Lebanese immigrant Tony Assali shared an inspirational story of unlikely business success on Friday as he recounted to Los Alamitos Chamber members the day when he arrived in America with $28 in his pocket.
He then proceeded to build an empire of successful businesses that, he said, fulfilled his own American Dream.
Now an Orange County businessman, Assali slowly retraced his steps to success for the packed Chamber meeting.
Assali went all the way back to when he first arrived in America and how he began to recognize “white tigers,” his metaphor for lucrative business opportunities that no one else had either seen or pursued.
In fact, Assali has named his recent memoir, “Catch a White Tiger, How I Achieved the American Dream with $28,” and he explained to the Chamber audience his philosophy and why he wrote the book.
In it, he explains how he escaped a civil war in Lebanon, and how he eventually was able to work his way across America and get his entire family to America as well.
Back in the 1970’s, when ethnic and religious differences led to the killing of Christians in Beirut, Assali said his father decided it was time for him to escape the violence.
Assali said he left most of money for his parents and arrived in Boston with $28 and a dream. “I was never afraid,” he remembered, and he said “I wasn’t worried.
Even back in Lebanan, Assali said he had already achieved modest success in business by seeing opportunities that others did not, so he figured in America he would be able to do the same.
After meeting people in church, he landed odd jobs like working in a wholesale donut factory. “I didn’t eat donuts for three years after that,” he said, and soon he had accumulated a bit of money and began to explore the northeast.
When a friend took him to a fancy restaurant, he noticed there was not a wine steward, or sommelier, to match the wine with the menu. “That was another white tiger,” he said, convincing the manager to allow him to do the job and keep a percentage of the sales.
For Assali, the venture became another smashing success. “God Bless America,” he said.
Despite his growing success in America, Assali said he was still desperate to get his entire family out of Lebanon. One day, he said, he composed a letter to the Greek Ambassador, attached his financial statement, and asked the Greek government to round up several members of his family, including his parents, award them tourist visas, then safely get them to America.
“Next thing I know,” said Assali, “my father is on the phone with me telling me” when they would arrive at Boston’s Logan airport.
Even though he was still living in a one-room apartment, they entire family lived together for a time in that one-bedroom. “It was one of the best times of my life,” he said. Actually, Assali’s speech to the Los Alamitos Chamber on Friday came exactly 43 years to day from when his parents arrived in Boston (Sept. 6, 1976).
According to Assali, there are “white tigers,” (a name he uses to characterize hidden opportunities) are available to everyone, but many people do not act on them because of the “inner critic” within us. “We all have an inner critic and a creative side,” said Assali.
While the inner critic is always suggesting consequences or reasons not to do things, the creative side is where ideas and solutions exist if we have the courage to pursue them.
“If you are determined, the word ‘no’ does not exist. Do me favor and set a goal, then achieve it,” he said. “If you’re not going to follow through to achieve the goal, just don’t set it.”
Assali said he eventually got into the food business, became wealthy when he sold it, then built several other lucrative businesses, including an Orange County real estate portfolio.
Please “believe in yourself,” said Assali, “silence your inner critic, trusts your instincts and “find your white tiger,” he urged.
Assali’s book is available on Amazon.com.
In other action, the Los Al Chamber:
- Heard Chamber board member Stan Blackwell ask for more volunteers for innovative new marketing programs being developed by the Chamber.
- Reminded members to attend the Heroes Appreciation Luncheon, honoring men and women in uniform, September 19 at Rush Park Community Center in Rossmoor.
- Heard Robert Butler invite “everyone” to the St. Hedwig’s “Autumn Fest, Sept. 29 from noon to 8:00 p.m. Even though this is the annual fundraiser for the church, Butler said “please come even if you don’t know how to spell the word Catholic. It is for everyone in the community.” losalfair.com
- Learned from Los Al Recreation Director Ron Noda that several public meetings have been scheduled to explain the financial posture of the city. Details are available at cityoflosalamitos.org.
- Learned that the Rossmoor Homeowners Association was sponsoring forums on “Living Trusts.” ourrossmoor.com