What happens when a kid who can’t speak English at age six grows up to spend over a billion dollars in advertising and mentor thousands of young entrepreneurs? That’s the story of Dennis Yu, and Trevor Blaszczyk brought him onto the Saving 22 Podcast to unpack every bit of it—from childhood bullying to building one of the most respected digital marketing careers in the world.
This episode hits different. Dennis didn’t just show up for an interview. He mentored Trevor live on air, breaking down mindset, self-doubt, and what it actually takes to build something real after the military.
From Not Speaking English to Representing California in the National Spelling Bee
Dennis Yu’s story starts in a place most people wouldn’t expect. Born in the U.S. to Chinese-speaking parents, he didn’t speak English until he was six years old. Kids bullied him. He couldn’t communicate with his classmates. So what did he do? He went to the library—every single day.
“I went to Barnes & Noble or B Dalton or Crown Books the book stores and I would just sit there for hours and until my legs went numb just in the aisles reading. I read 4,500 books. I even had an Oxford Unabridged Dictionary and I studied that for a couple hours every day.”
That relentless drive paid off. Dennis represented California in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and made it to the quarterfinals. From a kid who couldn’t speak the language to competing at the national level—that’s the kind of transformation that doesn’t happen by accident.
Building a Career at the Birth of the Internet
Dennis didn’t just witness the rise of the internet—he was in the room when it happened. As a search engine engineer at Yahoo, he worked alongside the people who invented the core technology that powers the web today. Through BlitzMetrics, the company he founded, Dennis has managed over a billion dollars in ad spend for major brands and trained thousands of young professionals in digital marketing.
“I was with the people who invented a lot of the core technology. I played Frisbee with them, hung out with them in the restaurants. Back then we didn’t know the internet would be as big as it is.”
He’s been featured on CNN, Fox News, and dozens of major media outlets—not for self-promotion, but because the results he produces for businesses speak for themselves. Today, Dennis spends most of his time doing what matters to him most: mentoring young people and helping them build real careers.
The Mindset Trap That Holds Veterans Back
One of the most powerful moments in this conversation is when Dennis confronts something Trevor and many veterans struggle with: the fear of asking for help. Veterans are trained to execute, to be self-sufficient, to push through. But that same mentality can become a wall when transitioning to civilian life.
“You can make a million dollars or you can make a million excuses but you can’t do both. Either way you’re gonna suffer, so I’d rather be successful.”
Dennis introduced the concept of thinking in terms of “rank”—not military rank, but skill rank across different areas of life. You might be an E8 in discipline but an E3 in marketing. That’s not a weakness. It’s just knowing where you stand so you can learn from the right people.
“We both have things to learn from each other. I have value to give. She has value to give. So all the vets that are listening—there are some things that you’re going to be the expert at, and there are other things where you need to be humble enough to learn.”
Why “Fitting In” Is the Wrong Goal
Dennis shared a perspective that flipped the script on what most veterans think they need after service. Instead of trying to fit into the civilian world, Dennis argues veterans should lean into what makes them different. The discipline, the work ethic, the ability to operate under pressure—those aren’t things to hide. They’re advantages.
“Don’t try to fit in. The things that made you successful in the military—discipline, showing up early, doing what you said you’d do—those are the exact things that make you successful in business.”
The conversation moved into practical territory as Dennis walked Trevor through how to actually build an online presence, create content, and connect with the right mentors. This wasn’t theoretical—Dennis started mentoring Trevor right there during the recording.
The Power of Making Requests
Toward the end of the episode, Dennis challenged Trevor—and every veteran listening—to stop waiting for permission and start making specific requests. Not vague asks like “I need money,” but concrete, actionable requests to specific people who can help.
“I bet you most have not even thought far enough to have a goal, which then trickles down into here’s things I need to do. When people say I need money, that’s not actually what they need. There’s things that need to happen and then money is the product of doing those things.”
Trevor admitted feeling “needy” about asking for help, and Dennis called it out immediately as self-sabotage—the same mental pattern that holds back so many veterans who feel they need to earn everything on their own.
About Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is the CEO of BlitzMetrics, a digital marketing company that has managed over a billion dollars in ad spend for clients including the Golden State Warriors, Nike, and Rosetta Stone. He’s an internationally recognized lecturer who has spoken at conferences in over 20 countries and is known for his Dollar a Day strategy for Facebook advertising. Dennis is a regular contributor on major media outlets and dedicates much of his time to mentoring young adults and veterans in digital marketing and entrepreneurship.
Connect with Dennis: dennisyu.com | BlitzMetrics | X/Twitter
Support the Mission
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a veteran who needs to hear it. Trevor started the Saving 22 Podcast to tackle the veteran suicide crisis head-on through honest conversations about mental health, transition, and purpose after service. Visit endsuicide.us to learn more about the mission, grab some merch from the shop, or reach out directly at trevorblazek28@gmail.com if you want to be on the show.
About The Author
