A success story is often made of one great idea, a solid plan, and a person with a vision. But what’s layered beneath that story is a reason that fuels that journey. In this article, we will unfold the story of a young entrepreneur and how he went from $5,000 in debt to being a multi-millionaire. Tom Wang is a self-taught entrepreneur who had a rough time completing his education, got kicked out of three schools, and became a successful entrepreneur following a road less traveled.
Welcome to the life of Tom Wang
Tom Wang is originally from China but is now residing in Canada and living his childhood dream. But no one fed this luxury to him; Tom and his family endured a hard time when they migrated to Canada. Life had stringent plans for them that the Wang family wasn’t ready to face.
In 2001, Tom and his family moved to Canada. Back in China, his mother was a professor, and his father worked as an engineer in China’s top firm. Unfortunately, his parents couldn’t find a sustainable job in this foreign land. The family saw their darkest nights and stormiest days for a few years. Putting food on the table, paying for education and other necessities would cut down their budget.
Real-life challenges
When Tom matured and aimed to provide for his family, he faced harsh real-world challenges. Tom always valued every dollar he had, and he knew that only money could make his family’s life stable. He always had a side hustle that would keep him engaged and motivated to find what he was seeking.
“I didn’t feel like they (successful people) had something that I didn’t. It was just a matter of time. So I kept on trying and never gave up,” says Tom.
He tried various side hustles to see what worked the best with his skills, but nothing clicked. In 2016, he started importing hoverboards. The venture didn’t work out as he got zero sales. Tom was now out of business and out of the last $5,000 to his name.
“I then bumped into someone who was selling on Amazon,” Tom said. “He referred it to me.”
Shining through the darkness
It was when Tom discovered Amazon when his life changed forever, but I wasn’t an immediate change. Initially, he couldn’t make enough sales to warrant continuing to sell on Amazon. He even thought of giving up on the work, but his girlfriend convinced him to continue trying. Tom worked with Amazon through FBA (fulfilled by Amazon), and it was a rough 10-month ride.
In 2017, he and his girlfriend launched Sdara, a skincare product on Amazon, and the rest is history. Tom’s knowledge of FBA, third-party selling, PPC, and much more was self-taught. He’s now inspiring the world to seek what they love, even when few resources are available.
The couple has generated close to $10 million in three years on Amazon with Sdara Skincare. Tom then bootstrapped the brand and, in 2020, sold it with a seven-figure exit. In three years, Tom rose from counting each dollar to becoming a millionaire by age 27. Tom also contributes to society by teaching untraditional ways of succeeding on various educational portals like Coursera, Khan Academy, and many others.
“I always believed in myself, somehow. I always believed that one day I was going to reach some level of success,” says Tom. Tom recognizes himself as a leader in the Amazon and e-commerce industry and dreams to inspire anyone who feels that their dreams are not worth millions.
