Founder of Tang’s Alterations
What would you tell your younger self?
When doing business, always put the customer first instead of just focusing on making a profit. Money can always come later when you know your job better and after working hard. Success will follow what you do.
In retrospect, would you change your path?
I feel so blessed to be where I am today. America made my dream come true. I’m an immigrant and came here not looking for somebody to work harder and help me, I want to work hard and give back to this country. This country gave me a lot of opportunities that made me able to do what I am today. Now, I just want to help younger people to make their dreams come true.
What practical business advice do you have for young business owners and operators in Central Alabama?
If we want to become successful, we must be the ones to make us successful. We must wake up and work for it—don’t always sit there and dream. My message to a lot of people is when you make a profit after you have made so much already, don’t forget to give it back to our community that helps us. A successful person can respect and help other people and let other people help.
What are your proudest achievements?
I am most proud that all my children, my grandchildren, and my niece and nephew—the younger generation—are all very successful. I love to see my family do a lot better than what I do now. All my children are in the United States and all of my six grandchildren are American born. It’s not that I just came here to make a living and then go home. I came here to build and live in America as my home forever.
What pivotal moments or decisions played a role in your success?
I just want to see the people who work for me get better from me. I turn a lot of my business and my stores over to my employees instead of selling them to make money. I sold my Cloverdale location to one of my employees for one dollar, so you know that I am not here to make money, but to help all my employees be successful. I feel like it’s important as a businessperson that as you do good, you should set your standards much higher. You should aim to bring up others to make them comfortable—not by giving, but by encouraging them that they need to work for it.
JUST FOR FUN:
Go to Tunes
Hymns, Classical music, and old-style from the 40s or 50s—the music that never dies. My favorites are Nat King Cole and “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
Guilty Pleasure
All kinds of music—I have a guitar, piano, and harmonica. I enjoy painting and learning new languages. You are never too old to stop learning, you are only too old when you stop learning.
If You Could Have Dinner with Anyone (Dead or Alive) Who Would It Be and Why?
My family. I am most happy when I have dinner with my loved ones.
