We were lucky to catch up with Karla Monagas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Karla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

My process of going for idea to execution, was and has been a journey. The desire to go after my passion was always a thought in my mind, but how to go about that, and actually make my vision a reality was harder than I expected.

With so many ideas going through my head, I had to concretely consider all pros and all cons. I took some time to evaluate that list over and over and over again until the cons became reachable hurdles that I wouldn’t stumble on; and I convinced myself that even against all odds, I could do this!
After that list, and after confirming to myself, that I was fully capable to make my dreams a reality, I planned out thoroughly a list of what steps I needed to commit to next. Being realistic and logical with the financial requirements needed to make my vision come to life. And including the education necessary to obtain my occupational licenses. Some of that education included a women’s entrepreneurs course with ECornell University, which help me the most with executing my business plans, including finances/financial adversities that could present in the near future.

Once I had my business plan in order, it felt more and more real. Having an exact plan to hold myself accountable by. That led me into the next full year to execute those ideas and accomplish those goals. And though at many times, it was very challenging to stick to my business plan. Having that business plan truly kept me in line. It reminded me of why I wanted to execute my ideas and actually launch, and it helped me move past obstacles that tried holding me back.
Building resilience, determination and perseverance deep into my core!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For those of you who have not read about me in previous features, I am a paramedical aesthetician. What got me into the beauty field was a very small desire that I’ve had since I was a young child. I grew up with very strong women entrepreneurs around me that were very successful, and I truly believe that planted a seed that I just never knew until my adult life that I should have watered and help grow. But I got to a point in my first career where I didn’t necessarily felt accomplished, and yet I was making reasonable money and I was the right hand of a dentist for over a decade, managing very successful Dental offices, and yet I still felt like my potential could reach a lot more. Facing that limbo in my career made me evaluate my inner child I guess and it put into perspective some career choices that I’ve always been passionate about. And entrepreneurship was always a dream that during this limbo in my life, I felt more prepared than ever to attempt to make that dream a reality.
Beauty and skin care was definitely my inner child’s passion. Specially, remembering myself making my own mud mask to try on my family (and they were literally mud masks good to know now that those minerals only benefited my family skin, and that’s all knowledge I gained from deciding to go after that dream, and getting the proper education to fulfill that passion).
Once I decided to go after that passion, I definitely felt like I was on my pursuit of happiness, and I was on the right track to fulfill my purpose. Not that dentistry was not my passion, because it definitely has been to the point we’re still to this day work in the Dental field to not lose any of my skills and to always stay current in my first career.
I know that in my pursuit of happiness what I am mostly proud of, is that I took a chance on myself! That crossroad in my professional life could’ve subsided, and I could’ve continued to manage dental offices/assist a dentist for the rest of my life, but yet I took a chance on myself. Once I made sure, and felt confident that I could do this it still took courage to take that Leap and that’s truly with the most proud of.
Specially, because now I own my own spa and I offer services that impact my clients life positively. My craft enhances my clients beauty, empowers my clients and helps them feel more beautiful and confident; that gives me immense joy and satisfaction!
In my business, I specialize in skin care/ skin therapy, permanent make up, hair removal services and eyebrow shaping. I also offer makeup applications for any occasion. The skills I’ve mastered the most, and I am most in love with is permanent make up I continue to invest into my education so that I can master my craft, and perfect my techniques and my skills.
What I would like the readers to take from this article is that, my passion truly lies in helping people feel their beauty, specially through cosmetic tattoos and the permanent make up that I offer; because it is a sense of joy I never thought I could feel. From simply giving a client a good pair of brows and making their make up routine much faster. Or to truly and positively impacting my cancer survivors with a 3D realistic nipple tattoo on their new breast because after the journey they have been through, to see them smile and confident again is very rewarding to me. I am just a humble esthetician here on my pursuit of happiness gaining more happiness from the joy my services grant my clients and how those services and myself help change someones life, and the confidence they feel. Seeing my clients feel their beauty and walk out of my spa Happy is a blessing to me.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation has been built by my rapport with my clients in my community. I take pride in running my business very ethically. And then having lower prices than my competitors not because my work isn’t worth it, but because to help impact my community, I wanted it to be affordable.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I was raised to always be kind to others. That to gain respect you should give respect, and to trust people until they give you a reason not to. However, I have learned in my entrepreneurial journey, that not everyone is trust worthy! I have learned that respect is earned and that you shouldn’t trust anyone until they have gained your trust.
Backstory to these lessons is that I have encountered some very ill-intended people in my business journey. Some that have used my business and platforms as their learning platforms. Some that have stolen my operational techniques, and have even tried to damage my reputation. All experiences that I have 100% learned from, and that have made me a more stern entrepreneur and boss. Experiences That have helped me unlearn, naïve childhood lessons, where I truly thought others would have my same kind of heart and could help my vision come to life. A cruel reality but a reality, I needed to learn indeed. Truth is Not everyone shares the same morals and values as I do, nor operate their business as ethically as I run mine, and those people aren’t meant to serve any purpose in our life, but we should still take advantage of the experience to learn and grow from them.
On a positive note, I have also learned that God will put the right people in your life, even send you complete strangers to support you and help you grow your business. Some are curious consumers that become loyal clients and those clients send you a lot of new referrals. Others are other professionals that are willing to bless your business to help you possibly generate more clients. Like this incredibly talented photographer that blessed me with the professional head shots and pictures in this feature; huge shoutout to A.D. Boateng, may God bless you ten times fold brother. Yall help us grow follow him on Instagram @luxadb and follow me @xixi.beauty.studio

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.xixibeautystudio.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/xixi.beauty.studio?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XIXIBEAUTYSTUDIO?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
A.D. Boateng