Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Chiang.

Hi Valerie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I have struggled for most of my life when it came to finding my deepest sense of purpose and fulfillment. I started with a nursing program at the University of Pennsylvania, but my path took a turn towards linguistics, leading me to explore various career industries in the last decade—from cryptocurrency to cannabis and more. The monotony of a 9-5 job and a toxic work environment at my last corporate job pushed me to try to make money on my own, leading me to even more new and exciting industries such as graphic design, astrology, energy healing, and divination.

Along the way, I lived in multiple countries around the world (Australia, Thailand, Mexico, Vietnam, and India). Living abroad provided me opportunities that I couldn’t find back home in the US, such as learning new languages, immersing in different cultures, meeting people from various backgrounds, and broadening my life perspective at a very rapid pace.

One very persistent topic of conversation amongst the people that I met all over the world always revolved around career – how freeing the digital nomad life feels, how suffocating the 9-5 routine is, the frustration of not following our hearts, the inauthenticity of showing up to work with a false smile, the confusion around figuring out what to pursue and how, etc. The desire to work for oneself and pursue goals that align with the heart were a sentiment that most people that I have met – including my own self – could deeply relate to.

After all of my work experiences, I still couldn’t figure out exactly what I wanted to do. I felt the need to find “my one true love” career, and the mounting pressure from both my internal beliefs and loved ones spurred me to take time off to study my own astrology chart.

At the time, I had been learning astrology to help out with a graphic design project for an astrology app. I became quickly absorbed with astrology, going deeper into my own chart (and therefore, my own psyche). Astrology helped me gain a better understanding of my strengths, weaknesses, and how to connect to my subconscious mind. It ultimately gave me a tool to turn any feelings of shame over not finding my footing in this world into a sense of empowerment.

I realized that expansion and experimentation are integral part of my core personality. Gaining so much experience, in so many different industries, in so many parts of the world has shaped me into the person that I most want to be.

With this new sense of empowerment and gratitude for my experiences, the idea of creating my company, Doll & Dollhouse came to me. I wanted to give others the opportunity to make money on their own doing what they love to do, travel the world at the same time, and receive as much support as they can through this process.

Doll & Dollhouse features entrepreneurs who are standing on their own feet, passionate about their careers, and are in industries that do not require a significant amount of financial or educational investment to get started. Our entrepreneurs provide information sessions to customers to help them understand what their careers entail and get their own businesses off the ground.

Our motto is that “Every doll belongs in its matching dollhouse,” that our careers should fully match our unique personalities and desired lifestyles.

I feel that all of my experiences have finally culminated into the concept of Doll & Dollhouse, the perfect dollhouse for me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

As I mentioned above, Doll & Dollhouse is a direct result of the challenges that I have experienced with living in a world that values traditional career paths.

I started my platform with the question in mind: “What do I most need right now for myself in my current situation, if I were to be a customer of what I will be creating?”

As a kid, I loved playing with dolls more than anything. The dolls would have a different identity each day, and I would be able to live out my “desires in the world” through the imagination of these dolls coming to life.

Through my platform, I want to give others the opportunity to explore a “different identity” in career, make money on their own doing what they love to do, travel the world at the same time, and receive as much support as they can through this process.

Doll & Dollhouse features entrepreneurs who are standing on their own feet, passionate about their careers, and are in industries that do not require a significant amount of financial or educational investment to get started. Our entrepreneurs provide information sessions to customers to help them understand what their careers entail and get their own businesses off the ground.

Our motto is that “Every doll belongs in its matching dollhouse,” that our careers should fully match our unique personalities and desired lifestyles.

It excites me greatly to connect to entrepreneurs who have experienced a very similar journey to mine. Most of our Career Dolls experienced the 9-5 life, grew discontent, and decided to take a risk and pursue their passions once and for all. Many are excited to join Doll & Dollhouse, stating that they also wish they had a resource such as this when they were first starting the process of leaving their old life behind.

Our Career Dolls come from all walks of life, experiences, and parts of the world. But one thing that we share in common is our definition of “success.” We believe that success comes not from money, status, or clout, but rather from the satisfaction of living authentically.

The values of authenticity, freedom, and transformation form the foundation of Doll & Dollhouse.

As I currently grow Doll & Dollhouse, I find myself on a very exciting journey filled with new lessons at every twist and turn. Not only do I get the privilege of peeking into the interesting lives of others, but I get to learn something new from the unique perspectives of each entrepreneur that I encounter.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?

The biggest and most important lesson that I have learned thus far in my life is that self-confidence is the key to achieving what we want in life. I believe that self-confidence is the single foundation upon which our life’s goals, dreams, and personal success rest on.

Self-confidence is simply: “I am worthy and able” And this phrase is true for every single person walking on this planet.

The more consistently we truly believe in this phrase, the more self-confidence we gather deeply within ourselves.

In my personal journey, my shift from social anxiety and general avoidance of life to taking life by the horns has been a direct result of my growing sense of self-confidence. I worked on my self-confidence by turning my focus from outward achievements and distractions to my internal thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. By observing my internal world, I learned to find my insecurities, triggers, and limiting beliefs and challenge them.

Journaling has helped me greatly with creating a healthier internal voice and world.

My biggest advice to those early on their journey is to turn inwards, work on how you speak to yourself, and believe in the immense, unique power that you hold inside of yourself. You carry a unique set of skills and energy that benefits the world in some way, so trust in who you are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dollanddollhouse.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollanddollhouse/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dollanddollhouse.co/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dollanddollhouse