Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Tran.
Hi Tony, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into entrepreneurship began long before I ever opened a business. It started back in high school, with a simple but fearless idea: I wanted to “retire” by 45. Retirement, for me, never meant yachts or mansion living, it meant freedom. The freedom to choose how I spent my days, to avoid the grind of a 9-to-5, and to build a life where financial stress didn’t dictate my every move.
What I didn’t understand then was how much family, responsibility, sacrifice, and love would reshape that dream. My wife and I lived in California at the time, and despite both of us earning solid incomes, it felt like a never-ending rat race. Starting a family there seemed nearly impossible, the cost of living left no room for breathing, let alone dreaming. When we got married, we made the decision to start over in Texas, hoping it would give us the space and stability to build the life we wanted.
Texas opened doors for us. I built a career in accounting and finance within the oil and gas industry, and our life began to stabilize. Then in 2013, our daughter was born, and everything shifted again. My wife, who was a store manager at Walgreens, was growing unhappy with the pressures of corporate retail. After many conversations, she left her job to become a full-time stay-at-home mom, something we couldn’t have afforded back in California.
That moment sparked my entrepreneurial journey. We asked ourselves a simple question: What do we enjoy? What do we spend money on consistently? The answer was obvious; my wife loves milk tea. When the idea struck to bring a brand we loved to Texas, my wife supported it immediately. We believed we could stand out through exceptional service and a genuine passion for the product.
In 2019, we opened our first location in Pearland, TX. I kept my full-time corporate position while my wife ran the shop day-to-day. She built the culture, shaped the guest experience, and held everything together while I handled the strategic and financial side. Our early success was possible because she showed up consistently with heart, discipline, and belief.
That was the start of everything — the spark that led to multiple ventures, new challenges, and a completely new understanding of what entrepreneurship really means.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all — the road has been anything but smooth.
We opened our first business right before COVID hit. The timing couldn’t have been worse.
Our business was still new, still fragile, and suddenly the world shut down. Then our twins were born at just 25 weeks — fighting for their lives at the same time our business was fighting for its own. On top of it all, I was laid off due to the pandemic. It was the lowest moment of my life financially, mentally, and emotionally.
From that moment forward, our roles became crystal clear. My wife devoted herself fully to raising our children and keeping our home steady. I devoted myself to everything else. Working whenever possible, running the business, managing finances, handling operations, supporting employees, and making every decision required to keep the business alive. It was overwhelming, but it was necessary.
Together, we made the decision to go all in. We sold our rental properties, liquidated our savings, cashed out the 401k and put it into not just keeping our main business alive, but opening a second location and investing in other ventures. Along the way, we also learned how business can test relationships. A partnership and friendship we valued didn’t withstand the pressures of the journey, adding another layer of difficulty to an already challenging time. For three years, we pushed through delays, funding issues, contractor setbacks, and more obstacles than I can count.
Out of the multiple ventures, one has become a thriving business, one is growing steadily, two failed, and one is still in progress. Every win and loss taught us something crucial about resilience, timing, and sacrifice.
Through all of it, my wife was the constant. She is my rock — the kind of partner who believes in your vision even on the days when you don’t believe in yourself. I took the risks, but she kept the family strong. She endured the stress with me, supported decisions that weren’t easy, and stayed grounded when everything felt uncertain. Her support made survival possible, for our family and our businesses.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Eventually, I was fortunate enough to re-enter the corporate world and rebuild a strong career. Professionally, I work in accounting and project controls management, focusing on bringing clarity, structure, and predictability to complex projects. I specialize in cost management, forecasting, scheduling, and aligning teams so they can execute effectively. Over the years, I’ve developed a reputation for building systems from scratch, stabilizing difficult projects, and creating order in fast-moving environments.
What I’m most proud of is the balance I’ve been able to maintain between stability and ambition. I’ve always been the person who remains steady under pressure, breaking big problems down into steps, communicating clearly, and guiding teams toward solutions. I’ve learned that strong project controls aren’t just about numbers; they’re about communication, accountability, and trust.
I also believe people perform best when they understand the “why” behind what they’re doing. Because of that, I focus on giving teams direction, context, and a roadmap they can trust. Whether I’m managing a multimillion-dollar project or solving a small operational challenge, I focus on long-term thinking, reliability, and supporting the people involved.
Ultimately, what sets me apart is a combination of analytical discipline, consistency, and genuine intention. I’m not the loudest person in the room, but I’m the person people count on when things need to get done, and done right.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that sustainable success comes from building the right systems, trusting the right people, and understanding that you can’t do everything alone. Early on, I tried to shoulder every responsibility, long hours, nonstop problem-solving, and managing every detail myself. It took time and experience to realize that real growth only happens when you build structure, delegate, and give others the room to excel.
My journey also taught me the value of partnership. When our first child and later our twins were born, my wife took over leading our home so I could focus fully on work and the businesses. This showed me what true support looks like and how much stronger you become when someone is willing to carry the weight with you. Entrepreneurship may look lonely from the outside, but the truth is, no one succeeds alone.
As I’ve transitioned from working in the business to working on it, I’ve learned that this path is harder, quieter, and requires more patience but it’s also where the most meaningful growth happens. The fire to build and create is still in me, but today, my definition of freedom has evolved. It’s not just about retiring early; it’s about balance and building something that matters while being present for the people who matter most.
If there’s one thing this journey has shown me, it’s that consistency beats intensity, and progress comes from teams aligned with clarity, purpose, and trust. Entrepreneurship isn’t easy and it’s far from glamorous, but for those who feel that spark, it shapes you in ways nothing else can.
And through it all, I’ve learned this: with the right partner by your side, you can survive anything, rebuild anything, and start again as many times as it takes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smartcorelabs.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbtea.sugarland/ and https://www.instagram.com/rbtea.pearland/
- Other: https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/houston-mom-celebrates-mothers-day-in-nicu-with-newborn-twins-amid-covid-19-pandemic-precautions/285-48033736-1817-4cbc-8bdd-4aefc1b6188a
