You don't have to be a superhero to change the arc of history.

Chieh Huang

Categorized in : You History Change Superhero

It was tough times in Ohio when we lived there. My dad was between unemployed and just selling random knickknacks at a flea market. My mom was a cashier at a Chinese food restaurant. They both had awesome careers back in Taiwan, and they came here for my sister and I.

random tough-times mom food

I'm a firm believer in karma. By doing good, good things eventually find you. I don't have an American Express Black Card, but I like to think that I would if I could fill it with karma points.

good you black good-things

Growing up poor taught me a lot. It instilled in me the ethics of hard work.

me ethics hard-work work

My management style is one of inclusion, meaning we're all one team no matter if you're making an hourly wage at the fulfillment center floor, if you're a C-staffer from a public company.

you style team management

I still remember sitting in my parent's basement playing 'Final Fantasy VII' in middle school. When Sephiroth came down like LeBron James on Aerith with that sword, I couldn't talk for a full 20 minutes.

down parent remember school

Parents will be parents. Even now, my mom asks me sometimes, 'When are you going to go back and get a real job?'

parents me you mom

Most entrepreneurs are very gut driven - they have to be because the odds and data are often stacked against them. If your gut says something is the right thing to do, then do it.

your something data odds

As ubiquitous as the brands of the warehouse clubs are - Costco, BJ's and Sam's - they're not everywhere. If you have less than a million people in your town, or less than 500K, you might never get access to wholesale savings.

your never you people

All these retailers these days are under pressure. Why? It's because... for the last 30 years, value equaled price. But now, value equals price, convenience, and a little bit of brand.

brand price value pressure

Every person who starts at Boxed does shifts at the fulfillment center. It doesn't matter if you are the general counsel or the COO.

person who you matter

I'm just a regular dude from New Jersey. If Boxed is successful, and you take 90% of my money away, I'll still be all right.

new just you money

Life, especially the life of an early-stage entrepreneur, is full of gigantic ups and downs. Make sure you don't let yourself get too high or too low. It's a marathon, and you just have to keep your legs moving at a steady pace.

yourself ups-and-downs you life

Everyone wants to start a business in their garage - they think it's sexy - but when you actually sit as a 30-year-old in a garage, it's not so sexy.

think you sexy business

I personally pay, through the majority of my stock and through cash, college tuitions of our full-time employees' kids. Life-changing events are generally covered by Boxed as well.

employees through events college

I stopped taking calls when I'm with my kids. It's either work time or family time.

either family work time

Email knocks me off my game. It's just for the morning commute and end of the day. Some might think I'm slow to respond, but those who need to reach me know to send me a text during those hours.

day game me morning

The best advice I ever received is that there is a difference between urgency and importance: Urgent tasks seem important, but they're not. Important things need to get done.

best important done advice

Money is there to put food on the table and make sure your family is cared for. Anything beyond that can be argued as extraneous.

your family money food

I start the day just with the family. I don't check emails until my commute, and I make sure my phone isn't close to me until I'm out the door.

phone day me family

I knew I did not want to be a doctor; my parents kept talking to me about that. I wanted to be an NBA player, but around freshman and sophomore year, I stopped growing, so that was the end of that.

doctor end parents me