We were lucky to catch up with Valarie Pina recently and have shared our conversation below.

Valarie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

If I had to choose a hero or a role model in my life I could think of no one else other than my dad because I can attribute my work ethic to him. As a child, I grew up occasionally thinking to myself, “wow my dad has a lot of jobs!”. I could never really understand why it was that he had to work so much. However, now that I have grown into an adult and a business owner, I can appreciate that he was consistently working to try and provide his kids with more opportunities, and ultimately a better life.  There were times that he had as many as three jobs at one time, while still pursuing his passion as a musician. He was always involved in music as a hobby and spent some time as a part of bands where he performed as a bass guitarist. It was moments like this that made me admire his self-respect for living out something that he was truly passionate about, but it was his work ethic that carried him through life to show his love for those around him.
Now that I am a mother of two beautiful children as well as a business owner/ entrepreneur, I can relate to his desire for wanting more opportunities for myself as well as my family. On the other hand, I have also realized that it is much easier said than done. There are times that I may feel overworked and I have to give myself a reality check so I can have a balance of family life and work life. After all, as much as my dad worked, he made sure his relationships never suffered and I respect that. Once I look back on precious memories I think to myself, “if he can do it, then I can do it”. It is his drive and work ethic that I am proud to say I have adopted and what keeps me going in my life when I feel things may have become difficult.
When it comes to my business, a common misconception is that if you work for yourself, then you don’t have to work that much at all. When in reality, it is quite the opposite that becomes more common. As business owners, we typically only profit from the commission portion of a sale/ service. In some circumstances like mine, you may even be the only one to
handle several duties and find yourself as the receptionist, the administrator, and the inventory specialist all along with delivering a service. Running a business alone can be quite overwhelming and I sometimes find myself working every day of the week, but then again I was happy to settle my business here in Austin, TX due to the demand.
At the end of the day, I thank God for blessing me with a hard-working example like my dad to model my work ethic after. Whether it is a short week or a long week, I am happy to operate and maintain my business as it becomes second nature to me, because after all, I had a great mentor.

Valarie , 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?

I graduated Esthetician school in 2017 from there I was applying to jobs and I came across a body sculpting position in Plano, Tx. I applied thinking there is no way I’m going to get hired. Well, luckily for me I was hired on after my second interview. I trained and eventually got certified. I was beginning to build up a great clientele for this company, but I wasn’t getting the compensation that I felt that I deserved. So I took a leap of faith and started my own small business. I’ve been in business here in Austin for over year. I have the most amazing clientele I could have dreamed of. I discipline myself by staying organized, having a list of “to do’s” in my phone. Making sure I give myself the breaks that I need mentally and physically.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve learned that not every single client is going to be the right fit. I’ve also learned to ask the right questions during one on one consultations to make sure the client isn’t wasting their money, and I’m not wasting my time. Investing money in your physical appearance comes a lot with changing your lifestyle to upkeep your results with body sculpting.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe word of mouth helped build my reputation in the current market I’m in. In reality, I’m really close with my clients. I see them when they are at the their happiest, but I also see them when they are at their lowest. It’s a trust we build together when I see them on a weekly basis. I want you to feel like you’re in safe place when you come see me for services…I’m all ears.

Contact Info:

• Website: Sculptedbyvalarie.com
• Instagram: Thevalariegrace