"Design wizard" reveals 5 lessons when starting a business at age 40

"Design wizard" Nguyen Tri Phuong Dong shared with 338 new graduates the 5 most valuable lessons in life.

From his own real-life stories, Mr. Nguyen Tri Phuong Dong (Creative Director of Dai Viet Hoang Cau Company, author of the Saigon Zoom In travel guide) shared practical meanings for 338 new graduates at the FPT University Graduation Ceremony.

Design expert Nguyen Tri Phuong Dong - who was awarded the "American Graphic Design Award 2014" by Graphic Design USA magazine - is considered a "design wizard" in Vietnam.

The following are Mr. Nguyen Tri Phuong Dong's shares with the new graduates:

When I was in school, my teacher taught me that there are two ways to learn: learning to follow and learning to avoid. When I was in school, I learned that lesson. I would like to share some small lessons of my own with you today.

FPT University Graduation Ceremony Mr. Nguyen Tri Phuong Dong spoke at the FPT University Graduation Ceremony.

Lessons on attitude towards work

The restaurant owner in Germany where I studied communication design taught me a valuable lesson. On a day when there were few customers, I was on duty at the bar, a week before I had cut my hand.

That day I was washing glasses and trying to avoid hurting my fingers, I accidentally broke the glass. The boss passed by and said, if an easy job like washing glasses still breaks, what can I do in the future?

Breaking a glass in life is not a big deal, but the first boss in my life warned me, making me carry the spirit that everything I do must be done right, must be kind, in every little thing in every day.

Try your best in your own way, nurture the great ambition to start a business to move forward.

Lessons on human resources

In 1995, when I worked for an advertising company, in charge of brands such as Cocacola, Fanta, Sprite... I and my boss participated in a personnel interview.

There was a female artist who, when asked about salary promotion in an interview, replied, "My old company paid 4 million, here they give whatever they want."

“Give as much as you want” is not the spirit we expect from the world's largest advertising corporation.

Later, when I interacted with Western friends, I realized an experience, we say to each other "live like this or you will be like that".

Always try to get ahead by any means. Of course she was rejected for the job.

Work professionally and have a professional attitude, act professionally, think decisively and do it to the end. Life is not about waiting but being proactive is positive energy for a better life.

Lessons from customers

In the early 2000s, I met a client who had a high-end design in his hand that was quite neat and had completed the contract. According to him, this was a correct design, beautiful but not good because the product had no flavor, no soul. And expressing further expectations, he told me, "If I pay more, can you draw it better?". I was once again awakened to the sophistication of the product, to the curiosity, to the challenge of "will paying more produce a more worthy product".

Mr. Nguyen Tri Phuong Dong spoke at the FPT University Graduation Ceremony.

Benjamin Franklin said, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” I feel I failed when I was not sophisticated enough and not prepared thoroughly for every situation. Always prepare yourself so you don’t miss an opportunity.

Lessons from a child

30 years ago, a child once asked me: "Do adults lie more than children?"

I later learned that the child felt sad and disappointed because his parents had promised to take him out and buy him a new pair of shoes but had not been able to do so.

The child's question haunts me forever. Young people, if you practice honesty in all circumstances and living environments, at least in the long run, greed will gradually be eliminated, and there will be no problems that leave a bad impression on friends around the world, typically corruption.

Thousands of people attended the graduation ceremony.

With your youthful aspirations, try to love your country with simple things like loving yourself, building your family, trying to be rich and successful to contribute to the country where you live.

Be as honest as possible. If you have status or money, think of the community and society.

Lessons on entrepreneurship

In 2006, I was granted a visa to immigrate to the US, and had to leave within 6 months. This meant that I would have to start from a negative number, in other words, I would have to “start a business” at the age of 40.

In 2014, I received a valuable certificate in design after 4 years of study, just like you guys now.

Thinking about my own efforts when I had to return to the starting point after 20 years in the profession, when I held the certificate in my hand, I spent 10 minutes remembering the old memories, 10 minutes crying, then continued working until today. Up to now, I am very lucky to have 6 international awards in my field.

Knowledge changed my life, knowledge made me live to the end and I believe knowledge will change your life.

The concept of entrepreneurship is probably not new in recent years in Vietnam. I think that the entrepreneurial spirit is more important than organizing a startup company, because above all, that spirit will follow you for the rest of your life.

According to VTC.vn