We recently connected with Margarita Whitson and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Margarita thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
What do I think it takes to be successful? It starts with having clarity of purpose, knowing what you want and why it matters, and overcoming setbacks, which creates resilience. I learned new skills, built strong relationships, and followed through with goals with consistent effort. Also, understand that building a successful business takes time and dedication.
Margarita, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a 47-year-old wife and mother of two with a deep passion for helping others reach their full potential. In 2019, I experienced the heartbreaking loss of my third child and navigating life while grieving has been one of my greatest challenges. Through this journey, I found purpose in supporting women in my church, offering life coaching sessions that have helped them overcome personal setbacks and achieve their goals. many have shared powerful testimonials about how our sessions have transformed their confidence, businesses, and personal growth. With a background in social work, I continuously learn from others, gaining insights that allow me to guide individuals toward realistic, achievable goals that lead to even greater success. What I’m proud of the most is helping people see the light at the end of the tunnel- restoring self-esteem, reigniting hope, and uncovering their true potential and that’s how Thinking Out Loud Today L.L.C. was birthed.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
“Word of mouth has been the most effective way for me to grow my clientele. While I have social media pages, I find that personal recommendations have a greater impact. Seeing someone’s genuine enthusiasm and excitement as they share how my services have helped them creates a deeper connection and trust.”
Let’s talk M&A – we’d love to hear your about your experience with buying businesses.
In 2002, I purchased my first business-a full-service hair salon in Atlantic City, NJ-after already establishing myself as a stylist there. The salon was located in a high-traffic area, making it a great opportunity for growth. However, the acquisition process was challenging. I had to navigate contracts outlining the total sale and payment terms, obtain new licenses, secure a certificate of occupancy, and arrange renters insurance. Additionally, I had to establish relationships with vendors and develop strategies to retain existing clientele while attracting new ones. I learned many valuable lessons along the way and successfully operated the salon for 10 years before closing it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: thinkingoutloud_today
- Facebook: Thinking Out Loud Today
- Other: Official website coming soon!
Image Credits
all photos owned by Margarita Whitson