193: Dreams, Failures & Never Giving Up w/ Viet Nguyen

“You can’t fail if you never give up.” This is chef Viet Nguyen’s motto, a mantra that has seen him through incredible hardship and into inspiring success. From working as an exchange student to living in his car, Viet Nguyen will stop at nothing to make his dreams come true. He is a firm believer in nurturing your passion and never giving up on yourself, even when others do.

Viet Nguyen is the founder and Co-CEO of Kei Concepts, a thriving restaurant, and management group that develops and manages proprietary brands and incubates emerging concepts. Since 2013, Kei Concepts has introduced 11 restaurant concepts to the Orange County area in California.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.



TIMESTAMPS:

04:05 - A passion for Art
10:34 - Falling in love with cooking
17:49 - Ingredients: failure and patience
24:30 - A love story & business partnership
44:12 - The relationship between confidence and fear
55:00 - The science behind success: the right people
56:40 - Heart-centered business: art first, money later
01:07:16 - Intersecting identities: Vietnam & America
01:14:22 - Bonus wrap-up: protecting mom & pop shops at all costs

FIND VIET ONLINE:

Website
Instagram: @kei.concepts


SPONSORS:
Betterhelp | 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/tll

MENTIONED:


Súp noodle bar - pho restaurant

Vox Kitchen - Asian comfort food restaurant

Gem Dining - progressive Southeast Asian dining

Nếp Café - elevated French-Vietnamese brunch

Kin Craft Ramen & Izakaya - a unique ramen experience

Rol Hand Roll Bar - hand roll restaurant

Ini Ristorante - Japanese-inspired Italian cuisine

The video version of this interview is available on YouTube: Episode 193



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