We were lucky to catch up with Joshua Sanchez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joshua, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Being your own boss sounds amazing—and it is in a lot of ways. The freedom, the flexibility, the pride in building something that’s yours. But what people don’t always talk about is how heavy it can feel sometimes. You’re the only one responsible for whether it works or not. If you don’t show up for your business, no one else is going to.

There have been so many times I’ve thought about going back to a regular 9-to-5. There’s comfort in that kind of security. A steady check. Structure. Predictability. But every time I imagine clocking in for someone else again, something inside me just resists. I don’t think I could go back to that. I’ve gotten used to the freedom I fought for. And more than that—I know I was never really built for that kind of system.

In every job I had, I always felt like I didn’t quite fit. Even when I was doing well, I still felt misunderstood or like I was being boxed in. That feeling isn’t new—it’s been with me since I was a kid. I’ve never liked being told what to do or having someone else decide what my life should look like. And now that I’ve created something for myself, I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be—even when it’s hard. but at the end of the day, it’s extremely rewarding to look back at where I’ve come from to where I am now and having my own business.

Joshua, 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?

Hey everyone, my name is Joshua Sanchez. I’m 34 years old, and my heart and hustle are rooted in the beauty industry—specifically in the world of permanent makeup and tattooing eyebrows.

I started out as a cosmetologist back in 2012, and not long after, I found myself drawn into the world of brows. I was working at the Brow Bar inside Ulta, mapping brows, finding the right colors for each client, and learning how to bring out the beauty that was already there. That became my routine for a couple of years—until I started hearing the same thing over and over from clients: “I wish I could keep these brows forever.”

That comment planted a seed. Around that time, microblading was just starting to take off in the U.S., and I knew deep down I had to learn it. When I told a few people I wanted to pursue it, I didn’t really get much encouragement. But I couldn’t shake the feeling—I believed in myself, so I booked the training.

That training changed everything. I learned fast, loved every second of it, and even told the instructors how much I enjoyed it. Their feedback gave me the confidence I needed—they told me they loved how I worked, how I moved, and how I approached brows.

And then, just a few weeks later, that same company reached out and offered me a job as one of their instructors. It felt like divine timing—I was ready for that next chapter. I packed up, moved to a new city, and the owner even let me live with them while I got settled. From there, it was a whirlwind. I got to travel, learn, teach, and grow in ways I never imagined.

This pattern repeated itself three times with three different companies. Each time, I soaked up new techniques, learned the business side of things, and got clearer about the artist and instructor I wanted to be. But eventually, something in me shifted. I realized I wasn’t just helping build other people’s dreams—I had one of my own.

That’s when I decided to open my own studio. It wasn’t easy. It took time, energy, and a lot of self-belief—but I did it. And it’s been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made. Now, after over eight years in the industry, I can say that this has been a journey I would never trade for anything.

Creating brows is more than just a job for me—it’s a passion. Watching a client come in nervous, unsure, scared even… and then leave glowing, confident, transformed—that never gets old. It’s like a ride I never want to get off.

But it’s more than just the art. There’s an emotional layer to this work that no one prepared me for. You become a safe space. A therapist. A sounding board. Some of the deepest, most vulnerable conversations I’ve ever had have happened while doing someone’s brows. And it’s not one-sided. These moments have healed me, too. They’ve expanded my understanding of life, of people, of myself.

The bonds I’ve built over the years are unlike anything else. Clients come back year after year, and it feels like catching up on chapters of each other’s lives—like watching dozens of little movies unfold over time. And while we reconnect, we’re still creating art together.

This journey has been fulfilling in ways I never imagined. To follow your heart, do what you love, and create financial freedom through it—that’s a gift. It’s not just about brows. It’s about connection. About healing. About purpose. And I truly believe that when you do what sets your soul on fire, life becomes something so much more meaningful.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

After a few years of working with different companies, soaking up everything I could and building experience, I started putting money aside little by little. At first, it was just about having a safety net—some kind of cushion. But as that cushion grew, so did this voice inside me… the one that kept saying, “Maybe it’s time.”

Time to bet on myself. Time to create something that was fully mine.

I’ll be honest—there was hesitation. It’s hard to walk away from the stability that comes with working for someone else. The steady income. The comfort. But there was also this deep, persistent urge in me to finally step out and stand on my own. I wanted freedom. I wanted to build something that had my name, my vision, and my values all over it.

Once I knew I had saved enough to realistically make the leap, I reached out to my parents—especially my mom. She’s a business owner herself, and I really leaned on her experience and wisdom. She walked me through the steps. And with her support—and the guidance I got from the city—I was ready to begin this new chapter.

It took a few months to bring my studio to life. Getting the plumbing done, installing the floors, navigating all the permits and licensing, getting fire department approval—it was a lot. And to be real, it wasn’t always smooth. There were definitely moments of doubt and frustration. But underneath all of that was my determination. I knew this was what I wanted, and I wasn’t going to quit.

When everything finally came together—the last inspection passed, the studio complete—I felt this massive wave of gratitude. A huge sigh of relief. The process was tough, but looking around at what I had created… it was worth every single moment.

Opening my own business wasn’t just a professional milestone—it was a personal one. It was the physical proof of years of hustle, vision, and believing in myself even when it would’ve been easier to just stay comfortable. And standing in that space, finally mine… that feeling? Unmatched

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media is such a strange and complex challenge. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, the likes, the followers… but the truth is, none of that really compares to the power of real, in-person connection.

There will be obstacles—building your online presence takes time, consistency, and patience. But what I’ve learned is this: the most meaningful growth doesn’t come from going viral. It comes from creating real impact with the people right in front of you.

When you pour into the people who sit in your chair, who support your art, who trust you—they feel it. And that experience sticks with them. That’s the kind of energy that makes people want to share who you are, not just what you do.

For me, it’s taken years to grow my social media. And I’m okay with that. Because I’ve focused on one person at a time. One meaningful interaction at a time. And that kind of quality creates a ripple effect that’s so much more powerful than a temporary boost in numbers.

Be yourself. Stay humble. And stay open. You never know what someone is carrying when they walk through your door—and you might be the exact moment of light they needed. That connection… that’s where your true influence lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Browsbyjoshua.com
• Instagram: Browsbyjoshuasanchez
• Facebook: Browsbyjoshuasanchez
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/browsbyjoshuasanchez/?hl=en

Image Credits

All photos were taken by myself:)