When I was a kid in Vietnam, life wasn't a walk in the park. It was me and Mom, just the two of us, taking on the world. You see, the kids in my school teased me because I didn't know my dad. I remember this one incident as clearly as if it were yesterday. I was six and this boy at school wouldn't quit making fun of me. One day, I lost it, and took my frustration out on him, courtesy of my trusty umbrella!

The aftermath? His mom was at our doorstep, quite the firecracker, yelling at my mom.

Seeing Mom there, quiet and apologetic... it filled me with an urge to be someone worthy of her pride. From that moment on, all I wanted was to make her proud.

My mom was an incredibly inspiring figure in my life. She wasn't just my mother; she was a math teacher brimming with zest for education. Her mantra was powerful yet simple: "I may not be able to leave you a lot of materialistic things, but I can provide you with an excellent education." Boy, did she keep her word! She braved the hustle and bustle of the city every day, with me on the back of her bike, just to take me to the best schools in town. Quite the hero, my mom!

My Childhood in Vietnam

When my college years were on the horizon, Mom made another bold move - we packed up our life in Vietnam and moved to the US, reuniting with her parents. For her, it was a sacrifice, leaving her comfort zone for the sake of my education. On our flight to America, we got to talking about her dreams. Amidst the clouds, she shared her aspiration to travel the world, a dream that has become my life's mission to turn it into reality.

The start of my American journey was intimidating - my English skills were minimal at best. The jitters of first days were compounded by being placed into ESL classes. But I learned that to aim for the top colleges, I had to score over a perfect 4.0 GPA by taking on challenging AP classes.

I remember that fork in the road as clear as day - when my counselor suggested my English might be a stumbling block, and strongly advised against AP courses. But rather than letting it discourage me, I decided to tackle it head-on. After the first quarter, I successfully pleaded with the tormented souls … oh, I mean, the AP math and physics teachers, and got my hands on the textbooks, a mere two weeks before the exams.

Those two weeks were fueled by sheer adrenaline and gallons of caffeine, but it all paid off! Not only did I pass both exams, but I also secured the second-highest score in Physics! And I was in!

That was my 'Eureka!' moment, the turning point that turbocharged my confidence and built my courage to not simply take "No" for an answer. Building on that momentum, I started applying for scholarships, using my unique story as my secret weapon. The effort was well worth it, as soon I found myself as the grateful recipient of eleven different scholarships.

My Senior Year in an American High School.

2005

WHERE I AM NOW

FINALLY MAKING $$

MY HUSTLING YEARS

SENIOR YEAR IN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

MY CHILDHOOD IN VIETNAM

My journey to living the American dream didn't come gift-wrapped with a shiny bow; it was years in painstaking but fulfilling creation. Now, buckle up, because I'm about to get real with you. In the initial stages, it was all about hustling – and plenty of it. I say it out loud even though it's a bit controversial these days. You see, the trending sentiment seems to be anti-hustle. While I don't entirely disagree, let's just say, when you're starting from scratch, a bit of good ol' grind is just the ticket.

This is where the trade-off happens. In the beginning, you might find yourself swapping time for money, laying the stepping stones towards creating a wealth-generating machine that, in time, will have your money working overtime for you. Take my first summer in the US, for instance. I juggled three jobs! I continued this multiple gigs routine for a while. The emphasis is on 'intentional' hustling. You see, you've got to know directionally where you want to go. In my case, I had my eyes set on achieving financial freedom — the kind that lets you call the shots wherever, whenever, and however YOU want.

Fast forward to 2009. There I was, graduating a double-major Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations - milestone #1. Next stop: 2013, the year I earned my master's degree in Finance – milestone #2. But the universe had a little more in store for 2013. After almost nine years of calling a tiny bedroom home, mom and I were ready for an upgrade. It was time to demonstrate that hustle pays off - I made a massive financial decision: I invested in a 3-unit house!

Looking back, I'd say it was the best money move I made. No more minuscule living space for mom and me, plus it kicked off my journey towards financial independence. It signified the moment my money, and investments began working overtime for me.

The Dream that Wasn't Built in a Day

2013

WHERE I AM NOW

FINALLY MAKING $$

MY HUSTLING YEARS

SENIOR YEAR IN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

MY CHILDHOOD IN VIETNAM

First Year Earning Over 6-Figure Income.

2014

WHERE I AM NOW

FINALLY MAKING $$

MY HUSTLING YEARS

SENIOR YEAR IN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

MY CHILDHOOD IN VIETNAM

2014 was the year that I hit my goal of earning over 6-figure income. That year was a game-changer for me because my money and investments started to do the "heavy lifting" for me.

With the 3-unit investment, I lived in the house for free while the rental income from the other two units covered all expenses. Isn't that amazing? And here's the kicker – I still had some leftovers to fuel my savings and investments for the future.

Let's talk 401k matching. I was fortunate to grab that opportunity with both hands when every employer, including my part-time one, offered it. I knew that every contribution was like adding fuel to the fire of my financial independence.

Finally, my Mom's long-standing American dream to travel started becoming a reality. My mom and I took off to different parts of the world – and what a journey it has been! Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, and others!

You know those moments where you wake up and just can't believe that you're living your dream life? That's me - all the time! If you had told me when I first came to America that I'd be where I am now, I would have laughed it off. But here I am, living in a beautiful 6-bedroom house on over an acre of land with my hubby Nick (aka the love of my life), our sweet son Lucas, and my mom (who totally rocks and lives in her own in-law apartment). Our 3-unit property, our Airbnb, our 401k, and investment portfolios are working overtime for us while we sleep.

The best part? Nick and I have this amazing bond where we share everything - our hopes and dreams, our finances, and everything in between. We are always looking for ways to grow our real estate & investment portfolio, and take things to the next level. Our vision is to own a property near the water within the next three years that can serve as both an Airbnb and vacation spot. And ten years from now? We want to have ten properties under our belt. It sounds like a hefty goal, but we truly believe that anything is possible with the right mindset and game plan.

I know it might seem like I'm bragging, but trust me when I say that's not my intention. I'm just here to show you what's possible - regardless of your background. The American Dream is alive and well, my friends, and I'm living, breathing proof. You deserve to have a life filled with abundance, freedom, and joy. So don't wait for some magical "one day" to come around. Make today day one and start taking small steps towards your big dreams. Because when you've got that big belief and unwavering faith in yourself, there's nothing you can't achieve. Let's do this, together!