We’re looking forward to introducing you to Joanne Tang. Check out our conversation below.
Joanne, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
That’s a thoughtful question—and one that many great leaders have wrestled with. Warren Buffett famously said:
“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.” With that in mind: integrity comes first. Without it, intelligence and energy can be dangerous—think of someone who’s smart and driven, but dishonest or unethical. They might manipulate or deceive, and the damage they can do scales with their talent.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Nails by Yen is a full-service beauty salon, nail services, to facial, and wax. We’re dedicated to consistently providing high customer satisfaction by rendering excellent service, quality products, and furnishing an enjoyable atmosphere. We maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, ideas, and hard work.
Nails by Yen is well-established business in the heart of Sugar Land, TX. Most of our customers have been with us for over 20 years and we’re thankful for that.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
The bonds between people are both fragile and resilient—they can be broken by small, repeated wounds or a single betrayal, and restored by slow, honest effort. For example, lying, cheating, or breaking promises—these erode the foundation of any relationship.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering teaches what success rarely can: depth. When you’ve been in pain, you can truly recognize it in others. You stop judging so quickly. You start listening better. Suffering cracks open your understanding of what it means to be human. Pain forces you to sit in discomfort, adapt, and keep going anyway. It teaches you endurance—something success alone can’t teach, because success often feels like a reward, not a test. So, in a way: success builds your life outward; suffering builds your life inward.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe every act of genuine kindness ripples farther than we can ever see. I can’t prove it in a lab or measure it precisely. But I sense that a moment of compassion—a kind word, a listening ear, a silent presence—can echo into someone’s life, shift their choices, soften their anger, restore their faith. Even when no one says thank you, even when it seems to vanish into the void, kindness plants something. It might grow quietly or invisibly, but it grows.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
You know you’re out of your depth when clarity dissolves into confusion—and your usual tools stop working. For example, you’re mentally overwhelm so your thoughts scatter. You can’t see a clear path forward, no matter how hard you try to focus. Another one is false confidence – either you pretend to know more than you do (to protect your ego), or you shut down entirely. Both are signs of disorientation.
Contact Info:
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