Today's Entrepreneur: Christopher Nguyen

No. 1 mistake: They don't know how to think small or big

Today's Entrepreneur  is Christopher Nguyen, CEO & Founder of  Yatown. Yatown is the Facebook for Neighborhoods. It helps you keep up with what's happening where you live, connect with your neighbors, and share information.

Vator’s community is the home to entrepreneurs who embrace their passion and follow their dreams. Our profiles allow members to express themselves by sharing their interests, lessons learned, as well as bits and pieces of their roller-coaster journey.

These profiles give entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase themselves and tell their story. So if you are an entrepreneur, a serial entrepreneur, or even an aspiring entrepreneur, we'd like to hear from you.

I am a(n):
Entrepreneur

Companies I've founded or co-founded:
Yatown, ACTGENT, Agenda-Asia

Startups I worked for:
Bluepulse

If you are an entrepreneur, why?
I want to change the world.

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?
#1 Frustration: Don't have the same clout or leverage as when having a big corporate name behind you.
#1 Reward: Complete freedom to move and change at lightning speed.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make?
Those of us with large-company background don't know how to think small, and those with small-company background don't know how to think big.

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?
1. You are never adapting as fast as you need to. I just admit defeat and try to adapt faster.
2. Need to have co-founders. A real co-founder is someone who's up when you're down, and vice versa. Anything else is not.
3. You need to develop a rare balance of realism and optimism. Realism to assess challenges with your head out of the sand. Optimism to keep an absolute faith (and convince others) that you & your team can beat them.