Latest / TWRS-Leadership Straight, No Chaser / From Control to Trust: Becoming a Better Leader
Transcript
- Scott: So if you don't know your true self, then how do you expect to lead others in the best version possible? Welcome back to Together We Are Stronger Leadership Strait, No Chasers. And today we have Joanna on with us. Joanna, when I was reviewing kind of the breakdown for your one sheet, one of the themes that kept coming up was burnout. And so when you kind of look back at your experience where you're at, Was it burnout that really caused you to do a deep dive and say, Okay, something's gotta adjust or was it something else that kinda came up and said, We've got to look at adjusting, whatever this may be? Joanna Zhang: Hmm, thank you for asking. Well, very straight to the topic. Love that. That's the style of your podcast. Yeah, I I get that. Right. George R Dovolis: Yep. Joanna Zhang: I I think burnout is similar as we all have signals in our life, right, to tell us something. And I think burnout is one of the things. And interestingly, burnout now when I look back, I can reflect now. It's not just physical, it's actually combination. Or physical, emotional, or even spiritual at the back end. So at that time when I was experiencing burnout, apparently there's a sign from Divine asked me to look at certain patterns or certain habits I was running, certain mechan mechanisms I was doing. I need to review. for me, I had a pattern of repeating similar things again and again before until I hit really hard. that's causing me having a soul awakening about four years ago. Because at that time the burnout causing the marriage breakdown, financial George R Dovolis: Hmm. Joanna Zhang: stress, business not clear, you know, like everything stuck in together is apparently to an extreme. Then I get to met a spiritual mentor and then after this soul awakening event, all those burnout from a a symptom become a signal for me. Because I get awareness after that. More and more aware of what I'm experiencing, be observ observing and allow and try to learn the reason behind it. So that was a transformation for me, basically. Scott: Hm. So it's it's an interesting thing. I I came across something, it was a study from Harvard that they had talked about really burnout comes from a loss of purpose, a lack of purpose. And how often do you see that when you talk to individuals, leaders, like missing some sort of purpose and then trying to drive through it and saying, Okay, I'll figure out my purpose on the way But then they enhance the burnout and then they enhance missing out on really truly building their business and connecting with those that are they're meant to connect with and serve. Joanna Zhang: wow, that's a very interesting angle. I believe burnout can come from all different angles, you know, like but you actually point to one direction about the purpose part. And I actually am so George R Dovolis: Mm-hmm. Joanna Zhang: with that. Because that was one of the reasons I burn out too. Because for me I was like an emotional burden of I try so hard. Why am I not still online or something like feel blockage or not clear? George R Dovolis: Mmm Joanna Zhang: You know, am I on the right track, self-doubt? All those things is giving heaviness, you know, like a burden. So causing the burnout. and that's can be one of the major reasons that actually you actually go to the straightway to the spiritual realm, I guess. Because if the route is about the purpose, once we figure out and then we can tap into it to align, then we can address physically. There will be a really ideal situation, right? But however, for my personal experience is that I always start from physical realm. I did a lot of things and then I'll burn out and then I just struggle. And then at the end a spiritual, I don't know what happened there. So now I've learned, especially after the soul awakening, I love your question, is because if we look at the spiritual realm about the purpose and why we're doing certain things, that will actually helping us Tap into the emotion better and embody it better and also give us the direction and clarity and a boundary to shape and design our life and business accordingly. I love that. Mm. Scott: Hmm. So y yeah, right now, like if you're thinking about it, as a business owner, if you're burning out because you're worrying about the back ends, payroll HR compliance, all the fun stuff that you probably didn't get into business because of that, reach out to ADP, they're a partner of ours, and the link in the show notes, there'll be a link there to schedule your call. And that may help out reducing that feeling because you're probably not in your zone of genius. George R Dovolis: Mmm, yes. Scott: And The interesting thing, you you had highlighted clarity. And George and I, when we first launched the first episode, the first long episode I believe, it was all around clarity. Because when you talk to individuals, a lot of people lack clarity. they're out here doing whatever and they're like, Well, I thought it'd be a great idea, but they really don't have clarity for why they're doing it. What's the big picture that they're trying to accomplish? And when you went through your awakening, the spiritual piece How much of clarity was missing for yourself and then when you talk to individuals, where does clarity show up or doesn't show up for these individuals? And how much does it hurt them or help them with that clarity either being there or not being there? Joanna Zhang: Right. I think first of all around this clarity, if some of us not really sure whether we're actually that's the the direction, I can share one of the feelings because that was like since I was born. I always have that feeling. I feel like I'm here for something, but I'm not sure what it is. You know, like I always felt those mystery energy around me to protect George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: who are they? You know, like those kind of feeling. It's like a calling but not really sure who is calling and then where to go. and of course, if we all have this feeling, I think that that's a great sign, is that something is driving us through, right? And it's necessary for us to go through those periods of unclear as well. I I now wanna look back, even though that was really hard and struggle and even suffer, I treasure that experience now. Because if not because of that, I wouldn't be able to build empathy and resilience and understanding and support. all those kind of qualities around my life and business, right? But now at the divine timing, I believe the guidance always say through whichever method. my one was zero spiritual soul awakening. Maybe someone is a mentor or coach. Whichever method that message can come to us to really open the door. For me, at that time I the question for me is like who am I? When what I'm here for, what I'm doing. Literally the soul awakening help me solve that problem because by then I identify who are my spiritual guides who are okay always actually there sending me the messages. I can connect with them now and I understand my soul power and soul purpose and soul mission, which is like now finally I know what I'm here for, huh? Like that kind of feeling, you George R Dovolis: You Joanna Zhang: know, like I'm grounded, I'm certain, I'm on the right track. That gave me a certainty and encouragement to keep going forward. So that's a big opening for me. And on the soul ascension journey after that is I often still find a blockage in my business, right? And I need a clarity on that. And then this one thing exercise, my spiritual mental through the source, we call this source universal God, whomever you call it. They ask me a question about why do I do my business? Exactly like the question you ask. Why? Right? Like what's the purpose? For me, the very first answer is well, it's a good business model. Then she said, think again. She's not satisfied. I started tapping to my emotion. I feel I can help a lot of people. I'm certain because I helped me. This model really helped me. and then she asked again. Think again. And at that time I really ran out of the answers from my brain and from emotion, and then just one word split out of my mouth. It's a very simple word. However, my action surprised me. I just said, it's because unconditional love. But my tears George R Dovolis: Mmm. Joanna Zhang: just dropped. I was surprised and she said, There you go. Your soul knows the answer. And then I suddenly realized all those blockage I created before in my business was the alignment part. Like my soul knows what I'm here for, why I'm doing certain things. However, my emotion and my action is going to a different direction. I used to do business very transactional, to be honest. You know, I look at people as a pipeline, we'll call it pipeline, a dollar sign, a Scott: Yeah. Joanna Zhang: deal, right? So but but after that I realize I try so hard. People can feel the intention. And when I have that kind of intention, I wasn't comfortable either. So it it causes the twist and the blockage in my own journey. And since that question got asked and I found my own answer, I started to readdress my intention. Scott: Yeah. Joanna Zhang: And surprises happened because now I I don't look at people as dollar side, I I look at every single soul as a soul, and we're just collaborating and creating this connection, helping each other out at the divine timing, whatever solution we have, we contribute to each other, create value, and magic just happened. I don't even talk about a business, a business just naturally comes. And a sudden realize the intention, the why. That's so crucial, so crucial in everything in our life and business. George R Dovolis: That's definitely incredible. What was the biggest struggle you experienced in business that forced you to start building a support team? Joanna Zhang: Ha, that's how I started my this business. That was about eight years ago. When was a professional, like I I left the bank as an employee and then started to self employ it as a financial planner. So I was a professional. but from professional transition into a business owner, I need to do a lot of transitioning and learning a lot of different things. And at that time, I think about eight years ago, you know, like even hardly people know about VA, this term. but already started to work with them because I'm not good at the IT, I'm not good at marketing. There's those things just driving me nuts. You know, like I'm trying so George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: hard, but I couldn't get to the point I want. And and I find someone else can do like that with little time and them do a better j job than me. so I had to start to work with someone, to be honest with you. But nowadays I know many business owners are very DIY style, very self sufficient. They can do a lot of things by themselves, even with AI's help. But That could be a to another extreme that sometimes can cause in the burnout, right? So my journey George R Dovolis: Hmm Joanna Zhang: started like I need help. However, I had a challenge at the time. I need a lot of help, but I didn't have enough budget. similar as a lot of businesses when we started. I can't hire a group of full-time, part-time stuff just around my business, right? And I worked with different VAs, I had a lot of challenges too. Communication, delegation, leading, everything, and then George R Dovolis: Mm. Joanna Zhang: supervising. So, but finally, because of this. Unclear, but I was trying to figure out and I was very resilient and I figured out a solution. You know, like I create a team that can be customized based on my needs from time to time within my budget to support my business at a time. And then that's why my business born called Operations Genius. And this model has been recognized in 2024's TV International Business War as the world first. fraction of VA service, then I realized it called a fraction of VA service. I didn't even have a term for it because I couldn't find any other model in the market to do that. Yeah, so that was actually to answer your question, George. That was my personal challenge. I had to figure out some solution and after I figured it out, I started to share. And that's how I literally that that was my entrepreneurship journey. Scott: Hmm. So right now, yeah, George R Dovolis: That's amazing. Scott: right now if you're getting nuggets from the videos, hit the like button. If you're looking for these types of videos, hit the subscribe button. One thing as you're listening, you've got to understand the power of words. So like Joanna had highlighted, we use the term pipeline, but it's the emotional piece. So when you look at yourself as a listener, where you're at, where's your where are you at emotionally, where's your emotional status? Because that could be a driving force for being stuck. And so, Joanna, the the funny thing is, is how we run businesses, we use these different terminologies. so you had talked about the pipeline piece. And it's just, hey, you gotta fill your pipeline, you gotta fill your pipeline, but how often are we missing out on that human connection? And then the emotional piece that comes into it, because you had talked about the emotional blockage. going through and then your mentor had had to ask the question and it finally clicked and you had that emotional release. But how often are we looking at the words we're using and what is that doing to our interactions when we meet with other people and just how we show up every day? Joanna Zhang: Social. Wow. That's really spot on. Mm. Emotional release. Again, that's causing the burnout for sure. Hmm. George R Dovolis: I mean, I think it's just amazing what you've done and you've been out there in businesses. What is the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when they first start outsourcing? Joanna Zhang: And I personally experienced that too a lot. A lot. I paddled through. George R Dovolis: So we're hitting some key notes in you right now, so you understand. Joanna Zhang: Control. George R Dovolis: Yeah. Joanna Zhang: this this word is interesting. I realize now in our life there are different major life lessons and control can be one of them. And funny thing George R Dovolis: Mmm, yes. Joanna Zhang: is that I I learned that from a relationship and then that applied to the leadership. Isn't that interesting? Yeah. And that's George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: the interesting about what we're learning from life. So my earliest stage of mistake, I would say what we're calling mistake is like just the the road I wouldn't be that how to say put me into a situation that I bear the consequences, right? So at the very earliest stage of my entrepreneurship journey when I working with others, I was a very title leader stage. Like because I I need a certainty, I feel like my way is a highway. So when George R Dovolis: Mm-hmm. Joanna Zhang: I communicate I do exactly like you do just this way. If it's miss a little bit no, right? Like I I and then my tone of the management is more like on the blame side or criticizing picky, picky, you know, like because now I realize because at that stage, even now I'm still working on it. I have a lot of piciness on myself. A lot of time. We can be aware of the attitude with towards others. A lot of time the attitude towards others is something we do for ourselves. Now George R Dovolis: Hmm Joanna Zhang: I realize that. So I that time the biggest thing is that I very controlling, the things need to be go on my way. And my one my communication is very harsh, you know, like no no excuse. Like no but but the thing that, you know, I even met some of our team members cry and she actually told me after years she came back. She said She's a joke. You change a lot at the very beginning when I work with you. You made me cry. I was like, so sorry about that. But that was one of the things. One thing is the emotional conflicts. Another thing is we can't really progress. We we become the bottleneck because we're limiting all of this possibility by controlling certain what things certain ways George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: and don't look at any other possibilities. So that can be one thing. of course, along that line. there's other part of this that that's life's lesson root part. But along with that there's other skills part, like how to communicate, how to pass on in information, how to delegate. And then that's another part of the skill part, you know, like we practice and improve George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: on it. Yes. George R Dovolis: You know, when you're talking about business owners, what is one thing they never should outsource early? And I think a lot of times a lot of entrepreneurs, they outsource everything or they hold it. That's that power struggle of not releasing. What's one thing you really see that they should not outsource early? Joanna Zhang: Mm-mm. Outsourcing is really helpful. However, it it is a journey. Especially like I personally experience it. And that's a journey actually help our clients on as well. Like we actually help on with the four different stages, but actually identify everyone's incompetence, competence, George R Dovolis: Mm-hmm. Joanna Zhang: excellence, and genius. And to answer your question, George, I think ideally if we at the end of the day we can work on our genius, that's the ideal situation. Which means George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: Probably that's the part we shouldn't really delegate out, right? Because that's the part we're truly happy when we are doing those things. It doesn't matter what it is. Some people just like to write article. Some people just like to answer the question from the customers. You know, and some people are just really good at it. If that's your genius zone, you're happy to do it. Those are the things you keep it on. I mean, because it energize you. For George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: us, we help Identify those incompetent to start with, even the competence are those one draining the energy part. I think that's the first layer. Wait, if it's draining you, outsource. But if energize you, keep doing it. Because it's like a battery for us. Why do we give the battery to others? Right? Or we sometimes at early stage of my delegation is that I pass on the responsibility to others too. Like, okay, hands off, that's your job now. I'm awful like Well I forgot George R Dovolis: Yeah. Joanna Zhang: on the airplane, I'm the pilot. I'm still the pilot. I George R Dovolis: Yeah. Joanna Zhang: still need to take the direction, you know, be c accountable, responsible for the whole tr tr trip, where it goes, how to go. Yeah, so it's a different focus, I guess. Mm. George R Dovolis: That's amazing. Scott: Yeah, so Joanna Zhang: Undeal. Scott: another thing to think about, Dr. Joey's another partner of ours and talking about the burnout piece, talking about the delegation piece. If you are stuck as a business owner between a hundred and fifty thousand, three hundred three million in revenue and you've tried everything, you don't know what to do, you're stuck, you gotta talk to Dr. Joey. That is a specialty to help you overcome that to move forward because as business owners, the more revenue we have, the more impact that we can create. So if you're stuck and you've tried everything There'll be a link in the show note, reach out to Dr. Joe, you have that conversation. And it's very interesting because if we really think about it, how often we get a lot of information thrown at us. And then we start saying, okay, maybe it's this way, maybe it's this way. We don't take the time, but it comes back to the fact of not knowing yourself. And so when you start delegating, are you delegating your strengths away and then just floundering out there? And so George and why I talked about the zone of genius, and I know like you talked about the fourth one being your genius. It's very interesting George R Dovolis: Mm-hmm. Scott: how people are quick to not really figure out what their genius is, or they overlook it because they're like, it just comes naturally to me, so everybody should know this. It's like, well, no, if it comes naturally to you, it's probably there for a reason. But the other side though is are you in the right position? Because a lot of business owners will stutter business and And they're like, well, this is my idea, so I need to continue to run it. But maybe you aren't meant to be the business owner. Maybe you're meant to be somewhere else. And maybe you're meant to be that power partner with somebody else that can come in there and compliment you, but actually be the more efficient business owner. But a lot of people have that fear because they're like, Well, this is my idea, and if I give it up, what happens? How do people see me? What are these thoughts? Even though now I'm judging myself. And so it is one of those interesting things when you see a lot of people they s they hurt themselves, they put themselves in a corner because of these thoughts and ideas that don't belong to them, but they hold on to them because they don't want to hurt somebody else by giving up those beliefs and those ideas. Joanna Zhang: Hmm. So sure. That's great summary. George R Dovolis: Yeah, it's just we you know, as as an entrepreneur for 40 years, it is very hard to give up that control. And at times, you become the bottleneck of your own company. And that's where Scott: George, you should give your story of running Compass Star and when we had younger employees. George R Dovolis: no, well, that's a whole different topic about. Scott: George is like my way or the other my highway I was like, George, no, we gotta do this but but and then George George R Dovolis: Wooo! Man. Scott: almost blew up other things too because he assumed that it was all the same. Joanna Zhang: Yeah. George R Dovolis: So I can be my own weapon and my own, you know, be your own destruction, right? But I notice in business, you have entrepreneurs, owners, really become the biggest bottleneck in their own companies. How do you see those warning signs in your business? Joanna Zhang: Actually, when you're talking about that, there was a message coming to me to share about our decision who we wanted to become in the business. Because George R Dovolis: Mm-hmm. Joanna Zhang: I want to write a book, and that that can relate to your relate to your question too. Because, like, for example, look back on my own journey. I started as a doer, like a lot of business owners were doing things, and gradually become a supervisor, and gradually grow into a manager, and at the end I become a leader. All those words, they're different and they're literally really different, right? So when we're personally doing those things, and I think when we grow into different stages of those, we decide who we want to become. Each each period we we become the bottleneck if we don't go through the next layer. But of course, George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: I think that's that's why a lot of times some business owners up to certain time they find other CEOs or maybe managers to manage because they find out their genius zone or maybe the thing they really wanted to do, probably just as a visionary, probably is just as investor. Probably some people really like management and they find some other strategic partners to do the executive roles. I think in order for us to become preventing us becoming the borderline is first of all understanding who we wanted George R Dovolis: Mm-hmm. Joanna Zhang: to be and who we can be at the moment. Probably that's a good start. If we know that we wanted to become a leader, but at the moment we add manager stage, I think at least that awareness gives us a chance to roll out of there, right? As a willingness. George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: However, if we don't willing to roll into the leader and just as manager, then sooner or later we become the bottleneck. To be honest. Yeah, because when the business actually grows into a certain structure in the organization and the team dynamic, it w we do really need different skills. Yeah. And I think George R Dovolis: I like that answer. Joanna Zhang: maybe either there can be signs that hmm We used to like there can be signs sometimes we can't keep the talent. If some talents come up but it doesn't mean that sometimes no alignment, then we can't work together. That's different thing. However, some really good talent coming to the the firm and I find out that sometimes have a talent deplete, it can be a sign George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: as well, as bottlenecks. Yeah, I'm just looking back my own journey. And and then nowadays I feel like Because I'm g I started to really look after my own well being and growth. I feel like sometimes can go into too grow too fast as well. And we got to give other team members a space and a time to catch up with this stuff. It is a like a balancing act. It's but but George R Dovolis: Yes, it is. Joanna Zhang: to answer your question, the awareness of who we are, who we wanted to be, what do we decided to do is very important to overcome Scott: Hm. Joanna Zhang: the barrier. George R Dovolis: I think it's very important and especially for founders and entrepreneurs and your line of business. When you see an entrepreneur holding on to control, it because of their ego or is they usually the fear of letting go? Joanna Zhang: Hm. Exactly. Exactly. Scott: Well that but if you think about that, George, wouldn't that be the same question George R Dovolis: Yeah. Scott: though? Ego or the fear of letting go? Because the George R Dovolis: Yeah. Scott: ego is playing in the part of protecting yourself. George R Dovolis: It is, you know, and the line of business, what Joanna does it when you're working with the customer. and you're working, you're getting everything going, then it's like, okay, now we're gonna get to the meat of the business. What can I do to help you to take the weight off of you? And a lot of times what I have seen in myself at times, it's that ego that gets in the way. I can do it all. And for me, it could be the fear letting go because then you let go of yourself. I think when I'm listening to you, the fear of letting go is so important because you get to do what's best for the company. When you give people direction, what you want to do, you can be the creative one and what you do best. And I think I answer my own question and you know, it's just something. Yeah, I always ask people that because when you're in the VA business, you deal with a lot of egos. But once you break them down, I truly believe a lot of times people are willing to give it a shot and let it go and let it grow. Joanna Zhang: Hmm, that's so true. Actually, that reminds me about fear of letting go that particular ego. George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: And from my personal experience, I believe everyone probably have a different fears. I'm just giving example, maybe resonate with someone. For me at that stage, when I was afraid of letting go, one thing is about I doubt about my value. So a lot of time I other people's opinions are very important for me. So I feel like if I can control it, I can control the quality. I didn't want it to allow the mistake, you know. Like if it have a mistake happening, it doesn't look good on me. You know, like I George R Dovolis: I think. Joanna Zhang: affect my credibility. Because at the time my main major lesson is that I need to uphold my image at the standard to make sure that you know other people can good give a good feedback. So I didn't George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: allow the mistake at the time because I I look at it like a disaster. But when I gradually learned that Mistake can happen along our life. The main thing is to really learn what to improve and then move on with it. And whatever has happened, we can just take it as a opportunity for us to grow, right? So when my mindset shifts, I started to let go of the layer about that part. It's just one of the examples. another example fear of lack of control is what was it? That was the other thing on my mind. God. Sorry. Scott: good. Joanna Zhang: It happens. See, that's the unknown. That's the unknown part. It just life shows me because I was afraid of unknown. Right? I wanted to make sure things happening according to my plan. Scott: Mm-hmm. Joanna Zhang: But it doesn't happen that way. Now I've learned a lot of time that the life doesn't happen according to our structure, is because they have a better plan for us down the track. Sometimes, for example, if I lose one talent and An opportunity opens up and another talent comes in. I ever elevated you know the whole thing. there's George R Dovolis: Yeah, yeah. Joanna Zhang: opportunity. So I started to let go of the ex control of the external factor because I can't control literally. I can't control anything outer of me. So I just I think that's a major lesson for me to gradually step into myself to to believe in myself more and more about my self-value. No matter what I do. Right. I I do the good things and from my heart and everything else is a learning opportunity. So depends on how I look at it. Then I I shift every challenge, every unknown, every mistake as now as a great opportunity for us to open other limited possibilities. So it is a mindset shift. Scott: Well one of the things that I was thinking about though too is with the fear of letting go, when you think about it, once you let it go, you don't know what's gonna happen. It's the unknown. And so if you truly really think about it, if you have true clarity and you have that bigger picture in mind, things are gonna sync up for you. So people that are coming into your life, people that you're crossing paths with, if you have true clarity, if you're maintaining that bigger picture to allow things to show up There shouldn't be that fear of the unknown because it's coming George R Dovolis: Hmm Scott: into alignment with what you're trying to produce at the end of the day. And so I think that's another thing when you really think about it is if you have that fear, do you truly have clarity? Do you truly have that in picture in mind of what you're trying to accomplish? And then by having those things, focusing on those things because You can't you have the so many variables, you can't control all these variables. You're only one person. And because of that, it's a big team effort. You have to have other people show up, but a lack of clarity is gonna cause it where the proper person that you need to connect with is not gonna show up because you have no clarity. That energy is out of whack, George R Dovolis: Yes Scott: there's misalignment. And so because of that, why would people that need to show up in your life start showing up? Because if you're not in alignment, you don't have clarity, you don't know what your values are, why are things going to show up to help you out? Joanna Zhang: Actually, that reminds me, I remember now, what's the other one? The word is popping out is a trust. Like what you mentioned, Scott. George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: And that trust is about to trust we are not alone, actually. To trust other people, other souls have their own potentials to achieve something. To trust at divine timing, things will evolve and fold naturally. To trust We can co-create something together a according to the timeline itself. So I used to be in the pushing, forcing a lot of, you know, forceful now. I'm balancing my feminine energy to allow, right? To really go with the flow. Practice the patience as well. And when those trust are coming back to me, I started to have a set safety, feel like I can let go. I let's co-create. Let's do it together. You know, like that kind of Energy shifts is beautiful. George R Dovolis: I love it. Scott: So it is interesting because you had talked about the aspect of patience and I think a lot of people get this confused of, if I'm dealing with patience, I just need to sit here and just be still. It's like, no, have patience with the process, but you still need to take action. You still need to be out there connecting, doing what you need to. And it's a very interesting thing how people have it misconstrued of I need to be patient, okay, I'm just gonna sit here. Like, w what Joanna Zhang: Exactly. Scott: is what is this gonna do for you? It's not gonna do anything for you. Like you sit still It's not gonna produce anything. So you're actually doing Joanna Zhang: Yeah. Scott: more harm to yourself than good. Joanna Zhang: Yeah, that's so true. The the the the patience doesn't mean passive, right? Like George R Dovolis: Now. Joanna Zhang: it's I heard that sentence, I I really love it. God's plan, my effort. It's like we tried our best. So at the end we don't have any regrets. But regardless whether it's happened or not will happen or happened, whichever way, we accept George R Dovolis: Yeah. Joanna Zhang: as it is. Yeah, and as a whole. So that actually helped me. That was one of the journey on my way as well to let go or detach from the results. Enjoy the process more. I used to attach the result too much. So I linking to that particular point. That's my goal. If I've not reached that, I'm not successful, I'm not happy, whatever it is. So I'm attached to that single point. Now I realize success can be many different forms of definitions. And success or maybe happiness can have a different kind of ways to show up. Like let's we call it good karma. It can be maybe show in the Money form maybe a connection or opportunity or whatever it is, right? So I don't have to attach the particular result anymore. I just enjoy the process of creating and producing and progressing. Yeah. And be patient at the same time. Yes. George R Dovolis: be patient at same time. know what? Be truthful here, Joanne. When you walk into someone's business and you see complete operational chaos, what part of you gets excited? Joanna Zhang: Opportunity. Well th think this person has a great opportunity if they decide to look George R Dovolis: Mmm. Joanna Zhang: into it, face it, make decision to make change, take courage, take actions. There's a lot of things, but at least same George R Dovolis: Yeah! Joanna Zhang: as me. I I had a challenge. So if not because of the challenge, I wouldn't be able to even create my business. So I love the situation. George R Dovolis: I love it. Joanna Zhang: Yeah. George R Dovolis: What is one task that you hate doing even in the operation genius you're happy to delegate with? These are fun questions I came up with. And so you're like, I don't want that. So you pass it on. What is one of those events that you just like, man, I need to give this piece of paper someone else. Joanna Zhang: Yeah, for for me, I personally went through the journey of delegation layer by layer. I have to say George R Dovolis: Uh-huh. Joanna Zhang: I already delegated incompetence, which is something I'm not good at, you know, I don't like to do like IT or marketing and then the competence part, like the I was financial planning. I wanna do the exercise, I find out. Financial planning was my competence. Can we imagine that? That's why it triggered me to think, that's not the r the the career for the rest of my life. Because I can do it, do it well, but something is missing there, you know? George R Dovolis: Mmm, yes. Joanna Zhang: So I started to delegate l further and further and I used to be a project manager, now I delegate to the team. And I used to be a customer manager, now I delegate to the team. So one our when I actually went through this layer by layer, I have to say I probably at the stage of transitioning f delegating excellence and genius between that. The genius I was focused on it for sure, but I'm still at the delegating some excellence part. Because I'm Undergoing a CEO elevation program within our own organizations. So we George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: have a lot of internal senior management roles that will be available, helping other younger leaders, emerging leaders to step into the leadership role. So as a team together, we're growing together. If you will say that one particular task I give to others, George R Dovolis: That's a secret, Joanna Zhang: I let let me have a feel of it because I feel like I can already I've already delegated whatever I can at the moment. It doesn't mean I can't delegate more. George R Dovolis: Yes. Yeah. Joanna Zhang: But gradually my my goal is that even someone else I can dial as the CEO, I'll be just the visionary on the board. That's the that's the ideal. But at the George R Dovolis: Yeah. Joanna Zhang: moment I'm still the CEO, I'm still the general manager, you know, like I'm still feeling those roles, to be honest. So my next step George R Dovolis: Yes. Joanna Zhang: is really to delegate our senior management role to the team members and I can focus on more and more on the the other part. George R Dovolis: That's amazing. That is definitely amazing. When this journey eventually you look back on and it's not about the awards, not the revenue, not the company. What do you hope people say about Joanna Zhang stood up for? Joanna Zhang: Transform through the experience. And and it really treasure the experience. Because I really went through a really hard time. Really hard. not just for the business, a lot of time it got me emotional because I believe we all went through those difficult times. George R Dovolis: this. Joanna Zhang: And those difficult times shaped who we were and guiding us to explore more potential to become who we truly are. And that's such important journey for us to run through that. To remember we are the light. If we haven't seen the darkness, we wouldn't be able to see the opposite. I personally experienced the darkness and transformed. remember who I am and doing my soul mission day in day out being myself and that true happiness I've obtained is becoming a living example for the people around me. So I used to Then why they throw me into that journey? But now I see there's a greater reason behind it. Without me going through the journey, sorry, I'm emotional because that was me, right? That I was literally one through with all those emotions, George R Dovolis: It's okay. Yes. Joanna Zhang: I was physically. But even without me going through that, I wouldn't be able to understand other people in the same shoes. I wouldn't be able to have the ability and the true strength to get myself out of there and also help others. So now I understand the true blueprint behind it for me to run through those experiences and create a true transformation for myself. Because I remember one sentence now: the spiritual mental shares through the source is self-love, is to experience our self-value. So allow ourselves to experience those things and learn from it. And it's a treasure. That's Scott: Mm. Joanna Zhang: what I want to share. Thank you. George R Dovolis: amazing, amazing. Scott: Yep. Nah that's powerful. And George, why are you making people cry? Okay. We're gonna have it where I guess we're like, I'm never coming on to this show because George R Dovolis: Hahaha! Scott: George likes to make people cry. So George R Dovolis: No, Joanna Zhang: I did the George R Dovolis: I want to bring out because we all talk about business, right? And I always ask, you know, for me, what is your legacy? When the good Lord takes you home, what do you want people to remember who you are? You know, not the money, the entrepreneur, not the riches, the materialistic things. but who you are, how many people you have touched to help grow, buy a house, do those things, and help rise individuals to the next level. And I think it's the most powerful question at the end of the show because to me, that's where it comes down. That's where you get the truth, the power, you know, every day that gets you going. Joanna Zhang: Thank you so much for this question and creating this beautiful space. Thank you. George R Dovolis: Thank you. Scott: So Joanna, if individuals really had this tug, really love what you're doing, where would they go to connect with you at a deeper level? Joanna Zhang: Well, I think the easiest way to find me on LinkedIn and that's a channel I'm using for myself and my business. yeah, just put my name Joanna Jiang and if there are multiple of that, just put operations beside it. I believe it was Joanna. I'd love to connect with any of you to collaborate and co create. Yeah. Explore that unlimited possibility together. Scott: Awesome. Yeah, we'll put that in the show notes. so that way it's easy there for individuals to find. but as you're listening, like I brought up, if you're stuck, you've got to look at your emotional status and kind of say, Okay, where George R Dovolis: Mmm. Scott: I'm at. And then also are you going toward your purpose? Because if you feel like you're burnt out, then you gotta look, are you fulfilling your purpose? Are you in alignment with yourself? So, but other than that, if you're looking for these types of videos, hit the subscribe button. We appreciate you guys coming on the journey with us, allowing us to be part of your journey and we'll catch you on the next episode.