I think a lot of times it's not money that's the primary motivation factor; it's the passion for your job and the professional and personal satisfaction that you get out of doing what you do that motivates you.

He also appeared as a guest judge on the season 10 finale of Top Chef. Career
Yan began teaching Chinese cooking for a college extension program and appearing on a Canadian Calgary talk show in 1978 (on CFAC-TV now CICT-TV). He has hosted over 1500 episodes of the PBS cooking shows Yan Can Cook since 1982.