Cham Tang and his business partner Benjamin Harvey teach people how to make a difference, and a living doing what they love.
What’s your story?
I failed high school because I was lost and lacked direction. I discovered personal development and dreamed of “doing what I love” but didn’t know how. After working with Tony Robbins for 2 years and other personal development companies, I co-founded Authentic Education with my business partner, Benjamin J Harvey.
We teach people how to make a difference, and a living doing what they love with a range of business and personal development courses. My role is Head of Marketing. We were fortunate to be awarded 2 BRW awards for fast business growth.
What excites you most about your industry?
Instead of working for 40 hours a week, for 40 years of your life, to retire on 40% of your income, we help people find fulfillment in their work and achieve financial freedom through a business. The exciting thing is that because we focus on “difference-makers” (coaches, speakers, educators, ethical products), the ripple effect means we help hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy their work or business.
What’s your connection to Asia?
My parents fled vietnam on a boat in 1978 and we arrived as refugees in Australia. I’m of Chinese heritage and Chinese values and culture have been instilled in me together with the Australian way of life.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Singapore, because it is extremely open to personal development and new ways of doing things.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
It was a quote I read by Henry Ford, “Think you can, think you can’t, either way you’re right.” It taught me that the thoughts and beliefs in my head can be changed, and so can things like my health, relationships and finances. Your entire life can be changed if you change the way you think about it.
Who inspires you?
My mum. She came to Australia on a boat with less than $1000, no family or friends, not knowing the language, with two crazy kids to take care of, and managed to build a better life for our family. I saw her work 60 hours a week behind a sewing machine to afford us more opportunities and it inspired me to make the most of my life.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
That when it comes to presenting, how you say something is more important than what you say. I have heard of this in theory, but actually putting it into practice makes a huge difference. Personally, the difference it’s made in my presentations is remarkable. I delivered the exact same content, but with two very different results. The only difference was the amount of practice I put into HOW I was delivering it, such as emotion, phrasing and working on my own confidence.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Invested in bitcoin earlier. I would have started the same business I’m in but at the age of 18 (instead of 31) and skipped uni altogether. But, I guess I wouldn’t be the person I am today without all the lessons I got from 18-31 such as what it’s like to work for a bank and starting a couple of other businesses which failed.
How do you unwind?
I like to jog to destress or just lie down with my eyes closed in a dark room for 10 mins. Anything like TV just seems to add to the stress.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Japan. I love the variety of city life mixed with great scenic landscapes, the food, Japanese whisky and the crazy subcultures and fashion.
Everyone in business should read this book:
The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco. It’s a spammy title, but a great book which goes through what the types of businesses to build are and why.
Shameless plug for your business:
If you want to learn how to grow your business or mindset from a BRW Fast 100 company, checkout www.authentic.com.au
How can people connect with you?
Via my Facebook page or Instagram. Just search “Cham Tang”, there aren’t that many.
Twitter handle?
Chamtang
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connect’ series of more than 500 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started,
built and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder of The Marketing Group PLC. He is the author two best selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’ and ‘Agglomerate’.
Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Download free copies of his books here: www.callumlaing.com
