PebHmong Discussion Forum

Life & Living => Entrepreneurial Minds => Topic started by: Believe_N_Me on September 27, 2016, 02:15:10 AM

Title: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Believe_N_Me on September 27, 2016, 02:15:10 AM
I know this talented individual who is well-known in her industry. She is well-connected to mainstream so she has no problem landing big clients outside of the Hmong community. What I want to know is why she remains small when she clearly has the clientele to be competitive in her industry. She is a one-woman show when she can totally expand her business. Meanwhile, one of my former professors is in the same exact business. I'd say that he probably isn't as talented as she is. However, he has a full-blown working business with employees and all. And because of this he makes so much more and is so much more recognized.

So my question is: Why are Hmong people so afraid to expand their business?

For example: Hairstylists who are the only stylist in their salon? While Vietnamese will have several. Same thing when it comes to spa/nail salon. The Hmong most likely have one other family member employed but Vietnamese or whites will have a handful.

Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Reporter on September 27, 2016, 05:54:50 PM
Your friend's husband limited her.


I know this talented individual who is well-known in her industry. She is well-connected to mainstream so she has no problem landing big clients outside of the Hmong community. What I want to know is why she remains small when she clearly has the clientele to be competitive in her industry. She is a one-woman show when she can totally expand her business. Meanwhile, one of my former professors is in the same exact business. I'd say that he probably isn't as talented as she is. However, he has a full-blown working business with employees and all. And because of this he makes so much more and is so much more recognized.

So my question is: Why are Hmong people so afraid to expand their business?

For example: Hairstylists who are the only stylist in their salon? While Vietnamese will have several. Same thing when it comes to spa/nail salon. The Hmong most likely have one other family member employed but Vietnamese or whites will have a handful.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: nightrider on September 27, 2016, 09:39:48 PM
I know this talented individual who is well-known in her industry. She is well-connected to mainstream so she has no problem landing big clients outside of the Hmong community. What I want to know is why she remains small when she clearly has the clientele to be competitive in her industry. She is a one-woman show when she can totally expand her business. Meanwhile, one of my former professors is in the same exact business. I'd say that he probably isn't as talented as she is. However, he has a full-blown working business with employees and all. And because of this he makes so much more and is so much more recognized.

So my question is: Why are Hmong people so afraid to expand their business?

For example: Hairstylists who are the only stylist in their salon? While Vietnamese will have several. Same thing when it comes to spa/nail salon. The Hmong most likely have one other family member employed but Vietnamese or whites will have a handful.

Because mainstream have no need for their services or product.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: NkaujNom on October 12, 2016, 11:28:18 AM
Maybe she is content with the way her business is now. Bigger business means more time, money, energy, and expertise.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: floaty on October 26, 2016, 05:02:27 PM
She probably assessed the risk and cost. Whereas the professor may have expendable money and can risk opening businesses and having employees.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Believe_N_Me on October 28, 2016, 02:18:38 AM
Your friend's husband limited her.

Actually, he is her accountant and has put his own career on hold in order to support hers.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Believe_N_Me on October 28, 2016, 02:24:47 AM
But my main point is that why are the Hmong so afraid to expand? It makes us more competitive if and when we do. The ability to do so also increases our wealth and buying power.

We need more entrepreneurs. The next step is getting Hmong entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

White people can turn a business where they printed pressure-sensitive labels in a garage into a global company. When you think about what some of these companies manufacture it's practically absurd. How can one college kid weaving a plastic strap, for example, turn that company into a mid-large size company that employs hundreds and trades on the stock market?

Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: YAX on November 02, 2016, 08:00:25 PM
expansion means an initial cost and risk if losing that investment.  No expansion means reduced risk.

Hmong people don't believe in reinvestment.  They want to keep whatever they can make.

Hmong like to do business under the table which is good short term but prevents them from being able to show profit.  Banks don't support businesses that don't show profit so it is hard for them to take loans from banks for expansion.

Ofcourse its totally possible that your friend doesn't fall into any of those categories too.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: darkhelmet on November 03, 2016, 09:38:16 AM
Sometimes it's not just about money or being the biggest.  It's simply that some people don't care about that, they value time and personal growth over materialistic money/growth/recognition.

Maybe she has found that right balance between work and freedom.  I don't think you have to be the biggest or most well-known to be considered a success.  If you are happy, love what you do, then you've made it.





Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: w1s3m0n on December 28, 2016, 02:39:44 PM
The biggest challenge for any small business is talent.  For Hmong business the same applies.  If they had the talents then the confidence would set in, and they would take the risk.  The other challenge with small business is trust.  Whom do you entrust your business to?  They have the talents but can you trust them?  In respect to Hmong it is because most people are 1st generation and world-class business know-how is difficult and expensive to acquire.




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Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Gucci K on December 28, 2016, 03:58:37 PM
a wiseman brought up a good point in another thread which relates entirely to this topic.  Our business don't grow because we don't do referrals.  the wiseman said, one store will not share it's secret with another to level the playing field (which could be argumentative).  this is where we see the failure...rega rdless if store A don't have an item a consumer is looking for, he's not going to refer to store B, who he knows store B has.  same as with hmong doctors, a chiropractor (specializing in personal injury) is not going to refer his patient with a substantial eye injury to a hmong (per se) ophthalmologis t or optometrist.  We're only good at swapping labor, literrally..as with the hmong term, "pab dag, pab zog", we're not too keen on referral business....pe b tsuas paub pab dawb pab do xwb!   ;D
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Believe_N_Me on January 02, 2017, 05:03:02 AM
Is it fair to say that people who have a country have a different mentality?

All I see are Hmong people, like blacks, going to school in hopes of getting hired by someone else.

We don't have the fertile grounds in our own community to support businesses unless the service is a necessity - such as medical.

Be a doctor, there will be a line of non-English speaking Hmong elders. But for sure don't expect modern Hmong to be patients. They are not ready for you to see their spouse naked. That is just the truth!

The reason whites are successful is because there will always be a white person willing to hand over good money for a product/service that they probably don't need. This is good group economics for them.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: w1s3m0n on January 04, 2017, 02:45:05 PM
Is it fair to say that people who have a country have a different mentality?

All I see are Hmong people, like blacks, going to school in hopes of getting hired by someone else.

We don't have the fertile grounds in our own community to support businesses unless the service is a necessity - such as medical.

Be a doctor, there will be a line of non-English speaking Hmong elders. But for sure don't expect modern Hmong to be patients. They are not ready for you to see their spouse naked. That is just the truth!

The reason whites are successful is because there will always be a white person willing to hand over good money for a product/service that they probably don't need. This is good group economics for them.

Leadership is the problem.  Old guards still guarding.  Young leaders don't want to be entangled in traditions and politics.  In addition, the style of leadership is a problem too.  For example, Hmong leaders are empowered by traditions.  The reality is leaders should empower future generations.  When a leader eats the yolk of his grandchildren he is but a vampire.   This is the type of leadership we have today.  This is true even for America via the ~20T debt.



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Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: nooneever on January 16, 2017, 09:53:04 AM
Maybe I am thinking too deep, but perhaps this takes root in how she grew up.  I meet a lot of humble people who are satisfied with what they're earning, but a little ambition wouldn't hurt.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: duckwingduck on January 16, 2017, 08:12:42 PM
Maybe I should say why Hmong don't like starting business since I see that you and I have no business running.  :)

Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: lexicon on January 24, 2017, 03:29:03 PM

1. Limited clientele
2. Business/Family Relationships
3. Reinvestment
4. Lack of applicable knowledge/skill/experience/education
5. Funds

In no particular order. And in no part limited to just these examples.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Meestahh_Prince on February 03, 2017, 04:33:51 PM
Success of a business are heavily backed by their own people as their foundation. Lack of funds, skills and support from Hmong community. That's highly expected though judging by the history they came from.
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Believe_N_Me on March 25, 2017, 08:05:09 PM
Success of a business are heavily backed by their own people as their foundation. Lack of funds, skills and support from Hmong community. That's highly expected though judging by the history they came from.

^^^

I agree with this.

If your group isn't working towards being self-sufficient then forget about doing trade with others.

Not too long ago I saw on television this white, hippy dude in the Amazon rainforest or something like that. There's a tribe that extracts tea from a plant. It's suppose to have all these excellent health benefits. White dude starts his own company off this plant. He employs a bunch of those tribe members to grow and harvest the leaves, while selling it in America and other countries. White dude is totally getting rich.

My thinking is, "why didn't these Amazon people start this business since it was always a staple beverage of theirs?" Oh yeah, no marketing skills. Plus, like the Hmong they probably can't even sell to their own people. Why? Because everybody in their race cultivates it on an individual level so they aren't looking to buy it. Then there's the fact that a white person probably can't relate to these Amazonians. They aren't as willing to believe an Amazonian salesperson for the health benefits whereas they can believe the white dude. White dude is probably like, "hey, it works for me so you should try it."

Take for example "cupping" and "hot stone" therapy. The Hmong have done this for centuries but do you think a white person would believe us? Many medical experts once thought it was physical abuse.  ::) But one image of Gwenyth Paltrow getting this type of treatment and it becomes a luxury treatment at spas.

So these Amazons are like the Hmong. You know how it is. You try to open a pho restaurant but all the Hmong think they can make it better at home.  ::)  Sometimes it isn't about being able to make it better at home. It's about treating yourself because you worked hard for your money. If you aren't using at least some of your own money on yourself then why work?
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Hmong Martial Artist on April 02, 2017, 04:38:22 PM
Considering that most Hmong business establishments I've been have been started by the OG's, whose mindset is seeing a business as a job than a means to get rich, it's fairly understandable .  Most people start business to start having an income, particularly those of minorities.  Those of us who were born and raised here have seen and witness many other people get rich and build a fortune, thus we're more inclined to think that starting a business is a means to fortune and wealth.  Even now, most Hmong Businesses I'm aware of are owned by Older Hmong people who only view their place of business as a means to pay the bill and put food on the table.  It's family owned and the parents likely believe they will pass on the business to one of their children.

While lack of business know-how and financial savy plays a part, it's also the lack of drive - or perhaps the lack of knowing that they can actually do more than make just enough to get through a couple of months - that limits Hmong businesses. 
Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: Gracified23 on August 01, 2017, 07:54:29 PM
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Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
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Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
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Title: Re: List Reasons Why Hmong Businesses Don't Grow
Post by: VillainousHero on March 13, 2019, 01:09:51 AM
I can't speak for that business...but I know for myself, my ugly looks and raspy voice will never spell charisma.  My success would really just to be a ghost for others.  Then that comes right back to the first point.  Reality don't work that way...