MasterClass with Trung

Abstract 

This lesson explores how resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning can drive success against extraordinary odds. Using Trung’s story, students will learn actionable strategies for building businesses, mastering new technologies, and creating opportunities through self-directed learning. This lesson encourages students to reflect on their goals, take ownership of their development, and apply the principles of the Straight-A Guide to build their own path to success. 

Detailed Narrative 

Trung’s story is a powerful testament to turning adversity into opportunity. He was born in South Vietnam, where his family faced devastating challenges after the Vietnam War. The communist regime confiscated their property and imprisoned his uncle.

When he was only three years old, Trung's family chose to escape from the communist regime rather than remain. They built a boat, navigated the seas, floating along with hopes that they'd find liberty. They had to worry whether they'd run out of food and water. Finally, they encountered a naval ship, and got directed toward a deserted island, whether they remained stranded for months. They had to build shelter and gather food for basic survival until a ministry group opened opportunities for them to migrate to the United States. 

A local church sponsored Trung's family, helping them settle in Massachusetts. He grew up learning about the importance of being self-directed, and creating opportunities out of nothing. Resilience became a way of life for him. Despite being in a new environment, his entire family adapted to the new culture, learning how to speak English and contribute to their community. The family emphasized the importance of self-directed learning, encouraging Trung to focus on school.

Despite starting his life in turmoil and with limited resources, Trung excelled through hard work and determination. He performed well in school, not only earning a high school degree but also getting into college and eventually earning a degree in accounting.

While Trung’s commitment to learning exemplifies perseverance in the face of adversity, many born in America with access to abundant resources do not fully capitalize on their opportunities. For some, earning a GED is viewed as the endpoint of education, a box to be checked rather than a stepping stone toward further growth. Unlike Trung, who saw education as a continuous process to create opportunities and uplift his circumstances, others who do not have such ambitions stop striving once they achieve the bare minimum. It's not the path of a master.

Trung’s story is a reminder of the power of persistence and the value of lifelong learning, showing that true progress comes from continually seeking knowledge, regardless of one’s starting point. Despite his early challenges, he eventually secured a positions at prestigious firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The job was only a stepping stone for Trung. Although he gained experience in the accounting job, he realized the corporate world wasn’t fulfilling his ambitions. 

“I didn’t want to sit in a cubicle for 60 hours a week. I wanted something more,” Trung recalled. This openness to change marked his first key decision towards entrepreneurship—a path that would introduce him to diverse industries and multiple income streams. 

Building Businesses from the Ground Up 

Trung ventured into other opportunities. With the understanding he developed about how to value businesses, he began working in sectors that allowed him to help small business owners who wanted to sell their businesses.  This experience not only gave him a deeper understanding of the inner workings of various industries, but also allowed him to cultivate his entrepreneurial mindset.  He understood that people may have spent years building a small business, but when it came time for them to retire, or when they wanted to move on, they didn't know how to liquidate the venture. He became a business broker, creating a market to match people who had built businesses with people who wanted to buy operating businesses.

Through that effort, Trung could earn a great income. He helped the small business owners get their records in order, he created marketing materials, and he built relationships. By using his expertise to assess the value of an enterprise, he could help people on both sides of the transaction. In the process, he could earn a 10 percent commission on the sale.

When people invest time in self-directed learning, they create opportunities. Trung saw an opportunity to leverage his skills and knowledge to fill this gap and provide valuable solutions for businesses in need.

This realization marked the beginning of several successful venture, including a digital marketing agency that catered specifically to small and medium-sized businesses. With determination, hard work, and a clear vision, Trung grew the agency from a one-man show into a team of talented individuals servicing clients across multiple industries.

In 2005 he launched his first enterprise, by purchasing one of the businesses that came across his plate as a business broker. It was a vending machine business. As he learned about the business, he saw opportunities. The business already had an established route, with predictable cash flow. through savings and resources he could generate, Trung purchased the business and then set out to expand.

Recognizing inefficiencies like outdated equipment and poor service from competitors, he leveraged technology that would allow him to remotely monitor inventory levels, ensuring timely stock refills and operational efficiency. This ability to innovate within a traditional industry exemplifies the importance of adapting to market needs. 

“New technologies can turn a simple business into a scalable operation,” Trung noted. This mindset paved the way for him to expand the vending machine business into other ventures, including office cleaning and carpet cleaning. He learned that by building trust with customers, he simultaneously created leads for new ventures. He expanded his skills to learn techniques that would allow him to grow, with niche areas like cleaning valuable oriental rugs, mold remediation, and water damage restoration—industries with high demand and fewer competitors. 

Trung emphasizes the value of certifications and continuous learning. “Skills make you more valuable,” he said, detailing how certifications opened doors to insurance work and commercial clients. 

Adaptability and Lifelong Learning 

As he became more successful, Trung leveraged his expertise and resources. He recognized that the more he learned, the more value he could create. By subscribing to newsletters, he learned about fast-growing sectors, such as the cryptocurrency markets.

The more he read about blockchain and the ways that cryptocurrency could help people who were unbanked, the more Trung wanted to participate. He enrolled in classes, investing tens of thousands of dollars to learn. Then he converted what he learned into new businesses that gave him a massive return on investment.

Trung offers us an example of the value that comes when we invest in ourselves. He highlighted the importance of staying ahead of trends, saying, “A week in crypto is like a year in other industries.” By attending online courses and mastermind groups, Trung not only mastered topics like liquidity provisioning and decentralized exchanges but also built a consultancy guiding others. 

His story offers great proof of what we teach in our introductory course, The Straight-A Guide. One of our modules focuses on the principle of Awareness. As Trung's story illustrates, each person has to keep his head in the game. The more we open our eyes to learning, the more opportunities will open for us. And as we build value, more people will become aware of our expertise. We create our opportunities when we take the time to learn. If we learn about emerging markets, we can always pivot into new ventures. Trung continuously invested in learning, going from one sector to another, an example of successful diversification. 

“Learning never stops,” Trung emphasized, noting he invested $15,000 in a Bitcoin course that paid for itself many times over with the knowledge and networks gained. His willingness to invest in himself reflects not only his growth mindset but the Straight-A Guide’s emphasis on Aspiration and Action. 

Giving Back 

Despite his success, Trung remains grounded in a purpose-driven life. He emphasizes the importance of service, mentoring others, and creating job opportunities. For Trung, success doesn't only mean reaching financial independence. As an immigrant, he recognizes the importance of contributing to build stronger communities. He wants to help others thrive.

“No one succeeds alone,” Trung said, echoing the final Straight-A Guide principle, Appreciation. His legacy inspires students to not only pursue personal success but also uplift those around them.  When I invited him to share his story with our nonprofit, he readily volunteered to donate his time to talk, but also to develop this lesson plan from which we all can learn. It shows that the principles we teach are not mine—they are lessons I learned from masters like Trung.

Key Takeaways 

• Resilience transforms challenges into opportunities. 
• Continuous learning and adaptability are essential for personal and professional growth. 
• Building skills and certifications enhances credibility and expands opportunities. 
• Success is incremental—small actions lead to big results over time. 
• Service to others strengthens your own path to success. 

 Vocabulary Development 

• Resilience – The ability to withstand and recover from challenges. 
• Certification – A formal process to verify skills and expertise in a field. 
• Adaptability – The capacity to adjust to changes in the environment. 
• Entrepreneurship – The process of starting and running a new business. 
• Ecosystem – A system or community where multiple components coexist and interact. 
• Arbitrage – The practice of buying and selling for profit by exploiting price differences. 
• Liquidity – The ability to buy or sell assets quickly without affecting price. 
• Decentralized – Systems without central authority, common in blockchain technology. 
• Incremental – Gradual or step-by-step progress. 
• Mentorship – Guidance or advice provided by an experienced individual. 

Self-Directed Reflection Questions 

1. How can you use Trung’s story to strengthen your resilience and overcome your own challenges? 
2. What steps can you take today to start building certifications or skills that would set you apart? 
3. How can identifying inefficiencies or gaps in traditional industries help you create business opportunities? 
4. What opportunities exist in fast-growing fields like online marketing or cryptocurrency? 
5. How does incremental progress apply to your current situation? 
6. Think about Trung's emphasis on lifelong learning. What new skill could you begin mastering this week? 
7. How can you cultivate awareness to identify small opportunities that might grow over time? 
8. Reflect on Trung’s emphasis on service. How can you give back to your community? 
9. How can you show authenticity in your work or daily efforts to build trust and credibility? 
10. What does “success” mean to you, and how can you redefine it based on Trung’s principles? 

Recommended Books 

• “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries 

This book explains the importance of small, iterative experimentation to build efficient businesses—echoing Trung’s approach to learning and adapting. Ries writes, “The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else.” 

• “Grit” by Angela Duckworth 

Duckworth’s research aligns with Trung’s story of perseverance and passion. Her statement, “Effort counts twice,” reminds readers that success is built on sustained effort over time. 

• “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki 

Kiyosaki’s focus on financial literacy mirrors Trung’s insights on leveraging knowledge for economic growth. He states, “The rich don’t work for money; they make money work for them.” 

Recap of Straight-A Guide Lessons 

1. Values (Define Success) – Trung defined success as freedom and self-reliance. 
2. Goals – Trung’s goals shifted as he progressed, from earning a degree to building businesses. 
3. Attitude – His positive attitude and relentless drive were key to his success. 
4. Aspiration – Trung aimed for consistent growth, building on acquired skills. 
5. Action – Trung took steps daily to expand knowledge and execute his plans. 
6. Accountability – He tracked his progress and built credibility through consistent results. 
7. Awareness – Trung identified opportunities in new markets and adapted to trends. 
8. Authenticity – Through genuine service, he gained trust and credibility in business. 
9. Achievement – Trung celebrated small wins while working toward larger goals. 
10. Appreciation – Trung’s dedication to mentoring others reveals his gratitude for his own opportunities. 

Sample Response 

Reflection question chosen: How can you use Trung’s story to strengthen your resilience and overcome your own challenges? 

Sample Response: I am writing a sample response, as I would have written if I were in prison, learning from Trung's story. I'd publish it on my profile at PrisonProfessorsTalent.com, to show others the way that I spent my time in prison preparing for success.

Response: 

Trung’s story inspires me to think about the power of perseverance and the importance of maintaining a clear vision for the future, even in the face of difficult circumstances. While I am in prison, it is easy to feel limited by the walls around me, but Trung’s dedication to rebuilding his life reminds me that every challenge is also an opportunity to grow. His ability to turn setbacks into stepping stones motivates me to use my time productively, focusing on education, self-reflection, and personal development. By following his example, I can stay resilient, knowing that the hardships I face today can shape me into a stronger, more determined individual tomorrow. I am working daily to align my decisions with my highest potential, just as Trung did, to ensure that when my time here ends, I am ready to contribute meaningfully to my community.

When I watched Trung's story, which began with memories of fleeing his home country on a boat, having to cross treacherous seas, I was reminded of a book I read called the Odyssey. The story's protagonist, Odysseus, had to navigate treacherous seas on his long voyage home.

We are all embarked on our own personal odysseys, filled with challenges that test our resolve. Odysseus faced storms, mythical creatures, and relentless trials, yet his determination to return to Ithaca never wavered.

Trung was only three when his family carried him away from home, and his life continued with many challenges. Yet he mastered the virtue of resilience and perseverance.  

As we traverse the seas of life, it is important to remember that our journey may not be easy, but it will make us stronger and more resilient. Just like Odysseus, we must remain steadfast in our pursuit of our goals and never give up. Our struggles may seem endless at times, but they are a necessary part of our growth and development. I must stay the course while going through my prison term, just as Trung described in his story. I must trust the process, knowing that every obstacle brings us one step closer to achieving our dreams.

When we confront adversity, we can draw strength from the lessons of those who came before us—our mentors, heroes, and guides. These masters of resilience teach us that perseverance is not about avoiding struggle but learning to rise above it. Each setback becomes a profound lesson, and each victory, no matter how small, brings us closer to our own version of home—a place of fulfillment, purpose, and growth. By anchoring ourselves in their wisdom, we move forward with courage, trusting that persistence will ultimately carry us through.

Challenge to Students 

Create a comprehensive profile on Prison Professors Talent. Use your profile to reflect your skills, certifications, and achievements, demonstrating your commitment to self-directed learning and personal accountability. Show how your growth aligns with Straight-A Guide principles, proving that you are extraordinary, deserving of higher levels of liberty, and ready to contribute to your community.

‍