Why Choose Juliana

Inspirational Speech.

I was asked to make a short speech to an association of realtors. Below is the speech I gave:

Thank you for inviting me to be here.

Ever since I was invited to talk, I have been thinking about meaningful events in my life which I can share with you … without boring you.

Let me give you my background, the choices I made, and where I am.

I was born in Taiwan. In many Asian cultures, men have better opportunities and get more recognition. Ever since I was a young girl, I resented that I was supposed to become a good second class human. I did not like this role and I would not accept it. I had to find a better one. This became a major goal for me early in my life.

I discovered in Taiwan people respect highly educated people with foreign degrees. My father left China, traveled to Japan, and earned a JD degree. This helped him become highly successful in the legal field. I earnestly studied Japanese for many years so that I could also go to Japan, further my education, and build my desired fame.

After I graduated from law school, my father would not allow me to go abroad. I am only a woman. His vision of a life for me was to get married to a judge and give birth to lots of children. This vision wasn't quite what I had in mind …. It turned out I became almost the opposite of his vision: of all his children, I was the only one who never gave birth to my own child and I also became the one who earns the most money.

Shortly after my graduation in December 1978, Mr. President Carter decided to weaken US relationships with Taiwan and to establish strong relations with Red China. My parents having been ant-communist, were terrified, and decided that I should go to a safe haven. They sincerely feared Red China would attack Taiwan and kill all of us.

I jumped at the opportunity to get a US student visa. I planned to go to a US law school and become a successful and respected attorney.

Soon after my arrival to the US, while researching the path to my dream, I discovered that most of the immigrant Chinese law students became immigration attorneys. My dream was destroyed. I could not see myself filing the same routine legal documents over and over.

I decided to make a career change, to get an MBA in finance. I knew that a world of opportunity awaits those with an MBA degree.

Having the mind set of an entrepreneur, real estate was a wide open door for me. I did not need a salary. I eagerly began work at Cornish and Carey. Soon after I began, my manager, Roger, called me to his office, told me that no one could understand my English and that I could not answer office phone calls. He yelled: "nobody understands you, Juliana." I certainly fought back fiercely and not just in Chinese. After all, I didn't escape my second class role to become a third class human.

I have been selling real estate for nearly 30 years. I have a phenomenal career. I have achieved success and I have the opportunity to accomplish even more... Don't stop trying to achieve your dream.