346: Be You, Not Them With Janet Yang

Janet Yang is the president of Janet Yang Productions, as well as the film production company, The Manifest Film Company. Janet also served as executive producer of the groundbreaking film directed by Wayne Wang for Disney, THE JOY LUCK CLUB, based on the bestselling novel by Amy Tan. This film has become an iconic work of familial bonds, and cultural assimilation and identity. She was inspired to be a link between the new cultural creators in China and the West after working in Beijing for a year as a “foreign expert” at the publishing arm of the government, Foreign Languages Press.

Janet shares how she was able to find her sense of purpose and clarity by being her true self and going after what she believed in instead of following what she is supposed to do. She also shares her tips to help you in your own journey to self confidence.

Bio

Janet Yang is a producer.

Cultural Background

Janet is of Chinese descent.

Favorite Self Confidence Quote

Be You, Not Them.

Definition of Self Confidence

Self-confidence is something you know when you experience it. It’s when mind, body, heart and soul come together, so there’s no internal conflict or even much dialogue. You just know.

Her Life Before the Discovery of Self Confidence

Janet’s journey was not black and white. She had days where she was confident and other days where she was less confident.

The “AHA” Moment

Travelling to China help Janet realized that she can be a bridge between Hollywood and China such as bringing Chinese films to America or bringing American films to China. It also helped her realized her true calling to be film director.