We recently connected with Mao Vang and have shared our conversation below.
Mao, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I developed my confidence and self-esteem by reminding myself that I am not perfect. Being a mom is a struggle of trying to find who you are everyday. You’re trying to figure out what you like, what you dislike, what you actually enjoy doing, whether to be social or to look pretty. On top of that, you’re trying to balance life with your business. I tried to focus on the efforts more than the outcomes. Sometimes, the outcome isn’t always what we want but the efforts we put in is all that matters. Getting up and doing it.
I am a to do list kind of person. I like to sit, think, and map out all of the steps that will help me achieve my goals. I also set challenges that will help motivate me to do more so I could meet my goal.
People judge you no matter what you do or who you are. They will judge you because you’re a mom, a wife, have kids or don’t, whether you have an education or not and for so many resasons. Often times, I remind myself who I am, where I’m going, and that God loves me no matter what I choose to do. When I am reminded of Him and why He created me, I remember my identity and I do and walk with purpose embracing Him. I can do all things through Christ.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hey. So, my name is Mao Vang. I am a busy mother of five beautiful children, wife, and an entrepreneur. My husband and I own Boba Luv, a bubble tea shop & brand that started in Idaho and Utah. I enjoy reading, learning, watching movies and tv, card and board games, eating and food blogging, spending time with my family, and traveling. I am also a believer of God.
You can call me a generalist. I wear several different hats throughout the day and everyday. Today, I am a stay at home mom, other days I am a store manager, barista, wife, product developer, content creator, events coordinator, social media manager, customer service rep, you name it all.
My husband and I started Boba Luv five years ago. We now have five locations total and expanding to more. We are a bubble tea shop that specializes in handcrafted and innovative boba drinks.
It’s been a challenge to be everything and do everything all at once. With three storefronts of our own, it’s been difficult to manage employees, sales, and the workload. We have been everywhere, but it’s also been so fun and rewarding to see the growth, the lessons, and all the hardships come to pass.
I am super delighted and ecstatic for Boba Luv because we are expanding. We are expanding to more storefronts and I won’t tell you where exactly but we’re also very excited to be launching a brand new product this year fall.
We will not only be serving amazing boba drinks but we’re also launching our fresh and new boba candles. Candles with only Asian boba scents that are personalized for our consumers, safe to use, made from 100% soy, all natural ingredients, and will make your room smell like your favorite boba drink.
These candles will be unique in its own and we cannot wait to share it with all of you.
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?
Looking back, the three things that most impacted my journey is passion, prayer, and perseverance. Passion because I have to have the heart to do it. Not only did I love boba but I had the idea to start a business because I was also doing it for my children, for my dad and mom who raised me, for my siblings, for my husband and our future, for the people of my own culture, and mainly for myself. Prayer because I wanted to make sure I talk to God. I wanted to make sure I involve Him in all of my decisions and hear Him. I wanted to make sure that everything my husband and I do, we seek His guidance, clarity, and confirmation. Perseverance because I knew I had to keep going no matter what. Giving up was never an option even if it meant no support, no money, no exposure, no shares, no likes, no congratulatory, no connections, nothing. I just knew we had to keep going and eventually everything works out in its own magical and miracle way and you get to the finish line as long as you don’t stop.
My advice for folks who are early in their journey whatever that may look like set your fears aside and don’t stop no matter what you do and take risks. If you fall, good. Learn the lesson, and pick yourself up and do it again. To make your vision come to life, you often have to walk on a long, broken, and beaten path. You”ll eventually find yourself gaining more than losing. Just keep going, but also understand the value of self-care. If you don’t budget time for self-care, you will be overworked and your work turns into a disaster. Without proper wellness, you won’t be able to execute. Rest when you need it and continue on the journey. Remember, whatever you do, don’t stop. Stay curious.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I am overwhelmed, I find quiet time to relax, find every excuse to celebrate small wins over and over again, I read and wonder off, vent to my siblings, or I just watch a movie. Sometimes, spending time with my kids helps strengthen me. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re a mom and a running a business. You’re trying to manage your kids, your relationships with others, your business, your life, and if you’re not careful, this can have a huge debilitating impact on your well-being. Often times, I find myself taking a step back to reevaluate myself before I take two steps forward. I then recalibrate and make sure that my relationships, values, and business support each other. I am blessed to have my husband to share these hard times and moments with. He helps takes off some of that of my shoulder and helps me to recharge. Kudos to single moms who are entrepreneurs and does it all. I don’t know how you do it.
My advice for you is set clear boundaries with work and family. When you’re taking time off, make sure to turn off your device so you can be fully present and not bombarded with work.
Contact Info:
- Website: bobaluv.com
- Instagram: @bobaluvofficial
- Facebook: @bobaluvofficial
Image Credits
Kachia Vang
