What made you want to do the work you do? Please share the full story.
I come from poverty, and I am part of the first English-speaking generation in my family in the United States. My grandmother came from a remote jungle community in a developing country, and her language does not contain direct translations for many complex medical or scientific terms.
That made me think about a simple but important question: How would I explain something like peptides to my grandmother?
I could not rely on complicated terminology. I would have to use familiar analogies, comparisons, stories, and everyday language. I would need to meet her where she is and explain the information in a way that relates to the world she understands.
That experience became the foundation of our mission at Peptides.io. We want to make complex medical and health information so simple, clear, and approachable that even my grandmother could understand it. Our internal standard is that if she would not understand it, then it is still too complicated.
By translating complexity into simplicity, we can help close the gap between medical information and the general public. We can give people clearer guidance, help them ask better questions, and make them feel more confident as they navigate their health and wellness journeys.
How is AI changing your business? What changes are you making to adapt?
AI is not just changing our business—it is helping drive its growth.
Interestingly, I lived for more than 38 years without fully understanding the meaning of my own name. No one in my family knew its complete meaning or why I had been given that name. It was not until AI became available that I was able to trace it back and discover that my name means “the Guiding Light of Wisdom.”
That experience showed me what AI can make possible. It can help us trace information back to its roots, identify important connections, and explain ideas in ways that are easier for people to understand.
That is how we are adapting at Peptides.io. We use AI to help us research more efficiently, find the root of complex topics, organize information, and communicate it more clearly. The goal is not to use AI simply to produce more content. The goal is to use it to create greater understanding and provide people with better guidance.
What are the 3 things you like best about your work and why?
The first thing I value is helping people. At my core, I am a nurturer, and I find real fulfillment in knowing that something we create may help someone feel less confused, more supported, or more confident.
The second is providing guidance. Health and wellness can be difficult to navigate, especially when people are surrounded by conflicting information and exaggerated claims. Being able to point someone in a clearer direction is deeply meaningful to me.
The third is creating a heartfelt service. I do not want our work to feel cold, transactional, or disconnected from the people we serve. I want people to feel that we genuinely care about helping them understand their options and move forward in their journey.
What are the three things you need in work to achieve purpose? Why are they important to you?
First, I need to know that we are solving a meaningful problem. Complex medical information creates a major disconnect between people and their ability to make informed decisions about their health. Helping the general public understand these topics more clearly can support healthier choices and better conversations with healthcare professionals. That responsibility gives me a strong sense of purpose and duty.
Second, I need to know that I am helping people get where they need to go. Imagine being lost in a foreign country where you do not speak the language. Someone who does not even speak your language notices that you need help, takes the time to understand you, and points you in the right direction. You would feel supported and grateful. That is how I feel about this project. We are helping people navigate unfamiliar and complicated territory.
Third, I need to create understanding. I believe you can only truly trust something when you know it, and you can only truly know it when you understand it. For people to understand something, it must be explained simply and clearly. In many ways, we are translators—turning complexity into simplicity so people can move forward with greater knowledge, confidence, and trust.
Tell us about a time where you saw a surprising outcome that you did not expect.
One surprising outcome came from a property investment that did not produce the financial return I expected. At the time, it felt like a poor decision because the results did not work out the way I had hoped.
However, that experience forced me to level up. It pushed me to fight harder, increase my earning ability, become more resourceful, and develop greater resilience. In many ways, the disappointment gave me a new sense of urgency and helped lead me to where I am today.
What I learned is that the value of an experience is not always measured by its immediate financial return. Sometimes, an outcome you did not want can redirect you toward a much better path.
I may not have received the financial return I expected directly, but indirectly, I gained wisdom, strength, and a new breath of life. If an experience leads you toward a better version of yourself and a better path, then it may still have been worth it.
What is the biggest challenge you face each day and how do you handle it?
The biggest challenge I face each day is that there can be a million things happening at once. That is a reality every leader eventually has to learn how to manage.
The challenge is not simply doing more things. It is making sure that, despite all the distractions, decisions, responsibilities, and competing priorities, you are still moving in the right direction.
I handle it by continually asking whether what I am doing is bringing us closer to the goal. When the destination and mission are clear, it becomes easier to prioritize, stay focused, and avoid getting lost in the noise.
What is a habit you try to stick to and how has it helped you?
I try to begin each morning with physical activity, especially calisthenics and plyometric exercises.
I believe that when you start your day by doing something difficult, everything that follows feels more manageable. Physical training helps me build discipline, create momentum, and prepare myself mentally for whatever challenges the day may bring.
It also helps me release stress, negative energy, bad moods, and distractions. Once my body is in motion, my mind becomes more focused, and I stop dwelling on everything else.
Starting my morning this way helps me feel stronger, clearer, and more in control of the direction of my day.
What achievement are you the proudest of and why?
One of the achievements I am most proud of is being invited to serve as an Innovation Advisor for UC Irvine.
That opportunity means a great deal to me because I genuinely enjoy helping people build businesses, solve problems, and turn their ideas into something real. There is something deeply fulfilling about supporting someone’s growth and watching them gain confidence, make progress, and succeed.
For me, the achievement is not only about the title or recognition. It is about having the opportunity to use what I have learned to guide others, support the next generation of entrepreneurs, and contribute to a community centered on innovation.
What is your favorite book and why?
My favorite book is The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles.
One of the biggest lessons I took from the book is that wealth is created through building and co-creating, not simply by competing. When everyone competes for the same limited piece of the pie, one person’s success can feel like another person’s loss. When people work together to build something new, they make the pie bigger so everyone has a greater opportunity to benefit.
I think about it like a football team. Imagine if every player competed for the same food, protein, training equipment, and coaching, but only one player received those resources. That one person might become strong while the rest of the team remained weak and unprepared. No matter how talented that individual became, the team would struggle to win.
A strong team succeeds when everyone has access to the tools, resources, guidance, and support they need to grow. That lesson has shaped how I approach business and leadership. I would rather create opportunities with people than fight against them for something that already exists.
If you could go back 2 years and give yourself advice, what would it be?
I would tell myself to stop seeking approval from other people.
When you depend on outside validation, you can easily fall down a rabbit hole of doing things simply to earn someone else’s acceptance. You begin measuring your life by whether other people notice, approve of, or are impressed by what you accomplish.
The truth is that most people are focused on their own lives, and their approval does not determine the value of yours. Living to impress others can pull you further away from who you really are and what genuinely makes you happy.
I would tell myself to live for myself, trust my own path, and learn to love and accept who I am. Accomplishments feel much more meaningful when they come from purpose and personal fulfillment rather than from a need to prove something to other people.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If yes, what is the best way to reach you?
Absolutely. I am always willing to mentor someone who is looking for guidance, especially if I can help them avoid mistakes, build with greater confidence, or see a clearer path forward.
I believe mentorship is about sharing what you have learned with someone who may only be a few steps behind you. You do not need to have every answer. You simply need to be willing to listen, provide honest guidance, and help someone move in the right direction.
The best way to reach me is by email at tj@peptides.io.
Just for fun, what is your favorite food?
My favorite food right now is a Filipino sisig burrito. I only recently discovered it, but it is the bomb dot com. It combines the bold, savory flavors of Filipino sisig with the comfort and convenience of a burrito. Sometimes the best things are the ones you did not know you were missing until you finally experienced them.