Hello, this is Jenna and welcome to the Elevate Yourself podcast where we can talk about beauty and self care without judgment.
Jenna: Hello and thank you so much for joining us for another episode of Elevate Yourself Podcast. Today I'm very excited to share with you our podcast. As you know, last episode, we talked a lot about how choosing the right career will help align you with your self care goals. I shared a little bit about my story and my journey, and I just thought that it would be also really helpful because everyone's story is so unique to also share the stories of Amy and Taylor who started their journey in the beauty industry in both different ways, but are now working with me at the studio and are mentored by myself and professionally trained through Elevate Beauty Education. Now they specialize as lash artists at Elevate and so their journeys are both so unique, I thought it would be perfect to share with them their stories to hopefully inspire you and also to get perspective on different journeys and also what uniquely binds us all together, which I think definitely would be passion. So hopefully this episode will inspire you to pursue your passion or find out what sets your soul on fire.
Jenna: Thank you so much for joining us today, Amy. I'm not sure if you've had a chance yet to listen to our podcast episode from last week: How choosing the right career can help you align yourself with your self care goals. I shared a lot about my personal story. Getting into the beauty industry really helped me shift a lot of my self care goals. So I just thought it would be so awesome because everyone's journey is so unique to interview you girls and find out like what your stories were.
Jenna: So what were you doing before you got into the beauty industry?
Amy: Before I got into the beauty industry. I was doing various landscaping jobs in the city and like labor kind of jobs.
Jenna: Where were you there?
Amy: in Calgary.
Jenna: Calgary?
Amy: Yeah and so basically, yeah, I just was doing lots of kind of labor jobs and waitressing kind of jobs pre-education.
Jenna: How long ago was that?
Amy: That would have been like in 2002, 2003. A long time ago.
Jenna: So what initially caught your eye about the beauty industry?
Amy: Well, I always liked self care. I always use moisturizers and things on my own self like just taking care of myself and like skincare always kind of interests me. So I just then wanted to maybe go into something with it because I stumbled upon massage therapy.
Jenna: That was the first thing that brought you to like the kind of beauty self care industry?
Amy: Well basically when I got that certification, I was working with physiotherapists and chiropractors kind of at first, but then I branched more into spa world, the spa industry side with that and then started doing more like facial doing like different other courses besides just massage and then that's what really interests me once I started learning more techniques and just learning more products and just expanding my knowledge.
Jenna: Yeah, cause you worked in a medi-spa in Calgary. You mentioned that you kind of always knew that you liked the beauty industry. But what was holding you back from taking the leap into it sooner?
Amy: Basically just you know, not asserting myself to getting the right education and committing to going back to school like saving up for money so I could afford to go to school. And then just finding the right course that would work for me and what I thought would be worth like because there's so much out there.
Jenna: Totally. Yeah, it can be a little overwhelming sometimes.
Amy: Yes. Oh, there's just you just don't know what to choose. And then you don't know. You know, because like I had lots of girlfriends that were doing hair styling or finishing hair school than they didn't you know, everyone had conflicting and different careers and there were pros and cons and all of them.
Jenna: So how did you find the place that you were able to finally trust to get educated in and like how did that all come about for you?
Amy: Well, basically, it was just that first place I worked at that really had a lot of those courses available. Yeah, it just, they were very like, keen on advocating and helping me they wanted me to learn more. And at first I was like feeling overwhelmed but then I just kind of got to do like the courses through work. They helped me with it and it just you know expanded so much more of my knowledge with specially all the ultrasound facials I was doing and just vibrational healing and in tensile light therapy, like you learn so many different branches under one kind of thing, right?
Jenna: And now you're mainly focusing on lash extension.
Amy: Yes. So yeah, yes.
Jenna: And how are you liking that switch?
Amy: It's good. Everything you know, you have to adapt to your new surroundings. And just it's like anything you try new, you have to get good at it. You have to try and work hard at it. But you really I noticed now just how much growth I've had from just working for like the last little bit in lash extensions.
Jenna: Yeah. How long have you been with us now?
Amy: Well, we just about a year almost.
Jenna: And how are you feeling in your journey? Because you started off and you are really fresh. And how is that journey for you?
Amy: It's good. I definitely just look now when you're learning anything new the first couple months even though it was like a year you're doing so much kind of learning and getting comfortable. You don't really reflect as much until I don't know now I'm finding I'm reflecting more on my skills and and seeing Oh, I'm better at that now and I'm quicker at applying this but now and like I'm just seeing where now I can work on things and where I can kind of know where I'm at now like because it takes time.
Jenna: Totally. And your confidence, I would say is grown so much you're like yes, I think that that's the main thing. Sometimes it can be difficult to feel competent, but you were doing such a good job. And now I can really see that confidence in you to match.
Amy: So it's really nice to see totally and that feels good because when you're doing something you don't really notice necessarily what other people around you can notice. So when you hear about it, it feels good because then you're okay, because you don't really you only know what you're doing and totally. It's nice to know that you can be like I got this.
Jenna: So do you feel like there was something missing in your life before you got into the beauty and spa industry that was fulfilled by entering that industry?
Amy: I definitely feel yeah, like I take more awareness to my care. Like I feel. I like to read about these things and I just do feel like yeah, I take better care of myself. After learning everything I've learned. It's hard to do it every day but I love skincare products and especially like mineral makeups like there's so many things you can use that I wouldn't even have known about any of that stuff if I hadn't worked in a spa or was around it to come and get learn about nice things.
Jenna: So what was like the back in like landscaping life, how did that make it difficult for you to align yourself care?
Amy: I was exhausted by the time I got home at five out in the sun. I mean the one pro was like my tan was pretty good if I wore like shorts and had like the right t shirt. I had a nice tan, but I had voted in the rest I was just getting by day by day wearing my work outfit and just exhausted and I don't know I didn't really have I didn't really put as much time into myself unless it was like the weekend or something because I was just so tired and it's it was just Yeah. And I wasn't thinking about it. I wasn't helping people with beauty care. So I didn't get to do that partly there.
Jenna: Yeah, I bet there's not as much opportunity for growth or maybe there is maybe I'm not aware of the landscaping industry so much like for learning like new things and stuff like that.
Amy: Yeah, I learned a lot of different things about gardening and different placements with trees and shrubs and those types of things that were really aesthetically pleasing for people like with their yards. But it didn't have anything to do with my hands are usually covered in dirt and my nails because it was just you were always working in the soils.
Jenna: Yeah, so do you feel like making the change into the beauty industry then has helped you align yourself with your selfcare?
Amy: Yes. No, it totally has and you also meet people in the industry that can help you to like you can help each other out. That's what I really like too is I've met so many amazing artists and practitioners over the years that it that's such a nice, it's just so nice to share what you have yeah for sure.
Jenna: Being a part of a good team is definitely helps you like grow a lot more faster than going it alone.
Amy: Yes, you just you get more feedback.
Jenna: So what would you say to someone who was like kind of on the fence to maybe making a change in their life who's like been considering the beauty industry or really been interested in their whole life but hasn't maybe is like kind of scared to make the switch for themselves.
Amy: Go for it. Read up. See what you like, what you're drawn to because there's so many different ways you can go and then once you do it, you make that decision. It is going to be a challenge at first so just don't give up.
Jenna: Totally. And what advice can you give someone to help them feel like successful or supported in their journey?
Amy: While it just like everything, you know, it takes time to build anything good for yourself. So just to be patient, and one day at a time, it will come and it's like if it's meant to be you'll grow with it everyday and just always kind of be open to learning more.
Jenna: Really. I think that's great advice. Thank you so much for joining us today, Amy. and it's been a pleasure having you in the studio for the last year and seeing you grow and I am so excited to watch her team grow together and learn even more stuff in the next little bit.
Jenna: Thanks so much for joining us on Elevate Yourself podcast. You're a new artist at our studio. So it's been so fabulous having you on and I just wanted to interview you on your experience because it did share quite a bit of my experience in the last episode, but everyone's experience is so unique and so interesting. I had a couple questions I was hoping you'd be willing to answer for us,
Taylor: Of course and thank you. I'm really really excited to have joined studio. I can't wait to see how far it takes me.
Jenna: Yes, you are doing so amazing. I'm very excited for your career.
Taylor: Thank you.
Jenna: Yeah, so before you started with us, what were you doing before you got into beauty industry?
Taylor: So before I went into the beauty industry, I was actually working on my Bachelor Degree in Business and Accounting for a year and a half.
Jenna: Yeah, totally. And what caught your eye about the beauty industry?
Taylor: So I had actually I'd seen on your Instagram that you were doing the classes for classic lash and I was interested in getting lashes. The beauty industry always interested me but there's just a huge lack of aesthetic education in our area. So I never really pursued it.
Jenna: So were you like really interested in makeup and like beauty when you were in high school or when did that passion start inside of you?
Taylor: So it started I would say probably my grade 11 in high school. I got really really into YouTube and different beauty gurus on YouTube. And that's kind of where it started for me.
Jenna: So what was holding you back from taking the leap into the beauty industry sooner.
Taylor: What was holding me back I feel like again was just the lack of beauty education in our area. I didn't want to have to travel or go live somewhere else to be able to do it because this is my home and this is where I wanted to stay. So when I saw that you were offering classes I thought wow, this really is my perfect opportunity to start.
Jenna: Yeah, because accounting is so different from so different from the beauty industry.
Taylor: Yes. So I started my accounting degree. I kind of felt like that was a safe option for me. My my stepdad, is a financial advisor, so I just always kind of had that background in the back of my head. So when I decided to go to school that I feel is was just like a fallback for me. But yeah, I say option for me, but I've always wanted to go into the beauty industry. Yeah. So it's been a very, very huge change for me, but it's so exciting because this is what I actually want to do.
Jenna: It's question you kind of almost answered already. But do you feel like there was something missing in your life before that is like being fulfilled by entering the beauty industry?
Taylor: Totally. I feel like I didn't have anything I was passionate about. I wasn't doing anything that I was passionate about for the last couple of years. And then I feel like that starting lashes has just filled that void for me. I get excited to do it. It's an ever learning process. There's so much room to grow into the beauty industry. And it's creative. Yes, totally with styling and just techniques. It's really creative, and I feel it's definitely just kind of helped fill that void of passion for me.
Jenna: For sure. Yeah, there's a lot more creativity than accounting. That's for sure. So yes, we're just like answering these questions before I even get there. I was going to ask you how wasn't impossible to achieve this through your previous path but you would you say the same thing that it just was not aligned with what was kind of making your soul feel like on fire or passionate.
Taylor: Totally. I just realized after being at school and doing so many hours of studying, there is no way that I would be able to work an office nine to five job at all.
Jenna: Yeah, it's so important to really enjoy what you're doing or think.
Taylor: Yeah, so now this way, it's just so much more exciting. I'm so excited. Every single time I get stepped into the studio. I'm so excited practicing at home. It's really just like an all around more fulfilling career for me.
Jenna: I love that. That's what makes me so excited about helping people like with this too. It's so fulfilling also to see that spark and see people like being super stoked and growing. And yeah, when you're doing something that helps you get aligned with your self care goals. I feel like it helps you really excel way faster than like, I guess if you loved accounting you probably become the best accountant ever to or you could just work really hard at it and like hate your life. Maybe or feel unfulfilled.
Taylor: But yeah, I feel like that's where I was going. I was like I'm gonna be the best accountant ever but I'm not gonna like it. I actually get to enjoy what I'm doing. Yeah, single time that I that I get to do it.
Jenna: Totally well. I'm so glad to be a part of that. journey for you too. So I have one final question for you. You're really new to the industry. But I was wondering what are the things that you could be personally working on at a professional level to help align yourself even more with your self care goals?
Taylor: I feel like my goals to kind of step up my career in the next level is definitely having you by my side, just to kind of help me out and make sure that I'm in the right direction and being able to just practice as often as I possibly can and just always be learning new techniques. Yeah, just making sure that I'm always improving. There's always room to grow.
Jenna: Yeah, you just like have such a positive attitude. And I think that's really going to be the best thing and like self care by definition is regularly doing things for yourself that make you feel good. So I think like throughout your career, like I would challenge you always one of your mentors to take note if something's not making you feel good, and to really have the courage to bring that up in your workspace or like even with yourself and take a pause and really take a moment to like analyze what happened and how you could shift either your work environment or the way the situation is handled so that it can be morphed into a situation that does make you feel good.
Taylor: One more thing I just thought of was just making sure that my expectations with lashing and my clients expectations of lashing are aligned. Yeah, yeah. I feel like just making sure that everyone in the space has manageable expectations for their service.
Jenna: Totally. Yeah. When you do set the reasonable expectations with the clients, then you do set yourself up for a situation where you can get the top customer satisfaction and that's what really feels good. I think for us bringing that home and like creating an environment where there can be a lot of self satisfaction or coaching towards a different service that may be better for them or product that can help them or something so that everyone's feeling really good. Yeah, coaching to reasonable expectations is a huge part of that, which will definitely help you feel more satisfied in your job. Yeah. And so what would you say to someone who's thinking about entering the beauty industry, but isn't sure?
Taylor: As cliche as it sounds, I would tell anyone that feels any spark to pursue a career in the beauty industry to just do it. Yeah. Because you never know. It could be the best decision of your life and honestly, if not, at least you tried. And now you know, just do it. Find good quality, mentorship and put in the work.
Jenna: You've been doing such a good job with that. Like you're always practicing sending your screenshots. Yeah, your first set you were almost like at two and a half hours, which is crazy for the first set in the studio after training. Being prepared. It really shows you know when you do that homework.
Taylor: Totally, it feels good. To know that you've done everything that you can do to prepare yourself for every single appointment.
Jenna: Well, thank you so much for joining us, Taylor. It's been so good, connecting with you a little bit more and getting to share your story with people and I look forward to seeing you in the studio and working with you more.
Taylor: Thank you. Thank you so much for this opportunity. It was so great to chat.