Eric Yuan came to the US from China in the mid ‘90s to pursue the internet boom—but it took him awhile to get here. The first eight times he applied for a visa, he was denied. Finally, on the ninth attempt he was approved, but the process lasted two years.

In 2012, after working for a Silicon Valley communication startup for years prior, Yuan founded the communication platform Zoom. In an interview with Thrive Global, Yuan says that Zoom started as a daydream, a solution to a long distance relationship that required a 10-hour train ride to see the other person.

Now, Zoom is used by more than 750,000 companies to keep their teams connected through video and audio conferencing, collaborative work spaces, chat, and more. The real-time, face-to-face aspect of Zoom makes it easier for companies to stay in touch, so people can work from home or distributed across other parts of the world.

The Me In Team Insight:

Yuan’s difficult visa experience is a reality for many immigrants. But it’s also a testament to what can happen if you’re persistent and willing to keep trying. Whether you’re applying for an official document like a visa or a permit  persistence and perseverance will yield great results—even if it takes more time than expected. The Me In Team owner will persevere until their objective is realized. Never give up! Your success may be right around the corner.