Hossein Zamanian: A Truly American Tale

WINDOWS of OPPORTUNITY

By Noelle Bartl

Once upon a time there was a young Iranian man named Hossein Zamanian (MBA 74) with grand dreams. From a Persian family of modest means, Hossein’s parents sacrificed to send him to America. Flying across the Atlantic, Hossein smiled with anticipation as he looked through the airplane window and saw America and all its possibilities.

His future in America all began in Portales, New Mexico when he chose ENMU because of the low-cost tuition and the excellent reputation of the College of Business. Portales offered Hossein the safety of a small town to not only adjust to America and study, but to also be a place to begin to learn English.

Hossein Zamanian has patented multiple successful products, including a kabob maker and an easy-access, rolling computer stand. His most recent patent is an innovative education software for bilingual reading and for learning to read music.

Hossein worked hard, earning his degree in 18 months before going on to earn his doctorate in education from East Texas State (now known as Texas A&M-Commerce). He married his lovely Persian wife Marzi in Iran and because of the unrest during the Iranian Revolution in 1978 and 1979 they returned together to America. Hossein taught for nine years at Southwest Christian College in Terrell, Texas, but once the couple’s two children were born, their son Reza and their daughter Sheila, Hossein began to have visions of something bigger. He wanted to provide more for his family. Over the next two years, Hossein studied diligently for the CPA exam. Passing the exam on the first try, Hossein began working for a national firm as a junior accountant with an “inside office” without windows.

The determined ENMU alumnus asked his boss, whose office had one large window, “When do you think I will have one of these windows?” His supervisor saw the potential in Hossein and responded, “The way you work, Hossein, you will have many windows.” Unfortunately, shortly after this encouragement, the firm merged with another and Hossein was let go. He always wondered if his Green Card status influenced his departure.

Hossein with his son, Reza, at a CPA swearing-in ceremony in Austin, Texas in 1984.

That day, he returned home at 11 a.m. unemployed. It was the same day they were celebrating their son’s third birthday. The Iranian immigrant was at a crossroads again and worried how he would make ends meet. His close Christian friend and mentor advised him to print his own business card and start knocking on doors ... lots of doors.

Over the next two weeks he knocked on doors and approached many businesses with no success. Things were looking dark with no leads. His friend asked him, “How many doors? 100?” Hossein answered, “49.” His friend’s supportive response, “Great! You are getting close.” After this encouragement, Hossein continued asking everyone he met if they needed accounting services. Surprisingly, while waiting for his grocery store to open early one Sunday morning, he struck up a conversation with another patron who owned several dry cleaning businesses and coincidentally had just happened to have fired his CPA the day before.

Hossein Zamanian on campus at Eastern circa 1974 while he was earning his master’s in business administration.

His CPA firm grew from there. For the next two years, Hossein conducted business out of his home for 20 clients before needing to open what Hossein described as a “small, one room office with three windows.” After attending numerous Zig Ziglar personal and professional development seminars, Hossein continued to set his sights on bigger dreams.

He recalls, “One Zig Ziglar seminar in particular included President Ronald Reagan in attendance and taking notes along with everyone else. I went on to set my own life goals for family, academic, work, finance, innovation and health.” These goals have provided the guiding force to Hossein’s success. “I wrote my goal on an index card and read it every day.”

Hossein and his wife, Marzi, on their wedding day in Iran.

Today, his firm has 10 accountants on his team and more than 500 clients of which Hossein is very selective. Hossein’s eighth floor firm is surrounded by windows providing a view of all of Dallas. In fact, the internal staff offices also have walls of glass so everyone on his team can enjoy the view and keep their eyes on the prize.

“Portales gave me my start and opened doors for me,” acknowledges Hossein. “One must look past your career and your bills and look for other needs and fill it with your intentions, inventions and talents.”

This truly American success story isn’t simply about building a prosperous accounting firm. Hossein’s life goal for “innovation” provided a ray of inspiration. In the 1980s he designed, marketed and manufactured a booming jewelry line sold to major department stores including Nordstrom.

Hossein and Marzi with their two children, a son Reza, and a daughter, Sheila circa 1989.

About once a year, Hossein and Marzi return to Iran to visit family. “My parents were very proud and enjoyed knowing their son had lucrative success as an inventor and as a business owner. I’m thankful for my parents’ vision to send me to America. One never forgets the first city you move to in a new country. I will never forget Portales and ENMU. I had no money. I didn’t speak English. I lived in the dormitory. I worked in the library and studied from sun up to sun down. I knew my future was at stake and ENMU was the portal.”

Hossein’s advice to current students and young alumni, “Take the setbacks. Learn from them and make it big.” He concluded, “as long as you have your burning desire, one must continue to dream ... Dream big. Work hard. Work smart.”