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

Michelle, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

For many years my business wasn’t my only source of income or sole focus. During that time, I found myself working 6 to 7 days a week at as many as four jobs, volunteering at two different places, and earning my undergraduate degree. This style of unbalanced life went on so long it was almost a key part of my identity. Friends knew that I needed to be reserved weeks—preferably months—in advance for personal gatherings and my family knew that I was basically always busy and working. I was chronically exhausted and wasn’t sure I knew a better way. It seemed that I would work harder to “get ahead” only to find myself a couple steps behind again. Eventually, I grew and shifted my business enough to support myself without other jobs, yet this habit of overworking (perhaps proudly) continued. I realized that my ability to be resilient and work hard—when overused—became a weakness and was holding me back, even sabotaging my health and true success.

After a very frightening health scare, I realized I needed to finally choose myself and prioritize my well-being over all the self-imposed goals and obligations. I am so grateful to say that this truly changed everything and allowed me to grow and serve others on another level. As a recovering people pleaser working in an industry that focuses heavily on serving others and being readily available, this was hard. This required new choices and investing in myself as I never had before. I began working with an incredible coach, identifying my personal patterns, tapped into my intuition, and became more present and purposeful than ever before.

While I am deeply grateful for the incredible experience and lessons that such diligent work taught me, it was difficult to realize I could’ve been gentler with myself for over a decade. There is a lot of focus on and applause for hard work and hustle and, while I do believe there’s much to be said for that as well dedication and resilience, I feel we may have more to offer others as well as ourselves with more intentional room for our own growth, health, and even rest at times.

With these changes in mindset, new habits, and increased awareness, I expanded my business, hired some extraordinarily talented people, allowed myself to grow in both service as well as leadership, and show up for my clients and team in a way that simply would not have been possible before. I am so grateful that my ongoing daily lessons and growth reflect these changes and are an opportunity to expand rather than repeat patterns that did not allow me to serve myself or others in the best way.

Michelle, 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 work as a licensed aesthetician resonated with me initially because of my personal struggles with skin care as an adolescent. I personally understand the value of looking and feeling our best and how that impacts the way we show up. While I initially entered the beauty industry as a customer service specialist, my love of science and learning allowed me to transition to a service provider. Skin care formulations and the vast array of products and treatments were fascinating to me. I also quickly learned how wonderful it was to have clients look forward to seeing you, sometimes as the highlight of their day and how wonderful it was to allow someone to feel more relaxed and confident. The ability to transform someone’s day is very special.

When I began offering skin care services in my own business, Glo Skin, I had the opportunity to truly shape the experience for each client. While I am very grateful to have an abundant number of clients and to continue to grow my team’s clientele as well, I always wanted each guest to feel that their time with us was all about them. We do not focus on seeing as many people as physically possible or work in a way that impacts our ability to be present and focused. Our skin care services are all unique and customized for each guest, every visit. We take the time to understand lifestyle, upcoming events, and listen to what is truly needed from us. My team and I see great value in having a little extra time to truly have a consultation and answer questions, as well as have a moment to be fully prepared for each guest.

With this mindset, we are very proud to offer unique experiences with both noticeable results as well as relaxation. Our atmosphere is soothing and welcoming, and we often notice a shift in our guest as soon as they walk into our spa space. We offer skin care solutions that are realistic for the lifestyle of each guest and help with signs of aging and uneven skin tone, soothe acne, and reduce redness. By customizing each treatment, we adjust as your skin does and often resolve multiple concerns at one time. We realize some guests are very familiar with treatments and for some this may be a new and uncertain experience. By taking the time to truly listen and educate our guests, we help them feel more comfortable and transform their skin as well as provide a unique spa experience.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Empathy, strong communication skills, and active listening are massively important. Being aware of the person in front of you and truly hearing what is needed and wanted transforms the guest experience. When receiving personal services, the guest may or may not be comfortable asking many questions or requesting you adjust things for them. They may not know what to expect at all. By sharing expectations and being fully aware of the space and your guest, you will put them at ease. I also feel it is incredibly important to educate each person, to the level they are comfortable with. Some people are excited to know every ingredient and others prefer a quick overview. This extends beyond the treatment room to skin care steps for at home as well. It’s important to understand what a realistic daily routine will be to improve and maintain results, and to be open about expectations based on this. Of all the consumer and spa experiences I have had, the best ones have been with individuals and businesses that prioritize communication and customer service.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I am so very grateful that much of my business growth has been due to word of mouth. Throughout my career, I have prioritized being consistent and professional. My guests know that I will honor their appointment, be fully focused on them, and that they can count on me to share what is truly best for them. I care much more about doing what is right for each guest than about providing a certain service or home care recommendation. I also respect their privacy and am honored when someone is comfortable confiding in me. I continue to educate myself and choose to offer products and services that I personally use and believe in. By being a trusted resource for each person who chooses to work with me, I have grown beautiful relationships and am very grateful to be an aesthetician for many families, friend groups, and even second-generation guests.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gloskincarespa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floridaskinspa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridaskinspa
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-r-7836b630
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/glo-skin-palm-harbor