 Hello, I'm Michael North and welcome to the inaugural show of a new program here at Think Tech Hawaii. We're calling it Asia Pacific Business Strategies. So in this program we're going to look out across the Pacific to the east to Asia and to the west to North America and to all of the Americas to try to identify some of the most important and interesting people and companies, technologies and business strategies that shape our world today. And we'll look at the extraordinary people who happen to be right here in the center of the Pacific who are providing some very special insights to the world and sharing a spirit of aloha with the world. So we're going to be talking to a lot of unique people, people of great accomplishment in business and our first guest is particularly Apropos for this program because she comes from Philippines, so she comes from Asia. She's lived a good part of her adult life in Hawaii and her husband is from North America, from the east and her name is quite unique. It doesn't sound like a Filipina at all. So she's completely Hawaiian, right? We have a beautiful gumbo here in Joni Retic Yunt, so Joni, welcome to our program. Thank you, Michael, for having me. What an honor. What would be the first guest on your show? Yeah, the first and the best. I'm special. Thank you. Well, you're an award-winning beauty contestant. You were Miss Honolulu and Miss Hawaii-U.S. Misses? Misses Honolulu International. Misses Hawaii. Hawaii-U.S. United States 2002, so that was way back when you were 20 years old. Something like that. Yeah. No, I didn't get married young, but it was really an amazing, amazing experience, and that's why it's my joy now to be able to help this other younger generation to pass it on what I have learned. It is a lot of work to prepare for the pageant, but that kind of molded you to, it's a great foundation to discipline you, and it makes you a whole character, a positive person. It's something specifically for young women to help them shape their life and their personality, their confidence, and their leadership so they can assume a better life, a better, successful life. And that's the goal here is, these are smart young women that will also help them to get back to the community at the same time, not just being beautiful. And with Miss Paradise Hawaii, which is, I am the Executive Director, Miss Oahu and Miss Waikiki, three titles I will be giving away on October 22. So whoever wins will now compete to Miss Hawaii, then to Miss America. So you were once one of those young girls. I was once a long time ago. But you didn't have a Joni to help you. No, I didn't have. You didn't have anybody to guide you into this path. Unfortunately, yes. So how did you find the path on your own? Tell us a little story about how that happened. Well, thank you for asking and that interesting question, Michael. I, well, if I go back when I was five years old, I would go back in the Philippines with no running water, no electricity, but I had a big dream. And I always, you know, in my mind, visualizing to be a beautiful woman, successful, beautiful woman. But then in my mind, it's like, oh, how can it be? I am in the middle of rice fields and the farm. But somehow God knew and the universe knew what I wanted. So at age 14, we came to Hawaii. I was very shy. Nobody believed me. But because of the dream that I wanted to fulfill, it was hard. But I had to surround myself with successful, energetic, enthusiastic people and somehow I was able to adapt that. And there's so many things that I wanted to do. I wanted to excel in life. I wanted to be somebody and my children to be proud of because I didn't have that with my parents, unfortunately, being in the province. So I slowly acquire that positive attitude and just great work ethic and just knowing that when you want something, no matter how far it would be or no matter how impossible it would be, but all the little things that you do every day, you can accumulate it, but always do great things, respect people, elderly people, and be honest to yourself. So that's what I tell to the kids. So there may have been a spark. There may have been a moment or a person, a mentor, an example that helped you to adjust your sights from the rice fields to the pageant stage and what was that? Well, somebody that kind of inspired me actually is Mary Kay Ash. Oh. Mary Kay, my mentor, although I have probably Tansha as well, who is the local director at this time. And they always encouraged me to be a part of the organization, the company, but I always told them for the first two years, I'm not the sales type. I'm very shy. I do not like talk to people. So for those who may not know, Mary Kay, of course, is a world-famous brand for cosmetics and beauty products for women. And it's a personal sales-driven sort of, you go to people's homes and you show them. You kind of help them to, you teach them and educate them to how to take care of themselves. It's about grooming, because when you, I always tell people, when you look beautiful outside, then you feel beautiful inside as well. So it kind of helped me with Mary Kay Ash. She always taught to the young women that you have the can-do attitude. You'd have the positive attitude, visualize, make sure you dream high and aim high. So that's kind of instilled in me at the time. So it's not just being beautiful, but Mary Kay Ash have been, oh my gosh, she's been in all different books. She have her own books as well who, and also that changed me at the same time, because she actually authored this book that you can have it all. And at the time, I was a nurse for almost 20 years with your kids. So my life would always be like go home, work, sleep, get up, same old routine. So you went to college and became a nurse in the middle of all of that. Yes, at the same time. So I'm always doing two, three, four things at the time. Always, even now too. So that kind of helped me just seeing all these beautiful women to kind of help like, okay, who these people are. So I really look up to her. I look up to our Mary Kay South director here as well. So it's somebody that I always wanted to be just like her. Because she did have a very, very humble beginning as well that, oh my God, she can do it, I can too. Right, and have you ever met her, Mary Kay? She must be extraordinary lady. I did. She very, very extraordinary, one of a kind. She have so many, many beautiful young women. You had to work really hard to meet her. So I had the privilege to meet her and have lunch with her right before. Unfortunately, she had a stroke. So what did she have to say to you that you have the impression? Yeah, the one thing that she told me that was so impressed. She's a multi-millionaire. She's extraordinary, yeah. She's a multi-millionaire actually. Thousands, perhaps millions of people around the world are inspired by her example. And not only materially successful, but also successful from an inner standpoint. She gives so much. So what did she give to Joni in that lunch? Well, what she gave to me. And I vividly remember, Michael, when I finished a debut as America's social director with 50. They call it Fabulous 50. That's the only time you can have lunch with her. And so we were taking pictures. And I told her, it's like, oh, you're short like me. And she said, no, Joni. We're petite. And that's the first time that I heard about petite. So now when people are like, you're short. I said, no, I'm petite. And she really look into your eyes. She make you feel very important. And that's the other message. Make people important. And just be humble. And so you've achieved a degree of business success. You've done well financially, you and your husband. A lot of people have great ideas. And they have the ability to express enthusiasm and energy and so on. But the ability to transform that into a business successful platform is relatively rare. What helped you to turn that key? Once you'd establish the fact that, yes, you're beautiful inside and outside and confident and so on leadership, all of those great words, what helped to transform you into a successful business person? Million dollar attitude. Well, Michael added. I always say that attitude is everything. When you have the right attitude, everything follows. From believing in yourself, have the courage. And yes, there's a lot of people, they don't walk the talk. They can say, oh, they want to even put in writing week by week, a month or a year. What is their goal? But if they don't want to take action, if they don't have the courage and not willing to take a risk, and they're not determined, they're not able to achieve. And yes, it's very rare. But they have to have that work ethic as well. Are you willing to put so many hours in a day? Are you willing to work at night? Are you willing to work on weekends? It takes a lot of time. And like they said, that when you master something, you have to put in at least 10,000 hours to master anything. Yeah. So what would you say you've mastered? What's your? Everything. What's your trademark? What I master is positive attitude that no matter what. Because Michael liked so much negativity. And you know, there was this young lady yesterday in my office that she's supposed to be one of the contestants. But she withdrawn and says, why? And she said, Joni, I'm going through so much in my life personally. And I just am not in the state of mind. And I told her, but you know what? This would be the best thing for you, because you're surrounded with like-minded people, positive people. We're here to help you, to lift you up. Then this would be the best thing for you. And she was just telling me, oh, everything that she was going through. And I told her, I said, you know what? That's part of life. That's OK. But when you have that positive attitude, you learn how to go over, under, beyond any obstacles. And I feel that, because I've gone through a lot. I lost my sister, my nephew. I had a colon cancer six years ago. I was in the hospital. The doctor tells me that you need to go home now. And I says, no, I want to stay here longer. He was confused. Because I was prospecting the nurses, the night shift, the mid-shift. So I just make life, everything is opportunity. Everywhere you turn. Well, I've noticed this about you. This is, I think, the second or third, the third time that we've met. And I've noticed that when you're in a room with somebody, you sort of light up the room and people feel more positive. There was a big gathering, a couple of hundred people. And you could see that they were all being led by your example, by your smile and your enthusiasm, your light. Lots of people have those qualities. But not everybody is successful in communicating them in such a way that other people accept them. Some people feel intimidated by a person like you. And what is your key to not intimidating people to actually leading them? I think by just being humble. And you show them that you care. And when they look me up, actually, Google me and they see all the things that I have done, but still able to. I'm just example with Joanne. And the one thing that she remembers is, and I didn't know her in the office and offering her something to eat. And tell her to sit next to me. And she just felt so compelled with that. She felt so like, oh, wow. But again, like I said before, just make everybody feel important. But just give them the genuine smile and that you care. And I believe that's what people see in me and they trust me. And just don't be looked arrogant. And I used to be intimidated with somebody with a suit. I don't want to, I would be so shy. And for me, now what I talk to everyone is just to impress, just for success, dress your best, attract, not attack. All right. So it's a counterintuitive. But you're saying, I believe, that humility is a key to effective leadership and inspiration. Some people may have the idea that somebody who's highly effective and a leader is sort of distant and they've got their face to the sun and they expect everybody else to follow in their shadow. And that may be a strategy that works for some people part of the time. But your formula is entirely different. I mean, just look at Mother Teresa, right? Very, very humble. Mary K. S. as well, very humble. So I believe that you'll be able to attract more people that way, you know, instead of being arrogant or like you have everything and you're distant with the other people. But we are all, like I mentioned yesterday or the other day when we met, that we are all the same. It's just that maybe we look different, but we're supposed to act the same thing. We have to respect and love one another. But unfortunately, that's why they need to read my book. How to have that the right attitude. It will get you somewhere in a better place. You have a right attitude, but you also have skills. Which I developed in the past 20 years. Organizing, managing, timing, prioritizing, and so on. Let's talk a little bit about that when we come back from the break. OK. This is Think Tech Hawaii, raising public awareness. Guys, don't forget to check me out right here at the Prince of Investing. I'm your host, Prince Dykes. Each and every Tuesdays at 11 AM Hawaii time, I'm going to be right here. Stop by here from some of the best investment minds across the globe. And real estate, finances, stocks, hedge funds, managers, all of that great stuff. Thank you. Hi. I'm Ethan Allen, host of Likeable Science on Think Tech Hawaii. Every Friday afternoon at 2 PM, I hope you'll join me for Likeable Science. We'll dig into science, dig into the meat of science, dig into the joy and delight of science. We'll discover why science is indeed fun, why science is interesting, why people should care about science, and care about the research that's being done out there. It's all great. It's all entertaining. It's all educational. So I hope to join me for Likeable Science. OK, so we're back here with Joni Redikjant. And we're talking about the habits and ideas of a highly successful person. Joni, I'm trying to penetrate a layer deeper now. And just to understand, on a day-to-day basis, how do you organize and manage your time? Sometimes just people need an example to follow, not to copy, but something that can guide them. I'm sure you have tools for managing your time, your communications, your priorities, your calendar, your metabolism, what does your day look like? How does it start? And how do you get your face on in order to meet the world? Thank you, Michael, for another great question. Well, I normally start with spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. So before I get up, I thank God that, hey, I'm awake. And then I start physically at my exercise, different type of exercise, from stretching to yoga to whatever, or walk in a 30-minute walk, because it's so important to balance everything. You have to have a healthy lifestyle. And then, of course, then I make sure that I eat my healthy breakfast, and then get ready, or then make phone calls, or whatever I need to do. But the night before, which I learned from Mary Kay, Ash, as well, that list your six most important things to do the next day. Oh, so the day starts the night before. Right, but I have 20 things. Six is not enough. So I have all of that written down. So I know exactly where I'm going to do your subconscious mind's already thinking. You write it down before you go to sleep? Yes, yes. You have to write it down because it's somehow, it locked in into your subconscious mind. Otherwise then, because I do so many things from being, you know, work, my full-time job, my famed Savai, which is a nonprofit organization where you guys were a keynote speaker at our free business and leadership workshop. Thank you, by the way, for being there. And then, of course, with my pageant, Ms. Pradayasava, Ms. Owa, Ms. Waikiki, and then also with TV station, my TV show as well, and also volunteering for American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation, all kinds of other nonprofit organizations. So I'm constantly just out there. If I don't jot it down, then I'm not as productive. All right. Do you feel like it's work? Ah, if you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life. And that's why people ask me, Michael, it's like, oh, are you working really hard because you're going to retire early? And I said, no. I said, I retire when I die. Yeah. And but because I enjoy it so much, it seems like sometimes it's too much, but I look forward to it. I'm driven. I guess I look forward for those exciting moments, exciting day. Oh, I'm going to say, Michael, to them being interviewed, ah, how exciting it is. Oh, I'm going to see Dr. Seyo before that. So, and I have other people. So I get, when I look at my appointments, I make sure that in my appointments, that I have exciting every day. So something that important people that I look, I mean when. So, Joni, what do you do to pick yourself up when you fall down or something appears to knock you down? And that happens. That happens, it's a natural part of the rhythm of life, right? No one's exempt from it. From the president on down to a homeless person on the street. We all have a rhythm that takes us through challenges and through great days. But what do you do when something really sad or painful happens to you when there's a setback, either business or personal? What is your inner process for turning that around? Well, what I do is I turn the adversity into an opportunity. I always turn it around, just an example. I one o'clock at night because I work late at night. I was driving the freeway. I had a flat tire. I was like, oh my gosh, of course, I call my car insurance. I need a tow truck. And then I have this policeman that stops. So are you cursing away? Damn it, I got to get home. It's late. I'm tired. No, it doesn't even enter my mind. I don't know. I guess because I already know, OK, I have flat tire. What else can I do? I can scream, cry, but nothing changes. So I'll just say it's a temporary setback and then I just have to make the best of it. So I just have to call car insurance. Policeman came and helped me, asking me like, oh, what happened? I am in my business suit. And it's like, what are you doing in the middle of the night like this? And I said, well, I'm sorry, officer. I had a flat tire. And I just came from work. And then I asked him with my company, we ensure all the police officers. I gave him my card and said, by the way, do you have children? He said, yes. Do you have college funding? And no. Oh, OK, great. Give me your number in the dark now. So I was able to get his number. A week later, we'll get together. And I was able to, he became a client. So you gave him your ticket rather than his. Yeah, that's right. But I always tried to turn things around. And like when I was diagnosed with colon cancer, because my friend, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she told me, she said, Joanie, I was just crying, crying. But what could possibly be good about colon cancer, Joanie? Oh, that's not good at all. Colon cancer, it's actually now double from four years ago, unfortunately. Now it's, and that's the question that I asked you before, because I'm a healthy lifestyle, I exercise, think positive, and all that. But unfortunately, I was eating one wrong kind of food, microwave popcorn, to keep me awake while I'm driving like 12, 1 o'clock at night. So either I could be in. So the way I looked at it, I could have died a car accident. But that's OK. I mean, that's just part of life again. So I just had to kind of like, OK, God, I said, I'm ready. If you're ready to take me, but I would like to live a lot longer, because I want to continue to inspire your people, so that can be going. Yes. So for those of us who are watching locally here in Hawaii, we have a global audience here. Yes. Let me know how we locally can connect with you, because you have a number of different levels on which you work. And if somebody wanted to reach you about one of these things, how would they connect with you on the web or otherwise? Yeah, well, of course, my phone number. OK, is it listed, or 808-781-5905, or my email that's Joni, J-O-N-I-M-D-A at yahoo.com. Or contact you as well. Yeah, through this program. Through this program, exactly. Yeah, and if there's a young woman who wants to get into this beauty pageant training kind of, because you do a whole preparation and education, and you do a whole mentorship program, the beauty pageant boot camp, you do, how does a young lady get in contact with you for that? They can even go to our website as well, misparadisehawaii.com. And again, with my phone number at, again, area code 808-781-5905. OK, and there's a book available on amazon.com, right? Yes, yes. And go and read my five-star review. I'm still waiting for your five-star review. Well, I haven't read it yet. So it has to be a real five-star review. Yes, it has to be. So yeah, I'm so blessed to have some great five-star reviews in there, and also Barnes and Nobles, or come in my office, and I can autograph it right there and then. So a million-dollar attitude. You would look that up on Amazon. Yes, just type that in, and you will see all my book in there, and the reviews. Well, Joni, it's wonderful to meet a beautiful, effective, and inspiring leader like you, and especially what you're doing for young ladies. And thank you for your time today. Thank you, Michael, for having me. It's been a pleasure. Great pleasure, too. Thank you, and God bless. We'll see you next time at the Asia-Pacific Business Strategies. Aloha. Aloha.