Spotlight

Build Your Network with Grace Tan, Founder of Stories

From burnout to purpose-driven living, Grace Tan shares lessons on life, business, and authentic connections.

Co-Founder of Mole

Melly Ling

Some people tell stories through words.

Others tell stories through photographs, meaningful conversations, and the lives they touch along the way.

‍

Meet Grace Tan, Founder of Stories, photographer, life coach, and someone who believes deeply in helping people feel seen, connected, and purposeful.

From building a photography business for over 18 years to coaching women in discovering their purpose, Grace's journey is rooted in creating meaningful impact in the lives of others.

We caught up with Grace to learn more about her daily rituals, thoughts on success, networking experiences, and what gives her life meaning.

*For Grace, purpose has always been about honouring the God-given potential within her.*

‍

🌻 How do you set your vibe for the day?

‍‍‍I usually wake up pretty early to get the kids ready for school, which means my day starts before 6am.

‍

Breakfast and coffee are a must for me! Once they are off to school, I spend the first hour doing things that recharge me personally… spending time in prayer, enjoying nature in my backyard, and reflecting on what I want to achieve for the day.

‍

I feel most energised in the mornings, so I try to focus on important tasks that require clarity, creativity, and energy during that window. Those quiet morning moments help me stay grounded before I start pouring into everyone else.

‍

🛋️ How do you relax?‍

I love spending time with my family, whether it’s watching a movie at home, playing card games, or baking our family favourite, lemon drizzle cake!

‍

I also enjoy catching up with friends over meals, going thrift shopping, journaling at home, or more recently, playing pickleball.

‍

And of course, the occasional travel experience recharges me almost instantly. When I travel, I love taking photos just to feed my creative soul.

*Grace with her beautiful loving family*

💼 How would you describe your work to someone outside of your field?‍

Whether I am photographing individuals or families, coaching women to discover their purpose, or running events, I create spaces where people feel seen, safe and deeply connected to themselves and to those who matter the most.

‍

Ultimately, the work I do is about bringing out the best in people.

‍

Photography and coaching are simply the tools I use to do that. I want my work to create meaningful impact, not just for individuals, but in the way people live, love, and relate to one another.

‍

After years of entrepreneurship, Grace has realised that gratitude is just as important as ambition. The freedom to spend time with family, volunteer in community work, and pursue meaningful projects has become her personal definition of success.

‍

📸 What’s something about your work that most people don’t see or realise?

I think people often only see the final outcome, but they don’t always realise how much purpose and personal values shape the way I run my business and live my life.

‍

It is easy to get carried away by opportunities or the pressure to constantly do “more” in order to feel successful.

‍

But over the years, I’ve realised that what matters even more is how you personally define success.

‍

We can easily get caught in the rat race of chasing bigger projects, earning more, or constantly trying to level up, while still feeling like it is never enough.

‍

After 18 years of running my photography business and 6 years as a coach, I’ve learnt that I need to intentionally stay grateful for the present.

‍

What small or big wins can I celebrate today? My family is deeply important to me, and that means making daily choices to prioritise them.

‍

Sometimes I need to pause and remind myself that I’ve actually built a business that gives me the freedom to be present for my family, volunteer in community work, and contribute meaningfully to society.

‍

‍

🌱 Was there a moment you almost gave up — and what made you stay?‍

Yes, the thought crossed my mind during seasons when I felt emotionally drained or overwhelmed by certain challenges.

‍

In 2018, I became so burnt out that I made a spontaneous decision to take a two-month sabbatical from my business.

‍

I had never stepped away like that before, but that season helped me realign and come back recharged. I realised that I needed to fill my own tank too, and that I couldn’t keep carrying every burden alone.

‍

Once I reconnected with my vision and understood what had led me to burnout in the first place, I slowly found the strength to rebuild my rhythm again.

‍

🌸 Do you feel like your work is more than a business — almost like a calling?‍

Definitely! I really resonate with the Japanese concept of Ikigai… the reason for being.

‍

It is where what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for all intersect. That is where purpose is found. Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to live a life that fully honours the God-given potential within me.

‍

For me, everything starts with who I am before it becomes about what I do. My work flows from that place of self-discovery, growth, and purpose beyond myself. That is what gives my life profound meaning.

‍

‍

🫶 What does a meaningful life look like to you today?‍

To me, a meaningful life is one that is rooted in purpose beyond yourself, having the financial freedom to work on passion projects while being surrounded by people you love and who love you in return.

‍

I think success means very little if you have no one meaningful to share life with.

‍

🤝 Do you enjoy networking?‍

In my early years of business, I hated it. I felt awkward around strangers and worried about saying the wrong thing or looking silly.

‍

One year, I decided to intentionally push myself out of my comfort zone. I started attending networking events where I knew absolutely no one.

‍

Over time, I realised that networking became much easier when I shifted the focus away from myself and became genuinely curious about other people instead.

‍

Asking questions helped me relax and connect more naturally. Now, I actually enjoy networking because curiosity turns conversations into meaningful connections.

‍

🌐 Best encounter at a networking event?‍

I’ve met so many incredible people through networking events over the years. Some started off as complete strangers, then became acquaintances, friends, clients, and even collaborators.

‍

We ended up organising events together and intentionally supporting one another’s businesses and growth. I love how one genuine conversation can unexpectedly open the door to long-term relationships.

‍