Aitthipat Kulapongvanich
From Good for Nothing Kid to Millionaire

“You can’t think just for today or tomorrow when doing business, you have to look much further than that.” This summarises the approach to business of Tob-Aitthipat Kulapongvanich, founder of Tao Kae Noi (Youth Entrepreneur) Food and Marketing Co., Ltd. Tob is a rising young businessman to watch out for. He’s only 23 years of age, got his start by dint of his own bare hands and business acumen, and is known across Thailand today.



Who would guess this young millionaire was once unable to answer the all-too-familiar line: “What will you do after you graduate?” This was the story of Tob in high school. He was known as a good-for-nothing kid among his teachers, and struggled to finish high school. All he seemed good at was computer games. And how. He made hundreds of thousands of baht a month just by playing online games. How would he then have any time for his books?
  

 
Tob’s business career only took off while he was at university. One day, he went to a trade fair at Muang Thong Thani and tasted roasted chestnuts produced from a roasting machine. Then he traveled to Bangkok’s Chinatown, to sample chestnuts galore. “Believe it or not, I walked from the beginning of the road to the end and millions of questions popped up in my head.”
The young millionaire revealed to WhO? the secret of his success.
 
    
“We must not be shy to ask questions about things that we don’t know. Don’t be shy about knowledge. My strategies for success are very simple. First strategy is ‘to ask’, the second is also ‘to ask’ and then ‘to ask’. It’s as simple as that.”

Evidently his strategy worked. Who hasn’t heard of ‘Tao Kae Noi Chestnuts’?



Soon after, Tob decided to put an end to his chestnut business and move into the fried seaweed business. It wasn’t as simple as he thought, and initially his business didn’t take off. The failure was a valuable lesson for Tob.

“I thought I was the best after succeeding in the chestnut business all by myself. I guess I was kind of big-headed. In the end, I did make some mistakes. What is important is that we show good leadership and be brave enough to accept the consequences of one’s actions, even if they are mistakes.”

Today, Tob’s seaweed business is worth over a hundred million baht. He attributes this to ‘creative ideas’.

“First, we have to start with ideas. I always think that if you can succeed in one thing, you can continue doing it. If you dare to get into the business world, you have to accept there will always be problems, obstacles and dead-ends. We have to look at problems and obstacles as lessons.

We must think that if one door is shut in front of us, there will be another ready to open. No ‘no through road’ for us. What’s very important is a human being can make mistakes and lose some money but you must not be disheartened by that. A disheartened and discouraged person is like a dead man. Only willpower will lead you to success.”

  
Some people just learn their lessons. Others go further and adapt the lessons to improve themselves. This is Tob’s way.

Source : whoweeklymagazine.com
wh