign up for. I put my name on it without even reading what’s there. It’s like, okay, sign up. So I signed up for bungee jumping. Without knowing I bungee jump. I signed up for bungee jumping. I didn’t know.
John Corcoran: 06:26
What it was.
Andy Cheng: 06:27
I didn’t know what it was. And then until I was on the bridge, it was like, oh.
John Corcoran: 06:32
You barely speak English. You have no idea what it is. And all of a sudden.
Andy Cheng: 06:36
I was a ninth grader. You know, you better not withdraw. You better not cry. You’re going to get bullied away for the next four years. So I was like, suck it up. And everybody jumped. I guess what happened? I jumped and three, two, one bungee I321 and 1 and then jumped, I fainted. So so funny. My son just asked me about my bungee jumping experience last night. Yeah, he was like, dad, what was like, bungee jumping? I don’t remember. He’s like.
John Corcoran: 07:04
Oh my.
Andy Cheng: 07:04
God, I just signed up for that. And then I signed up for a Broadway show. Like to be in a school play. I think the play was called Oklahoma. So at the same time, there was an unfortunate thing happening in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City. Remember, John? Oh, yeah. Bombing. So I know that I knew that news. So I keep thinking, okay, we’re going to go to Oklahoma City to visit, you know, the orphans.
John Corcoran: 07:30
What you thought you were doing, you didn’t think you were signing up for a play.
Andy Cheng: 07:33
I didn’t know what the hell was playing, because to me, play means play. I mean, like, I didn’t know it was a show. So I was very confused for the first two months. Every night we had a boarding school. We go after prep time, we go practice dancing and singing. I was just very confused. We’re going to go visit Oklahoma City. Why do we need to sing and get costumes? It wasn’t until the third month I realized, oh, I signed up for a Broadway play. And I was like, okay, yeah.
So my nickname at my old high school was I’m the Oklahoma Boy because this is the Asian dude, the Asian kid who signed up for the play. They didn’t know what the hell he was doing. And if you think about it now, long term, like looking back 25 years ago, that’s pretty entrepreneurial. If you’re getting things without knowing and trying to figure things out.
John Corcoran: 08:24
You jump off a bridge, pass out, and then midway down trying to figure out what you’re doing. That’s pretty much it. That’s a good metaphor for entrepreneurship. Yeah.
Andy Cheng: 08:32
Say yes. First, seize their moment and then figure something out later.
John Corcoran: 08:35
Yeah, but what a crazy what a crazy experience. So all right let’s let’s jump forward a number of years. So you’re 26 years old. Are about getting married and something major happened in your life that Changed your life forever?
Andy Cheng: 08:52
Yeah. I mean, I met my wife while doing my years at the University of Toronto. We both were from Taiwan, so we went to Taiwan. It’s a perfect relationship. And I just knew she was the one. She was the one. So I just wanted to get married and settle down and then move forward to the next thing I need to focus on. So I was working for AC Nielsen, a market research company, and I was talking to my client that when you work for an agency, your goal is to be hired by your client. So GSK was my, my, my, my client, the pharmaceutical company. So they already said, hey, finish this program at AC Nielsen, we’re going to hire you.
I thought my life was pretty much set for the next 20 or 30 years. You just go to the client side, you work for clients and hopefully the company hires you a salary double in Taiwan, I just figured. I thought everything was bigger, and that’s why I. Okay, I’m going to get married at 26 when I have kids early. And it wasn’t two weeks before my wedding, my dad called me to the hospital and told me he has stage four lung cancer. At that time, his doctor told him he has three months left. Wow. So John, guess what was my first reaction when he told me that?
John Corcoran: 10:08
Well, probably a lot going through your head, but no, no, no, nothing.