If there’s one ability I’ve come to value above all others in my 25-year journey as a founder, operator, and investor, it’s pattern recognition.

Not just market patterns, though those matter. I mean human patterns: the ability to recognize greatness in people before the world does.

Looking back, every major milestone in my life traces back to someone seeing something in me or me seeing something in them. When that mutual recognition is rooted in potential, not pedigree, it ignites a spark. From that spark, companies are built. Categories are created. Lives are changed.

When Someone Sees the Pattern in You

I was in my twenties when Mark Mastrov, founder of 24 Hour Fitness, took a bet on me.

At an age when most people were still climbing the management ladder, I was handed the reins to run sales operations across all of Asia. It was a bold move. At the time, the region was underperforming and losing money. But Mark saw something in me – focused mindset, strategic thinking, and, crucially, a relentless commitment to learning and growth.

That one decision altered the course of my life.

With the support of more people than I can name, we took the Asia business from loss-making to $25 million in profitability and over $100 million in top-line revenue across seven countries. That experience forged my understanding of scale, talent, and what’s possible when A-players are given real ownership. When 24 Hour Fitness sold a few years later for $1.6 billion, it set me up for my next chapter.
In 2007, Mark and Eric Levine placed another bet on me. This time, they backed my dream to build California Fitness & Yoga in Vietnam. Together, we planted the first seed of what would become a wellness ecosystem spanning fitness, entertainment, and beauty clinics. I bought them out two years later, completing my transition from partner-backed pioneer to sole founder-CEO.

Read more: The Fitness Pioneer

With the help of a seasoned multinational team and strong local leadership, we scaled CMG.ASIA into the country’s leading fitness and lifestyle platform, ultimately exiting to Quadrant Private Equity in 2018.

That growth wasn’t built on infrastructure or capital alone. It was built on a team of A-players aligned around a category-defining vision.

Read more: Fitness Vet Randy Dobson Is Selling A Healthy-Lifestyle ‘Ecosystem’ In Vietnam

Spotting A-Players Before They Shine

Over the years, I’ve developed a system for recognizing A-players—those rare individuals with both the talent and the drive to build something extraordinary. It’s a skill I’ve intentionally applied to venture building within our accelerator lab.

When I met James Miles-Lambert, he was launching a new digital health platform. I saw the spark in him – the vision, the grit, and the character to go the distance. He had the competitive fire and mission-driven focus needed to push through a nascent market.

I led the early investment rounds and served as board Chairman of Hello Health Group during its formative years. Today, it’s one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital health platforms.

The same pattern emerged when I met Ho Ngoc Ha and Lam Thanh Kim, the two creative forces behind M.O.I Cosmetics. At the time, the company was just a one-year-old startup, but I could already see its potential to become a category leader in Vietnam. They brought the kind of creative execution that transforms a spark of an idea into a category-defining beauty company.

Today, M.O.I is one of Vietnam’s top homegrown beauty brands. As board chair, I view my role as a steward for the leadership team. I believe in leading from behind, clearing the path, providing structure, and letting talent rise.

Read more: M.O.I Cosmetics: A Vietnamese Beauty Brand’s Triumph at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards

Then came TK Nguyen, a cultural architect with deep roots in global nightlife and entertainment. We partnered to grow GAM Entertainment, Vietnam’s most storied eSports brand. I didn’t just invest – I helped him reposition the company to build a national movement.

TK radiated pure magnetic energy – the kind that self-generates belief and attracts a mass following. Together, we shaped a brand designed to unite and inspire Vietnamese people around the world.

Read more: CEO TK Nguyễn đặt khát vọng chuyên nghiệp cho GAM Esports

The Common Thread: Category Creation

In each of these ventures, it wasn’t just about spotting talent. It was about identifying the intersection of the right person, the right moment, and an underdeveloped category.

What made these companies successful wasn’t just the people – it was the boldness of the vision. We weren’t trying to be slightly better than the competition. We were building something category-defining.

That’s what A-players do. They don’t just play the game better – they redefine the entire field.

How to Recognize an A-Player: The 4 E’s + P

Over time, I’ve developed a simple framework for spotting A-players. I call it the 4 E’s of Exponential Leadership plus Passion:

• Energy – They self-generate energy. You don’t need to light a fire under them. They show up lit.

• Execution – They execute. No excuses. No hiding. They carry weight and seek accountability.

• Education – They seek growth and are natural learners. They value coaching, feedback, and continuous development.

• Edge – They possess a competitive inner drive. They’re mission-driven – deeply, personally. Enough to bleed for it.

• Passion – They radiate belief and conviction. Passionate A-players attract others. Excellence is magnetic, and they bring talent with them.

That last one is non-negotiable. Skills can be taught. But if someone doesn’t have passion, they won’t attract the people or energy required to change the world.

Final Thought: Recognition Is a Superpower

Most people wait for greatness to be obvious. But by the time someone is “proven,” it’s often too late. The opportunity to work with them is either gone – or far more expensive.

The real skill – whether you’re an investor, a founder, or a leader – is to see the pattern before it completes. My mentors saw something in me long before I had the résumé to justify it. Those acts of recognition were pivotal in my success.

Today, I pay that forward. I look for the people others overlook. I back the underestimated, the unproven, the raw but relentless – with one condition: they have to be great, whether the world sees it yet or not.

And when they are, I clear the path, give them space, and watch them build something that changes the game. Because that’s what we’re really here to do – not just to lead, but to recognize. And recognition, done right, is rocket fuel.