Yes you can...

Didi Wong, Founder and CEO, The Yes Academy

Yes you can...

Multi-faceted entrepreneur and mentor Didi Wong on being the best YOU

Speaker. TV producer. Angel investor. Serial entrepreneur. Mother. Wife. When it comes to making a difference, there is not much that Didi Wong cannot—or will not—do. As the founder and CEO of The Yes Academy, Didi travels the world helping fellow entrepreneurs find their mojo, focusing on the tenets of confidence, connections and cash flow.

Born in Hong Kong, raised in England and now residing in Los Angeles, Didi and her husband, Michael, also own an interior design company J2D2 Designs, where they have completed full multi-million dollar renovations with the design focus on their signature transitional style and Feng Shui. They are also seasoned real estate investors.

In addition, she is active in a myriad of civic and philanthropic affiliations, including the Cedars Sinai Hospital’s Obstetrics Patient and Family Care Council, the president of the All Ladies League Women Economic Forum, Los Angeles Chapter and the president of the Western USA-India Businesses Council of the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to name a few. And do not forget about her best-selling book, Success Breakthroughs, co-authored with Jack Canfield, and her recent TV show “Incase You Didn’t Know with Nick Nanton” that she executive producers with Larry King.

So yes, there is really nothing she cannot do. We caught up to Didi to get her insights on what it takes be a successful woman—across the board.

Give us a snapshot of The Yes Academy brand? Our core philosophy is based on three words: confidence, connections,

cashflow. We believe that if you have confidence and self-worth, you will show up anywhere to meet anyone with good energy and a positive flow state. This will help spread the good vibes, which leads to increasing relationship capital, and easy joint ventures and business deals.

Tell us what makes The Yes Academy brand so unique? We are a one-stop shop for any entrepreneur who wants to level up and learn the different aspects in being an entrepreneur: starting a business; perfecting your elevator pitch; perfecting your communication skills; improving your financial literacy; developing a passive income product; perfecting on-camera skills; creating online video marketing videos; getting more stages; perfecting your presentation as a speaker; and how to double your income in half the time. We focus on structure, client acquisition, strategy, networking and credibility.

What type of consumer/client are you targeting? Beginner entrepreneurs in their first one to five years of business. Also, solopreneurs, speakers, authors and experts.

Why do you do what you do? I am not hesitant to say I do it because I am good at what I do and I

get results. I have a God-given talent to lift people up and help them feel confident and win in money, in relationships and in life. Apart from being a heart-centered mentor, I also apply the left brain mentality into growing a business. I love to be of service for my clients. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing them succeed. I truly do this because I feel called to be a messenger of God. My calling is to be a leader, a voice, and an influencer to inspire people everywhere.

What hurdles have you overcome being a woman in business? In the speaking world, where white men dominate, most would see it as a “hurdle” for women, especially women of minority like me. But I think it is easier for me to stand out. I’ve had to audition to get speaking gigs when men did not. I have had to overcome the “having-toprove-myself” conversations that happen between experienced business owners who are much more accomplished then me. I have to show my confidence. I have to speak up and tell it like it is. Most of the time, people admire me for being so bold. If there are naysayers, so be it. My most valuable asset as a woman in business is my business savviness, my portfolio of income streams, my sense of style and my excellent no nonsense communication skills. All of these have helped me overcome being treated like a foreigner or a rookie. If I can be honest, I’ve had much more push back from women in business than men. This is why we have to stick together—why I am so passionate about helping women entrepreneurs.

What do you do to give back? I love to help other people make their dreams come true. I have invested over half a million dollars in the last two years in other people’s companies. I am a Parent Council for Cedars Sinai Hospital in the Obstetrics and Postpartum departments, where I am asked to give advice and visit new mothers and their infants. I am also an Ambassador for The Unstoppable Foundation, bringing resources, relationship capital and funds to raise awareness. As well as a Board Advisor for Destine 4 Greatness Corporation. I help educate and inspire the Long Beach Unified and LA Unified school districts by creating live events or speaking events with sponsorships to help grow awareness. These events teach leadership, life skills and college preparation.

In my past, I have done charity events for Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation to raise big money to help empower girls to become confident and happy women. Lastly, I am a star producer of the TV Show “Awakening Giants,” where we travel the world to build houses, give clean water and raise funds for people of Liberia, India, New Zealand, Ecuador, and other countries. There is more to come in Season 2, where I am helping to increase exposure in the subject of Human Trafficking and freedom.

What do you see as some of your biggest opportunities moving ahead? I will be featured in the March 2020 issue of Oprah Magazine as a “Woman Who Means Business.” I also will be speaking at the Women Economic Forum in Egypt, where we are partnering under the Auspices of H.E. Abdelfattah El Sisi President of Egypt. I will be bringing a large tribe of strong female entrepreneurs to join me as I receive the most prestigious award of “Women of the Decade for Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital 2020.”

I also will be checking an item off my bucket list by speaking at the “Smart Business” women’s event in Dubai. There, I will have the opportunity to meet and learn about the culture and beliefs of Middle Eastern women.

What is your method to stay connected with other women in business? I use all the communication platforms to stay in touch. Ever since I was nine years old I was sent to the U.K. to boarding school, I have had to write letters to stay in touch. I continue to do so via email, cards and whatsapp.

Living in the 21st Century allows me to expand to stay in touch via Facebook, Facebook Groups, Instagram, LinkedIn, Marco Polo, Group Me, YouTube, and others. The good old phone call works, too. I enjoy using Zoom for all my client sessions, but nothing beats showing up at people’s events and meeting them face to face.

I travel all over the world to keep myself abreast of other people’s cultures and values, and to express mine. It helps to exchange views and increase the worldliness of women around the globe.

What mentors, sponsors, coaches have played an important role in your success? My parents were definitely influencer’s growing up. They taught me different values. My mother is more of a street smart kind of person and a hustler at heart. She taught me efficiency and business savvy. My father is the intellectual kind who taught me organization, structure and manners. Both are very stylish, so I got my sense of fashion from them.

They are also people of integrity. Not once have they ever not done what they said they would do. This is how I grew up. I intend to emulate as much as I can in this respect. Since I returned to the workforce three years ago after having my twins (my third and fourth children), I hired my mentor David Meltzer, whom I call my “Ultimate Mentor.” He has taught me a lot about the speaking and coaching industries, as well as the attitude and mindset of being successful entrepreneur. He has also played a huge role in my success by introducing me to key players in my industry and inviting me to his events, where I networked and met many more extraordinary people. He is someone I can always rely on to give me solid advice. I can’t thank him enough. Most recently, I hired a new coach, Carey Conley, who is a vision expert. She has helped me become laser focused on the lifestyle that I want to have which means to turn down projects that do not serve my vision or opportunities that are time-consuming for me. She has been so helpful in keeping me sane with all that comes my way. Because, I am a “yes” girl and like to say that to every opportunity. I am such a believer in hiring mentors. I like to hire coaches for specific things that I like to work on. I have a personal trainer, a podcast coach, singer/songwriting coaches, a speaking coach and an energy healer. Everyone needs a mentor/coach, even Olympians and top athletes.

How do you stay current with today’s trends? I attend a lot of events in the US. I set my phone with notifications on news channels I like. I take time for social media news from friends to see what’s happening in and around their areas. I love reading magazines to keep up with pop culture and fashion. I keep in touch with my family in Hong Kong to monitor situations in Asia. I talk to other parents and volunteer at my children’s schools to understand and observe pre-school and elementary school cultures. I travel so I can see current trends with my own eyes. I still use my DVR for my favorite house flipping programs so that I can stay on top of my interior design business and real estate. It is all about making time. When I commute, I listen to Kiss FM, AM 1070, podcasts and audible in the car.

What is your growth plan? I’ve been very much a speaker, expert and coach in front of the scenes. I have not explored the online coaching business yet. My growth plan is to give more access to people who may not be able to pay my high ticket coaching prices—the opportunity to still learn from me, through group coaching or watching my videos. I will be spending more time online in 2020. I am also planning to really level up my of social media channels and create a You Tube channel, as well as a podcast. I also intend to invest in bigger, socially conscious film projects.

What's the biggest item on your to-do list right now? I am writing a brand new online course, which I am extremely excited about.

Didi Wong with her husband and children

What’s the most rewarding part of your career? Being able to transform lives through my speaking, coaching or simply having touched people with something I did, whether that is posting a photo, holding a Facebook Live or giving out quick strategy calls that provide advice on what my clients can do to accelerate their businesses. Many come on Zoom with inquires, indecisiveness, sadness or disappointment, and we end the sessions with smiles, excitement and motivation and a clear direction of what to do. That’s very rewarding.

Describe a typical day. A typical weekday begins around 6:30 am when i wake up to make lunchboxes for my children. Then I wake them up. Sometimes, I grab their uniforms and bring it to them, sometimes I send them to get changed by themselves. My twins are still young, so I usually decide on what they wear for pre-school and get them dressed. My husband is usually out the door by 6 a.m., but there are days when he can help me get them ready and drop them off at the schools.

Next it is off to the gym or yoga class, and then back to my home office to work or get on calls with clients. Some days I can have calls back-toback till 4 p.m. I try to block time so I can have at least a 20-minute break for lunch. That is when I treat myself to a little TV to clear my mind.

By 4:15pm I set out to pick up the kids, cook dinner and get them ready for the evening. My mind is always going 100 miles a minute, for work or anything we do. There are days when I have my babysitter pick the children up so I can work until 7pm. I usually have the children in bed by 9 p.m., at which time I send a few more emails or clean the house before I call it an evening. I love my sleep and must get 7 hours so I can be productive the next day.

On the weekend, I try to dedicate all my time for family unless there are events. My husband and I love our dinner and movie date nights we have almost once every fortnight.

What is your secret to success? I don’t sweat the small stuff and I speak my truth, even if it may be hard to hear. I also have integrity and mean what I say. I see everything with the glass half full, and I have deep faith that my life is in God’s hands. I just have to enjoy it every day.

One-on-One with...

Didi Wong

Tell us about your family? My Hong Kong family consists of my parents, and my sisters, Coco and Kiki. I am the middle child. Everyone is in Hong Kong, except my older sister, who just moved to Malaysia. We are all entrepreneurs, including my parents. My father, a Senior Counsel Criminal Defense Attorney, is one of the top lawyers in Hong Kong and very respected. He loves to cook, sing and write music. My mother is a housewife who takes care of all things domestic. She is the Queen of the Wong family.

My older sister is a principle of a boarding house that takes in foreign students. She creates a boarding school atmosphere so that they can become independent, which is how we were raised. She is married with two daughters age 13 and 11. My younger sister owns a Forensics Consulting firm along with her husband and is an expert in Body Language. She also does backup singing for big pop stars in Hong Kong as a hobby. She does voiceovers and audible books. She is married with two boys, ages 9 and 7.

My family consists of my husband, Michael, who is half black, half white. He grew up in New York and Madrid. We have much in common and opposition, which makes us a great couple. He teaches me a lot and I teach him a lot. We have a happy marriage with honest and frequent communication. Our four children include Jean-Pierre, Joliette, Dion and Dior. The latter two are identical girl twins. They are 8, 5 and 4, respectively. All are excelling at school, have strong personalities and give me so much joy every day.

How do you prioritize your health, family, and career? I use my planner to help me prioritize, as I color code all the things I have to do. When I open my monthly view, I get to see blues, blacks, reds and greens. I try to achieve a double page of balance with all colors. If I see not enough black, which is the color I give myself for me time, I know I am not taking care of myself enough. Red is for family activities. In 2020, I would like to add in more time for meditation, either in the morning or night before bed. I have to constantly be aware of how I may feel. If I feel I have not connected with my husband in a while, I will schedule a babysitter so we can go on a date night. With my career skyrocketing, I have to be very aware of not working too much and being off balanced. The lifestyle that I strive to have is truly to be able to have a completely free schedule to do whatever I want, wherever I want and with whomever I want.

What motivates you every day? My passion for living an accomplished and rich life. Rich in the not just the sense of money, but rich in culture, activities, travel, giving and love. I am blessed to have an inner ambitiousness that is quite consistent. I have that “I can do it” attitude all the time, where I want to live a purposeful and happy life so I wake up every day knowing I achieved that. I also let myself be sad at times. I don’t judge it.

How do you tap into the power of YOU that makes you unique? How has that pushed you forward? This is funny because my father once told me, “You will never make it in America as a foreigner.” It was his way of saying, “Come back to Hong Kong where we can take care of you.” But because I am a foreigner, I have found my uniqueness. I am not like anyone else. I love that about me. I love that I am Chinese with a British accent, a J. Lo. butt and wavy hair. I am not a typical thin Asian girl with porcelain skin. I am actually a big fan of organic bronzer so I can look healthy and tanned, which makes outfits look better.

I also am unique because in the speaking industry there aren’t many Asian women, let alone Asian women speaking their minds. I stick out like a sore thumb. This has pushed me to want to become one of the top Asian female speakers in the world. I want to think bigger than big, and go for the gold. I keep pushing my limits because I know I can be an example for upcoming generations of young women who want to become speakers, authors or experts and use their voices to deliver powerful messages..

Who inspires you? Since I was 15 years old, I have been inspired by Jennifer Lopez. I admire her drive, her talent and her longevity of a successful career, her maintaining at being at the top of her game and her being successful in so many endeavors. And let’s not forget the huge empire she has created. She is still looking good at age 50, even finding new romance. I know it is not the usual answer like Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama, though they are very inspirational, too. But, I have followed Jennifer Lopez for years and years and she still inspires me to this day. I also am very inspired by my ultimate mentor, David Meltzer.

What inspires you? Music, lyrics, movies, TV shows, books, magazines and podcasts, and people—anything that has a story. I am a huge movie analyzer. I love to dissect the scenes and the message, the acting and the sets. If you ask me my favorite past time, I would say binge watching shows and watching movies.

What’s the best thing a consumer/client ever said to you? “I want to be like you.” “If it wasn’t for you, I would never be confident enough to ask for this amount for my coaching.”

What are your strongest traits as a leader? What traits of other leaders inspire you? My strongest trait is to communicate articulately with honesty. I am also very good at delegating and not trying to do everything by myself. I think any leader who can lead a team to success has great motivational traits, where they have strategy and vision and faith in the team. Consistency and discipline are traits of any leader that I admire.

How are you mentoring/sponsoring others? I mentor clients by listening and being sympathetic to their situation. I lead with the heart first, and then tap in with my methods and strategies. I believe a lot of my mentoring is to be able to pick out the positive traits of my clients and use them to increase their confidence. I also like to give tough love. In cases where I hear too much self-sabotage, I wake them up and make them believe more in themselves. I am a very natural connector and see how to link people to the right people. I also love to teach organization, and make sure they are achieving what they want in an accelerated time frame, hence my signature mentorship, “Double Your Money in Half the Time!”

What book are you reading now? “There’s No Plan B For Your A Game” by Bo Eason

What are your favorite hobbies? Singing, yoga, working out, watching TV series, movies and organizing the house—purging.

How do you like to spend your down time? I am a huge massage lover. I often just pop into get a reflexology or get a massage while I get my manicure and pedicure done. I also love to travel, even if it is a staycation, home away from home. I also love to shop.

What was the best advice you ever received? As soon as the thought of having to do something enters your mind, do it right then and there. Don’t leave it for later. Do it now. This was taught to me by my father.

What does “Lead Up” mean to you? It means stepping up to the plate in either lifting yourself up or lifting other people’s lives up. By leading yourself up, taking action and seeing results, other people will be inspired to follow your footsteps. We are all here to help others. Think about all the jobs and positions out there, they are all designed to help another human being—be it a cashier to help you purchase something, a pilot who can help steer the plane to where you want to go, or a teacher who steps in front of the class to help educate. Leading yourself up is the prime example of “Lead Up,” which helps show others that if you can do it, they can do, too. It’s a very powerful two words that has deep meaning.