Andrew Cherng Quotes

Powerful Andrew Cherng for Daily Growth

About Andrew Cherng

Andrew Cherng (born June 7, 1946) is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author, best known as co-founder and chairman of Panda Express, the world's largest Chinese fast-food restaurant chain. Born in Chongqing, China, Cherng moved to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War before emigrating to the United States at the age of 15. He pursued an education in electrical engineering, earning a Bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology) and a Master's degree from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona. Cherng met his wife Margaret in college and they founded Panda Inn, their first restaurant, in 1973 in Pasadena, California. The couple aimed to introduce authentic Chinese cuisine to the American market while maintaining affordability. Their success led to the expansion of Panda Express, with the first franchise opening in 1983. Today, there are over 2,200 locations worldwide. In addition to his business endeavors, Cherng is an author and motivational speaker. He has published several books, including "Return on Principles: Lessons I Learned in Business and Life" (2016), where he shares his insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and life lessons gained from his experiences. The book emphasizes the importance of values, ethics, and service to others, reflecting Cherng's personal philosophy and the company culture at Panda Express. Cherng has been honored with numerous awards for his contributions to business and philanthropy, including being named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 1995. He is actively involved in various charitable organizations, focusing on education, healthcare, and community development. Andrew Cherng continues to inspire through his work, leadership, and commitment to values-based entrepreneurship.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

The quote underscores the importance of having a clear set of values or principles that guide one's actions and decisions. Without such a foundation, people may easily succumb to influences or circumstances that contradict their true nature and long-term goals. In essence, it emphasizes the need for personal conviction and integrity as a means of maintaining stability and purpose in life.


"To succeed, we must first believe that we can."

This quote emphasizes the importance of self-belief in achieving success. It implies that one's belief in their own abilities is a prerequisite for any form of achievement. In other words, before you can succeed, you must first have faith in your capacity to do so. It highlights the idea that confidence and self-assurance are crucial foundational elements upon which personal accomplishments are built.


"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."

This quote by Andrew Cherng highlights the resilience and determination required in pursuing success. He emphasizes that success and failure are temporary states, but it's the courage to persist after setbacks or failures that truly defines a person's character and ultimately leads to long-term success. The message encourages individuals to not be discouraged by temporary failures, but rather to maintain their resolve and keep moving forward in the face of challenges.


"The key to happiness is not found in what you do for a living, but in your attitude toward life and how much love you put into it."

This quote by Andrew Cherng emphasizes that the source of happiness isn't primarily derived from one's occupation or career, but rather from an individual's overall outlook on life and the love they invest in it. It suggests that a positive attitude and showing compassion are key elements in achieving true contentment, regardless of what job or profession one may have. The implication is that finding joy is less about external factors like work and more about internal factors such as mindset and actions.


"To be successful, it's just not enough to work hard; one must be passionate about what they do."

This quote highlights that while hard work is essential for success, passion for the task at hand is equally important. In essence, one should not only put in the effort but also have a deep love and enthusiasm for their work to achieve real, lasting success. Passion fuels motivation, resilience, and creativity, enabling individuals to overcome challenges and consistently strive for excellence. Therefore, it's crucial to find a career path that truly ignites one's passion as this dedication and joy will fuel the hard work required to become successful.


Having spent many years working in New York's Chinatown restaurants early in my career, I have the utmost respect for the history and connection New Yorkers have with Chinese cuisine.

- Andrew Cherng

Career, New, Having, Chinatown

We opened Panda Inn on June 8, 1973. The whole family - my parents, a brother and sister - all worked at the restaurant for free. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment in San Gabriel and didn't have any money.

- Andrew Cherng

Lived, Whole, Worked, June

My favorite way to do business is the Landmark Education Forum.

- Andrew Cherng

Education, Business, Forum

Success is not an accident. When you put yourself in the right place at the right time, then you're likely to be more successful because of how you prepare yourself on a daily basis.

- Andrew Cherng

Right Place, Prepare, Likely, Right Time

This is our 40th year in business. We don't have a single penny from outside investors, and we never borrowed heavily from the banks. We have a healthy balance sheet and more credit than we can use.

- Andrew Cherng

Business, Year, Banks, Penny

When you are healthy mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually - when you're doing well, you're likely to do good things in life.

- Andrew Cherng

Doing, Likely, Spiritually, Good Things

When you have the right habits, okay, certain good things will come to you, and that's what life is about.

- Andrew Cherng

Habits, Will, Okay, Good Things

I became very attentive to customers because I was desperate not to have people leave and never come back.

- Andrew Cherng

Never, Very, Became, Customers

It is an honor to open in New York City and to have the opportunity to serve and share our family's version of American Chinese food and hospitality. New York City deeply influenced my passion for food and service, and it feels good to be back.

- Andrew Cherng

City, Influenced, Feels, Hospitality

I was born in Yangzhou, China, two years after World War II ended. I was 5 when my family escaped to Taiwan. Eight years later, we moved to Japan.

- Andrew Cherng

Born, I Was Born, Japan, World War II

My father was a chef but hadn't owned his own business. I didn't like that. In my heart of hearts, I knew I wanted to be in business.

- Andrew Cherng

Business, Father, Like, Hearts

When you do life a certain way, it's bound to give you a higher level of probability to succeed, and that's what we preach.

- Andrew Cherng

Give, Level, Certain Way, Higher

The Panda mission really speaks to our philosophy. It is, 'Deliver exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives.' I'm talking about everyone who works at Panda. They're inspired to better their own lives.

- Andrew Cherng

Own, About, Works, Philosophy

Panda - We're not really selling Chinese food, you know. Our real purpose is about developing people.

- Andrew Cherng

Purpose, Developing, About, Chinese

Business is where you practice your human skills. It's where you grow.

- Andrew Cherng

Business, Practice, Grow, Skills

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