We recently connected with Mikayla Szathmary and have shared our conversation below.
Mikayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
So to start, this may be a very unconventional answer, but very on brand for myself as I don’t tend to do anything the conventional way. This story isn’t something I talk about very openly except for with family and a few close friends, but reading the writing prompts it’s something I felt called to share so here it goes. The biggest, most life changing risk I’ve taken thus far would be making the decision to end my marriage and raise my son as a single mother. Taking the risk to leave everything I had known and grown accustomed to the last 4 years, including the house we brought our son home to, to completely start over was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. I wanted so badly for my son to grow up in a happy, healthy, loving home and the hard truth was that our current circumstance was just not going to be that for him. The last year and a half has been very difficult, navigating life as a newly divorced, single mother to a toddler, trying to get on my feet again and trying to find myself again. This definitely was not what I had envisioned for myself or for my son, but being the happiest I’ve been in years, I know I made the right decision for us. Going through this difficult time my business was put on the back burner, and it actually wasn’t until recently that I started esthetics again and started my official rebrand. I can’t help but think this opportunity to be featured again is the Universe letting me know that I’m in fact on the right path.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I first got into the beauty industry because I love helping others. I love helping women recognize their true beauty and helping them feel the most confident in their own skin. My most favorite service I offer is my customized facial. I love helping people with their skin and I love how I’m able to personalize each session to give each client exactly what they want/need. Besides facials I also offer lash and brow services: lash lifts, brow laminations, brow waxing and lash/ brow tinting. I think what sets me apart most from other beauty professionals is really being able to connect to my clients on a personal, soulful level. I am an empath at heart and have a nurturing nature about myself, I think my clients recognize that and helps them really trust me and open up, not just in regards to beauty services.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
CONNECTION. In my opinion, anyone can go to Esthetician school and learn how to perform a facial, eyelash services, eyebrow services, etc. But if you don’t truly care and connect with your clients, I don’t think you will last as long or be as successful in this industry as someone else who really loves and takes pride in connecting with their clientele.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Circling back to the story I shared at the beginning of this interview, what truly shows my resilience is my determination to never give up. To not give up on myself and my happiness, to not give up on the pursuit of giving my son the best life possible, and to not give up on my business and my dreams of being a successful business owner. Despite countless setbacks, I’ve stayed the course and kept my goal in mind no matter how long it takes or how difficult it may be to get there.
