We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa Marie Rodriguez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa Marie below.

Lisa Marie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job

Don’t just stay content. EVER. Satisfaction doesn’t equal happiness. You have one life. With that being said, you shouldn’t choose a career or business you truly aren’t passionate about. I learned that with experience and although I am a Hairstylist and business owner now, I used to be a Paralegal. I spent 6 years in the legal field and went to further my degree til I realized one day, my job no longer fulfilled me. I believe it’s very important to evaluate your greatness and put it to the works. Fear is the root of all drive, but don’t allow it to deter you from waking up and CHOOSING to enjoy what you do!

“Incredible things can be done simply if we are committed to making them happen”
-Sadghguru

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?

My name is Lisa Marie, and I consider my myself a jack of all trades but I am mostly known as a published and celebrity hairstylist. My background was in legal but i am now in a totally different field with no regrets. The amount of discipline it takes to keep up with everything in this industry and owning a business is the up keep of social media, bookings, emails, overhead, trends, as well as employees becomes stressful at times just as much as it is rewarding. The constant continuous learning never ends. In this industry, you are the brand. You are what’s being marketed. Therefore, it’s constant. You cannot have a soft shell or it will break you. But if you can maintain the hustle and strong mindset you can surpass it all and make it to the top!

Can you talk to us about your experience with selling businesses?

I sold my salon for not taking my time to analyze whether that was the right fit for me. When I first started my career, I had an opportunity present itself for me to be part owners of a small studio salon offering hair services by me and nail services by another individual at the time. Naturally out of excitement, I was all in and willing! As time went on, We realized our visions were different and I also realized majority of my bookings were travel opportunities and weddings, therefore the salon really didn’t suit me as I found what my bitch was. It financially took away though as I still had an overhead of bills. After a year of being open, I sold it to my partner with the notion that I finally found my nitch and owning a salon wasn’t. Go at your own pace, do what works for you. Also, don’t let the definition of failure to others apply to you as most do when debating whether to sell. I don’t see it find it as a down fall, I find it as a steppingstone for something bigger and better to come in the future.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

The only advice I can really give Is you can’t control people and managing a team is all about work ethic. If you hire individuals who do not appreciate the work being given to them or the clients, the hours, then know you are about to receive that kind of work ethic. If you hire individuals who are hungry and motivated and showing up for work, promoting themselves at your establishment or event, you’re going to have a smooth and reliable business. Any one on the team needs to have all focus on their craft. I think separating business and pleasure is a big factor, while also showing incentives and appreciation is a must.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Hairbyleemarie
• Linkedin: Lisa Marie Rodriguez
• Other: IG: @hairbyleemarie @csbarbershop_lwb

Image Credits
@kdcreatedit @jeffreysalter @jeanclaudephotographyllc @leidysortiz1