We recently connected with Linda Hong and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Linda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear your thoughts about family businesses.

I co-own an insurance brokerage with my aunt and one of my best friends, and I run a cyber café with my husband. Owning a business with family and friends can be quite challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.

I value open communication in all aspects of life, especially in business. I believe that it’s important to address both the pleasant and unpleasant matters. It is healthy to be transparent. However , it is equally important to listen with an open mind—being understanding, willing to change or compromise, and embracing forgiveness.

I’ve known I wanted to be in business since I was around 15 years old, and much of that inspiration comes from my grandfather. He ran a tea shop in Vietnam before the Vietnam War, and my mother would often share stories about how he always provided the best teas to his clients, keeping the lesser quality ones for himself. He believed that clients would always remember how they were treated, and his guiding principle was to always put your best foot forward.

I have vivid memories from my childhood of him hosting tea tastings at home with his friends. He would carefully select different types of teas, taking his time to ensure they were of the highest quality. He would place the teas in small cups, pour hot water over them, and cover the cups with lids. The aroma of those teas remains with me to this day, and he taught me that good tea should not only taste great but smell wonderful as well. It was a simple, yet profound experience that left a lasting impression on me.
—
Before entering into any business partnership, it is crucial to have clear agreements in place. One of the most important conversations that no one wants to have but it is needed, is discussing happens if someone fails to meet their commitments or if they decide to exit the business. This conversation may be uncomfortable, but it’s vital. These situations do arise, and having a clear understanding of when to move on or re-evaluate can prevent unnecessary conflict.

Owning a business has been a journey of personal growth. It has taught me so much about myself and the people I work with. I’ve learned that if you truly invest effort and dedication, most people will reciprocate and support you. Patience has become a key virtue in this journey, and I’m fortunate to have family outside my business ventures who are understanding and always willing to lend a hand when needed.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born and raised in San Jose, CA, and I proudly consider myself a lifelong Bay Area resident.

My journey in the insurance industry began in 2008, starting in life insurance. At that time, I was young, fresh out of high school, and living a carefree lifestyle. Although I knew the importance of hard work, I also enjoyed the social aspects of life. One day, a classmate raised a thought-provoking point about my student loans, explaining that they wouldn’t disappear in the event of my passing and would be passed on to my next of kin. She asked whether I had read the fine print when signing my loan contract. This conversation pushed me to purchase life insurance to at least cover my student loan in the unfortunate event of my death.

I became passionate about sharing this information and educating others about the importance of insurance. Over time, I branched out to different lines of insurance. Currently, I can help people in all lines of insurance. I developed a skill for helping people understand how insurance can benefit them and the role it plays in safeguarding their financial well-being.

I truly enjoy educating people about insurance. It’s essential for people to understand how insurance works and how it can impact their lives. One of the key aspects I emphasize is that by purchasing insurance, individuals are transferring financial risks from themselves to the insurance carrier in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. This is the reason people purchase property insurance to replace damaged property. This knowledge empowers individuals to make informed decisions and protect their future.
——

In addition to my work in the insurance industry, I co-own and operate a cyber café with my husband. We acquired the business from a family friend in 2019. At the time, my husband and I were looking to start a small business, and coincidentally, our family friend was seeking to sell theirs. It was a perfect match.

The cyber café has been in the community since 2002, and it holds a special place in my heart due to its nostalgic early-2000s vibe. It’s truly unique, and I find it reminiscent of a time that shaped my own experiences. My husband is deeply passionate about the gaming world, and I enjoy gaming myself from time to time. While it may seem unconventional, we run this business because it is something we genuinely love. We are deeply committed to being a part of the local community, and it brings us great joy to connect with and serve the people here.

At our cyber café, we specialize in PC gaming and host exciting tournaments for our customers. Our gaming setup allows players to download games from various platforms or enjoy titles that we are officially licensed to offer.

We are proud to collaborate with fantastic partners, including iGames, which helps us expand our selection of PC games, and Capsule Entertainment, which supports us in organizing Fighting Game Tournaments. These partnerships enhance our ability to provide a dynamic and engaging experience for the gaming community, and we are grateful for their contributions in making this all possible.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I firmly believe in leveraging the expertise of others, allowing individuals who excel in specific areas to handle those tasks while focusing on what you do best. Teamwork is essential, and I am a strong advocate for recognizing and rewarding those who do exceptional work, while also ensuring accountability.

I understand that as a leader, sometimes it’s necessary to step in and take on tasks that people do not want to do or do not know how to do. It’s about being willing to fill in the gap. It’s about servant leadership. The questions I ask myself, “What can I do to complete this task?” and “How can I improve myself to better support the team?”

I wasn’t always this way, but leadership is a journey, and you grow through experience. Two books that significantly influenced my leadership development are “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie and “Good Leaders Ask Great Questions” by John Maxwell.

As a leader, I understand that learning is a lifelong process. Leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about being open to continuous growth.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was that by simply having a business would attract customers. It does not.

When I launched my first business, an e-commerce venture, I thought by having a website with products it would attract people. However, even with some online advertising, I struggled to gain visibility. I realized that my lack of success was largely due to my own hesitations. I wasn’t truly proud of what I had built, and fear of judgment held me back from actively promoting it.

To overcome this, I took courses that changed my perspective. I learned that when I genuinely believe in and take pride in my work, promoting it becomes natural. I had to prioritize my goals over my fear of what others might think. Over time, as my confidence grew, so did my willingness to market my business. Now, I love promoting what I do because I am passionate about what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: bigbellyins.com & euphnet.com
• Instagram: @maybach_hong & @euphnet
• Facebook: @euphnet
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-hong-654688212/
• Twitter: @euphnet
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/euphnet-cyber-cafe-sunnyvale?osq=euphnet
• Other: tiktok @maybach_hong & @euphnet
  linkedin for euphnet: https://www.linkedin.com/company/euphnet-cyber-cafe/posts/?feedView=all