Own Your Difference to Make a Difference
Generate Certainty, Profit, and Impact
I’ve always been a misfit, choosing to do what resonates with me rather than follow the norm. This was true when I was a little child and is still true today.
To say that being a misfit is hard is an understatement in general, but imagine my reality of being one in an Asian context– where you’re expected to be “part of the collective.”
The one thing that made people listen to what I had to say was my entrepreneurial acumen. Somehow being able to monetize was what gave me a voice. I started doing business at age 6 and haven't stopped since!
Hi, I’m Maria -
Like I said above, my entrepreneurial aptitude kicked in far earlier than for most people I know. I started selling at the age of 6: trinkets and confectionery items to everyone I knew, and even supplying a variety of dried goods to the local grocer.
After a while I was actually making more than the basic wage in my country, and as a result my mother started charging me rent and utilities. In her opinion, I couldn't be making all that money without expenses… and it’s true that business does include expenses. I’m grateful to her for that, believe it or not, because it really helped me become savvy with finances.
By the time I was 18, I already consulted with a number of businesses on development, sales, and marketing, which was soon followed by international market penetration and negotiations.
In my mid 20s, however, I got severely depressed despite having a sizable waitlist for my consulting. Success felt empty.
I wanted to make more than money…
I wanted to make a difference.
Long story short, I realized I was done “defying the odds” and wanted to instead help people like me—visionary, nonconformists, and out-of-box thinkers—to create a financial ecosystem around their differences (their different ideas, perspectives, products, services). I started speaking about what I call “the CEO Mindset” which, at its very simplest, is a shift from thinking in terms of limitations to seeing infinite opportunities. It also reminds us that we don’t have to sacrifice any aspect of who we are, but can instead weave it all together into one beautiful tapestry which can then be monetized.
Throughout my adolescence I was known as “Maria-Went-to-Town” by the entire school—from the guards and the teachers to my schoolmates and their parents—because I always carried with me a big bag of all my goods. When I was 13, one of my previous teachers asked if I could tutor her student whose mom was more than eager to pay me a monthly tuition fee. That inspired me to branch out in offering my services. As someone who absorbs information like a sponge, I was the envy of my classmates and tutored them in difficult subjects like math and chemistry.
I honestly believe we could attain world peace if we could just allow for more perspectives. If we could just understand that there is no one-size-fits-all, and that everybody is unique. If we could just accept and even celebrate our differences.
Friendships wouldn’t turn sour because of different opinions.
Families wouldn’t break apart because of different paths.
Fortunes wouldn’t disappear because the company can’t allow for diversification or modernization.
I truly love how we are all unique, and the way we all have the potential to complement each other with our gifts. The only way to make this world a better place is to do it together, and to do it authentically.
If we OWN our difference,
we can MAKE a difference!
I’m here to serve you in owning your difference, in making a difference, and doing it all your way.
Testimonials
Dr. Kirsten Lee Hill, Ph.D
"With Maria’s help, I’ve never felt like I had to compromise on what I want. I’m consistently taking big leaps in my business and in life."
Diana Dorell Gutierrez
"With Maria's help I found a way to structure my week and integrate the two businesses I have in a way that aligns with my energy."
Betty Dang
"If you are struggling to make money in your business, listen to what my awesome Business Coach Maria Tan has to say on elevating your money energy!"
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Are you looking for -
A 1:1 coach?
I recommend going for this if you’re already ready to go deep and want intensive support. I’m quite hands-on and function not just as a coach, but an accountability partner, a mirror, a cheerleader, a sounding board, extra eyes and ears
Self-paced digital courses?
If you want to have a different perspective on different ways of doing things, and want to have the space to integrate what you learn, but have the digital courses quite concise, this is for you.
A supportive community?
and join other visionaries on their journey to "bossing up." This is a peer-mentorship and networking group rather than a coaching program. It's a space for accountability, pitching practice, collaboration and celebration, and the relationships you'll build here will take you further than you'd ever get alone
Trainings, Workshops and Speeches?
I’ve been flown to give sessions and workshops on Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Personal Energy Management. For a more comprehensive list of where I can be seen, who I’ve worked with, and my speaking topics, click here.
Today I’m embodying my mission of serving misfits, nonconformists, and visionaries in their lives and businesses by
sharing content on multiple social media platforms,
running courses (both live and self-paced),
facilitating the CEO Circle membership group,
and, of course, living by example.
I’m rooting for you, CEO.
I know how far you can go.
I hope you get there.
And if you’d like some help along the way, you know where to find me!