亚裔美国企业主培养新人

As the U.S. economy continues to rebound from the Recession, more and more Americans are rolling the dice, taking the plunge and starting up their own businesses. Asian-Americans are certainly part of that group. Many of them are turning to members of their own community for advice and a helping hand.

Just south of Denver, Jie Zheng's Chinese restaurant Volcano is heating up. Since last fall, each month's revenues have been better than the last.

"When I first started it was pretty rocky, but after a while we learned," Zheng said.

Wanyi Yang was just 18 years- old when she started a hot pot business in Beijing. It didn't go well.

"I made a bunch of mistakes. I keep hiring and firing people. I didn't know how to manage people, how to communicate," Yang said.

The veteran businessman, with lots of experience in the corporate world, thinks he can help this young would-be entrepreneur. The two came together recently at a Colorado gathering of the National Association of Asian American Professionals. These established business owners told those who'd like to be in their shoes someday that leaving a humdrum 9 to 5 job can pay off in the end.

"If there's something else that you're passionate about, identify what the need is and then go do that thing," said a panelist.

Denver doesn't have the Asian-American population of a Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York. But its Asian-American community is pretty tightly connected here and willing to help each other succeed."

"It's time for me to give this back to the community, give to other newcomers. It's a wonderful thing, the mentorship is a wonderful thing," Zheng said.

Zheng is always ready with tips for those just starting out:

"Know your customer base and know what they need."

"Know your employees."

"Do your homework."

"Believe in yourself because at the end of the day you need to be motivated as a new entrepreneur."

Yang says the psychology of starting a new business is more imposing to her than the technical part.

"It's more of how you overcome your fear," she said.

She plans to build an investment firm in China and the U.S. and believes networking with fellow Asian-Americans is easier and potentially more productive for her. She sees success in her future.

"Well, you ask me I definitely say yes," she said.

This immigrant businessman, who's been through the fire, and has plenty to share, is ready to help.

"I see the hope," he said.