I’m not aiming for a perfect year, or a dramatic reinvention. In 2026, I’m choosing steady growth, thoughtful creation, and influence built quietly, over time.

What we seek, clarity, courage, and creativity, is often already within us.

Over Thanksgiving break, I returned to Florida with my family to revisit the mentors, friends, and familiar places that shaped my early years in the U.S. Walking those old paths reminded me of the people who helped me grow - and why it matters to stay connected to where we began.

Inspired by Donovan Livingston’s comet metaphor, this Mind Spark reflects on how our bold movements, challenges, and “collisions” shape who we become. A reminder to lead with intention, grow through impact, and leave a meaningful trail behind.

Inspired by a line under Tiny Thoughts Section of Brain Food : “When people feel like you deserve more than you have, they'll go out of their way to help you. But the minute you forget you were once the underdog, they'll root against you.” It made me think about how success changes both how others see us and how we see ourselves. When we are still working our way up, people often want to help. They notice our determination, our hard work, and sometimes see their own struggle

Inspired by a book found unexpectedly on my children’s bookshelf. The other evening, while reading with my four-year-old daughter, I came across something unexpected. When she went to get a drink, I started browsing through the bookshelf filled with my children’s books. Among the colorful covers, one title caught my eye: Success: The Psychology of Achievement  by Deborah Olson, published by DK. At first, I thought it was a children’s book because of its clean design, thick pa

Inspired by a LinkedIn post by Steven Bartlett after being interviewed by Jimmy Fallon. Here is what Steven said: "You absolutely...

Effective communication is essential in every aspect of life, whether at work or at home. Being able to convey our message effectively,...

Have you ever held onto something so tightly, a goal, an idea, a relationship, or an outcome, that when things didn’t turn out the way...

This post was inspired by an article published in Bits and Pieces  (The Economic Press), which Dale Carnegie cited in his classic book...

Last night, I found a small piece of paper tucked inside an old notebook while searching for a document. It was a brief journal entry I...

Reflecting on a speaker’s powerful mentorship journey " Not all mentors have faces or titles; some guide us quietly through their words...

Inspired by the book "Rich Kids: How to Raise Our Children to Be Happy and Successful in Life" by Tom Corley. “ Life is about rising...

Reflections on why I write on ShujianZhangInsights. “ Writing is formalized thinking." Why writing? Writing has become one of my most...

Inspired by the book "How to Live an Extraordinary Life" by Anthony Pompliano   “Magnets attract opportunities..It is a much better...

Hello, and welcome to my website! I am thrilled to have you here as part of this exploration, learning, and growth journey. This platform is the culmination of my passions for leadership, personal and career growth, lifelong learning, and advancing science in meaningful ways. Let me take a moment to introduce myself, explain the purpose of this website, and outline what you can expect from its contents. About Me ​I was born and raised in a small farming village in China, wher