我的生活如同一杯饮水，冷暖自知，没有完美。有的人说杨澜你一直很顺利，我都只是无奈地一笑。我没有办法跟每个人去解释我的艰辛和失败。从2000年到2005年，长达5年的时间，我都曾经处于这种状态。无论从事业上还是心态上，都是如此。
1996年，我从美国哥伦比亚大学学成回国。当时，美国几大电视网都希望我去做他们的出镜记者，报道亚洲事务和美国华人社区，但我觉得，这和我想做的事情还有一段距离。我对自己的职业定位就是文化行业，这和IT、商业、金融和工业都完全不同。我去美国的时候就知道我是一定会回来的。结婚的时候我就跟吴征说，你在美国已经有自己的事业，但我将来肯定是要回去的，你要想清楚。他说，我跟你回去。那时候媒体报道用了“毅然决然”这4个字。我觉得这几个字用在他身上倒是合适。他好像放弃了什么，可我并不需要放弃什么。
1997年，我一整年都没有工作，就是生孩子、带孩子。1998年，我剪短了头发，去了香港凤凰卫视，开始做《杨澜工作室》。
我采访的第一个人物就是王光美。无论从节目还是人生层面，她都是一个对我有极大震撼的女人。通过做她这期节目，我真正确立了一点——我做节目是为了记录人和时代的关系，我希望以采访人物的方式来记录历史。我大学主修英语，辅修国际经济，但是对历史的爱好是从中学就开始的。我喜欢苏东坡、罗斯福和丘吉尔，很早就看过尼克松写的《领导者》那本书，也看过法拉奇的《世界风云人物访谈录》。高考的时候，我曾经最想报的是历史系。这一切潜移默化地对我的职业理想产生影响。
I have cultural ideals, and I believe that China needs a TV platform with cultural sensitivity and value. I thought about it, so I did it. In 2000, I founded Phoenix Satellite Television (CCTV-3), producing and broadcasting television programs mainly focused on documentaries.
I ventured into business somewhat by accident. As a content person, I didn't plan to do channels or build large-scale commercial chains. My starting point was to create content and then equip it with an appropriate operational mechanism – like raising cows for milk because no one sells the milk you want, but you must raise the cows yourself. Over time, you develop an interest in this venture as well as emotional attachment to it. Slowly, you see that there are others around who are also nurturing their own "cows" in this pasture of media businesses.
Of course, this is a bit difficult for me to admit myself. While studying international economics at university wasn't directly related to my entrepreneurial experience; however making decisions about how to run a business was entirely different from what I had learned academically.
In retrospect over these five years of struggle from 2000 through 2005 – both professionally and emotionally – has been quite challenging indeed.
It was during those days when my dreams were shattered into pieces while still young at just thirty years old that gave me immense disappointment even causing two long years without any respite after that.
My way out of such situations has always been through relentless hard work.
Through working continuously on projects such as 'The Yang Lan Interviews' (started in 2006) followed by 'The Women of the World', later establishing TianNu.com & Jade Jewelry etc., which not only helped me heal but also brought new opportunities.
For our company too - This failure marked an opportunity for strategic transformation & business adjustments.
From being an operator managing platforms during Sunshine Television's sale after which we transitioned into becoming content providers.
Looking back now - It became clear early on: Media platforms alone cannot meet market demands anymore.
Whether branding promotions or collaborations require integrating multiple media concepts.
Integration has become trendy today; in fact since 2005 when i saw where things were headed - towards integration - We began early diversifying our operations across various media platforms building our brand presence accordingly
Currently we have three major business segments: An elite influencer community centered around 'Yang Lan Interviews' Branding; Urban professional women-focused influencer social network based upon 'Women Of The World'; Lastly multi-media enterprise driven by diversified strategies transforming us ahead-of-the-curve among peers
As entrepreneurs would say "Timing is everything".