Imagine being 15 years old, watching your dad come home exhausted at dawn after grueling work, looking like he’d aged years in a week. That single image hits hard. For one young guy fresh off the plane from Vietnam to Canada, it sparked a promise that most teens wouldn’t even dream of making: “Give me 10 years, and I’ll retire you both.”
Fast forward a decade, and against all odds, he actually did it. At just 25, this college dropout runs a thriving video production company pulling in over a million dollars annually. It’s the kind of story that makes you pause and wonder—what does it really take to turn a desperate family moment into real financial freedom?
From Immigrant Struggles to Viral Video Success
The journey started in a place many know too well: adjustment shock. New country, new language, parents sacrificing everything for better opportunities. The family had been comfortable back home, but the move brought hardship. Depression crept in, anger too. Yet amid that chaos, something clicked for this teenager. Video games became his escape, and soon he was slicing together gameplay montages just for fun.
That hobby quickly evolved. He began editing longer videos for various YouTubers—gaming, finance, even dropshipping channels—and charged pocket change for hours of work. It wasn’t glamorous, but it lit a fire. He loved the process so much that he decided to chase it seriously, enrolling in film school shortly after high school.
Here’s where things get interesting. Only four months in, he created a short film about his parents’ sacrifices. It landed in the school’s hall of fame. Instead of sticking around, he dropped out. Why? He remembered a quote that stuck: “If you’re the best in the room, then you’re in the wrong room.” In his mind, staying meant stagnation. Time to level up on his own terms.
You’ve got to be a little bit delusional to play this game.
— Young entrepreneur reflecting on building a million-dollar business
I find that line oddly inspiring. A touch of delusion might be exactly what’s needed when the path isn’t clear. Most people play it safe; he chose bold.
Hustling From Scratch: Free Meals and Couch Surfing
Post-dropout life was rough. Cold emails to every CEO, agency, and production house in Toronto? Crickets. No experience, no portfolio—classic catch-22. So he got creative. He offered three months of free work to a local content company in exchange for real business training: emails, negotiations, the works.
During those months, he started shooting on the side. He messaged every restaurant in the city: “Let me make a video for you in exchange for a meal.” Living out of a suitcase on a friend’s couch, laptop always open, he upgraded from phone footage to cheap cameras snagged on Marketplace. Small food stalls, mom-and-pop spots—anything to build proof.
- Started with basic edits on phone
- Moved to better gear as money trickled in
- Focused on short clips when longer posts flopped
Then came the shift. TikTok was exploding. He noticed restaurants’ videos weren’t popping on Instagram, but the platform rewarded trends. He pitched clients: $2,000 for 10 TikToks, with a money-back guarantee if they didn’t get views. The first one hit 700,000. The next, 300,000. One client gained 9,000 followers overnight. Suddenly, he had a case study. “I can help you go viral” became his pitch—and it worked.
Scaling Up: From Solo Editor to Million-Dollar Operation
By early 2023, the company officially launched. Retainer model, starting at $2,000 monthly per client, producing varying numbers of shorts depending on needs. He guaranteed virality or refunds—only had to issue one. As results piled up, prices climbed to $10,000–$16,000 per month. Brands beyond restaurants followed: snacks, tech, pet food.
The numbers tell a powerful story. In 2025 alone, revenue reached $1.08 million, with solid net profit. Ten to twelve steady clients, a team of 15 scattered globally—editors, writers, managers. From couch to command center in a few short years.
What stands out is the mindset. He reinvested everything early on. When pandemic hit and clients vanished, he sent thousands more emails. Persistence paid off. By year three, things snowballed. In my view, that’s the real lesson here—not the money, but the refusal to quit when everything screamed “stop.”
Keeping the Promise: Family First
The best part? He delivered on that childhood promise. Starting in 2025, he began sending his parents enough each month to cover rent and living costs outside Toronto. They don’t have to work anymore, though they choose to—two days a week at a farmers market stall his mom runs. It’s freedom with purpose.
There’s something deeply human about that. Amid all the viral views and revenue charts, the core motivation stayed family. In a world obsessed with hustle culture, this reminds us why we grind. Sometimes, it’s not just about building wealth—it’s about lifting the people who lifted you.
I remember my old man coming home at, like, 7 a.m., and my mom told me that he lost like five pounds after one week. That was an awakening moment for me.
Lessons From the Journey: What Anyone Can Apply
So what can the rest of us take away? First, skills beat credentials. He learned editing mostly from free online tutorials. No fancy degree required. Second, start small but think big. Free food gigs turned into paid retainers. Third, adapt fast. When long videos flopped, he pivoted to shorts.
- Master one skill deeply (video editing in this case)
- Build proof through small wins
- Pitch with guarantees to reduce risk for clients
- Scale by hiring and systematizing
- Never lose sight of your “why”
Perhaps the most underrated part is the delusion factor. Dreaming $100 million in five years sounds crazy, right? But that audacity fuels action. Without it, he might still be editing $20 videos. In my experience following these kinds of stories, the biggest barrier isn’t talent—it’s believing it’s possible.
The Bigger Picture: Short-Form Video Revolution
We’re living in the era of short attention spans. Platforms reward quick, addictive content. His company thrives by understanding trends, hooks, and what makes people stop scrolling. It’s not random luck; it’s strategy. Spot patterns, replicate winners, add brand spin.
For aspiring creators or business owners, this space offers huge opportunity. Low entry barriers, high demand from brands wanting attention. But it requires constant learning—algorithms change, trends fade. Staying ahead means never getting comfortable.
He branched into bigger clients, racked up millions of views, even met idols in the space. The growth feels organic because it’s built on relentless execution.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
At 25, most people are just starting careers. He’s already eyeing massive scale. $100 million revenue in five years? Ambitious, sure. But given the trajectory, I wouldn’t bet against him.
The real win isn’t the money—it’s the freedom it buys. For his parents, for his team, for himself. Stories like this remind us that immigrant grit, combined with modern tools and a bit of courage, can rewrite what’s possible.
If you’re feeling stuck, maybe take a page from his book. Start small, stay delusional, and keep the promise to yourself (and those who matter) front and center. You never know where it might lead.
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