Former Apple employee miserable because real name is Sam Sung

A former Apple employee suddenly became an internet phenomenon because his birth name was the same as that of rival Samsung.

This fame brought him a lot of trouble and led to the decision to "change his life" later.

Thirteen years ago, Sam Sung, a 23-year-old man from Scotland (UK), moved to Vancouver (Canada) to work part-time at an Apple Store. While he was busy with his shift, Sam's phone rang nonstop. Strange messages kept coming in, along with links to a discussion topic on the Reddit platform that he had never heard of.

At first, Sam thought it was a scam and was worried that something bad might happen to his family. However, when he checked the link, he was shocked to see that a photo of his business card had gone viral on Reddit.

The photo attracted millions of views and humorous comments about the ironic coincidence between his name and Samsung – the Korean technology giant and Apple's arch-rival.

Samsung auctioned off its business card after it went viral online in 2012. (Photo: Business Insider)

Things quickly spiraled out of control. The Apple Store where Sam worked was swarmed by customers, and even reporters were lurking outside. Store management immediately called Sam Sung, questioning him about the controversial post.

“I was really panicking,” Sam shared in a recent interview with Business Insider. He was worried about the prospect of losing his job, especially since he was new to a faraway country and his career was still in its infancy.

Apple reacted quickly to cool the fever. The company pulled Sam out of the sales area, asked employees not to reveal his identity. The company also recalled all of Sam's remaining business cards.

When customers call to ask, Sam has no choice but to pretend to be someone else. Luckily, his distinctive Scottish accent helps him hide his identity over the phone.

But the following months were a nightmare for Sam. His store became a "hot spot" as everyone talked and joked about "Sam Sung - Samsung's secret Apple employee". He could only try to keep his head down and work, avoiding curious eyes from others.

"I just want to keep my job and live in peace," Sam Sung shared. Luckily, the fever only lasted a few months and then subsided.

By 2013, Sam decided to leave Apple, not because his fame affected the company, but because he wanted to shift to the recruitment field - a turning point that suited his personal career development aspirations.

However, the memory of his involuntary rise to fame is not easily forgotten. That was the motivation for Sam to make a life-changing decision: changing his name. After careful consideration, he decided to change his name to Sam Struan, with his last name being the name of a village he loved on the Isle of Skye in his native Scotland.

The decision not only helped Sam escape his past as an “internet joke,” but also had practical benefits. Numerous studies have shown that anglicized names often open up more job opportunities and reduce the risk of discrimination.

Furthermore, in the office environment, the name Sam Sung can cause legal trouble, because it coincides with the identifying name of social network accounts and dedicated emails of the giant Samsung brand.

So when he entered the recruitment industry, where personal image determines opportunities, Sam realized the need to change his name. "I wanted to build my own brand, not live under the shadow of a multinational company," he explained.

Now, at 36, Sam Struan has returned to Scotland and lives a quiet life in Glasgow, working as a consultant and writing CVs. Looking back on the experience, Sam no longer sees it as a nuisance, but as an enjoyable time. He even wants to thank the netizens who helped make him famous.

“I wish I could tell my younger self that it's just a joke, don't worry about work, everything will be fine,” Sam confided. “ I just wish I could relax more, enjoy the moment instead of being scared.”

Sam even turned his fame into meaningful actions, by auctioning an old business card and some uniform items at Apple. The proceeds of more than $2,500 were donated to the Children's Wish Foundation, a charity he was involved with.

“It's a great way to turn something scary into something good,” Sam shares.

Viet Anh

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cuu-nhan-vien-apple-khon-kho-vi-ten-that-la-sam-sung-ar972970.html