"Ask Yourself, Why Not You?" with Alice Tang, on Immigrant's Career, Women's Financial Success, and Legacy.

Zhou Fang: [00:00:00] All right, here we go. We're gonna get it started. Um, hello everyone. Welcome to The Intersection, a podcast program about intersectionality, intersectional identities, and intersectional journeys. And as we all know, every journey comes with a story, and behind every story there's a real person sharing it.

And today I'm so, I'm so thrilled and honored to have Alice Tung to be my guest on the program. I think Alice and I connected, uh, quite a while ago via mutual contacts, I think, I recall. And then, uh, this year Alice was so kind to ask me to say something around, uh, AAPI Heritage Month. So I was very happy to hear from you, and here we are recording a conversation.

And a very quick, uh, introduction for Alice. So Alice Tung has been a financial advisor for over [00:01:00] 25-plus years, so very seasoned, uh, financial advisor in town, for sure. And she's also the host of the Million Dollar Woman podcast, which is really cool. W- and you've been running that for a long time as well.

Um, so I would love to invite you, Alice, to introduce yourself in your own words.

Alice Tang: Hello, everyone. Good morning. Um, it's my pleasure to be here with, uh, my newfound friend- Mm-hmm ... young friend, um, today. And thank you, Zhao, for interviewing me. I hope I pronounced your name perfectly. If not, um, Mandarin is not my first language, Cantonese is.

So the audience would know a little bit about, you know, how Cantonese people speak Mandarin or- It's a little

Zhou Fang: different. No. Um. Um, you're doing great. So Mandarin is Zhao, which you did very [00:02:00] well, and then just for our listeners, in Cantonese it's Zhao. Fong Zhao. Yeah, that's my, that's my Canton, like- Fong Zhao

Fong Zhao. Yeah, haiya. Yes. Um, so Fong is my last name, Fong in Cantonese, and Zhao is my fam- uh, my given name, Zhao in Cantonese. So they're a little different. Um, but it's n- it's nice to think about how we speak our languages even though, um, we're from pretty close places.

Alice Tang: Great, great. And, um, thank you for the introduction.

Yeah. I'm Alice Pang, and yes to everything that Zhao has just shared. Um, the one thing that she hasn't shared, which you probably have noted- Mm ... in this conversation so far is I am an immigrant.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: First generation.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: Just like Zhao.

Zhou Fang: Yes, yes. So we definitely share that. [00:03:00] Um, oh, you remind me, how old were you when you moved to the States?

Alice Tang: Now people can do maths will know my age. Right. I, I will say that I was, um, you know, early 30s, and I've been here for 31 years, so people can do the maths quickly.

Zhou Fang: Wow, that's so impressive, moving to the States in your 30s, 'cause I was 22 when I moved here, and I was like, oh, I was kind of an older, you know, immigrant at the time.

But, um, you moved in your 30s. How, how was that for you?

Alice Tang: Um, you know what? I'm one of those people when life give me something, I'll just embrace it. Sometimes I kick and scream, and then I embrace it. Mm-hmm. So, um, this, uh, started with my, uh, spouse, my wonderful husband that we- Mm-hmm ... I have married to for 35 years.

Mm. We just [00:04:00] celebrated our anniversary. Um, he was headhunted by a high-tech company.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: Um, he, he wanted to say yes, and I wanted to support that yes. I see. I didn't know what I would run into-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: but just feel that, well, it's a land of opportunity. Mm-hmm. Um, America, a lot of people want to come here, but i- it's harder through your application, through your family, um, links and all s- such.

But, um, he's in high tech. He should be in a, in a country that, um- Mm-hmm.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: would provide him the most opportunity. So we were so young, and I thought I'm so flexible, so whatever. We packed. So we said yes. Um, about- Mm ... 12 movers came to our small 900 square feet apartment in Tokyo at the time. Um, we were with the [00:05:00] company already, right?

Um, um, in a different country building, um, an office and a presence there, but he skill was needed here, so we moved. So 12 movers came to our apartment. You know, within half a day, everything's packed, including my toilet mop- ... which they, they missed a Post-it because they said, "Put a yellow Post-it on it for the things that you don't want to be packed," but maybe they were just too fast.

They packed. Imagine when we opened, we just laughed at the container.

Zhou Fang: That's such a great- So we- ... yeah, memory. Yeah, go ahead. Sorry.

Alice Tang: S- no, that's fine. Um, so, um, we came. I didn't know what to expect, but then I find out that, hmm, interesting, uh, when you are dependent on a immigrant... Uh, on a, not immigrant, but, um, a working visa, you cannot work.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: Um, as you knew about the more recent me, meaning in the last, uh, [00:06:00] 10 years, 15 years- Mm-hmm ... 30 years-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: um, I have been a career woman, and I- Yeah ... have been a business woman.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: So not a lot of people were there with me when I was A housewife. A housewife with no network No relationship, nothing to do

While I'm waiting for my husband to come home after work

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: That was a huge change.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

And- Things- Oh, go ahead ...

Alice Tang: things happen for a reason.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

And when did you start thinking like, "Okay, I don't wanna just sit around any longer"? [00:07:00] And, uh, my guess is, you know, finance was your background, and then you started your financial advisor career in the US after move here. So how did you do that transition? How did you go through the transition?

Alice Tang: This is a brilliant question.

Um, if people look at my resume, I don't need to show my resume, I'm not hunting for a job anymore, as you know my age. But if you do, my degree is in computer science. I love numbers. Mm. I love analyzing.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: But I don't have a finance degree- Mm ... nor did I expect myself doing work in the financial industry.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: But d- life do have a plan. Life does have a plan. Let me just rephrase. Life does have a plan for each one [00:08:00] of us, especially, you know, I only live my life, I know mine So because of, uh, the situation I was in, I, um, you know, went back to Portland State University.

Zhou Fang: Okay.

Alice Tang: Finished my master degree, and still struggling to find work because who knows about me?

Nobody.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: So what I'm counting on is, um, my relationship skills. I'm a very relationship driven person. Mm-hmm. So I went back to the Portland State U, um, the career office and befriended the people in the office so that when they see opportunity for me, they would just give me a call. At that time there is no text message, 30 years ago.

Yeah. Where is your iPhone or your smartphone? Um, so I went back frequently to visit and one day they said, "You know, here is an [00:09:00] interview. It's by a financial company." I said, "I'm not interested." And then, uh, my friend at the office said, "Well, there is two ways you can look at this. One is I'm not interested.

You're waiting for your right opportunities to show up, and then you interview, and you might or might not get the job."

Zhou Fang: Mm. "

Alice Tang: The other thing is use this as a stepping stone in learning about how to better your interviewing skills."

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: Even you know in your heart today that it's not for you.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: So basically, instead of saying no when you have time and energy-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm

Alice Tang: when we don't have time, always say no, right? Yeah. That's the management here. But when you have so much time, just like I did-

Zhou Fang: Mm ...

Alice Tang: the question you always ask yourself is [00:10:00] why not?

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: Give me a reason of why not. So that why not brought me to that meeting when I met the interviewer, which became my first manager in this country.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: He looked like a teddy

Zhou Fang: bear.

Alice Tang: Um, of course you can imagine choppy glasses, beard, um, very soft, you know, uh, personality. Mm-hmm. Uh, not the macho, macho deal. Um, so I really wanted to hug him, but I felt inappropriate. No. So I shook his hand because he really looked like a cuddly teddy bear. So because he was able to, um, lower my guard-

Zhou Fang: Mm

Alice Tang: I could share the story about me. I didn't know what I talked about that interest him, maybe nothing, but, um, the fact that [00:11:00] he liked me. Mm-hmm. And he said, "Uh, we're gonna invite you back to the office and go through a series of about five days interview to see if you can have the personality and the tenacity of doing this job."

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: So I thought, well

I've decided that this is a training opportunity for my interview skills. This is not for a job.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: But again, the why not?

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: I had time. Why not? So went to the first day, went to the second day. Each day we're doing something different. You know, there is tests about, you know, how I look at, um, the world.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: There are test of, you know, really, uh, sitting down with the current financial advisor- Mm-hmm ... and they can just see if I can make it, even though they will not manage me.

Zhou Fang: I see.

Alice Tang: The last meeting is with [00:12:00] the managing director

Um, subsequently he become a very good friend, but at that time definitely he wasn't. It's about me against him. Mm-hmm. So I'm sitting down, still remembering this round table inside his office, you know how the, you know, the boss has a really expensive looking desk overseeing the whole city. Mm-hmm. And then there is this round table in the same room.

And here I am, glasses, long hair, no longer. I chop my hair off many years ago, um, humbly walking in and he show me where to sit. What a gentleman.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: But I know there is an exam or test in front of me, right? It's a interview after all.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: And after the greeting and, you know, hi and all this fluff, um, you know that he's a type A because [00:13:00] he drive to the point.

He said, "Alice, you're in the final part of your interview."

Zhou Fang: Mm. "

Alice Tang: And I control this part."

Zhou Fang: Hmm. Okay.

Alice Tang: So I decide whether you come in or not

Um, if you knew about me 30 years ago, even today sometimes when I, when something like this hit me-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: um, I don't have any, um, sense but emotions.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: Emotion that is frustration or unfair or whatever that is.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: The more heartbeat raised.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: My breath is shorter, was shorter.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: And I didn't know how I managed back then, the [00:14:00] younger version of me, to calm down, and I did.

The first thing that came out from my mouth shocked me even today.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: So I look at him and said, "Sir, I appreciate and understand you're hiring for someone," and this is the last part of the interview I took a long pause and I said, "As you're interviewing me, I'm also interviewing you."

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Hmm

Alice Tang: It needs to be a good fit from your angle and mine in order for this to happen

Zhou Fang: That's powerful. Yeah. Um, the younger generation definitely needs to hear [00:15:00] that. It's a two-way street

Alice Tang: So I thank him for the opportunity. No more exchange of conversation. We were both really polite, very respectful body language, shake our hands, and then say goodbye. And then the following week I got a letter. The letter said, "You're invited to join us."

Zhou Fang: Oh.

Alice Tang: And then at the time I had to rethink, what's this?

Zhou Fang: Yeah.

Alice Tang: Remember what's this, this may not be what I wanted.

Zhou Fang: Right.

Alice Tang: The fact is that there is not another opportunity in front of me or even remotely in front of me. So the question is, why not?

Zhou Fang: Mm. Mm-hmm. [00:16:00] Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: While I'm killing time, I may as well learn the environment of how the American culture is.

Zhou Fang: Yeah. Hmm.

Alice Tang: So I'm gonna pause and see if there is any thoughts, directions that my guide, Joe, is leading me

Zhou Fang: No, I think it's really powerful. Um, thank you for sharing the backstory of how you got into financial advisory work. Um, I think first of all, I appreciated how your kind of, uh, college, like, career c- advisor, the, the advice they gave you, it's like, "Well, just see it as an opportunity to practice and hone your interview skills."

I think that's really good advice for folks who are looking for jobs right now, especially in [00:17:00] today's environment. Um, it can be very frustrating, like you mentioned, Alice. I mean, it was frustrating back then, and it's only more frustrating right now, or challenging and more nuanced. So I wanna maybe invite folks out there who are looking for jobs to maybe think about, "Yeah, like, this opportunity may not be my dream job," right?

But like you said, Alice, like, why not? It's like, to be open-minded and also be open-hearted, and to see what we learn from this experience. Um, I mean, the thing is, everyone feel like, "I don't have time for this." But the thing is, time is actually on our side if we allow it. Um, time is not our enemy necessarily.

So I really appreciated that part of the story, and I think I really loved how you advocated for yourself during the final interview. Like, it's so true. Like, it cannot [00:18:00] just be the candidate being interviewed or sometimes being bullied by the interviewer. Um, it is, uh... it has to be reciprocal. And as they interview you, and you are also interviewing them.

So I think there are at least two variable, like, valuable lessons there, uh, for our listeners. So thank you for that. And I think my curiosity leads me to the next question, is that, you know, you joined the financial, uh, advice firm, and you got into finance. And, uh, obviously you stayed in the industry to p- 25-plus years, and you have been successful.

And today you are working with or collaborating with women specifically, who have succeeded in their careers as well. And, um, and you have this podcast program called Million Dollar Woman that celebrates women's success. Because [00:19:00] historically, right, like, in both, I think, Western and Eastern worlds, especially Eastern worlds, women's independence or ability to make money, to gain financial independence, is not very much encouraged or celebrated.

Um, I mean, it's different now, um, compared to maybe 30, 50 years before. Still- You know, depending on where you are in the country, when women talk about money, it can be very uncomfortable. Um, so I'm very curious about your kind of inspiration for the Million Dollar, Million Dollar Woman podcast. What inspired you to do it, uh, in your 25-plus years of career, and what you're learning from it so far?

Alice Tang: Um, great questions. I'd like to, um, just finish up the story with a, um, chuckle.

Zhou Fang: Please, please.

Alice Tang: So [00:20:00] after, after the interview, after I was hired, of course, I mean, today, 30 years-plus later, we are friends. Mm-hmm. Um, I find out that, um, he did it all the time to test the candidate, um, how they would react or act under pressure

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: So, um, do you need to do a lot of pushups before you go into interview, right? Under pressure so your muscle is more flexible. Um, what I think a good message for, um, the people, I mean, we just talk about people who are looking for jobs- Mm-hmm ... uh, maybe, maybe some of our audience is, um, s- sometimes a stressful situation, maybe even family, uh, maybe y- you're dating, you know, uh, [00:21:00] your, um, your other important person- Mm-hmm

that you have an argument. Um, we have a time to choose at that time. Am I yelling back? Or am I going to choose a higher path?

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: The higher path need to respect and honor me, but at the same time, I need to show that I care and appreciate the other person.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: Which I tried. I'm not sure if I was perfect.

No one remembers except me, right? Mm-hmm. So I'm the only per- because how many people that this wonderful managing director has interviewed-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: and have tested if they have any backbone at all? Many.

Zhou Fang: Mm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm. Yeah, I appreciate that. I definitely feel, um, it does require a lot of [00:22:00] emotional intelligence these days for folks to respond under higher pressure, uh, especially when life is, in general, pretty stressful right now.

So the stress testing, I think, is constant in our day-to-day life. So how can we practice or grow our emotional intelligence? That's definitely for job seekers out there, and also, of course, for recruiters and for interviewers to think about, is how to make this experience, useful and respectful and, um, practical for everyone.

Um, to me, I feel, um, to test someone's ability to handle stress just for the sake of handling stress, uh, is not as effective i- as it might look like. Um, for me, I feel it does require some, [00:23:00] uh, hand-holding or some, um, practice to help someone with that emotional intelligence. Uh, especially when you don't know someone, like where did they grow up?

How was their upbringing? Uh, what if it triggered a very traumatic past, right? What if someone grew up in an abusive family? Then that kind of test could be seen as quite brutal. Um, but I think in general, I do think that, uh, in a conversation, it's really important for both parties to exercise, uh, respect and, uh, reciprocal communications.

Just be thoughtful and compassionate for each other.

Alice Tang: I have a few things in my mind, um, when you were, uh, sharing your thoughts, Zhao.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: And, um, I hope it's okay to, uh-

Zhou Fang: Of course, please ...

Alice Tang: to share with you and the [00:24:00] audience. Mm-hmm. There are many perspective that we can look at the situation or the story that I just told

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm

Alice Tang: Um, uh, we can ask the, uh, interviewer to have a little bit more compassion, because he didn't know where I came from, although the accent in my language is- Mm

clear, right? Right. It's clear. Um, but at the same time, I feel that he is there to do a job. The job is he has very little information. Not today, you can search everything. Mm-hmm. Very little in- in- information to do a job, and he needed to do that job how many times a day?

Zhou Fang: Mm, mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: So, um, I say I would not take it personally.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: Maybe back then, yes, it triggered me a little bit. That's how I painted the story to the audience earlier, but-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: I feel that he's just doing his job. Mm-hmm. So let's talk [00:25:00] about what we can do when people... You know, we can never control the other person- Mm ... or the group of other people in the same room.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: Um, however, we can control ourselves. When situation like this is so stressful today-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm,

Alice Tang: mm-hmm ... because I've lived another 31 years since then.

Zhou Fang: Yes. Not quite,

Alice Tang: but- Or 25 years. Or 25 years. 31 years immigrated, 25 years of, um- Oh,

Zhou Fang: yeah ...

Alice Tang: you know, doing this kind of business. So I may age and have experience, so here is the trick that I always use.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: However stressful of the situation, tell yourself, "I deserve a break."

Zhou Fang: Mm. Yeah.

Alice Tang: That break could be as simple as quiet, silence. When people [00:26:00] push you to the corner, unless they're on your neck with their real hand,

Zhou Fang: Mm. Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: you actually are not obligated to respond immediately. Mm-hmm. After a harsh comment-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm

Alice Tang: or a, a test like I received, I didn't know it was a test- Mm-hmm.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: I'm not obligated to... I can buy time. The time could be 10 seconds- Yeah ... 15 seconds. And for those who do, um, the internal work, you know you can take deep breaths.

Zhou Fang: Yes

Alice Tang: You take a deep breath, you count to four, breathe in, you hold your breath for four, and then you release that for eight.

So that's 12 seconds if you can do it slowly. [00:27:00] Quickly, six seconds, I mean, depending on who you are. But in that one deep breath or couple, if you can help it, you calm your nervous down. Now you're trying to rise above the situation and take a look what's going on.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: What's my best route? Is punching him and giving him a black eye my best route?

Or being polite and still say what I wanted to say calmly my best route? Mm-hmm.

Or anything in between.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm. Mm.

Alice Tang: The second thing, um, people who have done negotiation or sales, which why I was test, because after all, um, I need to be in selling, right? People buy my product because I was able to present and ask for the order.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: I could be under a lot of stress when I got pushbacks.

[00:28:00] That's where the meaning of the test was. Not everybody can handle it. That's why- I know ... not everybody can do what I do. Not that I'm better, but I'm gifted this way. I couldn't do other things. Mm-hmm.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: Um, so anyone who knows negotiation and sales, you know that silence actually is good.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Alice Tang: A moment of silence is gonna put you in the favor, on the upper hand.

Zhou Fang: Mm. Mm, I love that. I, I really resonate with that. I think taking a breath in or multiple breath in is, you know, a regulating tactic. And also, like you mentioned, Alice, it buys us time so that we can actually think about what we wanna say or do. And yeah, it's so interesting that it comes... Yeah, it's something about psychology, about the slowing down and [00:29:00] also kind of having some quiet moments that do in terms of shifting the, the dynamics in the room.

Uh, that's really interesting, so thank you for mentioning those.

Alice Tang: And the final point I'm trying to make is, um, if I know what I know today, I would do something different back then. What would you

Zhou Fang: do?

Alice Tang: Um, actually, one more thing I would do is after my breathing- After I finish briefing, like 10 seconds we just talked about, I will think of one thing that is real and true that I appreciate at the time.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: Mm-hmm. Because when we have gratitude in our mind, the other emotion kind of step back.

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: Now I'm at a higher place where I can see the occasion clearly.

Zhou Fang: Mm. Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: If there is any skills that all of us can choose to be better is get to [00:30:00] a place where we have absolute clarity. Mm-hmm. Or more clarity.

When you have more clarity, meaning you can see further, the hiccups in between will not bother you as much.

Zhou Fang: Hmm. Mm-hmm, I love that. I really do. I think a lot of the work we do is really comes from within, and then we show up to the world and that kind of reflects the work we've already done. So I really, uh, enjoy that.

Thank you very much, Alice. Um, so maybe going back a little bit to your Million Dollar Woman Conversations podcast, um- Yes, um,

Alice Tang: may I, may I jump in and we can cut this? Yeah. It's Woman's Million Dollar Conversation Podcast. So it's Woman's Million Dollar- Million Dollar ... Conversation Podcast.

Zhou Fang: Great.

Alice Tang: Um-

Zhou Fang: Yeah.

Thank you

Alice Tang: S- so let's re-ask that question.

Zhou Fang: Oh, uh, I [00:31:00] think that's okay. I think it's fine you corrected me. Yeah, it's fine. Yeah. Um, I like to be corrected.

Alice Tang: Well, I mean, um, okay, so, um, that's my, part of my legacy, but no, I'm only in my 60s. You know, I probably will grow another 10, 15, 20, 30 years. Mm-hmm. Who knows what's going to happen at the end.

So I'm kind of like still in search of who I am and my purpose for this chapter and next chapter, so focusing on the current chapter. Um, Woman's Million Dollars Conversation is important to me because-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: the guests we interviewed- We're not saying they're bragging about their wealth, but they have made it.

They have either saved a million or earned a million Or they have sold a million. Mm-hmm. If [00:32:00] you're a business owner, your revenue is a million- Mm-hmm ... and above.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: And why is it important? Because without a bar, I mean, just like, you know, I want to be better, I want to be, um, more mindful of my exercise, I want to walk more.

What is walk, walk more, right?

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: So we get to a place where, I mean, why a million is really coming from, you know, a search that I had during the pandemic. Mm. I got bored really easily. So, so when I, uh, when I search one day, I said, "$1 million household in Am- in America." And, uh, to my shock, you can read in my LinkedIn, I detail it, you can read in my website that 9 out of 10 household is under a million.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: The more shocking facts at that time, [00:33:00] today is different. There are three men, men who's financially really powerful. If you add their net worth together, it's more than the bottom 50%-

Zhou Fang: Mm ...

Alice Tang: of our population.

Zhou Fang: Yep.

Alice Tang: At that time, I told myself, "If there is anything, I need to change that."

So I decided to interview those women who have hit the milestone, not necessarily to brag about it, but if they choose to, that's great because it's a huge accomplishment, just like you receive a plaque-

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm ...

Alice Tang: from Portland Business Journal- Yep ... from your most, uh, respected nonprofit organization about how much hours you have volunteered.

Same thing, right?

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: So for them to be able to take time to be interviewed and share their insight and their journey, when we let our light [00:34:00] shine, we, you know, really, um, automatically let other people allow themselves, give themself permission to shine- Mm-hmm ... their light, too. Yeah. If there is any other things is, you know, for those who don't believe they can hit the million dollar mark, however way, we talk about the three ways, you can find a role model who look like you, have a similar background.

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm.

Alice Tang: And if she can, the question is why not you?

Zhou Fang: Yeah, exactly. I totally agree.

Alice Tang: So this is really a good place where we close this. Why not you?

Zhou Fang: Yeah. I think, um, it is very inspiring to think about, you know, among those who have a [00:35:00] million or more than a million dollars in the United States. And I think ultimately number is not the point, is who has the wealth? What's the percentage of women in the US have a significant or substantial wealth? And that's to me like a really good question when I listen to the conversations you have, uh, with women who have been successful in their own ways and in their own terms.

Um, so yeah, to folks out there, it's like to think about, especially right now, right? Like, people sometimes feel like we're just spinning and spinning and spinning, and then we come across some story that's very inspirational, and then we can really think about, "Oh, if they can do it, maybe I can too," right?

Like, why not me, right? Like, and people can think about, and I think you and I talked about this, Alice, is the scarcity mindset versus the abundance mindset. To think about what [00:36:00] is possible and to think about what are the resources we have that may help us succeed. I feel that's a really kind of valuable question to ask ourselves, why not me, right?

If I can practice the abundance mindset and help us get, help ourselves get there, um, I think that's powerful.

Alice Tang: I so appreciate everything we have today. Um, you know, like you said, um, your podcast interview is not planned, but I'm glad that you have led me to a new place of pasture.

Zhou Fang: Yes. Yeah.

Alice Tang: And I landed.

Zhou Fang: Yes. No, I really enjoyed it. Um, I always learn a lot from my guests, and today's no exception. Um, so to round up our conversation, um, [00:37:00] uh, we also talked about legacy briefly before. So I guess maybe to help us with a final thought is w- in your imagination, what would your legacy be, Alice?

Alice Tang: The question is how would I like to be remembered?

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm. Yes. How would you like to be remembered? I'd like

Alice Tang: to be... Yes. I'd like to be remembered as someone who has given a hand To others

Zhou Fang: Mm.

Alice Tang: When they need it When they want it

It could be one person

Zhou Fang: Mm-hmm

Alice Tang: And I'm a woman, I can change my [00:38:00] mind, but currently

Zhou Fang: Yes,

Alice Tang: we do ... to now, it's like that.

Zhou Fang: No, you are welcome to come back and say, "I've changed my mind," and we will talk again.

Alice Tang: Great. Thank you, Joan. This is awesome.

Zhou Fang: Oh, thank you so much, Alice. And if people want to find you and talk with you, um, how do they find you?

Can you share your contact information?

Alice Tang: Yes, um, they can go to askalicetang.com, which is where, you know, Women's Million Dollar Conversation, our podcast, and other articles that I write is there. If they would like to reach out to me, they can go to my LinkedIn and, uh, direct message me, and I'm sure that LinkedIn link is going to be provided in the show notes.

Zhou Fang: Yes. We will have both your website, askalicetang.com, and your LinkedIn profile in the show notes. Um, I definitely encourage folks to reach [00:39:00] out to you, 'cause there's so much knowledge and wisdom there. Um, and, uh, and I'm sure we'll have another conversation. And, um, with that, thank you so much, Alice, and I will stop recording here.