Some would say that anyone who is anyone in LA knows who Jin Yu is because he is so involved in the community.  A thought leader.  A tech expert.  Incredible writer, speaker, photographer, collaborator and on and on.  If you know him really well then you know what a visionary he is and how incredible his hindsight really is.  So many times I have heard him speak or seen a post that was so ahead of our time and so insightful.  His energy and passion for life, the environment and for working toward making really important and positive changes in various industries is inspiring and motives so many of his peers.  As the Chief Growth Officer Of Vezt | the worlds first blockchain music royalty marketplace he and his team are literally changing the way artists get paid. It’s a huge deal and one that is shaking the dated systems of the music industry.  Jin moved to DTLA before it was hip or cool to do so.  He organized some of the most incredible and entertaining events that Hollywood has ever experienced and continues to do so.  If you ever run into him in LA, I highly recommend having chat with him because you always leave knowing you learned something important and feel inspired.   Mostly because of his intelligent approach to things and the ease with which he comes up with commonsensical solutions.  

Where are you from originally? If you aren’t from Los Angeles what brought you here?

Born in Daegu South Korea, immigrated to the USA when I was 3, grew up in Minnesota and moved to LA 20 years ago. I intrinsically knew I didn’t fit into the life path of most Minnesotans which was to get a degree, job, buy a house and build a family in your 20s. I didn’t know what I wanted out of life but I knew I needed to be around dreamers. People who seemed to have to have no ceiling on what you could accomplish in life. LA for some reason resonated with that desire and so I moved here on a whim.

Worst advice you’ve ever received and why?

All the worst advice is only the worst if it leads to a big mistake and you don’t learn from it. For me, it was going to college from social, peer and family pressure. Institutional education is not always the most effective for some people, I included. It was too slow for me. I needed to learn by doing, making mistakes and constantly evolving and optimizing. My time would have been better spent finding a mentor and working and absorbing from a mentor. However, I don’t regret my time at college, it was a fun experience and I learned many other things from that time.

Best advice you’ve ever received and why?

Just do one pushup a day. Too many people make giant lofty goals and expectations regarding daily life. Sometimes when it seems insurmountable we tend to procrastinate or set something aside and never pick it up again. If you tell yourself to do one little thing, that can help spark your creativity and passion. You might not just stop at one pushup.  You might do ten, then the next day 20 and so on. Success in life is about building rhythm and getting into FLOW but we are scared of failing to meet goals, scared to even start. We overthink things and get stuck in analysis paralysis and end up doing nothing. Just start somewhere. Just do something. Make mistakes. Learn. Build your voice. Build a tolerance for rejection and failure so you can build and maintain momentum every day. Your only goal every day is to build momentum. When you constantly have to start and stop it’s hard to build momentum. So start with one pushup a day.

Best advice you’ve given that had a positive impact and the person shared it with you?

Recently an acquaintance shared with me how he hit a wall acquiring new students for an online webinar business that he was building. He was very proficient at influencer marketing, social media, and digital marketing. He was a brilliant speaker, an amazing entrepreneur and had an infectious energy. He said he didn’t know what was missing. I took a look at his content and video channels and the thought occurred that he was awesome at promoting himself and his business but now he needed others to do it for him. I suggested that he ask his best students to leave video reviews of their experience with him and to tag him and his business in all their posts. If they were truly happy with their experience they should all be happy to leave a video review. One year later he came up to me at a party and he mentioned his business grew over 10x by taking my advice. I was floored by that. Some people ask for advice but don’t follow through. It’s rare to hear about these types of positive case studies. I was so happy for him!

If you weren’t doing the work you are doing, what else would you be doing & why?

I would still be in tech but anything that is socially conscious or promotes renewable energy or sustainable goods. Our planet is at a tipping point and every little action or inaction matters. We need to start inspiring, teaching, and pay things forward to right the ship. Some people might think we’ve veered too far off course but it’s never too late. With technology, we have so much power we can harness in the immediate future that the possibilities could be limitless.

Most important people in your journey and how they affected your life up until now?

My parents. No one has ever worked harder in menial back-breaking jobs trying to support me and my sister when we moved to America. I think about them every day and when I have challenges, they pale in comparison to the obstacles they have faced to make this journey work. It motivates me every day to be better, to inspire, to teach, to share and lead by example.

What advice you’d give to the 18-year-old you?

Follow through until you fail. Then pivot. Then follow through until you fail again. Then pivot. again. Wash rinse repeat.

Do you have a mentor? If so, who is he/she?

My father. He is so generous, so giving, kind, wise, patient and is the epitome of a good man. I hope I can be half the man he is someday.

Do you do any philanthropic work in LA or have in the past?

I have donated and partnered up with many 501c3’s in the past 15 years and will continue to do so. I currently produce monthly mastermind events all over LA, hosting up to 300 guests at one time curating thought leaders, futurists, creators, and marketers to discuss a variety of actionable topics that can lead and inspire people who are starting their journey or could use a jolt of inspiration.

If so, what nonprofits do you work with and why?

Currently, my passions are related to education, child hunger, human trafficking, human labor exploitation, clean water and anything related to veganism (vegetarian for 20+ years).

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who never stopped giving, sharing or teaching. Someone who inspired others to do the same.

A hidden talent nobody knows…yet. 🙂

I can draw on a photorealistic level.

Name a young man that is doing something that you find to be very impressive.

Alex Banayan, he wrote the best selling book called The Third Door. That book represents my life essence. It is all about doing whatever it takes to achieve your goals, to get in through a third door, even if there are only two ways to get in somewhere find the third door. Incredibly inspiring for anyone regardless of where you are on your life journey.

Favorite Book

48 laws of power. We live in a world that is sometimes cruel. Some of us are prey some of us are predators. Some of us are empaths some are sociopaths. 48 laws describes all the ways that people have gained and lost powers throughout the ages. Many empaths don’t necessarily understand the rules of engagement in business or politics and it takes a book like this to give you clear and actionable insight. Almost all businesses and organizations are built on power structures described in this book and although I don’t advise leading a life playing games or politics, it would also be unwise to not know how to protect yourself should you find yourself in these situations.

Favorite Quote.

They may not always remember what you said but they will always remember how you made them feel.  Businesses could really benefit from embodying this phrase.