Meet Rongzhen “Jen” Wang

We were lucky to catch up with Rongzhen “Jen” Wang recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rongzhen “Jen”, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

Growing up, I watched my parents work twelve-hour shifts, 364 days a year, at their small Chinese restaurant in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. In the back, between cutting vegetables, they taught me arithmetic and had my brother and I count the cash register at the end of every night – probably where my love of cash first began.

They never took vacations, tracked every dollar, and refused to outsource anything they could do themselves. Every night, they cleaned the equipment by hand, double-checked incoming inventory, and handled difficult customers despite their limited English. My mom got on her hands and knees to scrub grease off panels, my dad taught himself to replace the bathroom sink using only photos (as neither of them speak nor write English). At the time it was normal to watch, but now I really admire that they unconsciously gave my siblings and I a work ethic that could give anyone a run for their money.

Watching them build a life in America – and eventually become homeowners because of that restaurant, taught me a simple equation: input = output. Your life is the direct result of the effort you put in. If you show up consistently and apply yourself day after day, your business will look completely different next year, and the year after that.

So whatever you choose to pursue, commit to doing the hard work. It will pay off whether it’s with your fitness, your business, your relationships. Everything thrives when you consistently pour into it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Currently, I’m focused on growing my investment portfolio and building additional passive income streams so I can retire before 40. People get so offended by the phrase “Stay in your lane,” but truthfully, it’s great advice. Since I’m a full-time realtor, I naturally branched into property management over the past couple of years, primarily for foreign and out-of-state clients. It aligned perfectly with what I was already doing and allowed me to expand while still operating within a lane I fully understand.

There’s real power in mastering what you already do well and then expanding outward from that foundation. That’s why so many brokers branch into interior design, renovations or general contracting. They’re leveraging the network, credibility and expertise they’ve already built rather than jumping into a brand-new industry where they have no background or support. A personal trainer who adds nutrition or massage therapy is another perfect example: their clients already trust them, and the additional services fit naturally into their ecosystem.

To my readers: what you’re doing today doesn’t have to be your forever path. You’ll climb, you’ll grow, you’ll pivot. Eventually, you’ll find your niche and, hopefully, your passion along the way.

My long-term goal is to build a short-term rental portfolio around the world. I love the idea that one day, when my best friend wants to celebrate her birthday, I can simply say, “Pack your bags, we’re staying at my Airbnb in Palm Springs.” To me, wealth is more than net worth and cash- it’s flexibility, time freedom and the capacity to give back.

When I bought my first investment property, I thought everything would suddenly feel complete. Instead, I felt exactly the same, though it did “partially retire” me. And now I find myself excited for the next building, and the one after that, and the one after that. This is the most exciting part of my career now, it’s watching it combine my real estate portfolio and imagining all the things I can do.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I believe the three most important qualities are tenacity, awareness and a growth mindset.

Tenacity will carry you through every lull, downturn and slow season. Without it, you end up admitting defeat in your business every single day. Some months may pass before I close a deal, or I may work with a buyer for two years before we finally go into contract. If I don’t hold onto my determination, I would never put my client in their dream home or see a commission check for that matter!

Awareness shows up in many ways. I occasionally hire junior agents to handle showings or administrative work such as assembling board packages. Understanding people helps you make better hires and, when someone makes a mistake, awareness helps you ask whether you explained the task clearly enough. Self-awareness is another skill many of us lack. If you’re running a team and it’s inefficient, the responsibility is on you. As a leader, you hire the team, you train them and you manage them. If they aren’t producing results, it’s a sign your systems or leadership need adjusting. These days, I handle most things in-house, so I’m involved in every step of my transactions.

A growth mindset is essential in the best professionals. It isn’t just about wanting higher sales or more income each year. It’s about consistently learning and evolving within your field. Just as a doctor reads medical journals to stay current, we should be listening to podcasts and following updates within our industries. I listen to a mortgage loan podcast (shoutout to The Loan Officer Podcast) and The AI Daily Brief to stay informed about rate changes and developments in tech. With so many people rushing to integrate AI into their businesses, I enjoy learning new methods that can make my work smoother and more efficient.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents ever did for me was stop paying my college tuition during my sophomore year. Crazy thing to say, I know.

It shocked me at the time, but it ended up shaping my entire work ethic.

They made that decision because they were leaving the Chinese restaurant and taking a big risk on a recycling plant in Ohio. I understood the situation enough to fill the gap with student loans, but I didn’t grasp the magnitude of the risk they were taking until years later.

Looking back, that moment taught me so much. My parents took a leap, completely changed industries and built a new life that eventually allowed them to retire with a steady rental income flow from their properties. They showed me that you cannot do the same thing for forty years and expect to stay fulfilled. Playing it safe for too long can break your spirit. You have to take risks in business, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Because those loans were piling up, I was motivated to start working immediately. I got hired as a server at an upscale Mexican restaurant one week after graduation. Six months later, I paid off one of my loans in full, and I remember how proud I felt. That year taught me hustle more than anything else, and I owe that lesson to my parents. For that, I am eternally grateful (and debt free!)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://streeteasy.com/profile/900147-jen-wang
• Instagram: jwofkw

Image Credits

Images include Diana Zhang, Justine Neissani, Connie Lu