While most fifth graders would wake up Saturday morning watching cartoons, I watched an animated chef with remarkable knife skills named Martin Yan “Yan Can Cook.”

A few years later, while working for California Culinary Academy, I went to his live food demonstration at Macy’s cellar in San Francisco.

After the show, I went to his publicist Stephanie Jang.
“I want to be an entrepreneur and learn more from Martin Yan.”

Few weeks later, I was in Martin Yan’s office. The office walls are covered with numerous pictures that Martin Yan has taken with celebrities and officials.

3 Lesson I learned from Martin Yan

1. Believe. Every decision should start with believing. Arriving in America as a dish washer, Martin Yan worked his way up to celebrity chef.

2. Entertain. Martin Yan taught me that communicating effectively means entertaining. I asked him if he had a girlfriend in college. Yan answered “ Girlfriend? My station wagon smells like sesame oil.” I laughed out loud.

3. Relationships. Martin Yan took time to mentor me and gave really valuable tips. He taught me a Chinese proverb. The proverb taught me that a leader must manage a healthy relationship inside the family first, before attempting to conquer a business. I agree. Most of our happiness depends on our relationship with people.