We were lucky to catch up with Jamie Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jamie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

If you do something you love it doesn’t seem like a job, but more of a passion. That was my initial thoughts as becoming a new business owner. I am now 4.5 years into owing my first company and realize that staying aligned with your true calling is imperative to maintain success and to sustain your company. However, it comes with its own set of obstacles and challenges that makes you often second guess if it’s worth the sacrifice of your sanity.

People automatically assume you get to create your own schedule and live by your own rules. But there are laws and regulations in each industry that will definitely limit to certain objectives. Which is fine. Creating your own schedule is unrealistic. Owning a successful business becomes your life. It is your creation and your brand that ignites the company. Sure there are corporations that are operated amongst employees but I believe companies that sustain live true to their mission and values that were designed to form a business. I firmly believe that businesses start for one of two reasons. Either based of the mentality of greed, “how can I make money..Those who become wealthy are often business owners and not working for corporate America”. Or those who begin a company based off the “greater good”. A business is established off a real product or service that we want to please others. We want to endure the satisfaction that the consumer is gaining from the business.

Either one can succeed but only one can sustain. Making financially smart moves is important to support the greater good vision. Losing sight of why the business was initially developed can happen quickly and abruptly. Success of a company can transition into a greed driven without even becoming aware. It is important to stay passionate towards your creation. The more successful you personally become, the more obstacles that will present themselves. Things of nature include envy induced by competitors. Growth and change are always uncomfortable. A small company may have been loved because of the personal touch that was launched but as a company evolves into a larger one, you then have to decide where to implement that personal touch and create new boundaries for yourself in order to prevent burnout. You have to remember, your business often becomes your life. This means personally you are on your A game the more you are recognized in an industry in order to maintain your integrity and credibility. There is very minimal time for down time of any sorts unless you condition your people adequately to replicate the same love that you radiate through your business. Growing your people and culture are also necessary. Which means its more than just a paycheck. It involves growing your people to see your vision, to make them feel validated and integrated. Empowering your people means staying empowered yourself. Being grateful and expressing your gratitude consistently and effortlessly which then becomes a reciprocating relationship.

There are often times I wonder if the sacrifices I made in order to create such a great business were worth the risk. I often think what would my life be like to just have a 9-5 job where I could even work from home in my pajamas and just be able to turn it off and resume my other role as a mother, possibly a wife, get to spend time with friends, or even be able to watch mindless tv. If I wouldn’t have 27 open tabs in my brain generating a new one every second of the day. If I would actually know that my child’s school is not open that day because I could focus more on being a mother. But I do know that we are all here on Earth with a mission. Those of us who stay true to what our legend is are those who feel fulfilled. Therefore, starting the business I personally did is exactly what my life’s mission is supposed to be. Teaching my kids to just try your best and believe in yourself every day is how I also fulfill my obligation as an entrepreneurial mother simultaneously.

Owning a company again takes passion and dedication. It included constantly evolving and conditioning yourself to be better in order for your business to excel. So if you’re willing to stay committed to continuously improving then there is no doubt that owning your own business is by far more superior than working for someone else. It just all comes with a certain mentality/ mindset that is not for everyone. Some people may elect to take an easier path. Ultimately it is about choosing what fulfills your personal legend. Everyone has their own purpose in life and it is about staying aligned with your true calling.    

Jamie, 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?

My name is Jamie Smith. I was an ER nurse for 9 years and entered the Aesthetic Industry by becoming a nurse injector at a prestigious Med Spa. I recognized that there was a lot of pressure to sell and that the services were priced to target a certain market. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn the skill set necessary but did not feel like it fulfilled how I wanted to empower people. I wanted everyone of all socioeconomic statuses to have the opportunity to feel better about themselves. I believed that often by boosting someone’s self confidence helped them feel confident internally which helps a person make better internal decisions. I wanted to assist in building people up in return to assist them become a better person all around.

The way I developed my business created the opportunity to open the market of clients who were engaging in aesthetic services as we allowed it to become more affordable. It also allowed nurses to be able to transition their careers into something they felt passionate about. I get the opportunity to empower both nurses and individuals in one way or another by creating a new avenue in the aesthetic industry. I am happy to state that I created a different approach to the industry which has transformed avenue.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Funding my business almost seemed impossible as I was basically living paycheck to paycheck at that time. My former business partner offered to be partial investor as I probably had approx $4k in my savings account, married to a cop (where we lived paycheck to paycheck, and three children). I give this history to paint a picture of my financial obstacles and how that a leap of faith and beliefs can overcome anything. Anyhow, I invested $2500 of my money and my business partner had probably invested about $5000 initially. Until I was taken to court over my non compete. Fortunately, my business partners brother was an attorney and she supported me through that circumstance. The final agreement through our attorneys is that I was only allowed to provide services at a salon approx 35 miles away and out of my own house for 1 year. I was banned from 1700 clients but allowed to see 38, such as personal relatives and friends.

I remember thinking such restrictions were so unecessary as how was I going to overcome such restrictions. I pondered ideas and then thought, I will reduce the cost of Botox to such an unheard of price, as I ultimately have no additional overhead. I already have to make my mortgage and it won’t take me much to create an office space in my own house. As for the salon, there were already 10+ stylists there who would become word of mouth as they interacted with women and men who were already seeking services related to their appearances. I discounted the stylists treatments so they could be a representation and free marketable product of my products.

I now teach any human and entrepreneur that you always must find the silver lining in all obstacles that you are challenged with. There is some kind of lesson as well as blessing within it all even when it may feel like some of your most darkest moments.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy I used for my clients was providing a genuine standpoint. That I made decisions based off ethical and moral values in how I could best serve my client . I treated every client as if they were my only client I had. You stay totally present with that person and you offer them the best to your ability. You set aside what your potential profit is and do what is right for that person. “If you do what is right, you can’t go wrong.” If you stay true to doing the right thing then the profitability will follow. Your clients will want to see you win too. If you remain a great person you will attract other great people.

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