We were lucky to catch up with Vivian Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.
Vivian, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Honestly, my resilience comes from a mix of things. First, from God — knowing I’m not walking through life alone gives me strength, especially in the hard moments. But a big part of it also comes from my family. I’m the eldest daughter of immigrants, and I’ve seen up close what it means to push through adversity. My mom, in particular, is the most resilient person I know. She didn’t just teach me to show up for family – she showed me what it looks like to show up, period. When your fingers can barely bend, your body aches, and you’re exhausted, but quitting isn’t an option — you keep going. When life tells you no, but you keep pushing until you find a way. That kind of strength is something I carry with me.. So I’d say my resilience is a mix of faith, family, and watching the people I love do hard things with grit and heart.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi, my name is Vivian! And I am one of the founders of Ta Joia, my family’s Brazilian-Korean restaurant rooted in joy, culture, and community. It’s more than just a place to eat — it’s a space that feels like a warm hug, where every detail is designed to nourish both body and soul.
Ta Joia is also my family’s comeback story. For over 20 years, my parents ran a beloved restaurant — it was our livelihood, our legacy, and a part of our identity. But when the business was suddenly taken from us, it felt like the ground had been ripped out from under our feet. We lost everything. And yet, somehow, we found the strength to start again. Ta Joia was born from that heartbreak — a tragedy that we turned into triumph.
It’s a love letter to resilience, to family, to the flavors and values that shaped us. Every dish we serve carries pieces of our story, and every guest who walks through our doors becomes part of that story too. We believe in slow hospitality, in joy that lingers, and in creating spaces where people feel truly seen.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three things that have made the biggest impact on my journey are resilience, emotional integrity, and having a purpose-driven vision.
Resilience to me is doing what needs to be done when you’re scared out of your mind, when you have no idea what the path ahead looks like — but you still show up as best you can. It’s putting one foot in front of the other. That’s it. Step by step. One small thing a day is still 365 things in a year — and that’s exactly how Ta Joia was built. Not overnight. One thing a day. Resilience isn’t loud – it’s consistent and I had no choice but to show up for my family.
2. Emotional self-awareness and regulation
Running a business, leading a team, and navigating pressure will bring up everything — your fears, your triggers, your doubts. I had to learn how to deal with people, how to deal with stress, and honestly… how to deal with myself. I worked with coaches and therapists along the way, because I knew if I wanted to lead well, I had to get honest about what was going on inside me.
My advice? Do the inner work. Learn your patterns. Learn your responses. Emotional awareness isn’t just about handling other people — it’s about not abandoning yourself when things get hard. The more I learned to regulate and reflect, the more grounded I became as a leader — and as a person.
3. Purpose-Driven Vision
I’ve always felt like I was meant to do something more. I can’t just do business for the sake of doing business — and just die. I can’t. The vision is bigger than me. I believe I’m doing this work for a reason. God used me — used my family’s story — to create something healing, joyful, and meaningful.
Our story is a testament to what’s possible when you don’t give up. When you trust in something greater, even when everything has been taken from you. Ta Joia isn’t just a restaurant — it’s our redemption story. It’s proof that beauty can come from brokenness, and that purpose can rise out of pain.
My advice: Chase what sets your soul on fire. And let your ‘why’ lead the way — even when the ‘how’ doesn’t make sense yet.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
If I only had a decade left, I’d love deeper, hold my people closer, and keep creating moments of joy as much as I can. I’d live with intention, stay close to God, and make sure that I do my part in loving as many people as I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tajoiabothell.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/vvnlee
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ta-joia-bothell?osq=Ta+Joia
Image Credits
Sam Fu
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