The Immigrant Entrepreneur: C.C. Yin’s American Dream Story With McDonalds

What does it take to go from arriving in America with just $20 in your pocket to building one of the most respected McDonald’s ownership legacies in the country?

In this powerful episode Anh Phoong sits down with legendary entrepreneur and community leader C.C. Yin to hear the remarkable story behind his journey from war-torn China and Taiwan to owning and transforming some of the toughest McDonald’s locations in California.

C.C. opens up about surviving poverty, losing his engineering career, borrowing money from family and friends, and taking a chance on a McDonald’s nobody else wanted. Rejected at first by the corporation and told he was “totally disqualified,” he ultimately earned the trust of employees, communities, and eventually McDonald’s itself.

But this episode goes far beyond hamburgers and business success. It’s a conversation about resilience, leadership, service, community trust, immigrant ambition, and the belief that helping others is the real key to long-term success.

You’ll also hear how C.C. helped build stronger relationships between McDonald’s and underserved communities, launched APAPA to empower Asian American civic leadership, and created the Yin Ranch and California State Asian Heritage Center as a lasting gift to future generations.

This is an unforgettable story about beating the odds, leading with humility, and building something bigger than yourself.

You can learn more about APAPA by visiting https://www.apapa.org/

00:00 – Surviving Against the Odds
01:00 – Arriving in America With $20
04:20 – Losing His Engineering Career
06:45 – Discovering McDonald’s Ownership
11:00 – Rejected by McDonald’s
14:00 – Earning Trust Through Training
21:00 – Building Success in East Oakland
32:00 – Turning Around Tough Stores
39:00 – Founding APAPA
47:00 – Building the Yin Ranch Legacy
53:00 – Go All In or Fold

Thank you so much for listening. I hope you found this episode valuable. To learn more about Phoong Law, visit: https://phoonglaw.com

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Go All In is recorded at Phoong Law Studio and produced by Hear Me Now Studio

Transcript

CC Yin: [00:00:00] I was told many times, everybody said, "C.C. will be either killed or bankrupt in three months," which is totally true. At that time, minority did not own McDonald's so much at all, including Blacks, you know. We need Asians, we need African Americans, we need other people come to he- help McDonald's to market the employment.

The community changed, and the, uh, e- economically changed.

Anh Phoong: Welcome to Go All In, the podcast for the underdog entrepreneurs who didn't wait for permission and didn't quit when things got hard. Hi, I'm Anne Fong, and each month I sit down with founders, risk takers, and underdogs to talk about what it really takes to beat the odds in business. Welcome to Go All In, Beating the Odds in Business.

I have a [00:01:00] special guest here today. His name is C.C. Yin, and we wanna go by C.C., right? Yes. Okay, we'll call you C.C. C.C. went from rejection to no ownership in McDonald's to owning about 30 McDonald's in the family, and I'm so excited to tell your story today. Can you tell me a little bit about your background information before starting any McDonald's?

CC Yin: Oh, I was born in China during the war when the, my mother passed away when six months old. So I lived with my grandpa in a farm until I was eight years old. And then my family moved to Taiwan during the civil war. Mm-hmm. So I was teenager there. I went school, college, and that was in end of World War II during the Depression time, so I can't find a job.

Anh Phoong: Uh-huh. And, uh, I- I know what that feels like. Yeah, many of us could not. Couldn't survive even. But then, so I come to [00:02:00] America looking for a new life. Uh-huh. Just like many immigrants- Yes ... from around the world. And about what year, uh, did you come to America? 1936. And how old were you? I was 26 year old. You were 26.

CC Yin: Yeah, 26. Okay. And what did you do when you first came to America? What did you do for a living? Well, you know, well, I, just much like a lot of immigrants. I didn't have money. I borrowed, borrowed money to ride on, on, on a boat to come to America. I was with a school vi- visa, follow my sister, who was here two years before me, Eleanor, who is one year older than me.

She come to America first. That's how I got the courage to come to America, and then she told about how great it is. You know, she went to college, all that. that I work for Boeing, but that's what I came here. So I, I took a boat and a ride to America about a [00:03:00] couple of months. Everywhere I took $20 left, so I was landed in Los Angeles on my first day, yes.

Anh Phoong: Okay. All by myself, $20 in a pocket. Wow. And I didn't go through Immigration, although I was supposed to. Dropped me off, so get a ride to the downtown and try to find a job on the street. That's, uh, first, my first day. So what was the big dream before you came on the boat? To come to America with $20 in your pocket, what was the dream?

CC Yin: What were you hoping to accomplish? No, I, I didn't know. I didn't want to accomplish anything. I, like your generation, of course, now you have a lot more opportunity. I did not have it. My, my, my hope was to, number one, actually, I always thought to survive. Want to survive so I can find a job, I can have food, and to start a family.

Anh Phoong: Yeah. That's all I wanted to. That's, uh- I don't want... No, no ambition. [00:04:00] That's quite a big dream, too, just to survive. I mean, that's all we are all trying to do, is just survive, right? My time was to survive today. At some point, did you have a, a big dream? Like, how did you go from this boy with $20 to, "I wanna buy a McDonald's"?

CC Yin: Like, there's... I, I know there's a long, you know, a lot of years in between, but walk us through a little bit of the things that you had to do to get to the position where you were even being able to buy a McDonald's. Like, how did that look like? I never had a big dream, seriously. Uh, I, I was... So I become engineer, working in San Francisco, and, uh, over about 15 years later I was laid off.

I didn't know why, you know, and later I learned why, but... So I was on the street when Mary, my daughter, had two other daughters in school, and, uh, uh, had a house to support. Mm-hmm. That's how I started [00:05:00] say, "Oh, I gotta start over again," like the first time I come to America some, uh, some 20 years ago, you know?

Anh Phoong: So, so that's my second time, you know, searching for so-called survival. Yeah, so I mean, so you went all in when you left from Hong Kong, right? I left from, from Taiwan. From Taiwan, I'm sorry. China is my, my parents ac- escaped to Taiwan. Okay. So from there over to school, I come from Taiwan. So from Taiwan to coming to America, you go all in with $20, with a dream just to survive and make it, right?

CC Yin: Well, actually I borrowed $100 from my cousin- Lady like you Uh-huh ... I had to return the $100. Oh, wow. And you did, right? I did. My first year America, I did the dishwasher, busboy. Yeah, I save money, and I bought my first car too, by the way. So that's [00:06:00] an important business thing too. So when you pay back your debts- Yes

Anh Phoong: that's a good business li- Yeah. Okay, so then you go all in, you come to America, you borrow $100, and you said that you were a engineer, right? You were working as a- Yes ... and you found a job, and then they laid you off, right? Yes. And then you find yourself in the same position where you're kind of trying to survive again.

CC Yin: Uh- What happens after that? Oh, it's very much like the first time. I said, "Ooh, new world", because, uh, you know, at that time engineers are more, like, we're isolated. All the language, communication, you're very limited. But so I got out the whole world. I said, "Whoa, how do I do?" So that's brand-new learning. So I, on the street, I have my wife, Regina, who's very, very strong and smart, capable, and very proper mind.

So I follow her s- selling fixtures and cosmetics on the street. [00:07:00] Oh, wow. So I assist. I, you know, Asian man don't understand stuff. Mm. So I was hold- holding bags, deliver box for her. Wow. That's how... On the street. Uh-huh. That's how I learn about McDonald's for sale on the street. Oh, okay. So- My, my friend, like you, said, "CC," you know.

So you, you saw... Uh, is that in that process, in that period of your life when you were helping Regina, you saw McDonald's and was like, "Oh, I wanna own one of those"? No, no, no. I didn't want to own one. Oh, you don't. Okay. I try, I try to find ways. So I found out they're called direct sales. I said, "Well, I, I did work for half year."

I said, "That is not help me my life." I was middle-aged, family. I said, "I got a future." So, uh, but I learn now I don't wanna go work for a big corporation because I s- I have no future. Uh, but the meantime, I didn't know what to do. So that would, you know, was on the street. Yeah. Yeah. One of my person, [00:08:00] Chinese man, you know, realtor on the street, we work together, you know, as partners.

He come tell me. He said, "CC, there's a McDonald's for sale. Do you want do that?" I, I said, "I don't know, but I wanna do business." Said more fair. Mm. It was more future for, for minorities. I learned that now. I said, "That I can maybe more I can com- compete." Mm-hmm. You know, in a big corporation I cannot. So you were working for a big corporation when you're engineer- Yes

and you found that- Maybe if you owned your own business, you, you would have more of an opportunity? Yes, more, more equal opportunity, yes. Okay. So I can compete. Okay, so your friend tells you maybe you should buy this McDonald's? Yes, he told me. I say, "I would do anything, but it's too big for me." I said, "I don't...

There's no..." I said, "I would rather do a small restaurant because I worked dishwasher, busboy, you know, all the restaurant when I grew up is in college. That's [00:09:00] my expertise. Mm-hmm. Waiters, busboy, that stuff, and also landscape, cut trees, uh, cut grass. My, my parents did that. Was my best part of me, you know?

Yeah. All my life through college, yes. Or a houseboy, I do that all the time. Those are my... So I say, you, I want to do small business, yes, but I didn't know McDonald's. I said, "I want to learn about it." I, my life is because I'm very low in school. Mm-hmm. My IQ is very low, you know, so I always want to learn. I say, "What's going on?"

You know, uh, curious, you know? Yeah. So when you were thinking about buying this McDonald's, you have never had experience owning a restaurant or a business or anything? No, I went to McDonald's in Los, Los Angeles for first came. They didn't want to hire me because I didn't speak English. I didn't know hamburger.

Anh Phoong: Oh. What's a hamburger, you know? So basically, I really wanted to work for McDonald's because, you know, in, in, in college, in high school, in [00:10:00] engineer time, that's a place I really like. I love the most. Mm-hmm. No, seriously. Good food, good quality, fast, you know, we're healthy, and it tastes good. I think. Yeah. So how did this idea of you buying a McDonald' like how did that...

Did you talk to Regina and say, "Hey, let's, let's own-" "... a McDonald's"? How did that come out, like? Yeah, I told her, she not... My family, "No, you-" "... you, you, no, you're no good. You, you don't know this stuff." I told her, "No money," you know, and no experience, no language. I didn't speak this language. Yeah. I spoke only engineer language, so I can't communicate.

CC Yin: Mm-hmm. You know, in order to... You know, I, I, that's, I grew up as farm boy, you know. Yeah. Working on, sometime on the street. I get used to people, but not business nor people like your level- Yeah ... I can relate to, you know? Mm-hmm. But that's so, so I, I, I didn't know, but anyway, I said, "I, I wanted to [00:11:00] learn about it."

Anh Phoong: So he tooking me to see owner, yes, at lunch, just like this now, lunchtime. Uh-huh. So you, you met the owner of the McDonald's? Yes. And, and then you had a conversation, and then you said, "Okay, I wanna do this," or, or how, how did that conversation, how was that like? I, I don't wanna use the name now, you know. Oh, yeah, it's okay.

CC Yin: So I know they're beautiful three people. Okay. Yeah, he told me to, to leave McDonald- This gentleman, of course... Okay, I didn't know about that system. I didn't know the price. I didn't know nothing about it. Yeah. That's why I told the, the gentleman. At, at the end he said, "Mr. Yin, you're a nice guy. You, you're, you're very goodwill, like you.

Anh Phoong: However, you're total, total disqualified." Ah. "You have no experience, no leadership, you know, management, no money, and no language. You're just good engineer." Ah. So, so I went home. How did that make you feel when, when the man, when he told you that? How did that make you feel? I think it's all [00:12:00] true, though. Okay.

CC Yin: What he said, truly. Okay. The, the guy is truly a lovely guy, by the way. So anyway, a week later, my family didn't like the idea at all, you know, whole of them. So but he called me. He said, "Mr. Yin, come to see me." "Sure." Mm-hmm. So I went to see him. And what happened at that? I didn't know, I didn't know America has a justice and a court system at all, right?

Anh Phoong: Uh-huh. You know. So he took me to the court. I didn't know... At this start know this a court. This a bankruptcy sales and a court supervision. Mm-hmm. I didn't know that- Okay ... but now I know. So one side is me and the, this, uh, the owner. The other side is McDonald's lawyers. Okay. So the judge says, "Okay. Mr.

CC Yin: So-so-so, you have a buyer?" "Yes, I have a buyer." "Who is that?" "Mr. Yin." And tell, he told me, "Stand up." So I stood up. You know, like at- You didn't know- I didn't- ... that you were gonna be [00:13:00] the buyer. I, I, maybe. I didn't know the system. Okay. You know? Uh. I was just purely honest, a former engineer. You know that. Uh-huh.

You know what I'm saying. He said, the, the guy said, the judge said, "You are the buyer?" "Uh, yes." I didn't know I can pay that, you know? I don't know where to find the money either. But so the McDonald's side just, just say, "We'll object." Of course, the judge has the paper already. We know, okay, those 10 items says Mr.

Yin is totally disqualified. Okay. So the judge says, "Are you looking, McDonald looking for the best people for your franchise system, fran- franchise this?" McDonald said, "Of course." Judge said, said, "How do you know Mr. Yin is not one of the best people you're looking for?" "Because his background," you know, all that stuff, engineer, language, uh, culture.

So the McDonald couldn't answer. You know, so judge, he says, "That's good. Take Mr. Yin to your program." [00:14:00] They have this, uh, just called a training program. Okay. In, in the training program is like 18 months or so, you know, that in that program you worked in the restaurant. You know, you worked it part-time- Yeah

or full-time, day and night. I learn everything, you know, from bottom up, all that stuff. And to see you, they'll give a grade. The, the judges said, "You, M- McDonald, you give your report to me, you know, by your standard." I said, "Gee, I don't know what your standards." Then it, it's like it was three months or so, I forgot a date now.

Anh Phoong: McDonald's says, "Okay, that's how I left there, left the, that's how I gave up- So you did the training program after that? I doing the training program, yeah. Okay. And so was the idea that if you completed the training program and you did well or scored well, they would allow you to, to buy the McDonald's?

CC Yin: Yeah, the training program, uh, you see, is like a... I think s- I [00:15:00] forgot m- number of, of around 12 months, 18 months program to go through everything you do, supposed to rise from bottom. You, you learn your work, actual work. Mm-hmm. The restaurant. Then you get a grade to, you know, to teach you, train you, all that stuff.

So did you get a grade? Yeah. Yes. Uh- What was the grade? Uh, well- You got an A, right? Uh, no, no. But I'm very poor in school. I'm a, I'm a, I'm a C and a F student. Okay. And always at the bottom. Always at the bottom. You were at the bottom? I, I, I graduated four years after average kid. Okay. Because I had to retake my classes in my high school or colleges four years later.

Anh Phoong: So I'm very slow- Mm-hmm ... in learning. But obviously a very smart man. Um- No, I'm not. That's why I, I feel very... I, I love people who are smart, like my wife, my daughter are super smart. You know, people like you. I really [00:16:00] love you guys. Seriously, I see them. You're g- you're gifted people. But anyway, I think about three months later, uh, we went back to, to court again.

CC Yin: So the, the, uh, McDonald's still, by their standard, true, they are, they are correct. By their standard, I was not qualified by all the scores. Correct. Which I, I to- later I understand why. Okay. But I didn't understand anything. I was just kind of like, you know, innocent student, you know? Yeah. You know? But at the same time, the workers in the store also give me a grade.

Oh. Ah. So McDonald give a grade, said I was not a qualified, which I, I have no argument about that. But the, the workers at the store gave me a very high grade. So the- So you were- So the- ... you're doing good by the worker side ... McDonald's said, "Well, Mr. Yin was, is not qualified." But the worker reports, the judges said, "Uh, what do you say?"

McDonald's say, "Oh, [00:17:00] okay." So they allow me to own that store Because it wasn't based off of McDonald's scores, based off the workers that you worked with- Right ... day in and day out that said, "Mr. Yin is doing a great job." Because I love, I loved that opportunity. I get so excited about it. Yeah. I work at day and night to go home, sleep, my little broken car.

You know, that area, you know, East Oakland, you know that location. Yeah. That location probably is, probably you know that one of the most, uh- Prime location ... prime, large ventilation. I didn't know that as a foreign engineer. If I knew... I, I know my family didn't wanted me to, so I had to told my family, "Leave me alone for three months, see I'm still okay," you know?

Uh-huh. And so they didn't come to see me much at all, you know, my kids either, you know. I was very excited about it, by the way. You know, I'm not... You know how is it, [00:18:00] like 200% of going, like how I come to America first time. Yeah. So like I, I took two trip to America. One is already on the boat. Second one is through McDonald's, really.

The rest help me to build what I am today, really. I'm very thankful actually to McDonald's system, McDonald's people, and even especially I become so passionate, loving Black America. Yeah. You know, seriously. You know that my relation with them, and the Papa too, you know, that is beautiful, you know? Yeah. So when you started, when you were working, getting that transition from deciding that you were going to try and own this McDonald's, but you, you had no experience, you had no business.

Wasn't that scary to jump in? Like, were you not at all like- I- ... "I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm gonna do it anyway"? Even now at my age, I still feel so excited by [00:19:00] that. You can't stop that. Just like how I come to America. I can't stop to come to America, seriously. Yeah. The country is so, so attractive, you know, to- Mm-hmm

anybody, especially the ones who... Like, people have no hope. Mm-hmm. European come same reason to this native Asian land. Same reason. They come same reason. You know, the African people come same reason. The Jewish comes, Italian come same reason. Yeah. We Asian come the same reason, except they have built already America when I come.

Mm-hmm. That's almost 200 years now, I mean, when I come. They, they built it. They sacrifices. So, so I said to myself, "Wow, this is so lucky." Anyway, I, I got so excited about it, so I went to the bank. I couldn't... Had no money, right? And no income. I, I was, I was on the, uh, government check. The government assistance?

Yeah, yeah. Okay. You know, the, the- [00:20:00] When I was fired, I, I get paid, right? Okay, yeah, yeah. I forgot the name now. You know, the check for government assistance stuff. So I w- I went to bank. I say, "You know, I wanna borrow money to buy or to build McDonald's." So they look at me, they said, "We don't loan the money to t- to the poor or working need the money.

We only loan the money to people who can repay us." Yeah. So I know, oh, America is that way. I'm learning America, real America, you know, but ideal America is different. Okay. So same way I went to the local government to police and said, "I, I need protection. I pay taxes." I don't wanna mention names now. They said, "Mr.

Yin, you have a right. You need a protection. Well, we wanna protect you, but we're not capable because, you know, the local, uh, criminal force are too [00:21:00] big for us to handle." Hmm. So I under- I said, "Oh." I said, "America, what..." I, I kept to myself, "Okay, I understand." That's how I, I, I joined it. Uh, my wife had, my wife quit her social worker to come full time in the Oakland area, East Oakland area, to do social...

To, to, to work with, uh, the community, business, government, schools, police, to build the programs- Yeah ... to help them. This way build a relationship. I learn about, oh, I see what to do myself, you know, locally. You know, uh, police cannot come, you know. I say, "Okay, I had to survive myself." Mm-hmm. So those are great learning, although it was tough.

Yeah. The energy, time, money, everything else. I was told many times by local... Everybody said, "CC will be killed, either killed or bankrupt in three months," [00:22:00] which is totally true. You were bankrupt in three months? Yeah. I, a standard way, you're bankrupt more than three month, three... I had to go to borrow money from my family, my sister, brothers, and to, uh, sell properties, you know- In order for after this McDonald's is open Oh, yeah, even the first one, too.

Yeah. I had to borrow money, but McDonald's were kind to me, same as the, the seller. They helped me, uh, every part of way, yes. So you, you open the first McDonald's, you buy it. Like, let's talk about how... Like, where did you get the money to buy? You had to loan money to buy the first McDonald's, right? Yes, yes, I went to, like you, your, your friend.

Uh-huh. Okay, right now, at that time when I bought it that year, those year, the re- interest rates are 15, 15 to 18%, you know, those years, right? So I went to my sister, brothers, uh, wherever, my friends. I say, "Okay, I'll borrow small, small," so I add it up. I [00:23:00] will say, "I'll pay you 20%." Uh, okay, listen. "I'll pay you 20% you give me one week notice."

If we need... Because they need the money, you know. Yeah. My people are not rich at all. Yeah. They are work, working people, so they trust me. Because, uh, in my life, you know, I, I, I have the reputation super, 2,000% honest, uh, and, uh, trustworthy. Yes. And really deliver. Really deliver everything. Mm-hmm. Uh, twice more- Yes

normally. So I'd earned that, because I wasn't smart trying to over-smart anybody. Yeah. I like that feel. I don't have spare time, energy, so they all trust me. That's how I, that's how I started first McDonald's, yes. So you borrowed money from family and friends- From family members and friends, yes ... to be able to purchase your first McDonald's.

That's- Yeah, yeah, the sellers helped me too, you know. McDonald's, yeah, yeah, helped me, too, yes. So [00:24:00] after purchasing the first McDonald's, what made you decide, 'cause you... to buy more? Like, to own more than one? I didn't know the system, of course. It was just for survival, okay? I didn't have ambition. Uh, uh, whenever I found it out, it was very exciting, because so many people come to help me.

McDonald's corporations, McDonald's staff, you know, uh, because I was in the, uh, very dangerous, uh, uh, the East Oakland, with, uh, African man people there. I learn get along well ex- except the gangsters are the big challenge. The rest, people all same. There's no difference. Your skin color don't make it different.

They're same. I call s- same people, same animal. You can more[00:25:00] 

You know, how they could be in wild, a place how to survive. And without shoes, we don't wear, we don't wear p- you know, we don't wear shoes. Mm. Small, I don't really wear, wear pants because we had to cl- we don't have to clean them up. Yeah. But anyway, in the ci- in Taiwan too, my, you know, my f- my family moved to there with...

My fa- my mother passed away when I was 16 months old. They were too busy trying to survive- Mm ... to themselves. So my older sister helped me, uh, guide me. But my family gave me a huge good things. N- number one, great genes, a great culture, and I s- watched my grandpa, my father, even my [00:26:00] s- I don't remember my own mother, 16 months old, but I was told, you know, farm girl.

My stepmothers are very ed- were, two of them were educated, very intelligent. Mm. Great people. So those are the... I always remember how to follow their pattern, being responsible, and, uh, um, take care of the family and, uh, uh, do the right thing. Don't play games on it. Yeah. That's what I learned. Yeah.

Especially my three sisters. Older sister, the older than me, you know, they, they all went to school during difficult time without the money, sometime without family. They went to school or college. They were very beautiful sisters, and they guide me, they love me, and they help me with survival. You had a lot of support, uh- So lot of support that I feel that's how I was always follow that mind, the picture there.

Okay. I had no fear. Mm. By the [00:27:00] way, yeah, I, if I, I knew what's ahead of me, I still w- I still wanna do it. I wanna do it again. So you wanted to open, go through that same process, uh, of- Yeah, yeah ... starting a- Before McDonald's, I did not wanna grow. I mean, I think about it, but it came along real well, uh, as we first we did it with my wife helping me full time.

She is, she's good. She's like you. Mm. You know, she's very friendly, and that she will serve in the community. She feels very good with them. She was a social worker. Yeah. You know, so she understands her personality, her schools help her. So that helps great deal. In the meantime, I get along with all the local people, my employees, so I follow McDonald's, uh, teaching.

They're very, their teaching very good. I follow everything to ask how, teach me how to do it. Yeah. Uh, I'm a good student. I mean, not a good student in school. Yeah. I'm a, I'm a good student in [00:28:00] life. Mm. I can't plus eight, one plus one to two. Yeah. It's hard for me. Uh-huh. English is hard for me, you know. Of course- At that time, minority did not own McDonald's so much at all, including Blacks, you know?

So but it's hard for McDonald's because they are not in Oakland. You know, their area, they are in different area. They do... They wanna grow, so I, I, I saw this. I, you know, "We need Asians, we need, uh, African Americans, we need other people come to he- help McDonald's to market the employment." The community changed, and the, uh, e- economically changed.

Anh Phoong: And of course, they, they are from Oak Brook, right? So t- they knew everything except here. So I... They, they liked my idea, so that, that's right timing. So my understanding is that that McDonald's that you bought was not successful, and you came in and you turned it around, right? You were able to turn it into a very successful [00:29:00] McDonald's that was now positive, generating money, right?

CC Yin: Is that- Well, it was very s- it was real tough for- Tough ... the past owners, yes. How long did it take you to- Although their past owners are all Black, yes, right. But, uh, it's, it's very tough for them. I, I, I was able to, like my wife help every... I, I joined the local chamber, Rotaries, police, fire, all schools. We, we are there.

So we do 50% our work outside McDonald's. Ah. Including the, the employee side. So they all like us, the gangsters, everybody like us. And that all, you know, I, I told them that I- Everybody loved you guys. I, I, I told them that, "Hey," you know, there was us... I was told to hire security guard. I hired two. They ran away.

Then they say, "You need to fire your... Listen, you need to hire armed security guard." Old McDonald's two doors from both side. Ah. The arch McDonald's, right. Yeah. So I hired two [00:30:00] armed guards. They ran away. I said, "Why?" "We have family, Mr. Yin." Th- th- Then the police chief told me, "You need to hire real police.

They're called Moon Knight." So they, I hired two of them. They ran away. I said, "This, Mr. Yin have family." Then I didn't know the reason. Of course, I know the reason. I watch it. When the gangs come in for lunch or dinner or breakfast, they call it, they call soldiers, right? Mm-hmm. So he got a guy in the front who was strong, powerful, uh, like, like a president.

Powerful with gold, gold chains. You got five people behind you walk over. Uh, so I knew them. I said- Mm-hmm. Uh, and so I, I had no more guard. So I said, "Hey, this is your territory. You are the boss here. I work for you. I am a, a Chinese engineer coming here to find a life, to build life. I'm here work for you, for your family.

Right? You come here, you want, you want the [00:31:00] money, you want the food? Take it." And don't kill people. Okay. My, um, McDonald's is yours, listen to me, but don't touch my safe. You touch my safe, I close this business. Uh-huh. The guy entered next to me. Wow. 'Cause I was talking truly. So you- So you earned his respect in a way.

You- Oh, no. No, I, I didn't earn it. Right. No. I just, I just learned from how I grew up in my life. Yeah. In a farm in Taiwan, now in, in Los Angeles. I learned that. So it, it sounds like what you did was- And they like, they like, they trust me. I said- Yeah ... so I told my employee, I said, "They wanted food, they'll take home whatever.

Listen, their family, you, they want money, open my drawer." Yeah. "They're grabbing money." I said, "Let them take it." Wow. Because they need it. Wow. Listen, I say, "Your family come on, on Sunday, go to church, you to go to church, the family, right? Any time, this, this your place. You use it. Now, don't kill people." I said, "You, you protect this place," I said.

"It's your store. I work for you." [00:32:00] They love it. You know what you are, CC? You keep saying you're not smart, but you are so smart because- You are survivor, yes ... so you are, you are so smart. Not, not, no, not yet. Street smart. You're, you know, like there's a dif- I'm, I'm street smart, yes. Street smart and book smart, okay.

Uh-huh. But you keep saying you're not, but you are brilliant. I tell you. But this point- That, listen, listen. So I wouldn't, I help all the Blacks. Mm-hmm. Do you know I start, I was a founder and chair of, uh, uh, Tri-City NAACP in, in, so Solano County- Wow ... 30 years ago. Wow, I did not know that. When I moved here.

Anh Phoong: That's amazing. I was founder and chair. I was leader in, in the, uh, uh, Martin Luther King versus celebration in Oakland, in San Francisco, Vallejo, everywhere else. So I wanted to make a quick point, and that is that it sounds like you took a failing McDonald's that no one could, you know, that they gave up on, and you turned it into a successful McDonald's because [00:33:00] you listened to what the community needed and wanted.

And that's, that's an amazing, like, learning lesson right there, because you didn't do what the other owners did. You went back and went to talk to the community, right? You went out and reached out. What I learned from the owners before me, McDonald's teaching me- Mm-hmm ... they support me. Mm-hmm. Every time I probably ask McDonald's people, they tell, "CC, CC," like I do, like I said, "I gotta fire this employee," all that stuff.

CC Yin: You know, my friend in McDonald's said, "You don't. You fired, you'll be killed." Oh. I didn't know that. Yeah. Yeah, I learn- I follow McDonald's system, right? Okay. I learn from them. Everybody helped me. And, and so, so I, I'm very grateful, by the way. McDonald's didn't want me to grow. You know, I understand that because I was not qualified.

They didn't trust me, all that stuff, you know, especially the first, a few Asians, minorities. I helped many Blacks now in the system. Yeah. Uh, and, and I, I create McDonald's Asia [00:34:00] associate McDonald's system. To bring more Asian in the system today, because it's a way to give back to McDonald's. Yes. Help McDonald's growth.

So McDonald's didn't wanna give me a store. I said, "Give me a..." So they gave me the stores were the stores that are tough stores. Yes. So no, I love it, because I can... Taking me one year to clean up or rebuild. You were good at that. Two years, two years, two years I would be double, doing so well, and the same model.

I just... McDonald's taught me that. Yeah. So it's easy. So you were able to- After first five year, I took all the McDonald's I called, uh, stores that, uh, restaurant, they're this, somebody to- That needed a little bit of a makeover, right? Yeah. So those are the ones I love it the most. Okay. They said, "Okay- The most challenging ones you turned- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah

into- Yeah. Uh, financially, community, government, or personally. Those are great, [00:35:00] great tests. People don't like them. Uh, bad locations, bad setup, broken whatever. That's the best one. The best are. Yeah. Yeah. I, I love them. You thrive. Uh-huh. You thrive off of that. So McDonald's liking me very much. Later the leaders start liking me.

Anh Phoong: They come to me, "CC, how you do this?" All the McDonald's come, owner ask me. I said, "No, I'm just follow you guys before." No, so later McDonald's went to China, asked me to be there. Oh, wow. I went there, helped them open China McDonald's too. Wow, that's amazing. So now you, you started taking several bad locations.

McDonald's said, "Hey, here's one, here's two, here's three," and then you- Yeah ... started. You understood what to do. You just recreated the system, and here you are now, uh, with, you know, between you and your family, you guys own about 30 McDonald's, right? Well, I stopped growing personally- Okay ... like, uh, five years ago.

Okay. When I was 65. [00:36:00] When you were 65. I, I thought to myself or I say, you know, matter of fact, so I was in, I'm in McDonald's 42 years now, so s- after 17 years, I was 65. I started late here. I, I start in McDonald's at 84. So let me ask you a question. For people who say they want to start a McDonald's, what is w- or any kind of business, restaurant or whatever.

Yes. What is one piece of advice that you would give them from what you learned in, in your journey through McDonald's? Well, two things about America. One's about ourselves. Big environment is great. America is halfway built. They need all kind of help, especially diversity. The, the strengths are different from different cultures.

CC Yin: The Eastern culture has different strengths. Western culture, the different strengths. Our strength is more like, uh, you know- The cultures, the, uh, [00:37:00] education, the hard work, family, that type of things. Mm-hmm. Those what they need. America needs us. Okay. That the good. So they are built by local Indian, Europeans, African Americans.

Their strengths are powerful. That's what we come here for, you know? Yeah. That is for their strengths. We learn from them, but I said to, uh, for Mc- any you do, not just McDonald's. Like you- Yeah ... what you do here. I see that. I get excited about what- Mm-hmm ... by the way, seriously. Very proud. Thank you. The, uh, sa- same as you do.

Okay, the environment is great, perfect. They need us. You know, even today especially, you know. Every 60 years America goes through crisis, like when I come here 60, 60 years ago. Now, that's normal. Uh, if you don't, then you won't progress. Mm-hmm. Especially new country with great, the values by Founding Fathers' values, same value we come here for.[00:38:00] 

So it's a great things happening. Then br- that's great. So whatever happen here, it's not so good, not so good, the trouble, that is where the best time. Mm-hmm. So everybody goes away. You can clean out everything. Perfect. The second part's ourselves. Myself. Always believe what, and my advice to people, any what they wanna do, it's not big picture.

It is really of myself, 100%. Believing in yourself. Number one, I have to, I advise people, number one, take everything, it's my responsibility. I have to s- take leadership. I have to take full responsibility. People help me, I help people. But we can't help ourselves. My advice that you always help people. Your advice.

When they are successful, they'll come back to help you. It's human. It's gotta be the human. We, we loved nature. We build the trees, water, everything else. They, you will turn back. It's called f- it's not philosophy. It's not religion. It's [00:39:00] real world. Yeah. Yeah. That you believe in that, so I take responsibility.

And I ask the person, "You are the one in the front. People follow you." Yeah. Opportunity right in the front, where everything they need you. You said you slowed down, um, at around 65 years old and, and, and wanted to start something different, right? Well, I didn't wanna slow down, actually. My high heels low, but I find I have a gift.

I seem to begin, uh, you know, higher age, I have more energy. I wanna do things, yes. And so you started A Papa. The reason start A Papa because, uh, I've, you know, suit for my McDonald's, community service, government, all that, you know, e- everywhere, like- I, I exposed to American system from top, bottom up.

Military, uh, police, everybody else, and chamber. [00:40:00] I thought it's great country, so what I can I do from here besides... McDonald's great challenge, great learning. Actually brought me into to help become so-called Americanized. Mm-hmm. I said, "Wow, good system. Great, great people." You know, Ray Kroc, those people. I, I admired them so much.

Helped me to grow my family and, and even back, give back to China. Also my family go back to China, helping build schools and the, and the care centers, highw- you know, road, bridges, all that stuff. So, so thankful. I thought, "Wow." So I wanted just to give more give back to America. Give back to the community.

Do the community to America, actually. You know, I'm so thankful to America. And- There's a great opportunity. When they, what happens that when the Japanese intern camp kids, I call them kids, like Michael Yamaki, uh, uh, [00:41:00] uh, Mike Honda, uh, Bob Matsui, those guys retire- Oh ... when they reach six, 70s. Okay. That was 25 years ago.

You know, they, they reach 60s, 65. Mm-hmm. Uh, they wanna retire from their civic work. They, they focus on civic work- Right ... you know, after war too, or after inter- internment, right? And then the whole Silicon Valley, uh, Asians, especially Chinese, new founders like great friend, great supporter, Papa, founding leaders.

Mm-hmm. Sandy Tsao, Dr. Ken Fong, Dr. Shun Kung, and, uh, Albert Wang. Those Silicon Valley is smart, you know, immigrant. They were about the time they reach about same age. They were about 10 years younger than me. So they come to me, they say, "C. C." They say, "You, you, you... I want you to st- do something." I say, "Yeah, I love to."

Uh, well, I admired the smart people, [00:42:00] especially the, uh, uh, internment Japanese people to, they give their life to serve the country. Yeah. They wa- they want to, to be respect America. They want to have a so-called, uh, civil right, equality. The same value as people come from Europe. Equality, justice, you know.

Yeah. You know, respect that stuff. They fought for life, you know. So that's how I, I, I become so passionate, thankful to them. Mm-hmm. They build America. I was the one benefit my family too, you know. Yeah. I sh- so I, well, so it's a great time. You know, I, I never worked for, in my life, I never worked for money.

Even McDonald, anything I do, I say, "I wanna make money." I know. In McDonald's system, my employee, my people, community know well I don't want to making money. I wanted two things. One, give back to America, to employees, the community. Secondly, is have a [00:43:00] pride, respect, earn from everybody. That's what... But America is so great system, that's why everybody come here.

Anh Phoong: Although many people don't know why, I didn't know either, is that it returns to you. Like what you do here, look at that. If you wanted me to come, I come anytime, you know. It's, that's it. You, that's how you earn that. Or- You, you pour into your community, the community pours back into you. So, so I thought it's great our time when the, there's the intern camp, uh, kids, uh, I call them kids.

CC Yin: We help them. When I was doing McDonald, we'll help them get elected, all that stuff, support. And the So... Mandarin Association. As you know, every immigrant come here has a Mandarin association. Family, personal, education, whatever, we too. We... Everywhere I go, I build associations. Yeah. Including American Chamber, Rotaries, e- everything, you know.

The police system. That, that's what I like to do, because I'm not very smart guy. I always like to, [00:44:00] to help build team together. So number one, uh, have fun, a lot of fun with the building team together. I, you know, I like to have fun. I always have fun. The secondly, that I have a team together so they can help me help others.

The third, they can actually give back to their, whatever their loves are. The social side, I enjoy so much with them. So when that happens, I say... They all come to me, "CC, you, you can do this." I say, "I am just hamburger guy. I'm a farmer." They said, "Every city you, you, you go to McDonald's, from Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, to here, to Clear Lake."

Say, "You are most popular." I say, "Because I want to survive. I love the people." Mm. So I say, "Well, I can learn. But, uh, uh, you for me, dude, uh, I need your help." Okay. One, the intercamp teach our people, not me, how to be serving the public, give back to America, [00:45:00] to increase our representation, our public service.

Because we're not used to serve. Police, firemen, all that, you know, uh, military, all that. You know, we need to serve America. The number, number two, that's what you taught us. Uh, also to be a, be the, the, uh, the v- the voice- I should to be a leader of our American system, local, state, nationally. But leader is to give back to.

It's not to lead. The second part, Silicon Valley people wanted me to do it. I say, "Do, do, do you the best?" They teach me. They, they, they actually find a PAPA name for me. Okay. They did the PAC name for me. Everything, they organize, CC do it. But I said, "I need you teach us." Not me, our team. Secondly, you need to find the money for us, and they all agreed to.

Wow. So that's how we started PAPA back 25 years ago. So I, I s- I, I did not grow McDonald anymore. Okay. So my family, you know, my, [00:46:00] my children- Mm ... like Bishop Mary and, uh, her husband, uh, Harrison Liu, who a engineer like me, they are really the best. Probably they were better than me because they're Americanized, you know.

They're born- It's a family business, the McDonald's ... yeah. Yeah, right. And also, uh, uh, we brought in, uh, many, many Asian into McDonald's system. Uh, so the Asian Association, I copied that one which I started- Yeah ... in McDonald's 35 years ago. So I copied that into American system. Mm. I said, "I wanna do the combination of, uh, NAACP and the APAC Jewish organization."

And, uh, uh, the Italian have also, too. And the Spanish go. That was... I said, "I wanna do national to... as a training education program to train Asian Americans to become so-called responsible citizens and organized to serve the public and, uh, at every level [00:47:00] of America at a grassroot, not top down, but bottom up."

So, uh, PAPA, you started in Sacramento, and it is now national? How many- Yes, 25 years later now, especially serve those leaders I was talking to you about, Sandeep and Shin Kong, Sandeep, those people. And especially my wife is extremely... Regina, extremely supportive, generous, and provide all the resources, and that didn't mind me not doing much McDonald's.

Anh Phoong: I was... I still do McDonald's, but I wasn't doing active growing. Mm-hmm, yeah. I was growing, but, uh, not, not active growing. Mm. So my f- my family, you know, and plus the associate I brought in to help to grow McDonald's locally and nationally. And then you also started the Yin Ranch. Oh, yeah. Well, that, that's another story.

CC Yin: 35 years ago, I, I, I love a, uh, farms. When I [00:48:00] took my daughters, Mary, Betty, Carol, high, high school to Tahoe, we stopped at McDonald's at Vacaville by the highway. Every time it was time to go to bathroom, our food, all that stuff, and I, that's always kids, "Oh, I said, "It's great service. I love it, McDonald's." My kids, of course, everybody know.

So I, well, I was able to see Sacramento, Clear Lake on the way, all the way to Tahoe, and I love farm. I love trees, waters, and natural, the hills. That's from farm. So I moved here 35 years ago to, from Oakland, San Francisco area, where I lived 25 years. Mm-hmm. I want to move to farm area. Yeah. It's also the middle of the growth, too.

Yeah. This place is so beautiful. Yeah. You know, so in there, I, I was helping, like we did always do it. I was chair chamber, Rotaries, Air Force, every set I would share that. There was a [00:49:00] church- Mm-hmm ... that housing all the prisoners' childrens without par- without family. Uh, right there, that's the owner, that piece, but the, the ranch now.

Mm-hmm. And, uh, we, we, I sup- we, uh, Papa supported the church, the kids. Mm-hmm. So when they are, they're ready to sell, they sell to me at a very inexpensive rate. It's a, just a land, has two old houses on it. Yeah. Just pure land. Right. And so I, I was able to buy that. 30 years, I slowly built by my own hand, my helpers, slowly.

Yeah, it's 30, uh, 30 years now. Wow. That's today's Yin Ranch. Uh, it's, it's a, it's a great, they called one of the best, probably the best garden ranch in America. Uh, as, you know, the water, everything else, you know, as that, that, uh, trees. Every tree I put in- Wow ... 30 years old tree. You know? You put in every tree?

Yes, every [00:50:00] single tree. Wow. Yes. But anyway, it's so beautiful now. Uh, what happened six years ago, the big fire burned, uh, half, against the hillside of my ranch. It burned down a couple of structures that we, we used, I had that as the, uh, community center before. Okay. It was like a 6,000 square foot barn where we used for basketball, for meetings, for community meetings, schools, police, you know, firemen, you know, government.

Everybody, we used that for chamber, Rotary, that stuff. So we built that for community use. Community used them all the time. But the fire burned down. So we thought we're retire. We can... So we willing to retire, right? Perfect time. That was, uh, six years ago, five years ago. Yeah, right. And it- So I was 85. The, uh- The community, our government, and the c- state, everybody all come to me.

"C.C., [00:51:00] you need a..." I, I can mention name. Maybe you c- you, you don't like I g- It's true story. Governor Newsom says to me, "C.C., we need a, California need a Asian heritage center and a museum to, to store this important one." Wow. You know, to store all the artifact left by Asian immigrant in America. The railroad, the Japanese, everybody else.

They were, now they are in the warehouse storage almost, almost 200 years now. So that, so my family say, "Okay," including my children, say, "Okay, we can rebuild that as so-called, uh, officially California State Asian Heritage Center and Museum." Wow. The county people support 100 per- 200%, everybody. So th- that's why now we build that in past f- past, uh, five years now.

Is it open now? It, it, it is officially done. Uh, we're [00:52:00] still, uh, not open to the public yet. Okay. We still complete certain, uh, construction requirement. Mm-hmm. You know, it's, yeah, it's g- k- everybody helps. So it's official done. It's part of, uh, giving back to America. We give to APAPA nonprofit. APAPA give to State of California- Mm-hmm

under state of, uh, uh, Park and Recreation Department. It's all done leg- everything done legally. Just actual activities, we have to wait for some more detail, construction work it then. So this now belong to you. Yeah. Belong to everybody, uh, in the country, not just California. It's a way that we feel so good about it.

Anh Phoong: Yeah. So this yours now. You, everybody, yours now. You need to come and use it, and if, uh, feel proud of it. Well, C.C., thank you. Thank you for that. Thank you for everything you do and your family do for our community. I wanna start to wrap this up and... But before we end the [00:53:00] episode, I, I want to play a fun little game that I call Go All In or Fold.

And I'm gonna talk about couple things. I'm gonna show you some pictures, and you either like it or you don't. So yes or no, okay? So back in the days, McDonald's had the Ronald McDonald, but he's no longer the mascot. So is that a go all in or fold? Do you, do you want him back or...? I, I love him back. You know, if you come to my ranch, that you see that Ronald, uh- Ronald, Ronald McDonald?

CC Yin: chair and a, and a statue in the my ranch. Oh, wow. Yeah, right on the main road. So if you wanna see Ronald McDonald- Yes ... go to the ranch, your ranch. Ye- yes, and, and, uh- And if I didn't bring my, the shirt I wear every day almost- Mm-hmm ... that it has Ronald- Ronald ... right here. So you're gonna go all in on Ronald.

Okay. Okay, so- That's my favorite guy. Oh, yeah, Ronald House was a great, seriously, not just Ronald. Ronald McDonald House [00:54:00] representing McDonald's spirit. Yes. You giving back. Yes. Uh, you know, not, not just the children, but, uh, America's 50 family caseloads. Yeah. And, uh, our family, you know, Mary, Regina, and Harris are big supporters of that.

Anh Phoong: Okay, so then just something about, like, the digital age right now. Where, do you ch- prefer to read a physical newspaper or online on your phone? So all in on a physical paper, newspaper, or fold? I'm, I'm a old style. I'm more into daily with people like you. Yeah. I'm not used to, uh- Technology ... fast technology.

Mm-hmm. And, uh, plus I have a very smart people helping me. Yeah. Like my wife, Regina, Mary, and my, my managers do great. I, I can't. I'm a s- I also, I'm very slow guy. You're not a slow guy. Yeah. You're a very smart man. But let's say, [00:55:00] so that is, like, a physical newspaper. Yes. Yes, yes. Yes. Um, okay, so this is more about, like, tradition and chivalry.

Um, when you go out on a date, do you believe in splitting the bill, or should a You know where I'm going with this. Yeah, I know, I know what you're talking about, yeah. Yeah, or, um, should, should, uh, should the bill be split? I, I, I'm a old style. I like to see where, um, yeah, shared, uh, call it shared cost. I, I'm a very natural, easy.

CC Yin: Wanna share the cost, to me it's very, very good. Yeah. However, I, I like to do it, especially small expenses, you know. Okay. I'm not talking about big dollars. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Daily stuff. So y- if we go out, you, you pay me a coffee, next time I, I pay you a tea. Yeah. It's just a friendship. Yeah.

Anh Phoong: It's not, it's not about the money. It's fair. Actually, I, I like to pay for everybody. Mm-hmm. But, you know, the, because I thank them, seriously- Yeah ... for friendship, for support. You know, [00:56:00] but that's okay. I just go natural, whatever people like to do. Okay, CC, thank you so much for being on this episode with us.

CC Yin: Thank you so much. We love you guys. We love McDonald's. We've gotta go to Apapa and check out the Yin Ranch, right? Yeah. When it's, when it's available, when we can go and- Please come. So I have a lot of respect and appreciation- Oh, we appreciate you too ... to the young generation. Yeah. Well, you know, to the, the- That's called American dream.

Anh Phoong: It is. That give a lot more opportunity to immigrant or new immigrant, like, be like the future generations. Yeah. A lot of more opportunity Great. Thank you. Thank you- Thank you ... for being here. Thank you. Appreciate. Oh, my goodness. Thank you. Appreciate. If this conversation resonated with you, please leave a review and take a second to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes, and if you know someone who's building something of their own, share this with them.

CC Yin: It might be exactly what they need to [00:57:00] hear right now. I'm Anne Fong. Thanks for listening to Go All In: Beating the Odds in Business.