We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wendy Fong. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wendy below.

Wendy, appreciate you joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

In October of 2022, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After two back-to-back surgeries, I was deemed cancer-free. A good friend joked that I am so efficient and timely, that I was able to fit it all within Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Let’s face it.

When you get a cancer diagnosis, no matter what stage, the foreseeable future will be consumed with visits to the doctor, calls to/from their offices, referrals to other doctors, and last, but definitely not least, a significant amount of time having conversations with your health insurance company.

After I got the call, day-to-day activities seemed like a blur. One thing I do remember being extraordinarily intentional about was how I chose to manage the use of my energy. This is something my very first executive coach shared with me, and I pass on to the people I coach – Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time. In preparation for the upcoming encroachment of my time and energy, I did just that.

I created a list of personal policies.
Unlike boundaries that can be crossed, policies should not be violated.

-I proactively resigned from all volunteer activities (2 advisory boards for start-ups and one nonprofit board) to focus on my health. This may sound extreme, but doing so preempted the inevitable guilt I would feel if I had to decline every meeting one by one when I couldn’t make them.

-I chose to not make any social plans.

-I chose to share the news with only people who I knew would be mindful of not requiring emotional energy from me. Unfortunately, this did not include my own parents.

These may seem a little extraneous, but it’s all in the name of self-preservation.

Luckily, at the same time, my business partner agreed to join Chief Gigs. She was able to pick up all the balls that I dropped. I’m sure it was not the best onboarding experience, but I am so grateful for her dedication. Now 6 months later, I am feeling *almost* 100%. We are finally doing the business systems work that companies typically do when there is a change in ownership. So we didn’t start our partnership the way we are “supposed” to, but the title of one of the best entrepreneurship books is, First, Break All the Rules.

Preserving your energy for the important things in your life is the ultimate self-care and you don’t have to wait for a life-threatening diagnosis to take control of your energy.

Here are some examples that can help you get started:
– I schedule meetings at no more than two locations in one day (if your job involves multiple locations).

– I do not accept more than two evening meetings in one week.

– I block my meetings calendar for a specific time when I am exercising/meditating/focusing on other tasks.

– I cook ‘x’ times per week.

Consider creating your own personal policies of your own. It’s a very freeing feeling that can help you regain control during troubling times.

Wendy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I love traveling and am a big promoter of mental health.

Sometimes, we don’t see the forest for the trees.

I’m doing the best work of my life and I am truly passionate about helping people gain clarity.

Perhaps it’s because of the time I got it wrong…

I was working at Memorial Hermann where I led a department with over two hundred employees. It was a juicy, challenging, and fun job. As Associate Vice President of Operations in the Neurosurgery department, my team oversaw more than thirty offices. We coordinated care for thousands of patients each year and managed operations that obtained $60M in gross annual revenues. My team built out a multitude of capabilities at different hospitals to expand our services and enlarge our footprint. We made the administrative part of practicing medicine as seamless as possible, so physicians could focus on life-saving procedures.

I left this position. I wanted to make a lasting impact, so I went to work for a health tech startup. If I could help that startup succeed, then millions of people would be able to use this technology. Thus, I would make the bigger impact I wanted.

Starting Anew
Once I settled into my new position, I went from managing a staff of over two hundred people to just ten employees. I realized that I only solved one part of the equation. Impact mattered, but it wasn’t the right area of impact. I learned the hard way that the impact that I wanted to make was best manifested in the lives of the people I worked with.

Since my position at Memorial Hermann was so expansive, I didn’t really take the time to pinpoint which parts were most rewarding. Looking back, I really loved building an organization where employees thrived. It was evident in the increase in employee engagement during my tenure there. After only twelve months of leading the team, our department reached 99% in our employee engagement scores.

Could I have prevented this if I were more self-aware? Absolutely. I would’ve saved myself and two employers a great deal of grief and hassle.

However, do I regret it? No. I learned so much from my mistakes. Without that misstep, I may not be where I am now. Today, I am doing the best work of my life. I have the opportunity to work with so many organizations that want to create the best work environment for THEIR employees.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best and only source of clients has been referrals. I love what I do so it comes across even though I’m not “working”. I got my first client through volunteering on a nonprofit board, and it has grown from there.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Doing good work, treating people fairly, and being generous with my time.

I meet many people during the course of everyday life who may or may not turn out to be a client, but I never decline a genuine request for a meeting. During our initial consultation, I try to deliver as much value as possible.

I also speak at conferences, blog, and write for the Forbes Coaches Council.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chiefgigs.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chief_gigs/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trendywendy/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chiefgigs

Image Credits
Kendal DeLaura Sabrina Sexton Megan Chavez Nataly Torres