We were lucky to catch up with Octavia Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Octavia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I had been working at my job in the health field going on 5 years, while also serving part time in the military. There had came a time shortly after my military contract had ended, where I had a “what’s next?” “This can’t be all there is to life” moment. I decided to take a lash course, which in turn landed me in school for Aesthetics. This literally was a split decision almost overnight, with no real thought behind it. I tend to be that type of spontaneous career wise. I ended up working days, and going to school nights. I knew I wanted to be my own boss, having managed and being in charge at other companies throughout my 20’s. I knew I wanted more time with my son, being I missed so many birthdays due to military duty. I also knew I wanted to help people, which is why I always stayed in the medical field some how. School started and I quickly realized lashes weren’t for me, but it felt like I was supposed to be there. Everything came natural, almost second nature to me. Time passed, I graduated and again realized healing & skin were definitely my niche. It was a start to a new me, a new mindset, and I was doing what I wanted to do– Heal. A calling I truly believe is my soul purpose for being here. After graduation, what was once my school hours, quickly became my personal work hours. I believe if you can give a company 8, you can give yourself at least 4. Those 4 hours turned into 6, 8, and eventually totaled 18-20 hour work days. I was tired, but I was dedicated to building my clientele, learning, and honestly my business beginning is what made me happy. I quickly realized I could then combine both my love for esthetics and medical in one. A year passed, and it seemed like I was dreading going to work, I wasn’t truly happy until I was “off” and with my clients. I knew it was time to leave, but I still had work to do. Purchasing a home was on my to do list, so I started taking steps to do so. This before leaving my job, being I had been there so long it just seemed like it was “time.” Closing day came, this was spontaneous too. The goal was put in notice, work an additional 90 days & rebuild my savings. I’m extremely spiritual, I started having dreams, seeing signs, feeling like 90 days was just entirely too long. I feel as if God said to me, “I said leave now Octavia, not 3 months later.” My clientele wasn’t where I wanted, but I felt not working 8 hours would only give me more time to grow and pour into my business. Again, he said right now, not later. I threw my back out, was out of work on steroids for 2 weeks. I was due to return, I then got sick. Covid, I was out of work an additional 2 weeks. He sat me down. In that moment of illness, I realized I couldn’t go back. I was in so much pain, but I knew I had done my part there. More signs came, and I did just that, left. A new house, jobless by choice and no choice but to hit the ground running. I haven’t looked back since, and have been taken care of. Divinely guided if you will. Even in the scariest of times. There’s reward in any risk, if not there’s a lesson sure to follow.

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

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn that I can’t offer every service under the sun. I also had to learn that I didn’t even truly have a passion for every service under the sun. The goal eventually became to continue what I knew to be my niche and stick with it. This, obviously after letting tons of money go to waste, on education I wasn’t going to use. I’m a curious being, so sometimes I just need to know. I suppose it wasn’t a waste, but I definitely never made my money back from those investments!

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Contact Info:

• Website: ForeverAuraSkincare.GlossGenius.com
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