We recently connected with Meaghan Whalen and have shared our conversation below.
Meaghan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest and most unexpected problem I faced the after a few years in business was that my unconscious behavior was negatively impacting my ability to grow and support myself fully. Of course our habits come from a come from a variety of sources, and are often a bit “baked into” how we solve, problems, relate to others and see ourselves. I was as successful as I’d ever been, but I was exhausted. I had more money than ever before, but no peace of mind. Everyone was thrilled with my work, but I had no healthy boundaries. My art was thriving, but my body was paying the price.
When had my first real health scare, I was forced into sitting with all my thoughts, and some unconscious ones happen to bubble to the surface. It was then that I was faced with a choice-heal the things that kept me moving at this pace, or be so unwell, that I would be unable to work for myself, and be forced back into my dreaded 9-5. The start of my business was, in a sense, the start a new chapter in my personal healing journey.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
For those who haven’t met me before, it will take only a few moments of hearing my story to notice a theme.
After a long hard season at my “old” career, I slumped into my hairdressers chair for a very long overdue haircut and color refresh. She looked at me, told me I looked tired, and sad-and I started to cry. Burnout had found me again. I was so tired, and overworked, I just cried. After drying my tears, a fantastic shampoo and hair service, we talked. She said that her salon manager/coordinator was leaving her position for other opportunities. She offered me the job that day, I accepted on the spot-and the rest was history.
Fast forward to a successful cosmetology apprenticeship, aesthetic education, and thriving wedding business of over 13 years. For a decade I served brides and their wedding parties on one of the most important days of their lives. I was most proud of a business that was thriving off of word of mouth referrals as its main marketing strategy. I grew my business and following solely from one beautiful bride at a time. I remember hearing something like, “people will forget what you did and said, but they’ll never for get how you made them feel,” and that became my business model. The hair and makeup was important sure, and I worked overtime perfecting things I didn’t know how to do to make them perfect. But the client experience was the thing that made me different.
As a pandemic brought the event industry to a halt in the early spring of 2020-another watershed moment presented itself. After years giving my business everything I had, I found myself profoundly lost without it. I knew things needed a new course. I set my sites on rural living in the Pacific Northwest, with the intention of pivoting my business to include eloping couples-and my next chapter unfolded. I jumped pretty boldly, planned the best I knew how, and honestly, hoped for the best, with fingers crossed.
My boldness was rewarded-now spend my time with clients intentionally planning and crafting looks for their adventure elopement. I feel very deeply connected to the work that I do now, as my couples choose to celebrate their love differently. Personal journeys deeply resonate with me, and a newfound authenticity was born in showing up, just as myself, to celebrate and serve clients in an unconventional and very real way.
The focus is still of course, the clients experience, so my once very tidy “concierge service” for my traditional brides was quickly replaced with hiking out into the most beautiful places in the world with them, to help them get dressed, dry their tears, powder their noses, and in a lot of cases, literally be the only witness on their marriage license.
Since my couples are often away from home, friends, and family, I end up being the support they need on a day like this. Past the logistical benefits of having me around, sometimes people need to be seen, heard, and supported without judgement or narrative. I’m really lucky to be that person and do what I love, out in nature.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I think one thing that non-creatives may not have to tackle is setting a dollar amount on yourself, and how vulnerable it really is to market your personal story so that it resonates with the right audience. Everyone in every career creative or not, may face “imposter syndrome” is some way or another but to really authentically connect with your potential buyer, you have to be raw and real, while sharing who you are, so you can serve the people meant for you. The fear of really being seen, and the fear of the projections and criticisms from others can be really crippling if you haven’t done the work to be good with yourself. Or for some, learn who that authentic person is, so you can share your real gifts.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The hustle and grind is unsustainable, long term.
I was raised in a time, and in an industry where your productivity was the sheer metric of your worth and value. A terrible philosophy for anyone in need of self-care, love and acceptance. Hard work is essential to your success, but neglecting yourself in the pursuit of those goals is a lesson I had to unlearn-and fast, as it was taking a real toll on my health.
The old “put the oxygen mask on yourself first, before you help others” metaphor is true-I found out the hard way.
Turns out, when I’m rested and cared for, I am so much more available for others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blackfernbeautyco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackfernbeautyco/
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Bri Nicole Photo Co.