We recently connected with Leah Murray and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Leah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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?
Yes I am happy as a business owner. I sometimes do think where would I be if I took the traditional route and finished nursing school and pursued my career in the medical field, but I know for a fact I would not have been as happy as I am now. Everyday I wake up and someone books an appointment just to see me and get in my chair. I create unique experiences by bonding with my clients and making them feel as comfortable as possible. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a traditional route, I just know the type of life I would like to have and working as a nurse just wouldn’t be enough for me. Although, I do not plan on being a nail tech forever, I know it’s a starting ground to wherever I plan to be.
Leah, 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?
To begin with, I got into nails right after I moved back to Florida from New Jersey. It was very hard to adjust from the life I created for myself in New Jersey which was strictly working and going to school. I didn’t have to worry about anything besides just getting good grades and making sure I stay on track which was a blessing to even have experienced because not many people are able to. But, when I moved to Florida it was the complete opposite I had to mange classes, working 40+ hours for employers who didn’t care about me, trying to build my business and get better at my skill, not to mention I am self taught so I had to learn by myself and the most important thing was trying to balance my mental health after my dad passed away. Although, I stopped nursing and I’m not going to be helping anyone medically I help my clients emotionally which is just as important. Majority of my clients not only come for a service but come because I create a safe, comfortable and peaceful environment for them. Any issues my clients have with booking an appointment or anything in general they can contact me directly. One of the things I am most proud of is how far I came, I genuinely didn’t expect to experience so much genuine support and love, I especially didn’t expect to become as big as I am now.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Before I started this entrepreneurial journey I was faced with many obstacles. Within the first few months of starting my business it was very hard financially for me because it was only me investing into my business. I would literally take pieces of my check and split it up from my bills and what i needed to invest into my business because I believed in myself that much. Despite how much I believed in myself it was very challenging when many people doubted me including the people closest to me. That was what I needed though because I wouldn’t have pushed myself as hard as I did to get where I am. That experience was so minor compared to my father passing from gun violence a few months into starting my business, which completely broke me. His death was so sudden and cruel that it just made me lose hope in everything. Everyday is still a challenge because I am always dealing with those feelings but I know the type of man my father was and I knew it would’ve met everything to him for me to continue on. I used that pain and channeled it to my business and my work.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
What helped build my reputation in my market is just staying consistent and practicing every chance that I got. Reaching out to people who have a large following does help because they are able to boost your following and get your name out there more, however is doesn’t mean anything if you are not consistent. This goes for anything in life though consistency and patience is literally the key to success. If you are putting your best foot forward in whatever you do, there is no way you are going to fail.
Contact Info:
- Website: Lavishlee.nails.as.me
- Instagram: Lavishlee.nails
- Other: Hair Page Instagram: @lavishleextentions