As a part of our series about “How Anyone Can Build Habits For Optimal Wellness, Performance, & Focus”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Trina Chan.
Trina is a brand builder specializing in brand identity, product development, content curation. In 2021, Trina launched №8, an Asian-Founded brand focused on nootropics, brain health, and mental health. The №8 team is advised by two Neuroscientists from Stanford University. Prior to founding №8, Trina was a creative on the founding team at Museum of Ice Cream, spearheading multi-million dollar partnerships with brands like Target, Sephora, Adidas and American Express.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I was born and raised in Singapore, but spent some of my formative years in Hong Kong as well. My mom is Korean and my dad is Chinese. I’m the second of four children, and I consider my siblings to be my backbone. One incredible aspect of our childhood is that creativity of all kinds was celebrated: there was music playing at all times of the day, art supplies were welcome at the dining table, and we were heavily encouraged to read and write as soon as we could speak. As a direct result, my siblings and I have a shared passion for music, art, and design.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
My 할머니 (halmeoni, Korean for grandmother) owned a clothing boutique in Hong Kong and whenever I visited, she would walk me through her favorite pieces. Each garment had a story that she’d share before allowing me to try it on. I’ll never forget how special that level of attention made me feel, and how careful I was with each item because of its story. Her art of storytelling is something that’s stuck with me and has heavily influenced my approach to building a brand.
The number eight is known as a symbol of harmony and balance in Chinese culture, which was the inspiration behind our tagline — “Nourish the brain, fuel the soul.” The flavor profiles of №8 gummies are influenced by Asian foods, flavors that our team members grew up eating. We put a lot of energy into perfecting the design of our bottles because we wanted our products to be something you could proudly have out on your countertop at home or on your desk at work that serves as a reminder for self-care. Every brand element serves a purpose.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
Kaling Lim, my co-founder at №8, has played an instrumental role in my growth as a brand builder and leader. Kaling previously co-founded companies like Razor and Lucasfilm Singapore. The idea of approaching this category and the concept of №8 was entirely his. As we began building №8 together at the start of the pandemic, we identified our shared vision to use our platform to help destigmatize mental health within our AAPI community. I’m honored that he trusts in my ability to build our brand identity and lead our team.
The road to success is hard and requires tremendous dedication. This question is obviously a big one, but what advice would you give to a young person who aspires to follow in your footsteps and emulate your success?
Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. Don’t shy away from any task just because you don’t know how to do it — everyone is capable of learning as they go. I took on multiple jobs throughout my educational career that I had zero experience in because I knew I would learn more in a real working environment than I ever could in a classroom setting.
Additionally, I’d say to never be afraid to start from the ground and work your way up. My first few roles in fashion were spent running around New York delivering clothes to photoshoots, steaming clothes in the showroom, making people coffee, organizing linesheets, entering orders, taking out the trash, even cleaning the bathroom! Looking back, I think the high-level executives noticed that I approached each task with joy and performed my role like it mattered, and not like I thought my time would be better spent doing something else. Those executives are the people who opened doors for me that led to even greater opportunities, which just proves that even small jobs can have a big impact.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
Nedra Glover Tawaab’s Set Boundaries, Find Peace is a book I’ve read multiple times and have gifted to my close friends. Before I read it, I found it difficult to speak up about my feelings and needs because I was fearful of how others would receive it, and afraid of being judged. I constantly held my tongue in an effort to preserve the peace, but it often left me feeling frustrated and resentful. Doing the work to analyze all my relationships, my role in them, and practicing being direct in setting healthy boundaries led to a huge shift in my ability to live more intentionally.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
A friend gave me a book called Peace In Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh, and one quote sticks with me:
“In us, there is a river of feelings, in which every drop of water is a different feeling, and each feeling relies on all the others for its existence. To observe it, we just sit on the bank of the river and identify each feeling as it surfaces, flows by, and disappears.”
The main driving force of this book is the idea that happiness is a choice. It’s a decision we each make, and a response we can choose no matter what our internal or external situation may be: it is entirely dependent on us. Through therapy, I’m learning how to observe my emotions rather than experience each one.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
Through our Wellness Council, I have the immense privilege of connecting with top neurosurgeons, neuroscientists, neuropsychiatrists, therapists, and other specialists. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to ask the questions that I’ve always had on brain function and mental health. It’s become the core of our social media content, and we work hard to make sure we are sharing information that is scientifically backed and useful. Our audience is very engaged and often sends us DMs that help inform the subjects we approach and the types of experts we work with.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview. This will be intuitive to you but it will be helpful to spell this out directly. Can you help explain a few reasons why it is so important to create good habits? Can you share a story or give some examples?
Good habits help to set you up for success. I believe it’s the greatest form of self-love when you actively make the decision to show up for yourself.
If the concept of building better habits is new to you, start small and build from there. A small habit I committed to at the start of the pandemic was increasing my water intake. I set reminders throughout the day to drink water, reminded myself why I was committed to doing this, and took note of the positive changes I noticed in my mood and apperance. Now, it’s second nature — I find myself refilling my water throughout the day without having to think about it. All the cells in our body, including our brain cells, depend on our water intake to carry out essential functions. If we’re constantly dehydrated, our brain cells cannot function properly which can actually impact our ability to focus and perform at our highest level.
How have habits played a role in your success? Can you share some success habits that have helped you in your journey?
- Getting into the habit of planning my week helps to ease my anxiety. There’s a higher likelihood for me to remain calm and focused when I’m mindful of how I will be spending my time.
- Devoting time and effort to learning helps to expand my mindset and encourages me to see things from a different perspective.
- Journaling every day is something I find to be very therapeutic. It helps me to regulate my emotions and better articulate my needs.
Speaking in general, what is the best way to develop good habits? Conversely, how can one stop bad habits?
Two good books on this subject are The Power of Habit by Chales Duhigg and Atomic Habits by James Clear. The main takeaway is that in order to change our habits, we need to make the good ones rewarding and bad ones difficult to access. The most important aspect in stopping bad habits is understanding our triggers, an exercise which requires us to look inward. We engage in habits that aren’t good for us because they make us feel good — it’s an emotional response. Journaling and getting all my thoughts out on a piece of paper helps me understand my emotions and how to work through them, which often leads to better habits.
Let’s talk about creating good habits in three areas, Wellness, Performance, and Focus. Can you share three good habits that can lead to optimum wellness. Please share a story or example for each.
I want to share three restorative habits I rely on, which all have a positive impact on my ability to perform and focus.
- Have a consistent wake time, even on weekends. This is one of the most powerful anchors to keep our circadian rhythm functioning regularly. Walking outside and getting natural sunlight is always a great way to start the day, but if it’s gloomy outside, I use a light therapy lamp.
- Maintaining a consistent bed routine. I avoid overhead lighting and blue-light devices starting an hour before bed. Our eye and internal clocks are particularly sensitive at night, and blue-light devices signal to our brain that it’s still daytime, which has a direct impact on your ability to fall asleep.
- Keeping my phone away from my bed: From a neuroscience perspective, our brains go into hyperdrive if we reach for our phones first thing in the morning, which has a direct impact on our ability to concentrate throughout the day. I dedicate the first 20 minutes of my day to taking care of myself away from any screens.
Can you share three good habits that can lead to optimal performance at work or sport? Please share a story or example for each.
- Being intentional with my time: My self-care time is of equal importance to any work-related event or meeting. I’ve found that I am more present and can operate at my highest level when I stick to a consistent self-care routine.
- Communicating effectively: The most impactful leaders I’ve worked with are direct with their words and respectful. They’ve been clear with me on areas I need to improve on and helped me identify what I do well. I believe there’s always a way to be direct with feedback while being empathetic to the human who’s on the receiving end.
- Energy Gummies: №8 Energy gummies help me power through if I need an added boost in the afternoon. I love that I’m able to control my caffeine intake and avoid any jitters.
Can you share three good habits that can lead to optimal focus? Please share a story or example for each.
- Pomodoro Method: I learnt about the Pomodoro technique from neuropsychologist Nawal Mustafa. The idea is to set a timer for 20–25 mins and dedicate that time to one task. It allows me to understand how I can utilize my time more effectively. The pomodoro technique really comes in handy when I have tasks that I find intimidating to approach, because it forces me to break each deliverable down into bite-sized pieces.
- Meditating: Starting the day with mindfulness and meditation exercises helps me reduce anxiety levels and maintain a positive outlook on my day.
- Focus Gummies: №8 Focus gummies were formulated to support concentration and cognitive function. They contain a nootropic ingredient called phosphatidylserine, a compound that’s found naturally in our brains and depletes as we age. I take 4 gummies after lunch each day which always feels like a treat.
As a leader, you likely experience times when you are in a state of Flow. Flow has been described as a pleasurable mental state that occurs when you do something that you are skilled at, that is challenging, and that is meaningful. Can you share some ideas from your experience about how we can achieve a state of Flow more often in our lives?
It’s really easy to get stuck in front of a computer or phone for hours on end. Getting outside and committing to daily walks to connect with myself, breathe in fresh air, listen to a podcast — these are the moments that I look forward to in my day, and when I can recharge.
Ok, we are nearly done. You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
The neuroscience field of psychedelic therapy is fascinating to me. Recent clinical trials have suggested that psychedelic-assisted therapy could have the ability to relieve symptoms of depression and PTSD. I’d love to encourage more learning in this area to support those who are looking for alternative ways to heal.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
Sarah Blakey is an entrepreneur I admire. She’s so relatable and open about the things she struggles with. I’ve learned a lot about entrepreneurship through her, from being quick to identify my weaknesses to identifying the “why” behind my company’s purpose. She embodies what it means to take action and persist.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Follow №8 on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook @weareno.8 or visit www.8.health and sign up for our newsletter. We publish monthly blogs on neuroscience, brain health and mental health.
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success.
