Danny Tran, the man behind Highstoke Media, talks about his experiences and shares how he made over a million dollars in just 18 months at the young age of 26.
What Factors Have You Overcome To Achieve Success in Your Life?
I have not had an easy life. Coming from an Asian background, my entire family always expected me to be a doctor or a lawyer or an engineer so, in a manner of speaking, I was not supposed to be here today.
I found myself stuck very soon in life, somewhere in the middle of Silicon Valley, and overnight my 9-5 job was taken away from me. I eventually started one of my first businesses and we faced legal issues with one of the largest corporations in the US and went bankrupt in a matter of days. All this made me a tougher person and gave me the power to face adversity like a rock. My life was peppered with many obstacles and difficulties but I’m grateful for all the experiences that led me to where I am today.
What Is Your Biggest Achievement In Life?
To be honest, my biggest goal in life was to achieve a 7-figure business. Now that we’ve surpassed that, it feels a bit unreal. From being in the 9-5 rat race to have 99% of my business ventures fail, to having my one “successful” business goes bankrupt, it’s crazy, to say the least, to see how far we’ve gotten.
While we’ve hit some amazing milestones with the business, it feels like these are simply stepping stones to what we can really achieve and that we’re just getting started.
The biggest thing for me however was proving to my family that pursuing entrepreneurship was a viable career path. For 26 years, I’ve had everyone around me tell me that what I’m building would be near impossible and that I was crazy. To be able to prove them wrong and believe in the things I’m doing through hard work, dedication, grind, and years of effort have meant the world to me. Being able to finally give back especially to my family has been one of the most fulfilling things in my life.
What is Your Advice for Young Entrepreneurs Who Look Up to You?
The only way to get to where you want to be is to take massive action. In a world where everybody has ideas and is all talk, execution is what really matters. With 99% of people out there (and I know this from early on in my career), they get stuck trying to have it all figured out in the beginning or always trying to wait for the “perfect moment,” and they never really start. One of the best quotes I live by is “imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.” There will never be a “perfect moment” and you will never have it all figured out. You will make mistakes along the way and that is going to be your best teacher on your entrepreneurial journey.
Lastly, surround yourself with the right people. As cliche as it sounds, you really are the average of the top 5 people you spend the most time with. If you’re stuck around people who are going nowhere in life and doing the same thing every day, chances are you will be the same. Invest into mentors, coaches, masterminds, whatever you can to get around people in positions you aspire to be in one day. If I could associate my success to one thing, it would be this.
Is There a Philosophy That You Live Your Life By?
I came to understand something a long time ago and since then, I have never stopped saying that.
“Nothing Great Ever Came From Comfort Zones”
Early on in my life, in my hometown, I used to try and do what everyone else was doing. It was only when I decided to venture out and break the vicious circle that I started achieving things. To this day, I find that I thrive in new and uncomfortable situations. Trust me, stepping out of your comfort zone will do you wonders one way or another.
Which Principles Helped You Find Success in Life?
My team and I have been through many ups and downs but one thing that I’m genuinely thankful for is the people I have surrounded myself with. It is very important for anyone to surround themselves with positivity. Negativity impacts you and will deter your progress so always choose your team wisely.
It is also very important to enjoy your life. Understand that you’re only going to live once. Learn to live and laugh and enjoy life to its fullest.
How Has Highstoke Media Set Itself Apart From Other Companies?
Highstoke Media is not just another company that helps you with digital marketing. We are growth partners and solve real business issues for our clients. In a world where every marketing company looks, sounds, and feels the same, we constantly set ourselves apart by helping our clients reach their business goals by reverse engineering the exact steps on how to get there. Unlike other “generic marketing agencies,” our team works with each client on a unique and personalized 1-on-1 basis.
Over the years, we have invested over a million dollars in our clients and we aim to help our clients grow organically and meteorically with our proprietary Clients-on-Demand marketing system. In addition to that, we have other programs such as The Client Takeover Program which is aimed towards helping young entrepreneurs monetize social media skills and break into this digital industry.