Some people think that the key to success lies within their daily routines. Do you agree with this, and if so, what is your daily routine?
Yes, a routine is great, but you also need to allow yourself space for spontaneity. For example, my daily routine is I wake up at 7:30, and for 2 hours, it is all for me to eat breakfast, get ready, make the bed, etc. This is important for me to start the day off by taking care of myself. Then every day I have set 10-2 pm for meetings. Creating a rule that meetings are only set within that time frame ensures that before this, I have time for myself, and after that, I have time to do actual work or use it to spend time with the team or friends.
Looking back at your teenage years, did you have any entrepreneurial interests?
Looking back, I realize there were a lot of micro activities that led to becoming more entrepreneurial. For example, my dad had me as his assistant for his contractor business, where I created all the invoices and quotes for the jobs he took on. As I did this, sometimes I’d tell my dad he should charge more and, as a result, slowly increase his revenue. My father is also really into buying real estate, and one time he couldn’t sell a condo for the price he wanted. I gave him the idea of separating the parking spot from the unit to sell separately, and he was able to make much more in the end. This grew my confidence in strategic thinking. Growing my marketing side: In friend settings, I was always the one planning our group outings and finding ways to ensure I got the RSVP and that there was hype around the event.
Is there a specific time of day when you feel most productive?
From 10 am – 2 pm
Do you think there is one character trait/skill that is important to have in order to become a successful entrepreneur in today’s world?
The world is always changing, needs, values, and getting people’s attention. It’s very fast-paced, so you have to be able to balance being humble to learn and confident as a leader. Understand the power of the Who: You can expand beyond yourself if you expand your knowledge by asking for help and getting feedback. You can expand your capabilities by understanding what type of resources you need.
Has being a woman in the business world affected you positively or negatively, and how so?
Is easy to say negatively. However, it’s more powerful to find ways to make it positive for yourself. If there are few women who thrive in your industry, make it a point to nurture that and create opportunities for us. For example, at Launch Pop, we are currently 100% women; we are very vocal about supporting women founders and actively creating relationships with female investors.
What is one major goal that you wish to achieve by 2030?
Building a family, growing Launch Pop, staying true to our values, growing our investments, and continuing to support the community we truly believe in – our founders that create more meaning to our world.
Who is your biggest influence and why?
My father. First gen immigrant from China to Canada in the 1980s. He built his life from the ground up with only $2 in the bank. Today he’s retired at 60 with multiple real estate properties. He has no idea what day of the week it is and spends most of his time tending his lakefront cottage, fishing, gardening, and catching up with friends over Dim Sum. He taught me how to be generous, humble, and always hungry for an adventure.
If you could pick one female entrepreneur, who would you say is your biggest inspiration?
All female entrepreneurs! They all had to overcome social norms and imposter syndrome and wear multiple contradictory hats (be a daughter, sister, mother, friend, CEO, etc.). The balance of priorities on top of “what hat do I put on today” Is very hard to juggle. I applaud all these women and thank them for being brave and creating a representation that we can do it.
What has been the most formative advice you have received and why?
Live below your means. Invest early and consistently. Financial literacy should be available and taught to everyone at a young age. This is the single activity you can do to build your financial independence at a young age and set yourself up properly for the long term.
What has been the most impressive/memorable question anyone has ever asked you?
Why are you doing what you are doing? Oftentimes we think of business ideas based on $$ and what’s going to get us this dream life. I believe that if you start off with the mission and the passion, the energy that it gives you every day will help you overcome the many ups & downs. You’ll be able to make the right decisions to continue building value for the world. If you can do that, then money and growth will follow.
If you have siblings, are they also entrepreneurs?
I have an Irish twin brother who lives in Toronto, Canada. He owns a couple of auto-mechanic shops called Noble Performance and has another business selling luxury cars.
Do you think the drive to become an entrepreneur is born with or is learned?
I think it is learned and nurtured. You need to be nurtured to take on risks, be creative, and be comfortable making a lot of mistakes.
CONTACT INFORMATION & SOCIAL MEDIA Launch Pop Co-Founder Los Angeles, CA Address: 202 Bicknell Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405 website: http://www.launchpop.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/launch_pop LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/echandesigns/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/launch-pop/ email: [email protected]