We recently connected with Cassieandre Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Cassieandre, appreciate you joining us today. Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?

Yes, I had employees from day one — two lash artists and one brow artist.

I started interviewing in October 2017, and we didn’t open until March 2018. I did a lot of interviews because, honestly, most people were not qualified. That hasn’t changed. You quickly learn there are only a few types of applicants: people who want a chance because they don’t have experience, people looking for something better than what they currently have, and people who see an opportunity and try to take advantage of it. Finding someone who can do the full job from start to finish is rare.

The recruiting and training process taught me very fast that training is expensive — not just money-wise, but time, energy, and focus. In the beginning, I didn’t protect that. People would come in, learn what they could, then leave and try to do their own thing. Once you see that pattern enough times, you stop being naïve.

That’s why I now use one-year contracts when I train someone. Either you stay the year, or you pay $5,000. Simple. My time isn’t free, and neither is the knowledge it took me years to build. Business ownership is a dog-eat-dog world, and if you don’t protect yourself, you’ll keep paying for the same lesson over and over.

If I were starting today, I’d still hire from day one — but I’d put those boundaries in place immediately instead of learning the hard way.

Cassieandre, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I didn’t get into this business because I saw a gap in the industry or had a lifelong passion for beauty. I got into it because my accountant told me I was spending too much money at the spa and needed to cut back. That wasn’t happening.

I’m an introvert. I don’t do much—I fine-dine, shop, travel, eat, and get pampered. So instead of cutting out the spa, I opened one. My accountant did not agree with the decision at first, but once the first round of numbers came through, she realized I was naturally good at business.

I had no experience in the beauty industry then, and I still have never touched a lash or brow service. That part has never interested me. What I am good at is business, investments, and building something that makes sense financially and operationally.

We provide a luxury beauty experience that’s still affordable for most women — lashes, brows, facials, teeth whitening, makeup, permanent makeup, and more. We solve real problems. For example, clients who struggle with brow growth can get permanent makeup services that give the illusion of brows and restore confidence. Clients dealing with skin concerns come to us for results, not just relaxation.

What I’m most proud of is longevity. We’re coming up on eight years in business, and that was never something I could’ve predicted. What started as a leap of faith turned into something much bigger, and that’s how I know God is involved. People will tell you all day what you don’t have experience in or why something won’t work. Sometimes you’re not meant to already have the experience — you’re meant to bring the skills God already gave you into the opportunity.

If I had gone by sight, I would’ve said I had no business being in this industry and no desire to learn the services. But I went by faith instead, and it worked because business is business — and that’s where my strength has always been.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team is not easy, especially if you’re a natural giver. I’m wired to give, and early on I learned that not everyone handles that well. Some people take advantage of it. Over time, you start to recognize patterns.

One thing I’ve learned is to pay attention to how people introduce themselves. When someone leads with a long story or hardship explanation right out the gate, that’s usually a red flag for me. I’m not hiring excuses in advance. I need people who can show up, be consistent, and handle responsibility without constant explanation.

I’ve noticed that people who were raised having to figure things out on their own, or who were given responsibility early in life, tend to be the most dependable at work. They don’t need to be micromanaged. They understand accountability. On the other hand, people who were never given responsibility often need to be coached at a much deeper level — sometimes it feels like you’re raising them on the job as well. That’s not always a bad thing, but it requires a different management approach.

Because of that, I manage people based on character traits and personality, not just skill. I’m still direct and firm across the board, but I adjust how I communicate depending on who I’m dealing with. One thing I don’t compromise on is accountability. If someone can’t see where they’re wrong or refuses to take responsibility, it’s not going to work. The same goes for people who aren’t trainable — if you already know everything, there’s no room for growth.

To help with morale, I use personality surveys and feedback tools to understand what motivates my team. When I can, I incorporate those preferences into the workday or work month. I also hold motivational meetings when I see morale slipping, especially when someone is dealing with life situations that may be throwing them off track.

I know my management style isn’t for everyone, and I’m okay with that. I’ve learned that the people who thrive under my leadership are the ones who want more out of life and out of themselves. Those are the people who end up bringing the most value to the company. I don’t aim to be everyone’s cup of tea — I aim to work with people who are a good fit and who actually want to grow.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My resilience isn’t tied to one big dramatic moment — it’s something I have to practice every single day.

I’m an introvert. I genuinely like being alone, in complete silence, in my own thoughts. People drain me. Constant interaction drains me. And business ownership requires a lot of people — clients, employees, contractors, conversations, problems that don’t belong to you but somehow land on your plate anyway.

From day one, resilience for me has meant operating outside my natural comfort zone. This business is considered “passive income,” but anyone who owns one knows that sometimes it requires you to be very present. And when I’m present, nine times out of ten, I’m irritated — not because I’m angry, but because talking, explaining, repeating myself, and managing emotions is exhausting for me.

I’ve gone as far as intentionally writing job expectations in fifth-grade language so I don’t have to keep explaining things. And somehow, I still end up having to show up and repeat myself anyway. That’s the part people don’t talk about.

Most people don’t realize I’m an introvert. They assume I love people because when I’m at the spa, I show up in what I call my Sasha Fierce mode — very polished, very present, very professional. It’s a performance. And just like any performance, by the end of it, I’m drained.

But resilience is understanding why I keep doing it. This business is how I provide for myself and my daughter. It’s also the responsibility I accepted when I chose ownership. I may question myself daily. I may need reset moments. I may crave silence more than social interaction. But I still show up.

I know there are a lot of introverted business owners who feel exactly the way I do and don’t say it out loud. This is my truth. Resilience isn’t about loving every part of the journey — it’s about doing what needs to be done even when it goes against your natural wiring.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pinkcaviarspa.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PinkCaviarSpa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinkCaviarSpa/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106956370/admin/dashboard/
• Twitter: https://x.com/pinkcaviarspa
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pinkcaviarspa
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@pinkcaviarspa