We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chantam Duong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chantam, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Honestly, by just doing things. What’s helped me build self-esteem has been intentionally pushing myself into challenges and then looking back at what I was actually able to do.
One of my first real lessons in that came in high school, when I decided to take up the sport of triathlon – a pretty unusual path for a 14-year-old. I had never swum, biked, or run competitively before, but I jumped in, joined a team, and learned a lot about myself through the process. I gained confidence from doing something that initially felt completely out of reach, and I’m grateful to my family, coaches, and friends for encouraging me to go for it.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m the co-founder of Lemon Walks, a lifestyle brand born from a simple ritual and rooted in wellness, mindfulness, and self-awareness. Our mission is to inspire people to get out of their heads and move their bodies.
The idea started during my time at a high-growth startup in NYC. My co-founder Kevin and I were working long hours, often glued to our desks. I loved the work, but I was getting minimal steps a day and noticed that when stress hit, I’d just push harder instead of taking a moment to breathe.
I realized I needed to take ownership of my health, and I needed to do something differently – I started making iced lemon water and going on quick seven minute walks during the day as a mental break. It was a simple reset that completely changed my outlook on wellness – it cleared my head, calmed my nervous system, and actually made me more productive.
My coworkers started joining me, and soon it became something we all looked forward to – a quick “Lemon Walk” to reset, recharge, and reconnect. What’s special about Lemon Walks is how universal it is. We’ve all been there – overwhelmed, tired, overthinking – and sometimes all we need is a simple reminder to step outside and come back to ourselves.
We recently launched our first capsule collection – a line of lifestyle pieces designed to celebrate movement and mindfulness. The feedback from our community has been so inspiring and we’re excited to keep creating things that get people moving and feeling grounded.
At its core, Lemon Walks is about taking that simple step (literally) to reconnect with your body, clear your mind, and feel more like yourself again.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Curiosity, kindness, and learning how to build a relationship with failure.
My best advice is to surround yourself with good people who are doing interesting things. Their curiosity, energy, and passion will inspire you to find things you’re interested in and go for it.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We’re always open to connecting with people who share our mission and believe in the power of movement. Our culture celebrates hustle, but we often forget that taking a moment to ourselves to move and reset can make us sharper, calmer, and more inspired.
We have roots in LA, Austin, & NYC. Whether you are a brand, a local community group, or an individual, we’d love to hear your story.
You can reach out at:
IG: @shop.lemonwalks
Website: lemonwalks.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lemonwalks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.lemonwalks/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lemonwalks
Image Credits
@kalonkat
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