From Salesforce Layoff to Building AI Startup with Brother ft. Marcus Cheu | Ep 6

What happens when you get laid off from a dream job — and decide to turn that setback into your biggest leap forward?Meet Marcus Cheu — a former Salesforce professional who lost his job during the tech layoffs and used that moment to redefine his career completely. Instead of returning to corporate life, Marcus chose to build something of his own — a startup born out of curiosity, courage, and conviction.In this episode of On My Own Terms, Marcus sits down with John Lim to share his raw, unfiltered journey of embracing uncertainty, building from scratch, and learning to trust the process — even when there’s no roadmap. Together, they dive deep into what it really means to create a life and career on your own terms.💬 In this episode, we talk about:Why he left the corporate path to pursue entrepreneurshipLessons from failing, pivoting, and rebuildingThe hardest part of building something from scratchThe truth about working with a sibling as co-founder (and why a “founder prenup” matters)How Southeast Asia’s B2B sales landscape differs from the USWhy curiosity beats talent in an age of AI and changeHow AI is reshaping lead generation—and what founders should focus on before automating—--------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction03:42 Who is Marcus Cheu?04:53 When Success Stops Feeling Like Success14:52 Would You Start a Business with Family?26:19 How Marcus Is Building with AI — Not Against It28:03 The Secret Signals Behind Every Great Deal28:07 Can AI Really Understand Human Intent?29:15 Turning Data into Real Conversations30:27 What Closing Tough Deals Really Teaches You37:37 Will Founders Still Matter in the Age of AI?—----------------------------------------------Where to find Marcus:Website: https://bit.ly/4huqK86LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/43FN9JQ 🎯Find practical tools and resources to guide your journey:Check out: https://bit.ly/3CTMZRW📩 Follow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onmyowntermspodcastLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/on-my-own-terms-podcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnMyOwnTermsPodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UoZFflZDdk03KfafgTwQgEmail: [e-mail] the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/onmyownterms📌 References, Recommendations & Resources:Salesforce: A global cloud-based software company where Marcus previously worked before transitioning into entrepreneurship.🔗 https://www.salesforce.comOpenAI: The artificial intelligence research company behind ChatGPT — mentioned in the episode while discussing how AI is reshaping sales, creativity, and productivity.🔗 https://openai.comApollo.ai: All-in-one platform for B2B sales prospecting. Find verified contacts, automate outreach, and close deals faster with AI-powered insights. 🔗 https://get.apollo.io/8yponvev3s15 The Hard Thing About Hard Things (by Ben Horowitz): A book discussed in the episode — known for its honest take on the realities of entrepreneurship and leadership. Source of “If you’re gonna eat sh*t, don’t nibble”🔗 https://amzn.to/4ocYwRO Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future (by Peter Thiel, Blake Masters): Another great book on entrepreneurship and building startups. 🔗https://amzn.to/3JgWnpbThe Michelin Men: Driving an Empire: Book about the remarkable story of how the Michelin brothers who turned the sleepy family rubber firm in the heart of rural France into one of the most innovative and successful tire makers in the world. Spoiler: Michelin Guide is part of the story. 🔗https://amzn.to/3WomihH / https://amzn.to/4ogfPSeNote:Some links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only share tools, books, and resources I genuinely find useful or inspiring. Thanks for supporting the podcast!#CareerTransition #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupStories #OpenAI #TechLayoffs #CareerChange #OnMyOwnTermsPodcast #Podcast