We recently connected with Elijah Wang Chen and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Elijah, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Here’s a more polished version of your response:
In 7th grade, I was paid $20 to leave the lunch table—a moment that left me feeling unvalued and questioning my purpose. That night, overwhelmed and searching for answers, I turned to God and stayed up until 5 a.m., wrestling with why I existed and what I was meant to do. By the end of it, I came to one powerful conclusion:
Impact.
I wanted to bring people together and inspire them, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness.
Six years later, that mission still drives me. Every day, I strive to listen to people, observe their habits and routines, and help them reflect on areas they might want to change. My goal is to enter their daily lives and inspire meaningful improvements—one habit at a time.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Currently, I’m a social media strategist with a passion for transforming creative ideas and products into engaging, repeatable, and viral video formats that drive promotion and growth. My journey into media began with a viral moment—creating MILKIS, a Korean soda drink, in my college dining hall. Since then, I’ve been dedicated to producing content centered around college food and unique grocery finds, connecting with and catering to a college audience in fun, relatable ways.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My biggest advice is simple: just start. But since that’s advice many people have heard before, let me offer two additional pieces of guidance:
Whatever choice you make will be the right choice.
If your choice is to prioritize family and become a parent, then focus on building a stable job, income, and life by following a well-trodden path. But if you’re seeking a deeper sense of purpose—something that creates a large-scale impact and touches the lives of your community or even the world—then here’s my advice:
“If you yell loud enough, the world will hear you.”
You may not be yelling in the right direction yet, or you might not be loud enough, but if you keep going, people will notice. Keep pushing, keep refining your message, and you’ll find your voice. And when you do, people will come, and they will follow.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is someone with an incredible product they’re genuinely passionate about. I bring a unique perspective to influencer marketing because I was—and still am—an influencer myself. Companies like MILKIS, a brand I personally love and hope to collaborate with one day, embody the type of client I’d be thrilled to work with.
In the meantime, I’m focused on honing my skills, building my resume, and growing my talents. My ultimate goal is to start my own brand, but along the way, I’m dedicated to helping other brands connect with influencers who genuinely love their products. By doing so, we can create authentic promotions that not only resonate with followers but also drive down customer acquisition costs and boost engagement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lifewitheli.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijah.wangchen/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijah-wangchen/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahwangchen/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
