all my life I played it safe and follow the path that always expected of me
the path that always expected of me
the path that always expected of me growing up in a small town as the eldest
growing up in a small town as the eldest
growing up in a small town as the eldest child and the Chinese family I worked
child and the Chinese family I worked
child and the Chinese family I worked hard to get those straight A’s you know
hard to get those straight A’s you know
hard to get those straight A’s you know I enjoy creative writing in the arts but
I enjoy creative writing in the arts but
I enjoy creative writing in the arts but instead focus my energy excelling in
instead focus my energy excelling in
instead focus my energy excelling in math sciences classical piano and when I
math sciences classical piano and when I
math sciences classical piano and when I turned 21 I felt like I finally arrived
turned 21 I felt like I finally arrived
turned 21 I felt like I finally arrived I had finally graduated from University
I had finally graduated from University
I had finally graduated from University with my business degree Chang
with my business degree Chang
with my business degree Chang top of my class check and landed the job
top of my class check and landed the job
top of my class check and landed the job my dreams as a financial analyst on Wall
my dreams as a financial analyst on Wall
my dreams as a financial analyst on Wall Street in New York the year was 2001 and
Street in New York the year was 2001 and
Street in New York the year was 2001 and I was so excited you know my heart was
I was so excited you know my heart was
I was so excited you know my heart was full of these big dreams and excitement
full of these big dreams and excitement
full of these big dreams and excitement and I was ready to take a bite out of
and I was ready to take a bite out of
and I was ready to take a bite out of that Big Apple then on my second day on
that Big Apple then on my second day on
that Big Apple then on my second day on the job September 11th 2001 everything
the job September 11th 2001 everything
the job September 11th 2001 everything changed
changed
changed two planes struck the World Trade Center
two planes struck the World Trade Center
two planes struck the World Trade Center connected to the building I was in it
connected to the building I was in it
connected to the building I was in it was 8:30 in the morning when the first
was 8:30 in the morning when the first
was 8:30 in the morning when the first plane hit the building I was coming out
plane hit the building I was coming out
plane hit the building I was coming out of a morning meeting and the entire
of a morning meeting and the entire
of a morning meeting and the entire office shook you know my hot coffee
office shook you know my hot coffee
office shook you know my hot coffee splashed all over my new black dress and
splashed all over my new black dress and
splashed all over my new black dress and shiny high heels as I scanned across the
shiny high heels as I scanned across the
shiny high heels as I scanned across the trading floor I noticed everybody was
trading floor I noticed everybody was
trading floor I noticed everybody was looking up with the big television
looking up with the big television
looking up with the big television screens and on the screens it showed a
screens and on the screens it showed a
screens and on the screens it showed a picture of one of the Twin Towers on
picture of one of the Twin Towers on
picture of one of the Twin Towers on fire with a plane sticking out of it so
fire with a plane sticking out of it so
fire with a plane sticking out of it so I asked one of the traders what happened
I asked one of the traders what happened
I asked one of the traders what happened and he casually responded looks like
and he casually responded looks like
and he casually responded looks like some pilot accidentally flew a small
some pilot accidentally flew a small
some pilot accidentally flew a small Cessna train into the side of the World
Cessna train into the side of the World
Cessna train into the side of the World Trade Center he must have been drunk
well I felt those hairs of intuition
well I felt those hairs of intuition kind of prick up on the back of my neck
kind of prick up on the back of my neck
kind of prick up on the back of my neck I had a sense that something was really
I had a sense that something was really
I had a sense that something was really wrong but not wanting to look like the
wrong but not wanting to look like the
wrong but not wanting to look like the nervous new girl on the trading floor I
nervous new girl on the trading floor I
nervous new girl on the trading floor I went back to my desk but ten minutes
went back to my desk but ten minutes
went back to my desk but ten minutes later the second plane hit the building
later the second plane hit the building
later the second plane hit the building and this time it was like a massive
and this time it was like a massive
and this time it was like a massive earthquake struck right beneath my feet
earthquake struck right beneath my feet
earthquake struck right beneath my feet and phones and computer screens went
and phones and computer screens went
and phones and computer screens went flying and then my manager shows hold on
flying and then my manager shows hold on
flying and then my manager shows hold on stay put everyone don’t go anywhere
stay put everyone don’t go anywhere
stay put everyone don’t go anywhere stock markets gonna open up in 45
stock markets gonna open up in 45
stock markets gonna open up in 45 minutes
minutes
minutes don’t leave the building I didn’t know
don’t leave the building I didn’t know
don’t leave the building I didn’t know what to do you know do I stay and follow
what to do you know do I stay and follow
what to do you know do I stay and follow my boss’s orders or do I leave and risk
my boss’s orders or do I leave and risk
my boss’s orders or do I leave and risk losing my new job I didn’t want to
losing my new job I didn’t want to
losing my new job I didn’t want to disappoint disobey and disappoint him
disappoint disobey and disappoint him
disappoint disobey and disappoint him but deep down I had the sense that
but deep down I had the sense that
but deep down I had the sense that something was very wrong
something was very wrong
something was very wrong and then I heard my mother’s voice boom
and then I heard my mother’s voice boom
and then I heard my mother’s voice boom inside my head from miles away and she
inside my head from miles away and she
inside my head from miles away and she said go and so I walked out that door
said go and so I walked out that door
said go and so I walked out that door and I ran down five flights of stairs
and I ran down five flights of stairs
and I ran down five flights of stairs and stepped out into the bright morning
and stepped out into the bright morning
and stepped out into the bright morning sunshine it was like this wall hit me
sunshine it was like this wall hit me
sunshine it was like this wall hit me this stench of burning flesh and melting
this stench of burning flesh and melting
this stench of burning flesh and melting steel it hit me and then my colleagues
steel it hit me and then my colleagues
steel it hit me and then my colleagues started screaming she said I just saw a
started screaming she said I just saw a
started screaming she said I just saw a man and a woman falling from the towers
man and a woman falling from the towers
man and a woman falling from the towers above holding hands and they were on
above holding hands and they were on
above holding hands and they were on fire I couldn’t look I had to turn away
fire I couldn’t look I had to turn away
fire I couldn’t look I had to turn away but it was too late an image burned in
but it was too late an image burned in
but it was too late an image burned in my mind imagine being those people 100
my mind imagine being those people 100
my mind imagine being those people 100 stories above ground and having to face
stories above ground and having to face
stories above ground and having to face that terrible choice and the next thing
that terrible choice and the next thing
that terrible choice and the next thing I knew I was running running as fast as
I knew I was running running as fast as
I knew I was running running as fast as I could away from those burning towers
I could away from those burning towers
I could away from those burning towers running and just streams of paper and
running and just streams of paper and
running and just streams of paper and smoke and dusts and shards of glass
smoke and dusts and shards of glass
smoke and dusts and shards of glass falling from the sky and hearing screams
falling from the sky and hearing screams
falling from the sky and hearing screams of shouts of fear and panic and blaring
of shouts of fear and panic and blaring
of shouts of fear and panic and blaring sirens from every direction and then I
sirens from every direction and then I
sirens from every direction and then I had to stop and catch my breath my
had to stop and catch my breath my
had to stop and catch my breath my throat burning from the smoke and dust
throat burning from the smoke and dust
throat burning from the smoke and dust my feet bleeding and blistered from
my feet bleeding and blistered from
my feet bleeding and blistered from running in high heels and I just started
running in high heels and I just started
running in high heels and I just started crying and I felt myself crumble onto
crying and I felt myself crumble onto
crying and I felt myself crumble onto the street corner and found myself in a
the street corner and found myself in a
the street corner and found myself in a ball feeling just so scared
ball feeling just so scared
ball feeling just so scared vulnerable and alone I felt powerless
vulnerable and alone I felt powerless
vulnerable and alone I felt powerless and as I buried my face in my hands that
and as I buried my face in my hands that
and as I buried my face in my hands that image of those burning people just kept
image of those burning people just kept
image of those burning people just kept flashing before my eyes
flashing before my eyes
flashing before my eyes and I realized that I did have something
and I realized that I did have something
and I realized that I did have something I had my life and I just felt grateful
I had my life and I just felt grateful
I had my life and I just felt grateful to be alive but then I felt guilty you
to be alive but then I felt guilty you
to be alive but then I felt guilty you know why did those people suffer that
know why did those people suffer that
know why did those people suffer that tragic early death well I was spared and
tragic early death well I was spared and
tragic early death well I was spared and I had his overwhelming sense that there
I had his overwhelming sense that there
I had his overwhelming sense that there had to be a greater purpose and so in
had to be a greater purpose and so in
had to be a greater purpose and so in that moment I realized that life can be
that moment I realized that life can be
that moment I realized that life can be so short and we have limited time to
so short and we have limited time to
so short and we have limited time to make our lives really matter and so I
make our lives really matter and so I
make our lives really matter and so I slowly picked myself up off the ground
slowly picked myself up off the ground
slowly picked myself up off the ground and put one foot in front of the other
and put one foot in front of the other
and put one foot in front of the other and started walking and I walked for
and started walking and I walked for
and started walking and I walked for hours into the evening utilizing that
hours into the evening utilizing that
hours into the evening utilizing that everything I needed to survive was
everything I needed to survive was
everything I needed to survive was already within me I had the power to
already within me I had the power to
already within me I had the power to make choices to find a way forward and
make choices to find a way forward and
make choices to find a way forward and that evening as I walked I realized that
that evening as I walked I realized that
that evening as I walked I realized that all my life you know I’ve been
all my life you know I’ve been
all my life you know I’ve been conforming to what I was conditioned to
conforming to what I was conditioned to
conforming to what I was conditioned to believe was safe all to have everything
believe was safe all to have everything
believe was safe all to have everything perfectly lined up I mean how did I get
perfectly lined up I mean how did I get
perfectly lined up I mean how did I get it all right got in the grades gotten
it all right got in the grades gotten
it all right got in the grades gotten the job the apartment close to the
the job the apartment close to the
the job the apartment close to the office just so I can have everything
office just so I can have everything
office just so I can have everything under my complete control and yet it was
under my complete control and yet it was
under my complete control and yet it was the shock of the unexpected they
the shock of the unexpected they
the shock of the unexpected they completely destroyed the entire
completely destroyed the entire
completely destroyed the entire foundation of my sense of safety and so
foundation of my sense of safety and so
foundation of my sense of safety and so I asked myself if playing it safe still
I asked myself if playing it safe still
I asked myself if playing it safe still left me exposed to all these risks could
left me exposed to all these risks could
left me exposed to all these risks could taking risk actually give me greater
taking risk actually give me greater
taking risk actually give me greater strength I had to find out so I spent
strength I had to find out so I spent
strength I had to find out so I spent the next five years of my career living
the next five years of my career living
the next five years of my career living and working in New York City carving out
and working in New York City carving out
and working in New York City carving out a career studying of all things risk I
a career studying of all things risk I
a career studying of all things risk I became an expert on how to manage and
became an expert on how to manage and
became an expert on how to manage and evaluate risk and in that process
evaluate risk and in that process
evaluate risk and in that process discovered a roadmap for taking better
discovered a roadmap for taking better
discovered a roadmap for taking better risks in life and in business that
risks in life and in business that
risks in life and in business that stacked the odds in your favor and this
stacked the odds in your favor and this
stacked the odds in your favor and this rule map consists of three important
rule map consists of three important
rule map consists of three important guideposts I’d like to share with you
guideposts I’d like to share with you
guideposts I’d like to share with you today
today
today those guideposts are purpose people and
those guideposts are purpose people and
those guideposts are purpose people and perspective so that first guy poses
perspective so that first guy poses
perspective so that first guy poses purpose
purpose
purpose have you ever thought to yourself that
have you ever thought to yourself that
have you ever thought to yourself that you’re here on this verse today to serve
you’re here on this verse today to serve
you’re here on this verse today to serve a greater purpose
a greater purpose
a greater purpose well as my career progressed I realized
well as my career progressed I realized
well as my career progressed I realized that my purpose was no longer about
that my purpose was no longer about
that my purpose was no longer about making it to that executive suite no
making it to that executive suite no
making it to that executive suite no longer did that even seem relevant
longer did that even seem relevant
longer did that even seem relevant instead I felt so grateful to have
instead I felt so grateful to have
instead I felt so grateful to have survived at fateful day of 9/11 then I
survived at fateful day of 9/11 then I
survived at fateful day of 9/11 then I felt I had the chance now actually the
felt I had the chance now actually the
felt I had the chance now actually the responsibility really to put my skills
responsibility really to put my skills
responsibility really to put my skills knowledge and gifts to work in a way
knowledge and gifts to work in a way
knowledge and gifts to work in a way that helps others it makes a positive
that helps others it makes a positive
that helps others it makes a positive impact the second guideposts is people I
impact the second guideposts is people I
impact the second guideposts is people I learned how important it is to reach out
learned how important it is to reach out
learned how important it is to reach out and ask for help even when you don’t
and ask for help even when you don’t
and ask for help even when you don’t think you want or deserve it in my most
think you want or deserve it in my most
think you want or deserve it in my most vulnerable moment I felt alone amongst
vulnerable moment I felt alone amongst
vulnerable moment I felt alone amongst the crowds of strangers running past me
the crowds of strangers running past me
the crowds of strangers running past me in the chaos and I was terrified to ask
in the chaos and I was terrified to ask
in the chaos and I was terrified to ask for help
for help
for help afraid of looking weak or needy but it
afraid of looking weak or needy but it
afraid of looking weak or needy but it was a stranger who gave me a helping
was a stranger who gave me a helping
was a stranger who gave me a helping hand the evening of 9/11 as I knocked on
hand the evening of 9/11 as I knocked on
hand the evening of 9/11 as I knocked on her door with nowhere else to stay
her door with nowhere else to stay
her door with nowhere else to stay someone I barely knew who let me in and
someone I barely knew who let me in and
someone I barely knew who let me in and gave me shelter and in the years that
gave me shelter and in the years that
gave me shelter and in the years that followed it was the love of the people
followed it was the love of the people
followed it was the love of the people who matter to me most my closest friends
who matter to me most my closest friends
who matter to me most my closest friends and family who supported me and helped
and family who supported me and helped
and family who supported me and helped me find my power again and that third
me find my power again and that third
me find my power again and that third perspective is really the key I slowly
perspective is really the key I slowly
perspective is really the key I slowly gained a new perspective on taking risk
gained a new perspective on taking risk
gained a new perspective on taking risk a willingness really to take a risk and
a willingness really to take a risk and
a willingness really to take a risk and not be afraid of failing because I
not be afraid of failing because I
not be afraid of failing because I realized that all my life it was fear
realized that all my life it was fear
realized that all my life it was fear that kept me choosing the safe path fear
that kept me choosing the safe path fear
that kept me choosing the safe path fear of failure fear of not being smart
of failure fear of not being smart
of failure fear of not being smart enough not tough enough to Asian or to
enough not tough enough to Asian or to
enough not tough enough to Asian or to female and I buried all those fears
female and I buried all those fears
female and I buried all those fears under layers and layers of mental
under layers and layers of mental
under layers and layers of mental toughness of telling myself you can do
toughness of telling myself you can do
toughness of telling myself you can do this suck it up you got this and
this suck it up you got this and
this suck it up you got this and soldiering on all in an attempt to keep
soldiering on all in an attempt to keep
soldiering on all in an attempt to keep everything under my control I mean kind
everything under my control I mean kind
everything under my control I mean kind of worked from a career perspective in
of worked from a career perspective in
of worked from a career perspective in New York because that behavior was
New York because that behavior was
New York because that behavior was rewarded with promotions rewards
rewarded with promotions rewards
rewarded with promotions rewards accolades
accolades
accolades I knew we could get results but at the
I knew we could get results but at the
I knew we could get results but at the same time it still felt so deeply on
same time it still felt so deeply on
same time it still felt so deeply on filling what I needed to do instead was
filling what I needed to do instead was
filling what I needed to do instead was build those inner muscles of courage and
build those inner muscles of courage and
build those inner muscles of courage and resilience they come from taking a risk
resilience they come from taking a risk
resilience they come from taking a risk and feeling the pain of failure and
and feeling the pain of failure and
and feeling the pain of failure and learning to reach out for help and
learning to reach out for help and
learning to reach out for help and getting back up again and doing that
getting back up again and doing that
getting back up again and doing that again and again until the risk pays off
again and again until the risk pays off
again and again until the risk pays off and so I did it I took a risk I quit my
and so I did it I took a risk I quit my
and so I did it I took a risk I quit my job and left New York City gave up the
job and left New York City gave up the
job and left New York City gave up the title the prestige the big city salary
title the prestige the big city salary
title the prestige the big city salary and walked away from it all all to move
and walked away from it all all to move
and walked away from it all all to move back to my hometown to start working on
back to my hometown to start working on
back to my hometown to start working on making my new purpose a reality well
making my new purpose a reality well
making my new purpose a reality well that was more than 10 years ago looking
that was more than 10 years ago looking
that was more than 10 years ago looking back was that risk worth it absolutely
back was that risk worth it absolutely
back was that risk worth it absolutely by facing my fears and taking more risks
by facing my fears and taking more risks
by facing my fears and taking more risks I continue to build that muscle of
I continue to build that muscle of
I continue to build that muscle of resilience and I feel stronger than ever
resilience and I feel stronger than ever
resilience and I feel stronger than ever and by allowing that emotional feminine
and by allowing that emotional feminine
and by allowing that emotional feminine intuitive energy bubble up above those
intuitive energy bubble up above those
intuitive energy bubble up above those layers and work together with my
layers and work together with my
layers and work together with my scientific logical mind is magnified my
scientific logical mind is magnified my
scientific logical mind is magnified my energy and it’s allowed me to help more
energy and it’s allowed me to help more
energy and it’s allowed me to help more people take purposeful action at a whole
people take purposeful action at a whole
people take purposeful action at a whole new level and I’ve never felt more
new level and I’ve never felt more
new level and I’ve never felt more powerful in my life
but until today I’ve never shared so
but until today I’ve never shared so much about my 9/11 story why now because
much about my 9/11 story why now because
much about my 9/11 story why now because almost every day I end up meeting people
almost every day I end up meeting people
almost every day I end up meeting people who have suffered their own version of
who have suffered their own version of
who have suffered their own version of 9/11 their own shock of the unexpected
9/11 their own shock of the unexpected
9/11 their own shock of the unexpected be a divorce loss of a loved one or even
be a divorce loss of a loved one or even
be a divorce loss of a loved one or even a major some financial setback
a major some financial setback
a major some financial setback especially a woman why is it so many of
especially a woman why is it so many of
especially a woman why is it so many of us avoid making important financial
us avoid making important financial
us avoid making important financial decisions in a facade of financially
decisions in a facade of financially
decisions in a facade of financially playing it safe due to fear and we end
playing it safe due to fear and we end
playing it safe due to fear and we end up giving away our power so instead of
up giving away our power so instead of
up giving away our power so instead of playing it safe I’m an advocate for
playing it safe I’m an advocate for
playing it safe I’m an advocate for taking smart risk feel the fear and do
taking smart risk feel the fear and do
taking smart risk feel the fear and do it anyway because true power is
it anyway because true power is
it anyway because true power is highlighted in times of challenge
highlighted in times of challenge
highlighted in times of challenge ironically it was the shock of the
ironically it was the shock of the
ironically it was the shock of the unexpected that helped me find my power
unexpected that helped me find my power
unexpected that helped me find my power within and give it life and it’s those
within and give it life and it’s those
within and give it life and it’s those unexpected challenges that shape us and
unexpected challenges that shape us and
unexpected challenges that shape us and stretch us and ultimately show us what
stretch us and ultimately show us what
stretch us and ultimately show us what we’re really made of so how about you
we’re really made of so how about you
we’re really made of so how about you how are you still playing it safe what
how are you still playing it safe what
how are you still playing it safe what might your world look like if you
might your world look like if you
might your world look like if you actually took a smart risk and it paid
actually took a smart risk and it paid
actually took a smart risk and it paid off how would it feel to stand
off how would it feel to stand
off how would it feel to stand powerfully facing the future confident
powerfully facing the future confident
powerfully facing the future confident in your purpose what might your life
in your purpose what might your life
in your purpose what might your life look like 10 20 30 years from now if the
look like 10 20 30 years from now if the
look like 10 20 30 years from now if the infinite power within you was ignited
infinite power within you was ignited
infinite power within you was ignited and nurtured to grow I dare you to take
and nurtured to grow I dare you to take
and nurtured to grow I dare you to take a smart risk and find out thank you
”
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