464. Adopting the Dream and Giving Back

Connor Cranston

As an orphaned twin in Vietnam, Connor didn’t fully understand what it meant when he learned he and his brother were being adopted. “OK, whatever,” was his first reaction. “We’d heard of the American Dream, but little did we know we were in for a wild ride!”

A miracle child, Connor Cranston was adopted–twice–with his twin brother in Vietnam. He started out his entrepreneur journey at age 12 by selling things in his school, at garage sales and online. At 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to get girls. Now he owns and operates three businesses and speaks and trains business people and individuals all over the globe.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

As an orphaned child in Vietnam, Connor learned how to fend for himself and fight—including fist-fighting—at an early age. He learned how to buy and sell things, and he realized early on that he wanted to have his own business and not work for somebody else. Later, in the military, he offered to do the laundry for his fellow Marines, earning as much as $1,000 a month. Then, at 22, he made a full dive into an entrepreneurial career.

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

It was the day in his childhood when he and his twin brother were adopted in Vietnam by a military family. “Like all kids, we often thought our parents were always wrong. But, when I got out of the military and started my career and entrepreneurial journey, I realized that my parents knew how to set me up for exactly where I wanted to be. Not many parents do that, and I’m so grateful that they chose me and my twin brother out of all the others. I’m truly blessed to be where I am right now.”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

“We live in a time when access to education and making money are unprecedented because of technology and the internet. Even a teenager with internet access can access college-level courses, at no cost, on Google and YouTube. Major universities like Harvard and Stanford are offering free courses online.”

Steps to Success from Connor Cranston

1. Where you are right now is not the whole picture. Expand your vision, use your imagination, and learn about the many choices and opportunities open to you.

2. Find a mentor as soon as possible. If you can’t afford a coach, studying the right book can be worth millions of dollars as you apply the knowledge it contains.

3. Work with a team–don’t do it alone. Create one or join one. The right team can bring out the best in you.

4. Always find ways to give back. Usually this can be done best by using your talents and ideals.

5. Don’t waste your talents.