Tracey S. Yang is a thought leader, business owner, and author. Her desire to influence positive change in the lives of others is the reason why she currently writes, which her written work has appeared in several online magazines.
Her past experiences and Christian background are some inspirations for her current work. Tracey S. Yang wrote her first book as a co-author for the publication company, Motivation Champs, which was released in February 2019. Additionally, she has appeared in several podcasts, television shows, and other forms of press.
The book that she wrote in participation with other prominent women is called Power Up, Super Women: Stories of Courage and Empowerment.
Where did you get your inspiration for writing your book?
My enjoyment of writing began during the time I developed a chronic illness in 2015. Stuck in bed for over a year, I began to self-reflect a lot about life. Through these self-reflections, I began transferring these thoughts onto paper. Then, I organized these thoughts into the form of motivational quotes in hopes that it might inspire others to live their best life. These motivational quotes is actually what attracted the attention of my publisher, Motivation Champs, to invite me to contribute as a co-author for the book Power Up, Super Women: Stories of Courage and Empowerment. Much of my inspiration for my written work today comes from the past experiences that I have encountered.
Power Up, Super Women: Stories of Courage and Empowerment. Tell us what we can expect to find in your book when reading.
Power Up, Super Women: Stories of Courage and Empowerment is a book centered on and around women’s empowerment. In our book, we have authors located from across the globe, and each of these chapters highlight different prominent women who have overcome adversity in some way. Each person reading our stories will find it to be motivational and also inspirational.
Can you give us two pieces of advice from your book to our readers?
In my chapter titled Success Comes from Trying, I discuss two main components. The first part of my chapter I discuss the importance of persistence. When practicing persistence, I also explain how imperative it is to learn from failure. Here is a segment that came from my part in the book.
“It is important to learn from our past mistakes, and then the next step is to continue onward, concentrating on the things we do correctly.” (Page 43).
In the second section of my chapter, I discuss the importance of seeing ourselves objectively and truthfully. I discuss how imperative it is for one to not listen to either the lies that others tell us or the lies that our inner self tells. The following is a statement from the second part of my chapter.
“Lies are not an accurate representation of who we are as individuals. Without clarity, truth cannot be obtained in us. Lacking clarity allows lies to keep us stagnant in life because clarity is the trait that guides us. However, with truth, we are capable of seeing reality objectively.” (Page 44-45).
For success to materialize, it’s important for us to see ourselves with clarity and with truth.
What is a skill you think all women should learn and why?
Confidence is a beneficial trait to possess. In fact, many who are successful have this particular personality trait. The truth is that many people are often attracted to this trait, which then will lead this particular person toward achieving more success. If I am to advise women in learning something of value, then this is what I would suggest.
My co-author and friend, Nicole Jansen, who is the CEO of Discover the Edge, stated the following from within her chapter of Power Up, Super Women: Stories of Courage and Empowerment.
“Are you speaking confidence and life into your soul, or are you beating yourself up for your shortcomings? The happiest, most joyful people on earth have shortcomings. We all do. The difference is what they say to themselves. If your best friend talked to you the way you talked to yourself, would they still be your friend? Change your words; change your life.” (Page 53).
To become more confident, it starts from within. Similar to what Nicole Jansen is saying, it is important for us to change our internal dialog. How we talk to ourselves matters and when we change our thoughts, our confidence for ourselves will naturally follow.
How can women become aware of their potential sooner?
Be open to learning, and get rid of self-limiting beliefs. For success to occur, I often find those who are at the top constantly pushing themselves to learn. They are the ones who are reading books. They are the ones who invest in themselves by taking online courses, paying for business consultation, watching webinars, going to seminars, and asking questions.
My co-author, Amy C. Waninger and CEO of Lead at any Level, stated this from her chapter.
“The ability to learn is a valuable skill all by itself. When you think you need to know everything to get started, you’re likely to get overwhelmed. Where would you even begin? Even if you did know everything, your knowledge would quickly become obsolete. Guess what? No one knows everything, and you won’t either. Here’s the one thing all experts know that you don’t: they’re still learning too.” (Page 96).
If you want to improve your awareness of what your potential is, then be open to learning. Also, surround yourself around those that will speak life, positivity, and encouragement into you as well.
What are your current areas of focus?
My main areas of focus include my writing, my new book, and my videography business called Kyo Production. I have done many podcasts and television appearances, but I plan on expanding my speaking career as well. I’m also open to invitations to speak at conferences or events.
What is one piece of advice that has impacted you the most?
Practicing self-care is what has been helpful to me. While having empathetic traits is admirable, it does no good if it’s done at the expense of one’s self. To be able to function, our needs also have to be honored as well. My co-author, Sarika Bhakta, who is a diversity and inclusion coach, stated the following from her chapter.
“What connects us, especially as women, is having tendencies to primarily put our family, work, and community first, often times at our own expense. This spans all cultures! Serving others, taking care of loved ones, and having a sense of duty are great traits to possess, yet we need to have self-preservation.” (Page 78).
It is true that some women do have tendencies to want to put others before themselves, but when we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of anyone due to us eventually being unable to function. In the end, practicing self-care not only helps us to thrive, but it helps others as well. For caretakers and others who naturally possess high amounts of empathy, reading this blog post can help. http://traceysyang.com/Empathy-cannot-be-constant/
Practicing this advice when younger would have improved my over all health and well-being.
What has been your key (or keys) to success?
Our mindset is a huge influencer upon one’s success. I’m constantly learning and unlearning negative untrue aspects or beliefs that hold me back. I’m constantly changing and growing, and I am comfortable with the uncomfortable, which being comfortable with the uncomfortable allows growth to become more abundant for the self. Also, my Christian faith has been a positive influence for me as well.
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
In my part of the chapter I stated the following, “Each time we experience a setback, it is essential to look at what occurred adequately, efficiently, honestly, and also rationally. Along with this, it is imperative that we ask ourselves these questions, “What did I do wrong in this situation?” “What did I do right?” Then we must improve upon these occurrences. Self-evaluation prepares us to try again with experience.” (Page 43).
In my section of the book, I discuss a time when I was an exchange student overseas. During my first time living abroad, I experienced bullying from the foreigners located there. Due to the stress, my grades declined. In the end, I ended up leaving that language school, but I did not give up. I persisted, and I tried again at another language school located in Tokyo. In this environment, I succeeded. After that previous failure, I met a New York Times writer on a plane flight. During our conversation, he asked me to write for The Japan Times. The article that was published ended up featuring me instead, but the collaboration on the project was still an enjoyable experience for me. If I had not of persisted after failing, then none of that would have happened. We can always learn from the past, and sometimes these situations can lead us toward an unexpected success when we decide to try again. For more information on the effects of bullying that has on a target, I wrote this blog post here. http://traceysyang.com/Bullying-damages-the-brain/
What steps do you take when you want to get through a less of a good business day?
When problems arise, self-reflection is needed. This brings to mind one particular example. For example, in business, a client complaint is an excellent time to inspire growth within your company. Many times clients complain because they feel like their needs are not being met. Offering a sympathetic ear and making the client feel heard can go a long way in resolving any kind of conflict. When conflict arises, fix any mistakes that your company has constructed. If, after self-reflection, you find to have no error in your actions, then it’s important to defend you or your company by any legal means necessary.
However, if you or your company has made some errors, then it’s important to problem solve in order to improve whatever system processes need to be readjusted. The readjusted system processes can improve future customer relations. If the problem stems from certain frustrations that come from tasks or objects not working as efficiently, then the next step to take is to problem solve until a solution is met.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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