Alright, everybody. Welcome to Modern Financial Wellness. I'm your host, Jim Grace, and this is the podcast created to help you have a healthier relationship with your finances. And I'm so excited to talk to my guest today, Sun Yong Kim-Manzolini. She is an entrepreneur, an author, self made millionaire, and, she brings with her such a inspiring story. I'm so excited to have you here. Sun Yong, welcome to the show.

Thank you, Jim. It's my pleasure to be on your podcast. What a, awesome topic of podcast that you have. It's just, I'm excited to be in it, so thank you.

Yeah. Well, I'm very excited to have you here. We've gotten to know each other a little bit. You have such an interesting journey, such an interesting story to tell. I'm happy to help you, tell it and share it with everyone. So I definitely wanna get into all the amazing things you do today as a a CEO, an entrepreneur, multiple businesses, multiple books, options trader. It's very eclectic, you know, things that you have you're involved in and very successful in all of them today. But you started out, not being able to walk in a Korean orphanage.

So you've you've come a long way from your from your early childhood. Would you mind telling us what that was like, early on for you and and some of maybe what are more informative memories that you have growing up in Korea?

Sure. I was born in South Korea, not North Korea, so don't get that confused there. Okay?

It's probably good to clarify. Right? People are probably wondering. Yeah.

Right. But, you know, early as a young girl, just, I would say I was about three or four years old, my mother went into a room to give a birth, I remember that, and just waiting by the door for her to come out. And it just all day long, she never came out, and I realized that she passed away, and I just heard a baby crying. So can you imagine just as as a little girl? And then right after that, my dad decided that he no longer wants to take care of me and my sister. And so he told my my older sister, she would have been probably, like, ten years older than I was. So probably, like, 14 or so. And we find ourselves in an orphanage, Yumokpo, Korea. And I think my sister worked there as a, like, a helping staff.

And, as I was living in that orphanage, I didn't see too much of my sister, but I did hear a lot of babies crying. The reason I'm going into this experience as a orphan is that I realized something. As every week or every day, staff would say, you know, like, oh, we found another baby by the front door. And they would just bring them in, and they were just crying. You know, that's how they knew that baby was crying by the door. You know? So, family members would live in there. So then I thought, oh, my family must be normal then, you know, that we got separated because that's what families do. So I realized that and I said, oh, it's not so bad.

Right?

So that was just your experience. So that's that's what happens, the babies, is they're they come here. Right? Yeah. Interesting.

Yeah. Yeah. So I thought, okay. So that's something that I didn't expect to realize, but I thought, oh, my family's normal. So I was mad at my dad too much because realizing thinking was normal thing. And then, next thing that I remember was just one day out of the blue, I was just looking out the window, and I noticed, some of the kids were playing outside. And I looked at looked around and I thought, why can't I go out there? It's like, I should be out there playing with my friends, but I couldn't.

Mhmm.

And I thought, that's when I realized like, okay, I can't get up, I can't get on the wheelchair, I can't, you know, I'm so used to just scream, you know, getting around, just scootening my butt, you know, like this, you know, with my hands and my knees and just scooting it this way. That's how I knew. That's the only way I got around place to place. So I realized that. And then next memories that I have is, like, you know, my sister and I, we did go to, like, few places outside and cuss some, you know, like a crab and have some very intimate, like, private times together as her sisters. And then one day out of the blue, she just showed me a picture of another orphanage and say, Sanyoung, this is where I'm going to take you. And I said, why? I said, I don't wanna go. And then she says, I have to take you there.

And she says, this is where they're gonna teach you how to walk. And sealing me, all I wanted to do is just stay with her. And I said, you don't understand. I don't wanna learn to walk. That's not important to me. I just say, I don't want to what? I just wanna be with you.

Yeah. You've kinda figured out this is my family, and this is my space. You're my sister. Let's just stay here.

Yeah. It is my only hope. Because my mother died, my dad abandoned us, and so it's just, you know, my sister and I. And so I didn't care about anything else in the world, but I just wanted to be with her. And, she just talked me into it. We ended up going to that second orphanage. And as soon as we walked in there and one of the staff members greeted us, and they showed me, like, you know, around the place. Like, this is the room.

This is where, you know, everybody gets together and all that. And I was just so shocked because I have never seen in my life that so many people in a one building that could not walk normal. Like, they were all walking with the crutches, lips, wheelchairs. And then there was me. I couldn't even do any of those, just kinda couldn't even stand up.

Mhmm. So

I was really, really surprised. And I think she was just talking to the staff wanting hoping that she could stay there just like she did without the orphanage, but I think that's only for the people that are handicapped people.

Mhmm.

So so she lied to me basically saying, you know, as days went on, you know, I was just hanging onto her hands really tight because she's the only person that I had in my world, you know? That's it. That's just my comfort. And she just says, you know what? Let me just go to the bathroom and I'll be right back. And I said, okay, I'll go with you then. See, because I didn't really trust her, you know? I just thought she's gonna leave me. I just had this instinct that she's gonna leave me, even though I was only like four or five years old, right? But she keeps saying, I promise I'll be back. She even pinky promised me. She says, I'll be right back.

After I go to the bathroom, I said, if you just go into the bathroom, why can't I just go? Or just or just follow you. Anyway, hours into talking back and forth, she left. Of course, end of the day, I waited, waited, waited. Seems like, you know, it's been, like, six months later. But end of the day, she never came back. And at the moment at that moment, I have lost I feel like I lost everything in my entire life.

You're all by yourself at that point.

I was all by myself. I felt very lost. Oh, yeah. I really hated everybody. Just I hated people, period. I hated the world at the moment. And I never spoke. I never smiled.

And that orphanage for longest time. Couple of reasons. Those are the main reasons, but one other reasons that I did not smile or talk is because I was also born with a hair lip. And so nobody told me that anything's wrong with me until kids were bullying me at the orphanage. They were calling me names, and I didn't understand. I I don't know why they were bullying me. So one day, of course, this was after I learned to walk. So it took me, like, two years to walk in there because in that orphanage, we didn't have any physical therapist or anybody special.

They just told me to hang onto the rail on the hallway, long hallways, and just stand up and start walking once you get comfortable. Standing up, sitting down, standing up, sitting down, doing that for day and day out, week, month after. It took me two years to learn to walk. But, so this was after I learned to walk that, you know, when kids were calling me names and got bullied, and I went outside, and I remember looking at one of the edge part of the orphanage. And I wanted to make sure nobody was watching me because I was so so embarrassed because there was nobody telling me what's wrong with me. Other than I could see, I could not walk. And so I found this metal piece of the edge of the building, and I just went, like, very embarrassed. I was like this, and I looked at my I was looking at my face.

It's what's wrong with me? Why was people calling me names? And sure enough, I had a huge hair lip on my lip, top lip. And and so I thought I was scared because I thought if I smiled and I talk, I thought it would split more. So first reason was that I didn't trust anybody. I hated it, everybody in the world. And then second reason was, like, more so, like, okay. For sure, I'm not gonna talk to anybody because I don't want this to split open wider. So I lived that kind of life until I was about 14 years old. And, there's a family in America wanted to adopt a special needs child.

And I was under that category. I was 14 years old. It was the cutoff age, and then I had a hair lip, and I cannot walk. But I did learn to walk, though, when I was about, you know, six or seven years old in an orphanage, but my legs were still very crooked.

Mhmm.

You know, it's like very bold leg, you know. But, anyway, so I was adopted and, you know, it was my inside of me deep inside of me that I wanted to have a family again. You know? And there's been a times where a couple of the Korean families came to the orphanage where I was at, and they would look me over, wanted to adopt me, but I think they knew that it was too much for them to handle me because there's so many things that wrong with me. And I remember as they were looking over because I had to go to a special office, like a staff office, and then they would just look me over and I would just sit down and I would just, you know, play whatever while they were checking me out. And I remember saying this to myself and I thought, please take me home. I want to taste good food. I want to wear pretty clothes. Please take me home.

And I was just saying that inside of me, just like wishing. And then it happened in Korea. And so when American family wanted to talk to me, I was shocked. I thought, who would want me, like, my age? Who would want me with my disability?

Yeah. And it had been a pretty long period of time, it sounds like, for you to have lost your family and dealt with the disabilities and the challenges, I'm wondering if did you feel like maybe it wasn't gonna happen? Like, it was just, you know, there wasn't gonna be a family. Yeah.

Of course. Yeah. I mean, well, especially when we had a Peace Corp worker that worked in the orphanage, for a couple of years and when we got really close. And then when she left, when her Peace Corp work was finished, you know, after two years and she promised us that she would find a family for us. Because the orphanage was like hundred percent of the handicap, but there was eighty percent of the kids had a family, and there's 20% of us didn't have a family. And so it was very, very difficult for us to live with somebody that the kids that had a family, they had a new clothes to wear, They had a candies and and gums to chew and everything and money and everything, but there's two 20% of us, you know, we couldn't go anywhere. We didn't have any money. I remember let me tell you quickly about the experience.

It was a really awesome experience that I had, for example, in orphanage. I was about 10 or 11 years old. One day, my my friend I wanted to chew a gum, and I was watching other kids chewing a gum that have a family, and I was so embarrassed to ask them, like, to to have a piece of gum or even give me some money so I could buy gum or whatever. I was so embarrassed and ashamed, like, who would want to help the orphan girl? And so I thought, I'm gonna chew gum today. So I asked one of my girlfriend, and we went outside at the orphanage. And, you know, of course, I was walking by then. Right? Because I was, like, six or seven when I learned to walk. And, we went outside, and we went to the street nearby the orphanages, outside the orphanage building, and we found some gum on the floor.

And this is now this is very cool. This is the the coolest thing that I have ever done, I think, in orphanage. That was I was able to pick up the gum that is been walked on by so many dirty shoes and who knows how many years. But I wanted to chew a gum because I thought, it would be so cool to chew a gum. And so I kicked up the gum, and my girlfriend and I, and I remember digging it out and, like, brushing up, taking off the biggest rocks that I could feel, and, like, brushing it off and everything. I didn't even wanna go inside to wash it in the water. I just kinda brushed it up, picked it off and everything. And I chewed it, and it was kinda little bit crunchy because, you know, there was still little teeny, teeny rats that I cannot pick.

Right? Yeah. And I thought, this is so cool. So my girlfriend and I, we were like, we're we're good. We're so cool. We're the coolest kid in that orphanage because we just chewed a gum. Right?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's free nonetheless. Right? Didn't even need any money for it.

Right. And I can't push my goal because I thought, I wanna chew gum. I'm gonna find a ways. I didn't come up with excuses, you know, just but I just didn't I guess, to invest asking people, so I just found my own way to do it. So I thought it was so cool. And it still gives me that cool feeling like, wow. You know? It's like, I did it.

Yeah. Regardless of the circumstances, you found a way to use your words to accomplish that goal. Like, we are chewing gum today. It doesn't matter where it's coming from. We're chewing gum today.

That's right. So going forward, being adopted, and then I had all kinds of, you know, doubts and just like, Oh, I can't believe someone wants me. And then I thought, If they want me, then I have to learn to trust them. It's like, I don't wanna do that. I just don't wanna trust anybody.

Mhmm.

You know? And, and then I have to learn to, be a part of the family, like, you know, being in a part of the family, like, I don't know how to do that, You know? Yeah.

And where did you land in the in The States? You were so you're 14 years old. You're adopted by a family. And and where whereabouts did you Utah. In Utah. Okay. Great.

Yes. That's where I'm still at. Yes. Awesome. So low and below, my doctor family had six of their own kids.

Mhmm.

And they ended up adopting five more kids.

Oh, wow.

Yeah. So they were just sweet, sweet families. I mean, parents are very, very generous. But, so when I was adopted, I didn't know any English at all. I didn't even know my alphabets or nothing. So it was a huge challenge. And I just had a teeny dictionary that my mom, my my doctor mom, knew that I had to have so we could communicate. And, I did everything what they told me to do because I thought someone is giving me an opportunity to have a better future.

I'm going to take advantage of that, and I'm gonna make sure that they don't regret protecting me. I want them to be happy. And so I did all everything what they asked me to do. I've got a really good grades, and I'm like, I would get up at four in the morning. And because there were so many kids, in the family, I was like a a eight child because they had a six of their own. They adopted a little Korean girl at age four, and she didn't know how to speak English. And she was such a good, they decided to give another try on Korean girl, but then it was, you know, a specialist child because nobody wanted to adopt 14 years old and with a handicap. Most people adopt babies.

Right.

And so I was their eighth child. So we were all in a bunk beds because there were so many kids. So I remember I decided to just get up early in the morning before everybody else got up and just study my English, like my AEDCs and everything, and I remember having a litany flashlight under the bottom bunk bed just so that I don't disturb my sisters up there. So I would just study it, and then I would go to every single summer school just so that I could catch up because it was just very, very difficult for me. And,

I'm not interested. Any special assistance or training? So you had mentioned in the orphanage that was for children who were handicapped or disabled, there wasn't a lot of specialty treatment. You were kinda, you know, there they guided you, it sounds like, but you're kinda figuring it out on your own how to walk. So were you given extra tutelage or therapies or anything when you got to The States?

I think later on.

Yeah?

Later on. Yeah. I definitely got some counseling.

Mhmm.

You know, to figure out who I was. But when I first came, I couldn't get any counseling at all because I didn't know the English. I couldn't understand. So I didn't really get any counseling until I was, like, in my thirties.

Wow. Wow. So step one, learn the language, I guess, and and you mentioned how you looked at it as an opportunity. Did you have that impression that it was a big opportunity right away, or is that something you kinda had to warm up to? Were you still a little reserved and untrusting when you when you came to The States and and joined your family, or did you kinda sense that this is an opportunity I need to take advantage of right away?

No. I just thought I have to prove myself. Otherwise, they could send me back.

Oh, okay.

That's what I was thinking. Like, I have to prove to myself and to them so that they all wanna cheat me.

Mhmm. Got it. Even though

they didn't tell me that. Even though they didn't you know, that was not their intention, but that's how I was feeling because I was so frustrated that I could not speak. And I thought anybody that would smile at me, I thought they were making a fun of me because I still have that issues with my hair lip and everything. So when I came and at age 14, I ended up you know, I they did provide a schooling there, like, just school, and I finished the junior high there in orphanage. And then, I came that when I was stopped that I started junior high all over again because I can imagine going to high school not knowing any alphabets. And so I was kinda held back and started with junior high, and that was even difficult for me. But my mother, she stayed home, so she, you know, she had all these kids, so she used to spend the whole summer with me teaching me English. So I could at least say, hi.

How are you? I'm hungry. You know? Mhmm. What's your name? Just basic things. But, yeah, I was just like, whole time, and I was really, really, like, I was missing my culture because I didn't have anybody, but I had my friends that I grew up with. So I just kind of, like, really miss my country, my food, and I just cried many, many days and just just just at age 14, my life was just upside down. Same time because I had to learn so much. Yeah. But I had no choice.

Yeah. And it's I mean, 14 years are a challenging time for any any teenager, right? But you had been through so much in your life already, and I think you describe it really well where it's just your life is once again flipped upside down. You're in a brand new country with a brand new, you know, family and starting from scratch learning a language. It's just so interesting to me that throughout all of that, you took it upon yourself to kinda meet the challenge and put in the work and figure it out, which is is amazing.

Yeah. So forward, just kinda going forward really quick. So then my family, you know, said, you know, make sure that you get a good grades and get a good paying job. So I did that. I became a certified medical assistant, and I landed in my dream job. Like, I loved it. I didn't wanna be an RN. I didn't wanna be an LPN.

I didn't wanna work at the hospital, but I wanted to work with patients, and I wanted to work with the doctors. Can I ask a quick

question about that? So, because I think it might be important to explore a little bit. So your parents instilled in you when you got to The States that you can work hard and study and get a good job that pays the bills. That's kind of the a money message or mindset that you're receiving from them when you get to The States? Interesting.

Yes. Yes. And so I don't know anything, so I just did exactly what, you know, they told me. And that's normal mindset like all of us live with. Right? And don't know anything other than that. Right. Right. Because they were my parents and they were my guidance, they were my providers, right? And so, yeah, so before when I was in orphanage, I was just, I had no purpose getting up in the morning, but I got up, you know, because I was forced to get up because if you live there, you can't just lay around.

So I got up and just looking for meal to meal. It was like I ate breakfast and what's my next meal? I had no agenda, no purpose, nothing to great you know, I mean, nothing to be grateful for, nothing like that at all. Mhmm. You know, because, in that orphanage, it was really bad. Like, we got beat up. If someone did something wrong, we all got punished. And if we didn't do our homework or if we're late, we got punished a lot. So it was I mean, with the, you know, with the tree limb, I mean, with the rulers, just we got beat up really bad.

And so it was really scary place, but at least I had a place to sleep.

So when you get to The United States and you're learning from your parents about hard work and education and getting a job and having opportunity, was that interesting or attractive to you? What what do you remember how you felt about this idea that you could maybe have some purpose and some income?

Well, yeah. It was like, it was I was just so grateful. I was just so grateful and so happy because, you know, where life was just getting up and looking forward to next meal and still being hungry

Right.

And, you know, having to kinda dig through the garbage to get some more food to fulfill your, you know, hunger and to where, you know, opportunity was given to me with the, you know, being adopted, learning all these challenge things, you know, lifestyle, language, and just everything. And then so, yeah, when I was given that, I was just so grateful. And I remember when I first came, I had nothing. I didn't bring anything other than just few pictures of my friends from orphanage. That's all I have. And then the clothes that I wore, it was money that sent to my orphanage from my adoptive parents so that they so that I could wear something decent.

Mhmm.

And so when I first came, I was just so shocked because they gave me all this clothes because I have nothing. So they bought me clothes, shoes, and underwear, and just like and I thought it was like a I was just shocked. Not only they adopted me, but they gave me all these things for me to even wear. And I have, like, I have a dress to wear. I have a pants to wear, and I have more than one one outfit to change into, more than one pair of underwear to change into. I was like and then I get to take a bath and shower every day. Like, this is just, like, insane. I I just couldn't understand.

It was just like overwhelming, and I thought And then the presence that, you know, they knew that I have to have a basic needs, right? Clothes and shoes and things. And I thought, this is gonna last me lifetime. This is all I need. I don't need anything else anymore.

This is more than enough, right? I've won, right?

I've won. You've won. I've got to see it.

Yeah. Yeah.

So as as I was living my life there, and then for like Christmas experience, right, because in the orphanage, we never got to celebrate my birthdays or Christmas. You know, those were just regular days for us. You know? Nobody recognized your birthdays or anything. So, but I do remember one year for Christmas, we did got we did get an apple by our head, you know, just by apple by our bed. And I was just like, oh, apple for, you know, for Christmas. This is great. And I could still remember taking a bite of that apple. It's, like, crisp, and it was so delicious.

And just that one time, that one apple for Christmas, it was just like, oh, wow. Yeah. So experiencing, Christmas in America was so different because everybody know they have six siblings, right? Six kids and then the one daughter, so there's seven and eight of us with me, and they were asking, you know, my parents would ask us like, what do you want for Christmas? And then like, I would ask for one thing, and then my sisters and brothers would say, you could ask more than one thing. I said, uh-uh. No. That's I just want one. I just never wanna ask for anything because I don't need anything. I got more than enough, you know, so I didn't want anything.

But they says, you could ask for what you want, what you need. And I said, I just want a Korean bible. That's all I asked for.

Wow.

Because, you know, I did like I said, I don't need anything.

Yeah. I did everything. It's an interesting part of your story, and it makes me think of, like, Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Have you ever looked at that where, you know, we all need safety and security, and we need our basic needs met, or we can't think about anything else?

That's right.

But I think sometimes in our country, in our society today, most of our needs are met. We have a lot of stuff. It's when those things are taken care of and we're thinking about, alright. Well, what else is there? It's, like, kinda tough to think about wanting more or doing anything else because it's you know, here you are with everything that you're you could probably possibly imagine happening.

Yeah. Yeah. I just was so shocked. I remember, like, crying with the happiness and gratitude, and I just thought, you know, it was just really, really humbling experience. Like, not only they want me the way I am, and they fixed me all up. They gave me, you know, like, a leg surgery and, you know, and my lip surgery, just everything. And I just was like, oh. You know? And so even today, every single day when I take a bath, there's not one day I don't go by and I feel so grateful for, like, for me to be able to comb my hair and for me to buy gum.

And that's another thing. Like, buying a gum first time in America? Oh, you wanna hear this. And I was shocked. It was a shocking moment when I first bought my own gum. And, I bought it, and then I chewed it, and it was just so shocking because I never knew that gum had a flavor. You

had always the piece that was tossed out, right, after the flavor was gone up until that point?

That gum had a flavor. It was so there was no crunchiness. It was smooth, and it was so delicious.

Wow. Wow.

Feels so delicious. And I thought, oh my gosh. That's what makes me feel so rich today because I have more than enough.

Mhmm.

I could buy. I mean, financially, that I made main error with option trading. But to have this other part of me where I have everything I need, I have more than enough, and being able to take a bath, I just do, like, buying, like, many garments I want, many packages I anytime. Soon as I get done with this, I could buy gum. That makes me feel rich. That makes me feel like a millionaire.

I

mean, my life is just so changed, but then it's a realization. Nobody didn't come to me and say, did you know? Right? But because I journey the hard journey, because my mindset is just so different now than Yeah. Back then. You know, because I was living with no purpose, and then I was living with somebody else's mind, you know, their ordinary money money mind that they're telling me what to do, how to live, you know, what to do, and basic like we all live nowadays. Until I realized, I'd say, you know what? I love this job that I was working in my dream job as certified medical assistant for thirty three years, but it's broken. It's a broken system because everybody's working nine to five job, and yet they're living paycheck to paycheck.

Yes. So I I got us sidetracked a little bit. So your parents had taught you to work hard, get a job. Right? And I think that's a message that a lot of us get from our parents. And I I certainly heard that from my folks as well, where get a good education, get yourself a good job, be able to pay your bills, buy a house, take a vacation once in a while. That was like the American dream that was instilled with me. Now to a certain extent, it's great advice. And you describe this job as a dream job that you had for thirty three years.

So not to fast forward past that part of your life, but you, you know, are adopted by your US adoptive family, you get an education, you get your dream job, and you work for thirty three years, and then one day you wake up and say, well, I'm gonna retire and I'm broke. Is that kinda where you landed?

Well, yeah. I mean, I I was at my dream job, and I thought something's wrong with the system. You know? I thought I did everything what everybody tells me to do, you know? And why am I struggling? Like, why am I having to work extra job? You know? So, like, I was married, and even as a married, we had a true income. We're just struggling. You know? My husband and I, we both were, you know, making money. We're still struggling, living, you know, paycheck to paycheck. And then I ended up divorcing him after fourteen years and then found myself as a single mother and raising kids and then doing you know, again, continue to work my dream job, and I ended up supplementing my income. You know, I would I would work after I work my ten hour a day shift, and then I would sell back in the night.

And then my only day off, Wednesday, I would do a catering business. And then on the weekends, I would clean the houses.

That sounds

Do I have to work six, seven days a week to make ends meet, including working at my forty eight hour, my dream job?

I was just gonna say

system.

Yeah. So as I'm hearing you describe, you're working at your dream job, but you have multiple other side hustles or gigs or part time work just to make ends meet. It sounds like it's it's from your experience, did you feel like if I just keep working harder, if I work more hours, then it'll solve my problems, but it it didn't quite it didn't get you there. Right? So more hard work, which is, again, it's good advice to a certain extent, but it's not gonna get you where you wanna be. No. Is that am I hearing that correctly?

Correct. You are absolutely right, Jim. I thought if I work extra hours and I even worked overtime too. You know? Like, whenever my doctor would go on a vacation, I would pick up extra hours too for other working for other doctors and things. Not because I was not money hungry, but I needed to meet the basic needs of my kids as a single mother too. You know? And so I thought, I'm tired of just living this same old routine, broken system, you know, and just trying to please everybody else.

And what was broken about the system when you look back and think about it? What what was what was why wasn't it enough? What was

Well, okay. I was just barely making my, you know, house payment. It wasn't a big house. It was just a basic house, like, you know, two, three bedroom for three girls and me. And then I could never go on a vacation, and we could not go out to eat. We would just, my, we were not we didn't have any extra money to do anything, period. And And

I can't imagine based on your background, you're not living extravagantly during those years. I'd imagine. Right? I mean, based on where you came from and feeling like that first Christmas, you already had enough. You're not, like, filling your house with useless junk that no one needs. Right? You're we're talking about paying your mortgage Basic. Yeah. Putting food down the table, making sure the kids get an education, the basic stuff.

Basic stuff. I mean, I was so there's a times where, you know, I would get a notice by my front door and saying your your utility is gonna get shut off within twenty four hours if you don't pay. And there's times where I would make a payment not knowing that I didn't have any money, and then I my check would bounce because I was you know, I only had a $10 and, you know, that bill was, like, $20. I knew that it's gonna bounce, but at least I paid it, you know? Mhmm. Yeah. And I want them to see that I made a effort, but then Right. Bank would turn around and charge me, you know, the bounce fee of $10.20 dollars, and I would go more in the hole. I mean, it was just, like, nonsense, you know?

Yeah.

And I thought this is totally broken system. It is broken system. And so I thought I have to do something. Yeah. And so I remember just having a conversation with the my doctor, which, you know, I was working for. I I had to let him know that I was gonna retire, You know, instead of not saying anything, you know, until, like, October goes by, I thought I was having a conversation. I said, I'm going to retire. And he says, when? I said, oh, within a year.

And he says he was, like, surprised. And I was like, really? Can you afford it? And I said, No. And he says, Do you have any money saved up? I said, No. Everything was low. I didn't have any money. I didn't have any other skills that I was a standby or anything like that. I just wanted to retire. The reason I wanted to retire, realizing that it was broken system.

I was sick and tired of living just same old, same old life. Even though it was my dream job, I was so excited to go to bed the night before just to get up early in the morning just to go to work. I was just so excited. One of those five to 10% in the world that loved what I was doing. That's how and I didn't even drink coffee or anything. I was just so excited. I was energetic because think about where I came from. And I was like, it's my opportunity to make other people happy.

Because for years, you know, like, nobody made me happy. So at least I could contribute trying to make other people happy no matter what whatever I was doing. And so I was just like, it was my dream job. But I thought I have to make my dream income. I can't but if I continue to work there, I know that I was gonna go out and retire still broke.

Mhmm. Mhmm. Because you just couldn't get ahead, and there weren't enough hours in the week for you to work more. Right? You're already filling it up. There's just no other options. So you made the decision, like, if I'm gonna make change, I gotta do something different, and that's gonna start with retiring.

Yep.

And did you have a plan at that point, or was it just

Not really.

First no. It was just I'm not gonna do this anymore. I don't know exactly what I'm gonna do, but I'm not gonna be doing this. I'm not gonna stay on the treadmill.

Yeah. There's a couple of goals. For for one thing, realizing I'm gonna stay broke even after I retire, and I'm gonna have to work for somebody else again after I retire. K? So that made me wanted to retire early. And then I thought, well, you know, I grew up without a family, you know, most of, you know, early part of my life, and me working so many hours, so many, you know, a week that I didn't have time to spend my time with my kids. And I'm a mom, and I should spend my time with my kids. And so I thought if I retire, you know, I wanna stay home, but I have to do something to continue to, you know, supplement my income, you know, make income and stay home and do that. So basically, I just, you know, of course, my kids were older by then, you know, and they're just kinda moved out a little bit, but I still have, like and then meanwhile, I got remarried, and then I have a a 21 year old son too.

And so just turned 21. And then meanwhile, you know, I did get remarried, but I thought, you know, with my last child, I didn't get a chance to really stay home with my pretty girls. But even with my last child, I wanna stay home and just really make a difference. And so, I took My husband and I, we decided to become like a real estate investors. And I thought real estate, you could just show houses. We had some real estate, properties and I had a, like a rental home. And all of a sudden so this is the thing. The reason the the time that I wanted to retire, having a conversation within a year, I retired.

And then I somehow like, when I retired, my mind was just, like, overwhelming because I thought there's a people out there, Jim, that is making money.

Mhmm.

There's a people out there making money that they're not working for a company. Why can't I do that? Why can't I? I'm gonna find a way.

And most people, I think, would think you're crazy for walking away from a dream job

You do.

And with no plan. Right?

Yeah.

But did do you feel like your background and your journey and everything that you had to deal with and all the challenges that you faced were helpful in saying I can I can go out and figure out how to do this as well? That there's no challenge that I can't overcome?

It was scary. And, until I retired, and when I first made my first million dollars within couple years of retiring with an option trading

Mhmm. Mhmm.

That really gave me a huge boost because I thought when I'm setting a goal and accomplishing goal, having the goal become a reality

Mhmm.

Is the realization that I have a power. I could do or become anything or anybody that I want to become. Because remember, it started with, in orphanage life where they showed me how to walk and it was my decision, my discipline to practice standing up, taking a step with the rails. Mhmm. It was my decision that I wanted to chew a gum.

Mhmm.

And it was my decision that I wanted to buy a convertible car even though I was broke and living paycheck to paycheck with the as a single mother. And I wanted to buy a convertible because I love motorcycle, but I can't drive motorcycle because I'm kinda little petite Asian girl and, you know, I wasn't even I just love the motorcycles. My boyfriends that I had when after, you know, high school, they also, like, take me on a I was like somebody else's backpack in a motorcycle. And I love the the wind blowing through my hair, and I thought the the next thing that close to motorcycle is a convertible. And so just kinda going back to where I we were talking about is this, where it's a very important piece of, you know, where it took me there is that when I didn't have any money, when I was broke, struggling, living paycheck to paycheck, and I wanted to buy a convertible. And I said, I started test driving when I didn't even have money to buy a convertible car or any car. Because I used to drive, like, broken old cars. I would get stopped so many times on the freeway.

And I know lot of dates of guys on the freeway because I I my car would, like, smoke and broken. I said, what's wrong with my car now? You know? Anyway, that's not the problem. But, basically, I wanted to buy a convertible. And for me to wanting to buy a convertible, and I thought I'm gonna have to work ten or twenty years for me to have enough money to save money to buy a convertible. And I wasn't talking about brand new. It was just like, you know, even used convertible. Right? But it's just a convertible. So we test drove it.

My girls and I, we used to do activities on the weekends. We would go test drive at the car lot. And I wanted to make sure I wanted to sit at the convertible car, make sure I felt comfortable once I make the money. I didn't wanna wait till ten years or so how many years it took me to save money to buy my dream car and then get there, and then I didn't feel comfortable. So it is very important. Once you set a goal, you start taking small steps. So I take a small steps of test driving and sitting and making sure that I feel comfortable driving that, you know, convertible, and then instills my mind. So, okay.

I do want this, and I'm going to save money. I'm gonna work harder to save money. See how important that is?

You have to

have to set a goal, have to start taking small steps to getting there.

Mhmm.

You don't wait till you have money saved up to go test drive because that would not happen for ten or twenty years. Who knows?

Right. Right. There yeah. Absolutely. So what were when you decide you're gonna retire, what were those so it sounds like the goals that you had were financial independence.

Yes.

That you wanted money and freedom to be able to work for yourself and have flexibility and spend time with your son. And that that to me sounds like financial independence, financial security.

I don't

actually

my own boss. Because when I was looking for, like, a nine to five job, when I wanted to go on a vacation, in fact, one of my daughter was stationed in Japan and she says, mom, come and visit me when we when we come and visit, you know, you visit me, and then we could go to Korea where you came from because as she knows, I never been to Korea, and it only cost $200 It's only, like, you know, very short trip from Japan to Korea. We could go there. And I asked my my supervisor, and I already had a time. I work long enough. I have a two weeks off. Yeah. I could do.

Right? But they says, we cannot find anybody to cover your doctor to cover you, so you can't go. So right then and then I thought, okay. I wanna be my own boss. Nobody want I don't want anybody to tell me when I protect a vacation, you know, or how long. You know what I mean?

Right. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.

So all those things. And I wanted to stay home with my, you know, child, and then I wanted to just, you know, make money as much as I want. There's no limit. Like, if I work twenty hours, I can make more money, not just the chart at the certain you know what I mean? Wages.

Right.

You only get paid, like, you know, $16 an hour, and that's it. You can't not get paid anymore. And so when I made my mind, it's like, there's a people out there making money, so why not me? I took a huge leap. I didn't talk about think about, like, oh, no. What am I gonna do? I did not talk about any doubts or fears that come to my mind because I live my life that way.

Mhmm.

They don't serve me. They didn't take me anywhere.

Right.

And and living by somebody else's mindset, working for a company, like, you're gonna work for me at this hours, these days, you know, so many hours per hour per you know, how much per hours? No. None of that. And so I can think about that, but anybody, like you mentioned earlier, my kids were worried. My parents, everybody was like, what are you gonna do, Sun Young? Like, you are just so good at your job and you loved your job. And I go, yes. I loved it, and I'm good at it. You know? My patients love me. My doctor, I love my job.

You know? Right. But I did people are talking backgrounds next to me, just lot of noises. Right? And that's what we get a lot of times in our in our life when we're trying to do something different. Abras kinda, no. You can't do that. Nobody's like, I didn't have anybody in my circle that made good money. Yeah. Interesting.

Give me example.

Yeah. So what were those first steps when you looked out and you said somebody out there people out there are making money. They're having financial independence. They have this flexibility. What were what were your first steps? How did you what down that path? Where did you go first?

Well, my step was like, okay. I wanna be an investor, you know, a real estate investor. That gives me a freedom. So we went to a seminar and then learned about that because I was making money with my, my house. So basically, when I got married second time, I I had a house with my girls, and I was renting that out. And then my husband and I, my second husband and I, we got married and bought a new house. And so that's how I ended up with this, the rental home.

So that was your first investment property was your first rental was your former place where you lived.

Right. But Yep. I wasn't making money. I was going in the hole because I didn't have any skills. I just thought it was a good idea. Everybody says, oh, it's a good idea to have a rental home. I said, okay. Instead of selling it, I'll just use it as a rental.

But I didn't have any skills. I did not know what to do. I just had a house. So, you know, trying to work. And so then that's when we went to a real estate, you know, seminar to learn the skills about how to make money from the rental. Because, you know, I I had a mortgage of $900 and then I was only wanting to charge people $950 and I was only making $50 But by the time I paid utilities, I was going in the hole. See, I didn't know because I didn't have skills. Right?

Right. Right.

So I went there to learn the skills, and then at there, they presented. They're like, some of you guys gonna make lots of money with the real estate. And I was like, yeah. Tell me about it. I'm I'm not making it, so that's why I'm here. But they introduced us about option trading. And I said, what is an option trading? I had never heard about option trading. But when I was working with the doctor, my doctors would always talk about, you know, stocks, like they were buying these stocks, and Boeing, and Tesla, and I'm like, that's just out of my you know, it's like, I didn't have any money.

So I didn't even listen to those things, right? Say, well, good to you. You have the money, so you could buy the stuff, but, you know, it's I'm just on that. So when they were introducing about the options, and I go, that's a good idea. It's like, yeah. With this new skills, I'll probably make lots of money with my rental. So, yeah, I wanna learn to, you know, invest my money. So then they said, you could learn this. And so I thought, okay.

So we learned it. And then when it came to actually doing it, they're like, I said, okay. What do I need? They're like, okay. Well, you gotta have your own computer. And I go, you gotta be kidding me. I hate computers. And and they're like, well, yeah. And I said, okay.

That's not for me at all. No. Thank you. So then I quickly, like, you know, no thanks. I turned away. And then I thought, well, when I retire, I gotta have a hobby. And a lot of people with hobby, they spend money, but I thought I wanted to adopt a hobby that makes me money. So I thought option trading is something that when I learned, you know, I thought that could be my hobby.

Yeah. It's an interesting roadblock that getting a computer was something that, was standing in your way at that point since you're

I'm like, no. I I I I hate computers. I don't like new technologies. I don't you know, I'm just old school. You know? And so I'd rather take notes from the pen and pencil than, you know, just than computers. You know?

So so if I'm hearing you correctly, you started to explore and try to educate yourself around real estate investing, and one thing led to another. And now you're learning about options trading. And so you're surrounding yourself with people that can help you get an education in some of these other areas that might be able to bring you the income that you're looking for because you didn't have, you know, people around you that were making money. These are all, you know, your friends aren't real estate investors or options traders. Right? You had to go out and surround yourself with people who can bring the right information and bring the right expertise that you can focus on to do what you need to do.

Yeah. Exactly. You have to go where there's an opportunity, and then there's another opportunity given to your you know, introduced. You need to look into it. You can just say, I could easily says, no. Thank you. I don't want it. You know? That's too hard for me.

Why do I want to why do I wanna learn new skills? You know? Like, I just you know? I could've said all those things, but it was intriguing at that. Like I said, I wanna take on a new hobby that is challenging because I wanted to stay busy after I retired. So I really studied this. And so after, you know, learning about the option trading, and then I start practicing with the virtual money. And then I was, like, making really good money, like, you know, virtually. I was making, like, 50,000 a day or week, and I thought, this is unreal. So I my husband was still working and I text him, I said, I just made 50,000 just in this Tesla or something. And then I said, too bad, it's not real money.

And so we're like, darn, you know, it's like, it's too bad. So after studying, and I really Like, what I did is, like, I took this on as a very seriously, and I thought this is my new job, and I'm going to treat this just like my new job. I just got out of for thirty two years, and I'm gonna go into a room with this computer that I'm gonna really learn about this computer, how to use this computer navigate. Because that's what I gotta do first. You know? Which button to push, you know, because I don't know anything about the computer. Right? So

sounds like you. You're like, you have to learn how to walk. Right? You had to learn how to use a computer. You had to learn the alphabet when you got to The United States. When you entered into options trading, you had to learn how to use the computer. Step one. Right?

Knew language, knew everything. You know? So then I studied it, and then I thought, you know, I'm doing so good making fake money. Why don't I start making this with the real money? Yeah.

Which is probably it's probably a good point. Like, if you are if you're listening interested in options trading, starting with fake money is probably a good idea. Yes. Right? To try some of these things out. So Yeah.

Because you don't need to get real money. That harder to run. It's so scary. You know?

Yeah. Yeah. So you you eventually say, I'm gonna put some real money to work here, and what happened what happens next?

Right. So you've got a goal in mind. You need to know you know what you need to make to make that financial freedom or security

Exactly. That I could just do anything I want, go anywhere I want, anytime, you know, just whatever. So then then also setting a goal, and then you also have to set a, like, a a small stick. So I thought if I want to make, like, less a hundred thousand a year, right, at the math, like, you know, it's like I can make more, but I thought that would be a huge goal for me because my goal was, like, anywhere between, like, you know, 30 to 90,000. But I thought, oh, why not just, you know, make a hundred thousand? So if I make 90,000, I'll be happy. But it's a hundred thousand. I set a goal, and then I broke it down into small steps, and I thought, how much do I have to make a month for me to make hundred thousand a year? How much do I have to make a week? And how much do I have to make a day? Setting the small steps to make your goals, you know, of a hundred thousand a year Right. I ended up making hundred and $78,000 my first year.

Wow.

I was

blown away. I was blown away. And I was like, what? It's like I was just so excited because not only I met my goal, but I exceeded my goal. I, you know, tripled my, you know, my income that I've been doing for, like, thirty three years. I was just, like, I just could not believe it. So I thought, okay, I could do this. Yeah. Because when you say I'm going to make a hundred thousand dollars, that's like we look at ourselves like making a 30 to 40,000 a year for thirty three years to, you know, making hundred thousand.

Like, that could just no way. But I did not think of it that way. Mhmm. I said I could do it. But I didn't want to disappoint myself. But I say up to a hundred thousand, but I'll be very, very satisfied making from 50 to 60 or 90,000.

Yeah. Yeah. So but that discipline, it sounds like, in showing up and taking it serious and working it day by day

Oh, I did. Yes.

Led you to just far exceed any of your early expectations of what was possible.

Yeah. So 2,018, two thousand so within couple of years, I was able to make a million dollars, and I just thought, this is just crazy. Like, this is just crazy. I mean, my husband retired, two years later because I was keep texting, making fake money, you know, and and then he saw me. Because remember, both of us took these classes. You know? And then so that's another thing. It's like, we could take a lessons or we could hear about somebody else's success story. And if we don't do anything about it and really implementing it in our life and taking actions, nothing's gonna happen.

Wow.

Wow. Not eleven years, but eleven months. Yeah. So that is just like as I told my husband, when are you gonna start doing what we learn?

Well, I was gonna say it was it it's a you're a great example, and I I don't think enough people stick with things. I don't think enough people take, you know, learning new opportunities seriously. They hear they may hear you say, you know, I went from $1.75 to 600,000

in eleven months.

Yeah. And that sounds good, and they might dabble around and try it themselves. And then next week, next month, they're on to a new flashy object or the new kinda, you know, get rich quick. And I hope what people are taking away from your conversation is how much work you put into learning it, trying it out, educating yourself, and being disciplined enough to stay at it day by day by day because especially with something like options trading, you can't you can't really not pay attention to it. It's not a set it and forget it type of thing.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So right now, because I created such a simple, simple system that I don't have to be in front of the computer every day. I set my options and set up quick closing orders, and I could go on vacations, do whatever. And then, you know, there's a I get this, notice on my phone, ding ding ding ding ding. I was like, my trades are going through. I'm making money.

You know? It's just a beautiful

Yeah. Exactly. And so it's just a it's just a I mean, this is a truly, truly dream come true. So, you know, people say, Sun Young, you're so lucky. And I said, you know, when it comes to, like, this is you're so smart and you're so lucky. And I say to myself, I'm lucky because I was given an opportunity by family. But when it comes to a journey where I am today, like, really, I'm not so smart, and I'm not so lucky. It's just I put so many I was willing to face the hardship.

I was willing to, you know, overcome the obstacles. I was willing to face whatever challenge that it comes on. And I was willing to just not listen to the background noise, the people that loves me, that cares about me, my kids, you know, my family, my everybody was worried. It's like, what are you gonna do? What are you gonna do?

You start drawing money off of a HELOC. People are gonna say, hey. Are you you know what you're doing here? Right? You're taking some risk. Yeah.

Yeah. Exactly. I mean, they were just like, and, you know, don't give me don't get me wrong. There's a thirty seconds, like, yeah. I don't have any, you know, skills. I don't know. I don't know. But I didn't let that stay more than thirty seconds because when everybody's speaking to you, you have to say, okay.

But those are just fears. And if I have listened to everybody, I wouldn't be where I am today. I would not with my dream true dream life and dream income. And, I mean, like, dream everything. Like, I wouldn't be able to I mean, I you wouldn't be interested in me if I didn't have, you know, this new mindset and become who I am now. You wouldn't be interested in talking to me. You would've never found out about me.

Yeah. You know what

I mean?

Yeah. Absolutely.

I love it.

Absolutely. Again, it's it's such a I want to be conscious of your time and kind of wrap us up here in the next couple of minutes, but I I think it's just such a unique inspirational story for someone like yourself to face the obstacles and the challenges, and you just never stopped working hard and and changing your mindset and, you know, going out and seeking, you know, those new opportunities and educating yourself. It's it's really an inspirational story to spend time with you and and learn about your journey. So what are you what are you up to today? If people wanna check out your work, so you do some coaching, you've written Yes. A few books. So there's some workshops and some things that you offer to people if they wanna check you out, specifically. Where should people go, to learn about, you know, more about options and the work that you do?

Okay. So options, I have a YouTube channel. So they could certainly subscribe and watch the, you know, YouTube channel on how I do my options. And I do have a couple of books. It's called Invest in Yourself, and it says throw away your excuses and turn your life around. Basically Over. All these excuses that I have used in the past, and it didn't get me anywhere. So I just had to write a book.

And it's a self help book. It's only 10 chapters. I'll give your audience 50% off with the signature.

Awesome. And then

I also wrote a book. My husband and I, we wrote a book together. A lot of times, you know, we are married to somebody. We thought that they were like the the your soulmate or whatever. When I met my second husband, I thought he was the jackpot. I thought he has a good job. He doesn't smoke. He doesn't do drugs.

Oh my gosh. And then after I got married and lived with him, I was like, oh my gosh. We're so opposite of each other. And so Yeah. We wrote a book. It's called self help book, and we're still happily married, but it's a relationship book. It's wonderful. So you could, do the website that I provide you with the website.

So they can click there and then just leave me with the emails and say I wanna buy a book. It's, you know, for 50% off. So they could get it for, like, $15 or something like that. And then I'm on a TikTok and a Instagram and LinkedIn and x. I'm not very active, but my my, newest, thing is, I am creating a event called, thrive three sixty.

Okay.

And under the umbrella, there's we teach how to make money with option trading and, mentoring, how you could lick their mindset, and how you could gain your own power to regain your life, regain your power. Because, basically, nobody's gonna come to you and say, Sunyeong, you suffer. You didn't have a good cause in the beginning, and I think you deserve x y z, and they're gonna come to you at the door and say, here.

Yeah. No. No one's gonna be handed to you.

Where there's opportunities. And we have to actually take actions. Once you hear it and been shown or introduced, you have to take actions because no actions, no results. And every success people have failed. So I have failed many times throughout my, you know, learning to do option trading and so many scarcities, so many fearful things, and learning to how to walk is scary. Well, I remember when I was taking a first step, it's like, I can take a step. There's nothing for me to hang on to, and this floor is going to move. Oh, there's so many scary things that happened to me, but I just, you know, pushed on.

And basically, just wanted to say this. When we're born as a baby, we have a power. Meaning, when we cry, somebody feed us. When we cry, somebody changes our diapers. And we forget how much power that we have as a baby. So as we grow up, learning to do our things, people outside of us or even within our circles says you can't do that. No. You're not supposed to do that.

No. Not now. No. They so we hear those no things. So then we lose our power. And so we have to regain our power mentally to really live our life, to become like who you were meant to be, what you wanna do, as much as money, freedom that you want to live. Mhmm. Like the the life should be a playground, not a work work work ground, you know, like slave.

You see what I mean? Slating away to your nine to five job.

Yeah. And, again, it's it's inspirational to hear from somebody that, you know, after thirty three years or thirty four years of working at their dream job realized that they had more life to live and there was more opportunity and there was more to learn and there was, you know, their financial situation to control and and you went out and and did it and have become really successful. So we'll link to all the stuff. We'll link to the books and your websites and your YouTube channel if people wanna continue to learn more. And there's so much about mindset and empowerment. We could probably have you back if you're open down the road to coming back, and we'll we'll kinda dig into some of this stuff a little bit further. The last question, I'm just curious. With your experience and where you came from and where you are today, how would you describe what is financial independence about for you? How would you describe financial independence and financial security, financial well-being? When you think about those things, what does that mean to you today?

Boy, that just means everything. That just means everything. If you're financially secure, you could really meet all your needs. For another example, like, you know, if you have a lot of money and if you're sick, you could go to the doctor. You could get some, you know, help. Right? But if you don't have any money and you're sick, you're gonna continue to stay sick and deteriorate your life. And so, also, having a financial freedom means, like, living healthy life because you have to have a health good health and healthy mind and healthy body to really enjoy your financial freedom. Because without them, you know, a lot of people says money will make you, you know, make you happy or money could buy happiness.

Not really because there are so many people that make lots of money, millionaires and billionaires, and they're not happy. What makes you happy is how you see the money as. Like, money is like a tool. So I think of a money as a tool. So the more tool I have, meaning more money I have, more things that I could do. I could go on vacations. I could buy anything I want. I could pay forward.

I could donate to those, you know, necessary places, you know, paying forward to the world so that they you know, someone could have a better life. Some companies could have a better life. You know what I mean? There's just list goes on and on and on. Yeah. And not only that, but to be able to help other people like your own kids. Like, if you're financially secure, having the financial freedom, like, who's gonna not believe? Like, my kid says, oh, I need help. They're not gonna come to you if I'm I don't have a financial freedom. I'm still struggling.

Right?

Mhmm.

So you have to really create that for yourself. And so to me, that is like everything, financial freedom, because it could cure, it could just satisfy, meet all your needs, everything that you ever needed.

Mhmm.

Buying and enjoying it. I mean, just like, I just can't, you know, just donating, I just can't believe. Just everyday is like my dream life because knowing that I don't have to worry, like I don't have to worry a minute at all, like no worries at all whatsoever, Like, they could you know? Because I own everything. Like, I don't have any payments on everything that I own, so nobody can take that away from me.

Yeah. And you can have whatever gum you want whenever you want.

Any flavors and many packages I want.

Yeah. That's great. Sungyeong, it's so nice to spend time with you. I love, I love your story, and, I hope people check out the YouTube channel and check out the books. Again, we'll link to all those things. And one of these days, we'll have you back, and we'll continue the conversation if if you're up for it.

Sure. Love to. It's been great to be with you, Jim. Likewise. Big podcast.

I appreciate it. And thank you everybody for listening. If you like what you heard and would wouldn't mind hitting the subscribe button, we'd appreciate it. And, thanks again. We'll look forward to talking to you soon. Take care. Thanks again for listening to this episode. A quick note, although I do hope that the information that we talked about was helpful, in no way is anything discussed on the podcast to be taken as specific financial advice.

Please consult your own advisers and do your own research when you're making important financial decisions.