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Realigned | Redefining Success On Your Own Terms featuring Michelle Knoll
0 Playsin 2 days
Realigned.
That’s how Michelle describes her journey back to herself, her family, and a business that truly fits her life.
In this episode of Beyond Esthetics, we sit down with Michelle — a small-town Canadian esthetician, mom, and former spa owner — who shares how she got into Esthetics and the spiritual journey that was so integral, how she went from managing a team to choosing simplicity, purpose, and alignment and what success truly means to her now! This is one of the most spiritually inspiring conversations we've ever done that gave us chills all the way through!
She takes us inside the emotional pivot of downsizing, the systems that support her peace, and her recent journey into the Enneagram and self-discovery work that's helped her lead with more clarity and confidence than ever before.
✨ This one is for every beauty pro who’s ever felt like “more” isn’t always better.
Find Us:
Instagram: @thedragonflyspa @thebeyondesthetics @sweetcheeksuniversity @the_esthi_coach
Email us:
hello@beyondestheticscoaching
We'd love a rating and review!
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Beyond Aesthetics' Podcast
00:00:02
Speaker
Good morning, everybody, and welcome to be beyond aesthetics, the podcast where we dive deep into the journey of estheticians who aspire to grow, not just professionally, but personally and spiritually.
00:00:14
Speaker
This is a space where the art of aesthetics meets the soul and the power of community fuels transformation. Whether you're looking to elevate your skills, expand your mindset, or align your career with your deeper purpose, you're in the right place.
00:00:26
Speaker
Join us as we explore stories, strategies, and insights that go beyond the surface because growth happens from the inside out. This is Beyond Aesthetics. Let's grow together. And I am your host, Jessica Peterson.
00:00:39
Speaker
And this is my lovely co-host and soulmate, Tiffany Orr. And to I'll let you take over. Hello, hello, I'm Tiffany and we're so excited that you guys are here
Michelle's Journey and Downsizing Decision
00:00:52
Speaker
with us today. We have a very special guest and in this episode today of beyond aesthetics, we sit down with our very good friend, Michelle, a small town Canadian esthetician, mom, and former spa owner who made the bold decision to downsize her business in order to expand her peace, purpose, and alignment.
00:01:12
Speaker
She takes us behind the scenes of her early days in aesthetics and opens up about what it was like to build a business and grow a team during some of the most challenging times in her personal life.
00:01:24
Speaker
She shares the pivotal moment when she realized that more wasn't always better. and how being forced to slow down and focus on her personal development ultimately became the key to her growth, both as a woman and as a professional.
00:01:38
Speaker
This episode is rich with honesty, strategy, and soul, and a beautiful reminder that success is whatever you say it is. So we're so, so excited to get into it today. Yes.
00:01:50
Speaker
So excited. Welcome, Michelle. We are so excited to share all about you and your story and just you and your presence. So we're so grateful to have you here and have this amazing conversation with you today.
00:02:07
Speaker
So I'm just going to give you guys ah quick um overview and bio of Michelle just a little bit further. So Michelle Noel is a wife, mom of two and small business owner from Walkerton, Ontario. In fact, we had to look up Walkerton. Yeah.
00:02:27
Speaker
Um, I like that was just like a month ago and we were like, okay, we need to book sometime. Like it's a beautiful. So it just looks absolutely amazing.
00:02:39
Speaker
So Michelle has over 13 years of experience in the aesthetic industry. She's built a career on helping clients look and feel their best while balancing the busy life of motherhood and entrepreneurship.
00:02:53
Speaker
So we're going to start with some fun icebreaker questions for Michelle today.
Daily Rituals and Canadian Roots
00:02:59
Speaker
so Michelle, what is your favorite thing about living in a small town and have you always lived in a small town?
00:03:07
Speaker
um So yes, I've always been from the area, always a small town girl. I've lived in a couple of different small towns in the area, but have landed in Walkerton a couple of years ago.
00:03:18
Speaker
um I love the community in a small town. i feel like, you know, you're walking down the street or you go to a store, you go to the restaurant and people know you. And um yeah, I just love that part about it. um I love that it's a little bit slower paced than, you know, in city life.
00:03:39
Speaker
Um, yeah, I don't know. It's just, it's a more relaxing atmosphere. so yeah, I really enjoy that. And, and the support, I think, to word of mouth is so popular or so common um in a small town, because people are really here to support each other. So yeah.
00:03:57
Speaker
Yeah, I love that so much. So what is one small ritual or routine that you do to start each day? um So something that I started to do quite a few years ago when my kids were younger, um i realized that it's very important for me to start my day getting up early and just sitting by myself and having coffee in the morning before everybody else wakes up.
00:04:27
Speaker
um It just starts my day a little bit more grounded. I found that for a little while I was like sleeping until the kids got up and then i just seemed it just seemed like my day was a little bit thrown off. So, um yeah, I I always get up early Sunday. Sometimes I'll sleep in. But generally I get up by like between five thirty and six and just have some quiet time and have my coffee and whether I read or read.
00:04:54
Speaker
not or whatever. I just kind of go with the flow, but that's something that, um, I've done for many years and it's really helped just start my day a little bit more grounded. Tell us about your coffee.
00:05:06
Speaker
Tell us about my coffee. Yeah. How do you like it? I love, I don't know why love to know this about people. I always have to. So I just drink it with a little bit of milk. I'm a milk girl, not cream and a little bit of maple syrup, actually. Really? Tell us about that.
00:05:25
Speaker
That's very Canadian. Yeah. yeah funny funny um Um, I think for so long, i don't, um, I don't know, I guess it's just a healthier option than like fine sugar. So yeah. Okay. I'm going to try it and let you know.
00:05:43
Speaker
Same. I've never thought about putting maple syrup in my coffee. no but Yeah. Some people do honey. just prefer the flavor of maple syrup a little bit more. so yeah. And we like,
00:05:56
Speaker
For many, many years, i lived right by somebody that had a sugar bush. So it was just like they were good friends of ours. And so, yeah, we got syrup from them. And we used to make maple syrup when i was a kid. It was kind of a fun little tradition that we did. So, yeah. Aww.
00:06:12
Speaker
Let me ask, is it, is that a common menu item at like a coffee shop in Canada is to have maple syrup in your coffee? It's not. Okay. It's a Michelle thing. It's a Michelle thing.
00:06:23
Speaker
So good to know. There's a lot of people in this area. There's a lot of families and like businesses in this area that do maple syrup. So, okay. I think it's more common in this area. Okay. That is really cool. Okay. I love that.
00:06:36
Speaker
I can't believe we'd never asked you that before. Okay. Cool. I like it. Okay. What is your favorite personal skincare product or current go-to products for yourself?
Skincare Preferences and Client Connection
00:06:50
Speaker
Um, well, I am an evidence junkie. You guys know that. Yeah. So I am all eminent. um What is my favorite? Actually, right now, my favorite is the new cleanser.
00:07:05
Speaker
Oh, really? Yeah, it is currently. don't know. I just it's different. The scent is different. It's so fresh. I don't know. i love it right now. That is my favorite product.
00:07:16
Speaker
Tell it, tell like, what is it? Let's talk about it. Cause it's so. and Yeah. It's a, um, Tulsi, which is a holy basil, um, cleanser. It's a foaming milky cleanser. So I just find that it's,
00:07:32
Speaker
It's different from what I've been using because I generally go towards like a cream cleanser. So this one is just nice and fresh. It's very earthy, um a very earthy scent. I find, yeah, really hydrating on the skin.
00:07:46
Speaker
I really like it. And I always have a little bit of redness. So I find that it's really nice for that too. Okay. It's just really, yeah. I like that. So I didn't know that you were a milky cleanser of gal. Yeah.
00:07:58
Speaker
All Good to know. think I fell in love with the Minoy cleanser and it's a, it's a creamy cleanser before that. I don't think I really had a preference, but, um, and the calm skin cleanser, I really like it. So this is just a nice change for me.
00:08:10
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. So fun. That's really good to know. It's still new. So I love talking about it and, you know, hearing everybody's feedback on that. Mm-hmm.
00:08:21
Speaker
All right. I think we already know the answer to this one, but what is your favorite part of a facial to perform? My favorite part? um I do love the massage portion of it.
00:08:35
Speaker
um I also, I find sometimes it depends on the client that comes in um You know, if it's somebody that is dealing with some acne or like an issue like that, i tend to like love that part of it. Or if I know that somebody is coming in and they're really stressed out or they just need that like relaxation, then, you know, that day that becomes my favorite part. So I just kind of, it depends on the day and the person and what their concerns are or, um, yeah, I'm very like open with shifting. So I enjoy all of them.
00:09:10
Speaker
And then sometimes it's, yeah, like I'm, I like to focus on what their main concern is or what their need is. And that really becomes like that day. That was my favorite part of the facial.
00:09:23
Speaker
you're very intuitively driven, right? To just kind of connect with your client. And do you find that that helps you helps it keep your, as an esthetician, keeps it diverse and exciting and changes things up that way. And that's kind of helps keep you going there.
00:09:39
Speaker
okay Very cool. Yeah. That's really awesome. I think too, that just being, so i was meeting with this team yesterday for training actually. And I said that over and over and over. i was like, look, as long as you stay really focused on being in full service, like you're asking the right questions, you're reading the client, you know, cause they're like, how do we get people to come back? And that's exactly what I said. i was like, listen, as long as you you Ask the right questions, you're figuring out the right needs, and you just are so completely in service to these people. Like, they're going to come back. You know, not that the fundamentals don't matter because they're so important, but people really are coming for the experience that we have to offer. And so I love hearing that from you, your intuition and letting that lead you.
00:10:29
Speaker
And being so specific client to client. And that's what makes you great. Like, no doubt. No doubt. That is what makes any service for provider, but like, especially with an esthetician, that is, it just speaks of volumes of your success.
00:10:46
Speaker
um
00:10:49
Speaker
What would your client say is your superpower?
00:10:53
Speaker
um I often hear like my touch is my superpower. Like I hear that probably weekly from people. So yeah.
00:11:07
Speaker
I would agree with like literally just watching you on social media, you know. So before you took my class and I was just, you know, checking you out and looking at your page, I think you can, and I'm sure you guys would agree, you're looking through someone's Instagram and you're watching the facials that they do.
00:11:26
Speaker
and you can just tell because you instantly feel your nervous system like ro you know and you're like so relaxed and that was definitely the first thing that i noticed about you i'm like she has great touch like there's no doubt about it and i also think so you guys tell me just based on what you see ah when you're watching social media but someone ah will have that energy about them When they're touching someone, I feel like you can just see it on them that like they are so in tune with what they're doing.
00:11:57
Speaker
And so you can also, I think that that contributes to it. Does that make sense? Oh yeah. I think that's ah just an energy thing in general, whether you're watching them do their magic or not. And that's something I've really picked up with you, Michelle, in particular, the more that I've gotten to know you is just your energy is calm and inviting and accepting. And, you know, I don't even have to see you like in action doing a facial massage. And I already know that your touch is there just by like your essence, if that makes sense too. So I do think like, yes, it does translate regardless.
00:12:31
Speaker
And so it's just really, really cool to see. you ah Do you have any personal skincare or treatment philosophies?
Embracing Natural Beauty and Early Interests
00:12:44
Speaker
um I think for me, it's really... Like I like to look at it being like healthy skin, not perfect skin. i think sometimes people get caught up in that they have to have perfect skin and it's really about the health of your skin, not the perfection of how it looks and everything. So yeah.
00:13:06
Speaker
I love that. It's so important, especially to like translate that to our clients, because I think so many clients and just women in general or people in general feel this pressure to like, there's this end goal with their skin. And once, you know, I have this perfect skin or once I get my clear skin or achieve these goals, then, then that's going to like, kind of, you know,
00:13:29
Speaker
that's the end goal or that's going to fix something or whatever. But yeah, when you can really, as their, as their person, as their esthetician really, um stand tall in that and help them see that, that it's really healthy skin over perfection. It really is so empowering for them.
00:13:46
Speaker
Um, so I really do love that philosophy of yours. Have you guys found that healthy skin is n or something that people are looking for more than they used to and kind of asking those types of questions versus being so overly focused on, like, we're always going to be focused on hyperpigmentation and breakouts and this and that. But I think that healthy skin is in.
00:14:10
Speaker
you guys think, like, have you seen that? Yeah, I feel like I've had more people lately that their goal is to go without makeup. And it's more like they want their skin to look healthy enough to not have to wear makeup and cover up and like put on this mask or whatever it is and I feel like I used to be one of those people and I often share that story with people where I was uncomfortable to go you know i would wake up in the morning and put a full face of makeup on before I even went downstairs because I was so uncomfortable with people seeing me without makeup on yeah yeah so
00:14:51
Speaker
Having that story to tell people i find helps them and it's like you're beautiful whether you have makeup on or not and now i can go out in public without makeup on and I'm totally fine with it. Like yeah so it's um it definitely takes time to get there but like I love that and I love when people come in and they're happy to go without makeup on. I think that's amazing.
00:15:16
Speaker
I do too. I, that is amazing. I didn't know that about you either. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. Isn't that so funny? Like you, you kind of just get to know someone as they are right now. And it's interesting. I just never would have guessed that about you because you are just so confident and your skin is so beautiful. Like to think that you would do that before you would even come downstairs kind of blows my mind.
00:15:39
Speaker
Yeah. Wow. That is really cool. Many, many years, many, many years. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Okay. That's really great information. Actually. i love that.
00:15:52
Speaker
um Do you also find Michelle? So that kind of is just another question that I like to ask people is, so your personal story is always really powerful and helps you connect to your clients. Right. And so how have you seen that that has like drawn certain clients to you because you have that same experience and can share that story with people? Like, have you found that that just basically makes a difference for you and your repeat clients and your retail sales because you have that to share with people and can have that kind of like common ground?
00:16:26
Speaker
um i did think that I haven't shared that with all my clients, but it's more the ones that, that have come in that maybe share that story of like, they'll come in and they're immediately like embarrassed that they don't have makeup on. And I'm like, I would have never even known that. Like, do you know what I mean? So it's usually the ones that come in and they say something or they'll make a comment like, oh my goodness, like, I don't, they have to explain themselves that they don't have makeup on. And I'm just like, I never even noticed that. yeah And I'll tell you the backstory of this just quickly of how, what shifted for me.
00:17:09
Speaker
um is i have a I used to have a client that I did nails on and she was a makeup artist. So she would come in and and she had the most beautiful makeup on. She looked absolutely beautiful.
00:17:22
Speaker
She actually did the makeup for one of my weddings. um And then the next time I seen her, she would come in with not a stitch of makeup on. And I'm like, she's so beautiful. Like I just, it was because it was such a dramatic change.
00:17:37
Speaker
And I'm like, she's beautiful whether she has makeup on or not. And I just thought like, we perceive ourselves as looking naked or weird without makeup on. But when you look at somebody else, you're like, you look the same. You're just, you have makeup on. And it was like, wow. So then i just kind of started not wearing makeup and like being kind of like it was very out of my comfort zone but yeah that was the shift for me when because I see her and she was so different but so beautiful either way but she probably felt naked but she was comfortable with it and I'm like I love that so yeah so I share it with people that come in more so and like have that conversation or have that uncomfortable and then I share my story with them and yeah
00:18:26
Speaker
Have you shared that story with her, the makeup artist? I don't think so. sure I'm not sure. not sure. um would have to ask her. i just think that's so cool that like,
00:18:37
Speaker
she and sp kind of inspired that or instilled that um empowerment in you to be like, oh man, she looks beautiful either way. If she can like rock the makeup or rock her natural skin, like, yes, I can too. um Yeah. I was just curious if you shared that with her or not. And um that might be something powerful that she needs to know. You never know.
00:18:57
Speaker
Yeah. I'll have to ask her if I shared that with her or not. Is she still your client? She's not, but I know her. She's, okay she's a relative of mine.
00:19:07
Speaker
Yeah. I know her so I can ask her. That's cool. Yeah, you should. i think I would love to hear that. I know Tiffany would love to hear that. You know, we're probably going to need to follow up with you on that actually.
00:19:21
Speaker
Okay. Awesome. Well, Michelle, let's talk about your beginning in aesthetics and what first drew you into this industry.
Career Path: From Police to Aesthetics
00:19:32
Speaker
Um, so way back when I was in elementary school, actually, was kind of my first inkling that I wanted to lean towards the aesthetic field.
00:19:44
Speaker
I didn't go to spas or anything like that. So I think it was really they setting, like I knew the atmosphere, the setting of a spa. So I think that that was really what,
00:19:57
Speaker
um intrigued me about it, just like that quieter setting and serving people. um I think I was in grade eight when we had to like on our graduation, we would write like our name. So in it was like the end of the year. They do your picture, your name, what you wanted to do when you grew up and like that kind of thing. So that's kind of when I started dabbling into it.
00:20:21
Speaker
um Yeah, I don't know what inspired me. I don't know if it's just that I naturally like to serve people or what it was, but that's when it started for me. So quite a few years ago.
00:20:32
Speaker
that That is so crazy. That's crazy. You knew that tells me that this, I mean, obviously this is a calling for you. this is a calling for all of us, but truly that you were aware at such a young age of kind of that calling and listen to that inkling. I didn't even know what an aesthetician was until like I was in my twenties, you know, not long before I went to aesthetic school. Once I figured it out and I was like, Oh yeah, I want to do that.
00:20:55
Speaker
But I had never, I didn't even know that is so cool. Yeah, I actually had two really good girlfriends and they both wanted to be hair. They wanted all all three of us to be hairdressers.
00:21:07
Speaker
And I was like, I don't think I want to be a hairdresser. And then I think that's when I kind of like started thinking about it. And then, yeah, the whole spa, I was like, you be the hairstylist, I'll be the esthetician and blah, blah, blah, blah. And it's funny because I'm in aesthetics and they both want to be hairdressers. No way. Yeah.
00:21:28
Speaker
We'll grow up and we'll play beauty shop and we'll get married and have kids. And oh, I love it. Yeah. yeah Okay. Well, and then, so that was in eighth grade.
00:21:41
Speaker
who So then walk us through your experience of when you decided to take the leap into the aesthetics industry. So what did that look like for you? Yeah. So that was, so grade eight was in, graduated grade eight, I think it was 2000. In 2000, didn't go to aesthetic school until 2010. So i didn't have support from my family when I told them that I wanted to do aesthetics.
00:22:12
Speaker
um So I actually went to college for police foundations and we who who whoa whoa whoa Wait, police foundation? Did you say police?
00:22:23
Speaker
Michelle. So Tiffany, we've got to ask more questions when we're like but working with people. What? yeah No way.
00:22:35
Speaker
Wow. Okay. Keep going. ah Say more So I went to college for two years to take police foundations and i graduated from that.
00:22:47
Speaker
um I did a couple ridea alongs and i actually applied for the cadet. um Sorry for the yeah, the OPP cadet training program because i graduated college when I was 17. So I was extremely young. I didn't have any experience.
00:23:05
Speaker
um So I applied for that. I actually got accepted and I got offered to take part in the OPP police cadet program. And I turned it down because I went for a ride along and i We pulled over a couple of people and I was like, I felt so bad. Like this one, this one old man, we pulled him over and he didn't do anything wrong. And I'm like, I feel so bad. I'm like, this is not for me. I'm too, I'm not hard like this. Like I'm such a soft person. So I'm like, this is not for me.
00:23:42
Speaker
So going back, it was my mom's dream to be a police officer and she never followed through with that. so when when she wasn't supportive of me being an esthetician, she kind of persuaded me to go into that, to the policing. um So i did that. I was young when I went to school. So, I mean...
00:24:05
Speaker
I did what I thought was the right thing to do. So anyways, I, I didn't do that. i went back to sharing that I wanted to take aesthetics. Like that was still very in the back of my mind.
00:24:17
Speaker
i would live my life. And then one day i would just have this feeling of like, this is where I want to be. So I, and I was like that throughout police school, like everything.
00:24:28
Speaker
So then I was like, I'm not doing this. I'm not going to the cadet program. This is what I want to do. And again, i didn't have any support. um You can't make a career out of being an esthetician and you don't make enough money and blah, blah, blah, bla blah.
00:24:42
Speaker
So I, I did real estate. Yeah. Okay. Real estate is a lot less shocking than Michelle being a police. Although like, as I'm sitting here, look, I'm like, I could see her. and yeah Michelle's a baddie. Like, yes.
00:25:02
Speaker
Okay. But real estate. Okay. So I did, I did real estate. i did the courses. I worked extremely hard. It is not an easy program to go through. um And I did that for a couple of years.
00:25:17
Speaker
um I got married. I had a baby. And it was during my mat leave, which you don't get when you're self-employed.
00:25:29
Speaker
um i was trying to take a couple months off to be with my daughter she was a preemie so it was and i was a new mom and everything so i had a couple agents that were taking care of my properties and my things um and i was getting phone calls from my clients and they were saying like you know we're not going to We're going to go to a different agent. So it became extremely stressful. So I ended up actually going back when she wasn't like maybe three or four months old. old um And it was stressful. i was away at night. i was away on weekends. People, this was in...
00:26:11
Speaker
So right after, like, you couldn't give a property away. So it was really stressful. And I just, I was having nights where I wasn't sleeping. I was worried about deals. And I'm like, this is not what I want to do. Not when I have a baby girl at home and people are wanting, like, I would take them to properties. I would show them, I'd spend the weekend with them. And then I would get a message the next week. Oh, we actually put a private offer in. And so it was just really challenging.
00:26:38
Speaker
Um, so i did the research on different aesthetic schools. I went to the school that I chose. I got a walkthrough. did all of the things I paid for my course.
00:26:52
Speaker
And then I told every everybody love it going to a study school. Yeah. Yeah. So they didn't have to say I was married. I had a baby. i was, you know, a woman and was doing what I wanted to do. Right. Like I can make my own decisions. Now was your, uh, so it was really like your parents family that wasn't like your immediate parents were not supportive.
00:27:19
Speaker
Yes. okay Um, yeah. Like my dad, I don't know. He never, he doesn't really, say a whole lot. Like, do you know what I mean? It was my mom that I think was more vocal about it and my sister. And I think I felt like I needed to do what I needed their support or something or their, their acceptance of it or something. um Until yeah, once I got older, and I realized that it's my life, my choice, my decision. um Yeah, so I went to aesthetic school, and my daughter was only 11 months old. So that was ah challenge.
00:27:57
Speaker
How old were you when you went to aesthetic school, Michelle? Um, I was, I'm going to say around 22 or 23. think that was about, I was married young and had babies young. So yeah.
00:28:13
Speaker
ah yeah I just think it's like, i i think it's actually so cool. Your story that like, yes, you, you did the policing training and then you very quickly like figured out at a really, really young age, like, nope, this isn't for me. And you were able to pivot and you pivoted towards real estate. But even that was like a short amount of time. i think we, I mean, we coach people and I, there's people in my life that they, they live lifetimes.
00:28:42
Speaker
doing things that they don't want to do, that they don't love to do. And it can take them till like midlife to figure out, like, you know, to make those bold, brave decisions with or without their family's support.
00:28:53
Speaker
So you're still very young when you were like, ah, actually, this is still a dream. I'm still going to do this. Um, whether you're with me or not, I think that is actually so, so cool and really courageous. And I'm so glad that you shared that with, um, with us and with our listeners, because it is very inspiring.
00:29:12
Speaker
And I think we all need to hear that. Yeah. Well, I'm glad I, I, yeah, I, I hope that it inspires somebody to, you know, take a leap if they are feeling that calling because it is worth it.
00:29:29
Speaker
And clearly this was a calling for you. You know, it never left you. And yeah like Tiffany said, it's so courageous You know, when we just have those things on our heart that we can't let go of, even though there are blocks in the road, you know, and because there can be so many. and I think especially when we don't have the support of the people that we love and we it's so it's natural for anybody to just want validation from your parents and from your siblings and.
00:30:01
Speaker
You know, so it does take a lot of courage. And I think that that's really cool that you're like, well, sorry, i don't know what like, this is what's this is what I'm going to do. and um but Tiffany, I agree. Like, I think that we watch people and Michelle, I'm sure that you've seen people to just spend decades, you know, trying to please other people okay and look at the life that you have built now and just how happy and fulfilled you are in your career because you just had enough courage to follow your heart.
00:30:29
Speaker
Yeah. Good job, Michelle. I know. You would not like, listen, you would not be a good cop. i don't No, I know. you are like, I cannot even imagine you like pulling someone over.
00:30:43
Speaker
That's not, that's not a thing, you know, like everyone would be getting out of tickets. Like no one would ever get and Everyone would love you as a cop. You'd be the best cop in town. Everyone would be like,
00:30:55
Speaker
call michelle you know like oh my gosh that is amazing this is so you're calling and that is not yeah i so okay well then tell us this now how is your sister and your like are they buying products from you and getting facials for you or like so supportive you i love it
00:31:17
Speaker
ah love it ah I love this. about Oh, they love it. They love it. She's doing nannies and peddies and nails and all of that. Yeah, it was the greatest thing ever.
00:31:28
Speaker
That is the best. So tell us, you know, so then you go to school and now you're a wife and your mom and, you know, in school. So what did that season of your life look like for you? How how was that? Um, well, there was challenges because my daughter was so young, but I was so happy to be where I was.
00:31:51
Speaker
My husband at the time was very supportive. His sister was extremely helpful. She stayed and helped out with our daughter's name, Ava, helped out with Ava is when she was little. And i know that there's definitely things that I missed out during that time.
00:32:06
Speaker
but um I was just so happy to be doing what I wanted to do that, you know, it just made it easier. And so I, i would, I would go away from, i would leave Monday morning and come home Friday evening. So I was away for the week. I lived away. Yeah. you yeah It wasn't that I was just gone for the day. i actually left for the week. So that was, it was challenging. so how far was, how far away were you?
00:32:37
Speaker
Two hours. Wow. Michelle. That is so courageous. So courageous. And like, thank goodness for your sister-in-law. Yeah. Wow.
00:32:48
Speaker
Yeah. We had, um, a good support system with her. um like I said, my husband at the time and our, a good friend of mine was a babysitter in town. Like that was in the town that where we lived. And so she was really helpful as well.
00:33:02
Speaker
Um, yeah. So I was very grateful for that. How long was your aesthetics program? um It started early November and it went to um July, i think. So it wasn't like it was like ah years, but it was long enough for having a little, little baby at home. Yeah.
00:33:22
Speaker
Michelle, girl, I'm finding more like I, ah we already loved you so much. I have this new love and respect for you. Holy cow. That is massive.
00:33:33
Speaker
Okay. Keep going.
00:33:37
Speaker
Um, yeah, so it was, like I said, it was, it was good. i enjoyed being there. It was a great experience. I was happy. And, um yeah, I think overall it went smoothly based on, you know, everything that was, that was happening and Oh my goodness.
00:33:58
Speaker
Okay. Wow. Wow. I'm very, very impressed. Yeah. Yeah. Very impressed. It takes a lot to impress me these days. I am extremely, extremely impressed with you. I think that is really, really cool and like super inspiring, super inspiring. And it kind of, you know what, it makes me think of like, there's such a, a,
00:34:22
Speaker
but I don't know what I'm looking for, like a blend between being willing to do whatever it takes and being in alignment with your calling. And I think that when you are in alignment with your calling, like your heart was not letting you get out of this. You know what i you mean? And so then it kind of makes doing whatever it takes a little bit easier.
00:34:40
Speaker
Yeah. Wouldn't guys agree? I'm like, cause there's a, there's a hustle, you know, but then there's also a hustle with heart. There's like this spiritual hustle. There's like this hustle because you're like, this is just, I can't let this go, you know?
00:34:52
Speaker
And then it does make it just a little bit easier. And that's kind of what this is making me think of is, you know, it was so hard. Like I literally cannot even wrap my mind around, you know, yes, it was difficult. And at the same time you were so happy too.
00:35:08
Speaker
Yeah. And that's just alignment. Well, and it's kind of amazing how the universe also um provided for you at that time with your sister-in-law and your friend and your husband at the time was supportive. And i mean, financially you had the means to do it and be away. And I was listening to a podcast yesterday actually, and it talked about how, like when things are so,
00:35:32
Speaker
when you're in alignment and like Jess said, you're hustling with heart and it becomes a choiceless choice that you can't not do it when you're just see it so clearly you want it so bad, your teeth hurt, then the universe is going to find a way Yes. It's going to be hard and there's going to be challenges. And, but you just are like, I can't not go down this road because it just becomes like a choiceless choice.
00:35:56
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. And I, um when you say about financial, that was, it was hard for us, like going down to one income, but also how the universe works in funny ways. It was because I was gone to school. I'll just share this quick little story.
00:36:12
Speaker
um When I was going to school, it was over Christmas as well. So with my husband at that, at the time, um with his family, we did like a little gift exchange at Christmas time. So the adults only,
00:36:26
Speaker
and I think it was my sister-in-law. we used to have like cash calendars. So you would buy the calendars and then there was different days. And I think it was Ontario. It's been so long. I can't even remember. But anyways, you would buy these calendars on in uncertain days, they would do draws.
00:36:44
Speaker
And so we were at this gift exchange and you could only exchange a gift two times. So I took the first calendar. Somebody stole it from me. Somebody stole it. So we weren't able to get it back. There was another one. Somebody took it. Somebody stole it. And then I stole it.
00:37:00
Speaker
So I kept it We won $5,000.
00:37:05
Speaker
What? you are I just got massive chills. My gosh. Like literally $5,000 had your back fully. But to be here if you're right though, I mean, i do i mean completely believe if you are in alignment, if you're following your heart, if you are You know, in your purpose, the universe will take care of you, especially if you believe in that. You know what he mean? If you can just accept that in one minute and trust it And that is literally the coolest story ever.
00:37:38
Speaker
Yeah. And it was just enough to like get us where we needed to be. And we were able to give my sister-in-law a thousand dollars for
00:37:51
Speaker
for helping us. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. man man. Cool story after cool story after cool story. um I love it. No, that's extremely powerful. Thank you for taking that sideline with us and telling us that because I don't think there's anything more inspiring that.
00:38:08
Speaker
that And I think a lot of people need to hear that sometimes, you know, because life does get really hard. I know so many people who do go back to aesthetic school, like midlife or later, or, you know, they're older and it's not an easy thing to do, you know? And so hearing a story like that is so powerful.
00:38:27
Speaker
Yeah. So powerful. Dang. Okay, Michelle. so you made it through aesthetic school at that
Building and Downsizing a Spa Business
00:38:35
Speaker
point. yeah So now kind of let's deep dive into the years of building your business after aesthetic school and then kind of how that led you to eventually growing a team. Can you walk us through that?
00:38:45
Speaker
um Yeah, so right out of aesthetic school, I was able to get a job at a spa. It was about i'm maybe half an hour away from my home.
00:38:57
Speaker
um So it was just a really beautiful old house um that they had converted into a spa. And as soon as I walked in the door, I was like, this is where I want to be. It was just the setting I wanted to be.
00:39:12
Speaker
um The ladies were amazing. So there was another esthetician there. And then, um And then another lady that did like Botox and fillers, um she was a nurse, so she did that kind of thing. And then there was another esthetician and myself. um Just the whole atmosphere was beautiful. we connected right away.
00:39:33
Speaker
So I worked there for about a year and a half. And i was very open with them in the beginning that i had a vision of having my own spa someday.
00:39:45
Speaker
So they knew that that was kind of where I was going. um So I worked there for, like I said, about a year and a half. And I went on that leave with my son And after he was born i started...
00:40:01
Speaker
contemplating more about starting my own business instead of going back to that location. um i wanted to be closer to home and I wanted to be able to work from home a little bit.
00:40:12
Speaker
So that is when he was a baby is when I started taking clients into my home. um Just like family and friends, just a little bit here and there. And then as my name got out there a little bit more, i created a space in a room where I could do manicures and nails and pedicures.
00:40:34
Speaker
When I was in aesthetic school, i did a gel nail course and I hated it. I'm like, well, I'm not doing gel nails, but I'll do manis and pedis and massage and whatever.
00:40:45
Speaker
um So I started doing that. My husband at the time, he was great for taking the kids. We had like our bedroom was upstairs it was large in the ah opposite side of the house so he would take the kids up there in the evening when I had to take clients so that's kind of how it started and then word of mouth just kind of went from there um and then we went through a divorce so that that changed things um He was still very supportive supportive of me. we We had a very clean separation. We did what was best for the kids.
00:41:25
Speaker
um And at that time, I moved my business into a small location in Paisley. So I worked out of the house for a little while.
00:41:36
Speaker
um until it kind of became like, okay, I needed my own space. And so that's when I moved it into, into town. So I lived on a farm, I was out in the country, um about five minutes out of town, so not far.
00:41:50
Speaker
So then I moved to my business. That's what forced me to move it into town into just a small room. And I did um like man-use pedis. I ended up doing gel nails because I had a lot of people ask me about them.
00:42:05
Speaker
um So I actually retaught myself how to do gel nails. um And it ended up being like what I did the most in my business as I was building it.
00:42:19
Speaker
um So I had a small town in pa or a small location in Paisley for a couple years. And then I started getting too busy for that location or starting to like, okay, I want to be able to have like a reception area because I was just within a room.
00:42:37
Speaker
so I'm like, oh, I need to have a reception area. So I wanted to expand from there. um So I found another location that was a little bit bigger. it had there was I was able to have a whole reception waiting area, a front desk, and then a treatment room as well.
00:42:53
Speaker
So I went into that location and painted and freshened it up and made it cute. I i love doing that kind of stuff. I love creating like a space. So transform that space. Yeah.
00:43:08
Speaker
And I was there for, was, I'm going to say just over a year and a half. I can't remember my timelines exactly, but, um, I got busy enough there. So my business grew quite quickly, um which was amazing. i was the only esthetician in the town. Um, and I was well known enough in the town that people spread the word. So I was very grateful for that.
00:43:35
Speaker
Um, I had a vision of where I wanted to be. i don't know how in depth you guys want me to go into my story. um But I had a vision of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do.
00:43:50
Speaker
um So i had my divorce. Then I landed with another guy Um, and he was very different from my first husband. So it was a little bit more of a challenge. Um, my first husband was a little bit more of my personality of like dream and just like take a leap, right. And do it and figure it out as you go where my new husband was a lot, he's a lot more, um He thinks more with his mind or his brain, his head, and I think more with my heart. So we had some conflict as I was growing my business, which was extremely challenging and new for me too, because i had been with...
00:44:35
Speaker
um, Jason, I'm going to put their name. Can I put their names on it so that I don't, they're not burn you they're not going to listen. when Jason, he, um, he was good to like, say, okay, yes, we're going to do this. We'll figure it out where Alex was much more, like I said, numbers and that kind of thing. So I had a large, large struggle with that. I had been with Jason, since I was about 16 years old. So from 16 to 20, don't know, eight or something like that. i had somebody like that in my life. And now I have somebody that is very much like, okay, you want to expand, you know, how much money are you going to make when you get there? And like all of those sides of of the business,
00:45:20
Speaker
um where I knew in my heart it didn't matter what I did, it was going to work because it's my passion and I'm so aligned with it. So it it was challenging because I didn't always have answers for him.
00:45:32
Speaker
um So we looked at different properties. i actually at that time looked at a building here in Walkerton. um And there was just, there was a lot I looked at. We looked at a property that we wanted to try and buy so I could have my spot there.
00:45:50
Speaker
um We did a lot. Anyways, it was definitely challenging for me. So I landed on another space in Paisley. I renovated the entire thing. it was an old hardware store and we went in and we put walls up. We put all new ceiling tiles. We did all new electrical. I made a three room spa um and I worked there for a while. And I, that's when i hired my first esthetician.
00:46:21
Speaker
So I was busy. My books were getting full. People were wanting in. Um, so I've hired my first girl, which was a completely new experience for me.
00:46:33
Speaker
um She was there for, i hired her, I believe it was in about November and then the following year is when COVID hit.
00:46:45
Speaker
So everything was like growing so strong and things were going amazing and COVID hit. So that was also a whole new experience for everybody.
00:46:57
Speaker
i wasn't really sure how to navigate that but, um but There was a part of me that was ready for the break.
00:47:08
Speaker
I have to admit, like, i the first lockdown, I actually was OK with that because i almost I was so busy and I just needed that break.
00:47:20
Speaker
um So then the whole going back to work and then rescheduling and going back to work and rescheduling, that was extremely hard. um So once we finally got back to reality of getting back into the treatment room and everything,
00:47:41
Speaker
um We were both very busy because we had all of these people that we were trying to fit into back into our schedules. um And then, so i ended up hiring another girl as well at that time.
00:47:57
Speaker
um And she was there, i think that was in maybe April or something like that when we, when I rehired her or when I hired her back. um So that was,
00:48:11
Speaker
It was challenging because i didn't really, i think looking back, I wasn't ready, i don't think, to like hire somebody. do you know what I mean? Like I didn't have the experience.
00:48:27
Speaker
So there was definitely some communication struggles there or what I thought, you know, I thought I was communicating things. And anyways, it was just, it didn't,
00:48:41
Speaker
And how I wanted it to end. So they both eventually ended up leaving and opening up their own spaces, which is totally fine. But I think it caught me a little bit off guard because...
00:48:53
Speaker
I was dealing with some things like in my personal life that maybe I wasn't fully where I needed to be in my business life. um So once that happened, it was a really big eye opener for me that I needed to just like take a step back and okay, there's things in my personal life that I need to deal with before I can go into like having employees again.
00:49:26
Speaker
um i thought I was ready for that as I was building my business. And that was one thing that um Alex, my current husband and i had had multiple conversations about.
00:49:40
Speaker
um and I just wasn't Maybe ready to admit that, okay, you know what, I'm not ready for this. i just could see what I wanted. i i could see the end goal and my vision of where I wanted. And I think part of that had to do with.
00:49:55
Speaker
me proving that I can make it as an esthetician and I can make money as it and as an esthetician, right? So I think it all kind of circled back to that. And I was, I think I was trying to prove something when I look back at that. um So I just had a a day where, um well, not really a day, but So I went from having three of us basically full time to fitting as many people as I could into my schedule with just being me.
00:50:29
Speaker
And it got to a point where it was, you know, I was working long hours, i my body hurt. And I think that is a sign. I'm very much a believer of um if you have, you know, stuck energy or if you're doing something that isn't in line, like,
00:50:49
Speaker
your body, the universe will give you those signs, right? So yeah um I think with my girls leaving, the thing that upset me the most was that they weren't open with me about it. And i was sad because I was like, oh, I could have shared some of my experiences as to like what worked from for me or what didn't work for me. or you know, I would suggest to do this because,
00:51:13
Speaker
it works well, right? um So I wish I would have had a better opportunity to have those conversations, but I think maybe they obviously didn't feel comfortable coming to me. I'm not really sure, but um I think that's what upset me the most about the whole thing and how it ended. um because I think I know in the back of my mind that a lot of estheticians do have that vision of going off on their own or that, right. There's a lot of us that are like that. Um, so yeah, I think I was just upset because I didn't have the opportunity to like share my experience and, and be supportive of them. Um, and then in my personal life that, um,
00:51:57
Speaker
Yeah, it was just, I don't know. It was, i think because i wasn't maybe healthy enough in my personal life to like see that at that time or like be open to that. um Yeah, so I was working on my own, trying to fit as many people in. I still had people calling because people wanted to come to the spa. They had heard many, many good things. They had friends that were coming.
00:52:26
Speaker
So i was so busy with nails and petties and I really wasn't doing a lot of facials and I had all of this eminence that I had invested so much money in and facials are really what my heart like that true spa experience is what.
00:52:41
Speaker
drew me to aesthetics in the first place. So I had to sit with the thought of like, how am I going to change this? Like, i can't, I couldn't, I couldn't imagine having to call people and being like, I'm sorry, I can no longer take you as a client anymore.
00:52:57
Speaker
i i couldn't choose who I wanted for clients and who I didn't want for clients. So I had to really sit with myself and think like, what am I going to do? Because I can't, this is not sustainable for the next year.
00:53:10
Speaker
you know, 10 years. And I don't know that I'm ready to hire somebody else yet. So i just said, you know what? Sorry, do you have a question? yeah i do Actually, so what made you feel like you weren't ready to hire again?
00:53:26
Speaker
i guess, did you just still feel kind of burned by that? think that experience was that kind of what that was? I think so. i think a little bit. um Just i said Yes, I think between that and when I worked at the spa, when I first came out of aesthetic school, and just also um seeing other spas, it seemed like that was one thing that spa owners struggled with was girls leaving and having to rehire and leaving and having to rehire.
00:54:02
Speaker
true. And... I felt like when I had girls working for me, I was busy in my treatment room and trying to deal with that at the same time. And I had a hard time doing it all.
00:54:20
Speaker
So I think for a little while, my vision was that I would run the spa, I would greet the people, i would, you know, do all of that and have girls working for me was kind of the end vision.
00:54:32
Speaker
So when I was trying to do it all at once, I found it, exhausting like trying to to do all of this and and to manage people. It's hard managing people. It's so hard.
00:54:46
Speaker
is so hard. It's really hard. And um i feel like after they left and I was trying to do as many clients as I could,
00:55:02
Speaker
I felt like if I hired somebody else, it was going to take away me providing that service for my clients. And that at the end of the day was what I really wanted to do was provide really good services for people.
00:55:19
Speaker
So the stress of having to deal with employees was cutting into the quality of what I was doing with my clients. And at the end of the day, it's, it was more important for me to serve my clients really well than to have girls working for me and making more money.
00:55:39
Speaker
Do you know what I mean? like Yeah. yeah. so my my only option that I could see at that time was to downsize.
00:55:50
Speaker
So again, the universe works in funny ways. So i had, you know, i saw I thought, you know what, I really want to just do facials. um I have this huge building. I had three rooms and it was just me. I didn't need the space anymore.
00:56:09
Speaker
um So a friend of mine in Walkerton had a room come available in her salon. So i said to her one day, I'm like, would you ever consider, you know, allowing me to come and do treatments there?
00:56:23
Speaker
And she was obviously happy to have me come. So I think that was in September, right? And in January, sorry, she didn't have a room come available. But I said to her, if you have a room come available, I would be interested.
00:56:43
Speaker
So then i think it was January, she came to me and said that she had a girl moving out. So I decided, i think it was January or February, and I started advertising that as of April 1st that year, I was moving locations to Walkerton and I was only doing facials.
00:57:04
Speaker
Well, to men how feel like because so then that feel? Because there were other services that you were providing that you were like, I don't want to do this anymore. And that was really hard for you. So really there's multiple things that are happening that you're like,
00:57:20
Speaker
my vision has changed. I don't really want employees and I don't want to do these services anymore. So the transition is actually very layered. a And that's a lot of honesty with yourself. I think like that takes a lot of reflection and honesty and like humility. Yeah. I think that's my question. Like how, how did you navigate those conversations with your clients and even in your community about like, Hey, we've grown, grown, grown. And then now we're going to downsize and it's going to look different. And I'm sure that came up in conversation, probably a lot for you.
00:57:54
Speaker
So how walk that walk us through how that felt and, and kind of that that transition period? um It was, you know what, I have to say, a lot of people were very supportive. I think um because a lot of my clients had been with me for so long, and from the start, they knew how they knew me from the start or fairly early on and i think they didn't really say but I think they seemed like I think they could tell that it was stressful and so they were supportive um one of my girls the first girl that ended up leaving
00:58:42
Speaker
she was saying things to people when they were in my treatment room, um or sorry, not in my treatment room, but when she was in with treatment.
00:58:55
Speaker
And these are clients that had been with me for a long time and things that weren't true. So stuff like that gets around very quickly, especially when,
00:59:06
Speaker
You have built a reputable business. um So they understood. i think a lot of people understood because they kind of seen what happened um and they understood that, you know, that's hard.
00:59:21
Speaker
it's hard when you've worked so hard to build something and then somebody's saying not nice things behind your back. So I think I had a lot of support just because people understood that.
00:59:34
Speaker
um And also i had, i had started my business in Paisley because I was married to somebody from Paisley. And i to this day have support from his entire family. Like they have been,
00:59:49
Speaker
you know, amazing throughout everything. um But I hadn't lived in Paisley for quite some time. So the transition to Walkerton seemed natural. And i think people understood that, you know, my life is here now. So even though it was a hard decision and it was um like a big move for me, um people understood like For sure they were they were good. And I was very supportive about, like, if somebody had a gift certificate, like, i will honor that. Come for a facial. If you're not interested in a facial, um you know, i I've touched base with this spa, and they are happy to honor my gift certificates if you want a pedicure. So I did...
01:00:32
Speaker
things like that to serve who I, who I like my clients, right. And to this day, if somebody comes to me that has a gift certificate, I will honor that or I will direct them to somebody that that will help them out. Right. So I think, um, people, you know, they respected because I actually cared and I, I tried to do my best to accommodate everybody in every way that I could.
01:00:58
Speaker
Um, there was a few people that came to me that said, you know, oh business wasn't busy. Like that's unfortunate and stuff. And I was quick to correct them. Yeah.
01:01:11
Speaker
The complete opposite actually. Oh, you know, sometimes people's minds go that way that is downsizing because it's not working. And it is, I just need to do what works best for me. So, Oh my gosh, I have a question. Did you have any fear around giving up the services you no longer wanted to do that were bringing income for you? Or was it just like, you were so done. You didn't even care.
01:01:39
Speaker
like tell us about that.
Business Risks and Alignment
01:01:41
Speaker
um I think there was a little bit of like uncertainty, but at the same time, um i think I was just so ready. So there's just, there's been different times in my life where I've made big decisions.
01:01:57
Speaker
um And I am very much like, I'm not scared to, to do that. Right. Like I'm not scared to, when I know what feels right in my heart, I, I will,
01:02:11
Speaker
just jump. I actually a tattoo on my arm that says, sometimes you just need to take the leap and build your wings on the way down. love that. i love that and love bad I feel very you though. and Yeah. yeah Yeah.
01:02:27
Speaker
So yeah, it was, um, there was a little bit of that fear, but I just knew in my heart that it would work. Like i just, I don't know. So your character is actually what worked for you. You know what you mean? And I think that this is such a good example of not just the your heart and like the service and you're accommodating and, you know, all but that all is speaking to your character that you you had all that support through this transition because people know your Yeah.
01:03:02
Speaker
And that's, and you stood true to it through the hard, like that's the essence of your character is you were able to actually rise even above it by like honoring those gift certificates and having those conversations and with lots of love and gratitude and you know, all the things, but like, I i agree with Jess, like you were going through some really hard things.
01:03:25
Speaker
And you were still able to stay very classy and your character was just true to yourself. And that does speak volumes because it's it's really hard to to maintain our character during hard stuff, right? Yeah.
01:03:45
Speaker
Now, one of the reasons why I really wanted you as a guest is because I think a lot of people need permission to downsize. yeah So, and Michelle, I'm not even sure if I've told you this, but I work with one of the biggest med spas in the town that I live in as one of my spa partners.
01:04:04
Speaker
And she is co-owner of this med spa. And couple of years ago, she contacted me and she was like, hey, I'm opening a new spa. And I was like, interesting. Tell me more.
01:04:17
Speaker
And she lives out in the country. And she had this barn on her property that she turned into this beautiful spa. And I didn't really have like too deep of a conversation with her until later.
01:04:32
Speaker
And it was kind of the same thing, girl. She was like... I just want to work for myself. I just, she's like, I I've managed people, you know, and, and I've had all that success and everything, but like at the end of the day, it wasn't in alignment anymore. And I just really wanted to just work for myself, you know, in this space that felt really good and just be so fully present in the treatment room. And it's people like you and like her that I think, man, more people need to he like,
01:05:03
Speaker
be given that permission slip that it's okay to change your mind. You know what I mean? Like it's, it's totally fine to downsize and to change your mind and and make those changes. And sometimes I wonder if that just comes with age.
01:05:16
Speaker
I don't know what you guys think about that, but I think as we get older, we're kind of like, actually, you know what? Like i I would like my nervous system to feel better, you know, than like being busy and having all this and having all that. And and I just think that it's so powerful and and so why and really inspiring, really, really inspiring. You know, running a team is hard. Tiffany is one of the best at it and it's still hard for her too, you know? it is. so So I just wanted to point that out.
01:05:49
Speaker
here It's very commendable. Very. i do have a quick question when it, when it came to your team, knowing now what, you know, and the little bit of wisdom, more wisdom that you have now, like what lessons or what would you do different with your team?
01:06:10
Speaker
Um, I think I would spend more time waiting for the right person. Mm-hmm.
01:06:23
Speaker
okay so i I think i I felt like, you know, i put I put the job posting out. These are my applications. I have to choose one of them. feel like that's where I was at, where now it's okay to, okay, you know what? i I don't have time to get all these people in, but I would wait instead of just hiring because I felt like I needed to hire um That's definitely a big lesson that I learned.
01:06:51
Speaker
And like, they were the only option. Like, if you don't catch this one coming by, there's not going to be another one coming by. yeah we got to snag this one. Yes. That's good advice. Yeah. yeah and I mean, they, they were, they were great. Like they, they,
01:07:10
Speaker
did their job, they were, you know, there, but I just personalities and stuff like that are very different. And that's one thing that I've even had to step further back in the last, say, year and like, really learn about my own personality and my own traits and how how different people really are, right? So I think I was so naive to think like, oh, everybody is, you know, caring and giving and and can, you know, hold space for people and right where people are so different. There's so many different personalities. And I mean, I'm old enough, I should know better, but I just think that I,
01:07:55
Speaker
didn't ever think about that. So um yeah, there's definitely like a certain personality that or person like type that I would wait for. um Yeah, I think that would be something that I learned and and just being more like like aware of how they need to be communicated to, or how they like learn certain things, right? Everybody learns a little bit differently. So just being more open to that and aware of that.
01:08:33
Speaker
love that. Yeah. So tell us where you're at now. What give us a peek inside your current business and how that looks. um Yeah, so I have, I'm inside a salon space.
01:08:48
Speaker
um I have a treatment room that we designed, we put cabinetry in we set it all up, put new lighting in to make it um really feel cozy when guests come.
01:09:00
Speaker
And then in the beginning, I just had that. But then like the way the universe works, another room there opened up for me. So now I have my own office space where I can bring my clients and we sit down and we can do consults in there um and talk about any things that we need to talk about.
01:09:20
Speaker
um and it's nice because they come in and they feel like they can kind of just, hu you know, and we can talk about things. life or kids or whatever's going on. So it's nice because, you know, we can shut the door and have a conversation and I can spend some time with them. And then we go into my treatment room.
01:09:37
Speaker
Um, so yeah, there's a salon. There's, i think about six other girls that work there. um And yeah, my hours are much shorter.
01:09:47
Speaker
I take one whole day off a week that I just do book work and business side of things where before, and I know a lot of business owners, a lot of estheticians, a lot of hairdressers that don't do that, but it's important to like,
01:10:04
Speaker
set a day aside for no appointments that you can do the other side of the business than just the in treatment. It's, it's one thing that I made it needed to happen.
01:10:17
Speaker
Um, so I've allowed myself to take that day to do book work or things like this, where I'm doing a podcast or coaching or education. Um, and then I do,
01:10:29
Speaker
you know, three or four other days during the week. So yeah, a lot less hours, um but has changed my business completely and my life.
01:10:43
Speaker
Well, yeah. tell Tell us about that. How like setting your, your schedule and your days and your weeks up with intention, how is that serving you and how has that served you? Especially differently from where your previous business model kind of was set up. Yeah.
01:10:59
Speaker
um So yeah, when I decided to move my location right from the get go before i even opened my doors there, I sat down and thought, what do I want my life to look like?
01:11:10
Speaker
What do I want my schedule to look like? um So in the beginning, it was a little bit slow because i take treatments from 11 till 4 p.m.
01:11:22
Speaker
So that allows me to go in a little bit early, be able to get organized for my day and then be ready for treatments at four or sorry, at 11. And then so I do two facials a day.
01:11:34
Speaker
i do one at 11 and then one in the afternoon. It allows me to have time after my treatments to spend time with my clients and then have a little lunch break, get my room reset for my afternoon facial.
01:11:51
Speaker
And then that allows me to treat them, serve them after. i feel like It's an experience. So they get treated from the time they walk into the door to the time they leave. So that was one thing when before when I was doing nails and stuff, we would come out of a treatment and my next client would be sitting there. So it was I didn't have time and I didn't want that experience for my clients.
01:12:13
Speaker
and So that was very important for me, especially when you're coming out of a facial treatment like you want to not feel rushed. And I didn't want to feel rushed because then that makes me feel a little bit behind or a little bit anxious when I'm going into my next treatment. So I was very specific as to what my hours, what I wanted to do and how I wanted my day to look.
01:12:39
Speaker
um And I cut back from working two evenings a week to working one evening a week, which was really nice. um Again, it took a little bit of time to to fill my schedule because my hours were a little bit um like not as accommodating maybe as some.
01:12:58
Speaker
um But I knew that that was very important for me to be able to. um maintain my schedule because I knew that once, once you start opening up your schedule and then you get into that habit. And then once you get there, it's hard to take it back. So um the odd day I will say book a brow wax a little like before my 11 o'clock treatment or something like that, which also gives me a little bit of flexibility to do that.
01:13:26
Speaker
um But yeah, I, i try my hardest to stay in that schedule. So for the first year, i felt myself like getting, i would say when I first moved, I was really good.
01:13:38
Speaker
And then I kind of started falling into the like, oh, I'm not busy enough. This person needs here. So I was like, I was not as lean or I was more lenient with my boundaries, but then You know, I started going in more hours and I started getting like a icky feeling and I'm like, okay, we need to address this before this happens again. So that's when I really stepped back and I started like, okay, Michelle,
01:14:07
Speaker
What's going on with you? Why are you feeling like you need to be there? And why are you worried about what other people think? And so then, yeah, that's when I started really, really diving into like, okay, what what's going on with me? Who is Michelle, right? So...
01:14:23
Speaker
I'm not sure that I ever knew how ah intuitive and self-aware you were. mean, to a degree, I think, but not to this degree. to have the self-awareness to know, to like stand back and reevaluate a situation, a lot of people do not have that level of self-awareness. And just because we know you, we we know how it has served you. And now we know on a deeper level that Oh, that's because you are extremely self-aware.
01:14:54
Speaker
Well, and recognizing the old patterns that were coming back, cause they all do. Right. And I agree. Like you're so self-aware you, you saw them coming back in and filtering in and then you're, we're able to take a step back and that just speaks volumes for again, how in tune you are. with your body and with how you feel and with what you want. And it's very, very, it's really cool to hear. It's just a great reminder that we do need to check in with ourselves and have those really honest conversations, take a step back, pause, evaluate all of the things.
01:15:29
Speaker
Yeah. So how has the schedule you have set up now, how has that served your personal life?
01:15:37
Speaker
um Well, it's been great as far, like i can be at home with my kids in the morning, get them off to school. So um our schedule, so I have a daughter that's in grade 10 and a son that's in grade seven, um and they they don't know life without their step parents. They've been around for so long. So, and we have a great relationship, all of us together.
01:16:01
Speaker
um So we do week on week off. So we have them for a week and then they're at their dad's for a week. Um, so it allows me to be here in the morning, get them organized for school. And I mean, they're getting older now that they don't necessarily need that. But that was important to me when I downsized. I'm like, I want to be here when they're here because I only get them every other week. yeah So and it's been like that since they were like Hunter was two, right? So that was a whole nother thing.
01:16:30
Speaker
thing that I was dealing with is, you know, to only seeing my kids every other week, right? So there's that whole thing, which I guess I didn't mention before that I was going through as I was building my business, which was really, really hard, um really Really hard. Yeah. so um yeah, so this gave me the opportunity to be like, you know what, I want to be here in the morning when my kids are here to, to just get ready with them, listen to music or dance or do whatever we want to do in the morning, right?
01:17:02
Speaker
um or do homework that they didn't get done the night before. So making sure they get off to school, it also allows me to be home for supper with and make supper and um yeah, be home like shortly after they get home from school and, and take part in their sports and do all of those things. So um that served me very well. And it's been great for our family. um And then only working one night a week has also been wonderful. So I actually, on the nights that I work late, I go into work late as well. So I start at my first facial at 2.30 and then I do an evening facial as well.
01:17:43
Speaker
um So then I'm here, um you know, in the summertime, it was great because when they were here, we could spend the morning together and do something you know, um I can have lunch with my husband or whatever. So it's just things like that, that that's important to me um as a mom and as a wife and just being able to, you know, do a couple appointments for myself, whether it's, you know, going for a massage or, or going to get a pedicure or something like that. I have that time to do that.
01:18:17
Speaker
ah So yeah, that's important to me to be able to do that kind of stuff. we got to fill our cups. No, seriously, seriously. That's another thing that I feel like people need to be given some sort of permission slip to live reminded high quality life. You know what I mean? And that does not like our lives, even if you're, cause I think or all three of us feel like our careers are actually our calling. Okay. But that does not mean that you need to be on 24 seven. Yeah. Either. Yeah.
01:18:50
Speaker
yeah either wrong Yeah, it's that quality of life piece. So thank you for sharing that, Michelle, because we do all need to be reminded of that because it's really like at the end of the day, what is this all for? Like, what are we doing this for?
01:19:04
Speaker
It's for the people we love. It's for our quality quality of life. It's for our family, our kids. It's so and we have to fill our own cup. We have to. really be intentional with how we set things up and with our schedules and what we allow and our boundaries. And so, um, I think just you sharing that story gives so much permission to somebody who's listening, who maybe does need to like have an honest conversation with themselves or who wants to readjust their schedule.
01:19:31
Speaker
And yeah. Yeah. So let's get into some business-y things.
Client Engagement and Relationship Building
01:19:40
Speaker
I want to talk about retail systems and what is working. So you're a retail, you are very successful with retail sales.
01:19:49
Speaker
i Do you have a certain strategy or like how has your strategy evolved or over time? You know, are you using tools, tracking systems? You know, what are your education approaches, the language that you use to sell from a place of service. Like, can you just kind of talk us through your retail success and kind of how you approach it basically and how that's made you successful, I guess is what I'm getting at.
01:20:14
Speaker
So in the beginning, I think that I was nervous um because I didn't do a lot of retail when I was in my old location because I was so busy doing nails and stuff. I didn't really have time to focus on like eminence and my facials and everything.
01:20:32
Speaker
um So when I moved here, it allowed me more time i to learn a little bit more, get a little bit more comfortable. I did take your masterclass, Jess. which was awesome. Like as far as it gave me a whole different perspective as to how I was talking to people.
01:20:53
Speaker
So i am always a little bit nervous about not knowing the answer if somebody has a question. so I felt like I was really,
01:21:04
Speaker
unless i if I didn't know all the ingredients on the back of the box, I was like nervous that they were gonna ask me something that I didn't have an answer to. So um when when I took your course, it made me realize that I,
01:21:21
Speaker
didn't need to, like I was overselling or do you know what I mean? i was like, I felt like I needed to give them all this information. And so I was putting that pressure on myself that I needed to know all of this stuff.
01:21:36
Speaker
And really, I didn't need to like, I mean, I need to, but I don't need to say all of that to the client. So I took instead of feeling like I was trying to sell them something, it was more like,
01:21:52
Speaker
it took that pressure off, which makes it easy just to have a conversation with somebody about like, oh, this and this is why you need this and this is why. and And we talk about like, you know, just not so much ingredients. I think I was so focused on like ingredients that I needed to know that because that was the only way I was going to sell something. But now it's just like conversation with people and it's not selling. It's just educating more than anything.
01:22:22
Speaker
Yeah. but And I mean, so I glanced at your numbers, right? You have shared some of that information with me. And it is a big part of your business, just like it is for Tiffany too.
01:22:32
Speaker
yeah And I think that that's a ah unique thing that estheticians need to hear that retail can be... Almost like, because you can do services, you know, but eventually you're going to kind of tap out. Yeah. You know, so you have the ability or like even Tiffany has the ability to actually be in the treatment room less and sell more product and continue to build your business through retail sales. And that's really powerful.
01:23:02
Speaker
Especially when it just feels good. Mm-hmm. You know, it's not like forced or salesy or, or anything like that. Selling product doesn't make your back hurt or wrists or no And like you guys see my posts the other day, like not everybody wants to come for a facial, right? There's so many people that are out there that just need help with skincare and they don't want to come for a facial. So there's that whole side of the business as well, right? That,
01:23:29
Speaker
you're you're we're here to serve people whether they want to come for facials or not i mean the treatment room's fun right but there's there's so much more like out there as well so yeah it's a very good point very very good point um so one thing that i do want to touch on as well is you're in a salon and we have really good relationships with the people that you work with and they're very helpful and supportive of your sales And so we do work with, you know, a lot of people who have rooms in salons. What kind of advice would you have for them to just sort of bring the team? Like, how have you kind of nurtured those relationships with the people in the salon so that they're supporting your retail sales?
01:24:13
Speaker
um Yeah, they've been amazing. and So if I'm in with treatment, or if I'm not there, they are happy to help anybody that comes in. They've all had facials from me, they use Eminent. So they're able to talk to their clients. And you know, word of mouth is the best way to build your business, in my opinion, or at least it's a, it's very, like,
01:24:38
Speaker
like getting positive feedback from people and getting referrals. So with the girls at the salon, um whenever we get like our little BBRs and stuff, I give them each one of those so that they can try the products and feel it.
01:24:54
Speaker
And at Christmas time, I gifted them all a facial so that they could come in and see me just as a thank you for their support and helping me.
01:25:05
Speaker
And they all really appreciated that and enjoyed that. So um that'll be something that I will continue to do. I've only been there like for one Christmas, so this will be another one coming up. So Um, I'll do that again for them just cause it's important for them to know that they're appreciated.
01:25:21
Speaker
Um, and then I'll take in like little fruit trays or little like charcuterie boards every once in a while, just as like a thank you. And yeah, just doing little things for them. And then they get a little discount on their products too, when they purchase.
01:25:35
Speaker
Very cool. yeah Yeah. I love that.
Enneagrams and Personal Growth
01:25:40
Speaker
Okay. i'm Tiff, let's go ahead and get into the self-discovery Enneagram and alignment if you want to yeah, take her through this because I can't wait.
01:25:52
Speaker
Well, this is going to tie in those personality types that you kind of touched on earlier, right? ah So Enneagram, this is something you're very interested in, you've been learning about for yourself and your husband. And so how has learning different Enneagrams Types or is it type styles? I'm not sure.
01:26:12
Speaker
How's that helped you better understand yourself as a business owner and a mom and a partner, all the things. Um, it's been. very eye-opening for me.
01:26:25
Speaker
um it has probably been, from all the reading and different things I've done over the years, the biggest eye-opener for me.
01:26:37
Speaker
and So I stumbled across it on a podcast that I was listening to. They were talking about this Enneagram and personality types, and I'm like, oh, I'm i'm curious to know what mine is, right? So the start of 2025 is really when I'm like, I'm committing to figuring out who Michelle is, what I want, all of the things. So this year for me has been a big shift for me.
01:27:01
Speaker
um So when I heard this, I'm like, oh, I'm curious. So I went online and found an Enneagram test and it spit out my type, which is a type two, which is the helper.
01:27:14
Speaker
So when I started reading about it, and so it talks about your, um your personality so when you are like a healthy two for me versus an average two versus an unhealthy two and it talks about how you are or how you behave when you're at ah a in a healthy and average and an unhealthy and it was an eye opener for sure.
01:27:44
Speaker
As far as like, I could look back at different things that have happened in the past. And I was like, Oh no, was, Oh, that's why I'm healthy too in that moment. Right.
01:27:56
Speaker
So, um, it was very interesting for me to, to understand why i feel the way I do, why um,
01:28:09
Speaker
run the business my business the way I do, why I'm even in aesthetics. um And it also was ah an eye opener for learning what my husband was. So my husband is a number five, which is an investigator.
01:28:24
Speaker
So our personalities are... pretty much polar opposite. And um i I look back in the expansion years of my business and how I led with my heart and how he led with his with his mind and how I can see why we conflicted so much. um So just not only business-wise, but just in my personal life, um how that changed
01:28:57
Speaker
has made things so much easier and how to like approach different things and um you know, why i and able to hold space for people and, and do the things that I do. It doesn't come naturally to everybody.
01:29:14
Speaker
and I think that I, I didn't know that. I just thought that everybody was like that, um but they're not. So, It makes having conversations and making decisions, say, with my husband, you know, lot easier or, you know, we understand each other a little bit more. so um yeah, like I'm very...
01:29:40
Speaker
giving and very like doing for other people to a point where I tend to forget what I what my needs are because I'm so busy serving other people, right? So learning that I think when I learned my Enneagram was really when I got an eye opener as far as my schedule goes. And like, when I was like oh I'm doing this because I'm so worried about pleasing others that I'm forgetting about why I chose to change my schedule and change what I'm doing. So that just like things like that, because sometimes we're doing things and we aren't sure why it's happening or it doesn't feel right. And we just think, oh, whatever it's, it is, it's, this is just life, right? But,
01:30:25
Speaker
um in Self-care is a very important part of Enneagram too. And after I read that, I understood why, yeah you know, I wanted my schedule the way to look the way it does, because that's what I need to be my best self, right? that That's how I need to operate.
01:30:44
Speaker
um Where my husband, he doesn't need to operate like that, right? He's like, so I'm in my Enneagram type, um like Oprah Winfrey. Um, mother Teresa, Dolly Parton, um, princess Diana, they're all a number two, right? So you see their personalities.
01:31:02
Speaker
Um, they're very giving, very like empathetic, very, you know, that kind of personality. My husband is a number five. So that's like the Einstein, the very, like, he's very intelligent and he, the stuff that he retains and remembers and like, it blows my mind. Right. Right.
01:31:23
Speaker
where I'm not so much like that, but I'm very nurturing and I'm very um like soft. So I can see how we've conflicted and how me growing my business conflicted because that's just how his brain works, right?
01:31:38
Speaker
Where mine, I'm a little bit more of a dreamer. So it was definitely a huge eye-opener. I had no idea there was layers inside the Enneagrams, but like, of course there is. I'm not sure that I knew that either, or maybe I did at one point and have completely forgot, but that's, I think definitely takes that to another level now. So your husband is also kind of learning about this as well.
01:32:05
Speaker
Well, he isn't really learning about it, but I made him take the test got it it because I was curious. I was curious for myself. it It helps you understand. um to go into a conversation yeah so much differently, right? And like, if I say something to him, and I get ah reaction that before wasn't what I wanted to hear then it would create chaos or a fight where now I'm like, oh, you know, he doesn't think the same way as me. He doesn't, he doesn't make decisions the same way that I do.
01:32:43
Speaker
So that's, it makes it easier right it makes me be able to it makes us allows us to have conversation ah better conversation or like more aware of how we're going to react or how we want to approach things so in the end it's been wonderful as far as like us trying to make decisions and he grounds me and i push him to get out of his comfort zone a little bit more so and like dream a little bit more and you don't need to know the end result of everything you can
01:33:17
Speaker
you know, try to like be a little bit spontaneous. So it works well. Have you had your kids take the test? My daughter is a number five.
01:33:28
Speaker
Okay. oh I'm not surprised at all. Wow. Very interesting. my son My son is too young, I think, to take the test. The one that I did, because there was some questions that I had to like Google, like, oh, what does this word mean? Because I really wanted to like take the time and really...
01:33:49
Speaker
get as accurate as I could. So with my husband, obviously he had no issue with that. My daughter, she is in grade 10 now. So she took it in the summertime. And I just said to her like, honey, don't overthink it. If you don't understand something, just Google it. And like,
01:34:05
Speaker
so that you understand so you can because I didn't want to persuade her either way i so yeah she ended up being a five and like I said I'm not surprised at all so my son he's just going into grade seven he wouldn't it wouldn't be accurate enough you have to be a little bit older like a little bit more aware um of the questions but he's got to get through puberty first Yeah, yeah, I highly recommend it I just think that it's, it's very simple. Like, I don't know if you guys know anything about human design.
01:34:38
Speaker
It's very interesting, but it is very in depth and can be quite overwhelming. Like there's some things that, that you can pick up on, um,
01:34:51
Speaker
that are like, okay, yeah I can see that in my day to day life. It's quite depth where the Enneagram I find is once you know your type, like,
01:35:03
Speaker
I threw into ChatGBT like an overview of Type 4 Enneagram and it spits out like just like a brief description of what each, like what the traits are, what your like negative things are and and how you react. So that's, it's nice to be able to reference that because it's very easy um just to give it yourself an idea.
01:35:28
Speaker
But yeah, it was it was very interesting.
Redefining Success and Values
01:35:31
Speaker
So the self-discovery year, like your Enneagram and the human design, how has all of this work impacted your business and your sense of alignment?
01:35:43
Speaker
Um, well, it's impacted my business because I was able to rein back in what I was kind of like, Not that I was letting go of, but the first year of my move, I felt like I could see myself falling back into my old pattern. So it's made me aware of that and and and made me aware of how I function best so that I can go to work and like serve people and talk to people. And I, I guess I just thought that it was easy for everybody to say, go and talk to people, but people are able to open up to me. Right. And I just thought that,
01:36:29
Speaker
That just happened, but it's made me aware of, you know what people feel comfortable. You are able to hold space for people to feel comfortable. So it's affected my business that way because I've, I understand myself more now.
01:36:46
Speaker
Um, Yeah. I forget what the, what the start of the question was. That was perfect. That was a perfect answer. yeah Okay, good.
01:36:57
Speaker
I get a little bit passionate when I started talking, I feel like. and We love that. That's what we like. So what does success mean to you now? So you've been through so much, you know, your business is different now. We've been in this space for a while. What does that look like for you now?
01:37:17
Speaker
How would you define that now? I would say success for me now is, um, just being
01:37:31
Speaker
happy um like in a space where things are flowing and it's not about necessarily
01:37:47
Speaker
the money. I wouldn't say it's more where before I feel like my success was based on like how busy I am and how much money I was making. And, you know, am I doing this right? Where now it's more like, am I happy? And is my business running smoothly? And but right. Like it's more about how is everything functioning? Am i am I doing my business? Am I,
01:38:12
Speaker
happy am I living my life as well like it's a balance between everything because you know we're only here for a short amount of time I want to be able to enjoy my life as well so it's just yeah it's different for me now than it used to be it's not about you know how busy I am it's about how happy I am and how how balanced I feel i guess mm-hmm Makes me kind of emotional.
01:38:46
Speaker
I just wish more people felt like that. Yeah. That's something. So, I mean, it is a question in the the workbook that we do with our coaching. out One of the questions is, what does success mean to you?
01:39:00
Speaker
And then the next one is, how will you know when you're successful? And it just, i don't I don't know if it's because I've been through so much loss, but like when you said like, we're really only here for a short time and it's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and the stress and, you know, the money and the this and the that. and And when we're working with people,
01:39:21
Speaker
a lot of times Tiffany and I have to kind of like talk them through what does success mean outside of you know the money like how is your life and how are you happy you know and do you feel like you're you're giving back and you're living in alignment and you know living in your purpose and it's I don't know why I'm so emotional over that but I just it's really beautiful too because we've been working with you for a while you know and so to like like hear that answer I just love it
01:39:54
Speaker
thank you for sharing that though it's like i just wish more people i wish i would hear that for more people i think um a lot of people need to hear that though oh they really do thank you for sharing that because people definitely do need to hear that yeah um
01:40:13
Speaker
So everybody has a why. Walk us through, which i mean, there's probably so many layers to this too, but what is your why? Like what keeps you really anchored and lit up? Is it just the amount of like service and and staying in that alignment or what is that?
01:40:32
Speaker
I mean, I think you've answered it so many times, but let's just do it one more time, I guess. Yeah. um I think for me, it is about...
01:40:44
Speaker
Like part of my why is definitely what we just talked about is that I feel like so many people are so caught up in the hustle of life that they're kind of forgetting to live life or that there's more out there than just to work. So having them come in and relax for an hour, you know, that's, that's,
01:41:08
Speaker
is part of my why, but also now that I've shifted because I've been in that situation where I was working so much and I was kind of forgetting about life, I've had that experience.
01:41:21
Speaker
So my why has also shifted to like sharing that with people and like sharing that it's important to you know, not just work all the time and not, and I understand everybody's in different situations where, you know, it's not as easy for other people.
01:41:41
Speaker
But just kind of sharing with people that it's okay to not hustle all the time and be in that state all the time. um Yeah. And just like my why is being able to,
01:41:58
Speaker
be with my family and and do the things that we want to do. And, you know, I know I've had this conversation, like, someday I envision being able to go and like, help out in it in another country, whether it's like help out at a school or help out, like, I want to be able to give back and like, do things like that.
01:42:21
Speaker
you know, what's really cool and stands out to me is how your why has kind of expanded into sharing your story. And I know that maybe you felt a little bit caught off guard when Jess and I asked you to be a guest on the podcast and here you are sharing your story and sharing how important it is for others to hear that like have that permission slip.
01:42:44
Speaker
And I just think that's really, really cool. I just wanted to touch on that and make sure that you connected the dots there.
01:42:54
Speaker
Thank you. Oh, thank you holey Okay, Michelle, some words of wisdom.
Instincts, Decisions, and Social Media Impact
01:43:01
Speaker
What advice would you give for esthetician that is in a season of change?
01:43:09
Speaker
Um, I would say
01:43:16
Speaker
listen to your heart and your gut, I think. And if you need to take time to like quiet the noise and, you know, even it could be, go figure out what your Enneagram is because that might help you see why you're feeling the way you're feeling, or it might help you understand like whatever it is, there's different types. So I don't, I can't speak to everybody's type, but I know for me that was helpful. So maybe just do a little bit of research and and figure out
01:43:50
Speaker
you know, yourself and why you're feeling the way that you're feeling. um And yeah, just make sure you're taking care of yourself and everybody's going to have their opinion and it's going to be scary, but there's always something good on the other side. I feel like when things feel hard and it feels...
01:44:16
Speaker
uncomfortable it's usually because there's something coming on the other side you just have to kind of push past the hard and people are going to judge and they're going to say their things and you know I went through a divorce I know about that I went through downsizing my business people are going to talk they're going to talk and next week they're going to be talking about something else so very true That's a really great advice.
01:44:43
Speaker
Uh, we all have our own internal guidance system and we know our ourselves best, but sometimes we do have to just get really quiet and really tune into our own, our own body and how we feel and what we want. So that is really valuable advice.
01:44:59
Speaker
Um, do you have any practical tips for making bold choices without guilt that you can share? um I don't know. i don't know because I'm such of a personality that I'm not scared just to make a decision. So it's hard for me to like, it's hard for me to say like, just do it and it'll all be fine. um Yeah, I don't know.
01:45:30
Speaker
Well, i you know what I think is so funny about that question, though, you guys, is that it's practical tips for making both choices. Because I think all of us here, there's just not a like, we're not a number five.
01:45:42
Speaker
You know what I mean? So a lot of the choices that we make. they're just not practical in the first place. And so it's just like such a hard question to ask. I wouldn't even know what say. I'd be like, i don't know, just do it. And I know you're going to figure it out and everything always works out. Right. But then you've got people like your husband that are like, I'm sorry, what did you just say? Like that's that that's not how life works. Right. But we're like, but it is how life works.
01:46:09
Speaker
Yeah. Practical in your tattoo that you have on your arm. but Don't go together. No, no, no. Not even a little bit. I we think to some people that are in like our personalities, they are under the impression that that you can't just or that you have to.
01:46:29
Speaker
do all of the things like you have to know the answers. Do you know what I mean? Like whether it was their parents that were that type and that's what they've instilled in them. So they feel like, oh I need to know all of these before I can take the leap. And it's like,
01:46:43
Speaker
not everybody is that way either, right? So sometimes people need to to know that. And like, I didn't know that until I discovered that. Like, i when I was in high school, I went to um one high school and I had my two best girlfriends that were gonna be hairdressers.
01:47:05
Speaker
that after grade nine, they said, we're going to a different school. And i was like, okay, I went there and I checked out the school, I registered for the school. And there was just something in me that didn't feel 100% about that.
01:47:20
Speaker
So the morning was to get on the bus, my old bus came first and I got on it. Are you serious? I'm serious. Oh, your intuition, your guidance system is strong and you are very connected to your sacral energy, Michelle. Yeah, clearly. Oh my goodness.
01:47:42
Speaker
Yeah. So it's like, I just, I don't know. i just take chances, i guess. I'm the same. i There's nothing practical about the way that I live my life. Like not even a little bit. Yeah.
01:47:54
Speaker
Yeah. So I feel like sometimes people that are like us are like, oh, I can't do that. So they kind of like push off what they actually want to do um But it's okay to do that. It's okay to, you know, and if it, if it doesn't work out, then you've learned something from it. Right. So I have not had any issues with doing that. So I've done that in other areas of my life too, that, um that have worked out for me. So.
01:48:23
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So much wisdom. Thank you for sharing. Yeah. So what are you currently working on in your business right now?
01:48:33
Speaker
Um, my social media, you girls know that yeah yeah you're doing great. Oh my gosh. But yeah, just building that and like getting a little more exposure and trying to have fun with it more than feeling pressure to me to do it. So that's important.
01:48:53
Speaker
Yeah. Huge learning experience for me. Yeah. Well, you're doing great. Yeah. You're definitely doing great and finding your authenticity with it. yeah Yeah, definitely.
01:49:05
Speaker
ah What are some things that you've implemented recently that have made a big difference in your business? It seemed like small things, but they were actually really big things.
01:49:15
Speaker
Um, yeah.
01:49:17
Speaker
I would say most recently, which is a really small thing, but has been actually really helpful is my agenda that I started, that I talked to you guys about on our, not our last call, but the call before. It's just um taken a lot of pressure off. So something so simple, but it has really helped keep me organized and...
01:49:40
Speaker
um Yeah. So tell our listeners, because I mean, you went out and you got, you got it wasn't a calendar. like a, it's an agenda. A a planner, basically. planner.
01:49:52
Speaker
Yeah. And some fun colors, like, um pens and yes yeah so I'm able to like put out my day I have different yeah colors for my who I need to send intake to intake forms out who I need to follow up with what's you know this color's personal things and this color is yeah so and I'm able to like write a list of what I want to accomplish that week or that month and yeah It's more powerful, but it's been helpful. That's what I was going to say. Like, it's actually more powerful. And I think people give that credit to ah everybody has to find their own way of organizing their days and you, you know, whatever works and it's great to explore different options. And when you can find something that works for you, it's just so, it just makes life flow a little bit easier. So it seems really simple, but it definitely is powerful. Thank you.
01:50:48
Speaker
okay Do you have a five-year vision? Hmm. It's okay. If yeah I don't think so, I mean, I do and I don't. Right. But I think that that is kind of another point about people who are like us is that we kind of let things unfold in a way versus, you know, it's not that there's not goals or, you know, vision, like there isn't, there isn't, there's also just this trusting in the unfolding, I guess is how I would word that too.
01:51:16
Speaker
Yeah. Like letting any, let what come may or what may come, whatever that is. Yeah. It's flow. Yeah.
The Symbolism of 'Dragonfly Spa'
01:51:24
Speaker
Nothing's forced. Is there anything, Michelle, that we haven't touched on that you would want to share with us?
01:51:34
Speaker
I don't think so. but don't know. We covered a lot. Yeah, we did. I'm really, really blown away. Actually, that, yes, I am blown away and just so, oh just have this deeper love and appreciation for you.
01:51:51
Speaker
oh my gosh. A cop. Wow.
01:51:56
Speaker
I just cannot let that go. Yeah.
01:52:00
Speaker
o oh yeah Well, we're extremely grateful for you and everything that you shared and grateful to know you, grateful that you reached out in the first place and we've developed such a great relationship with you and and got to work very closely with you. It's been a huge blessing in our lives and definitely appreciate you taking time for us this morning.
01:52:21
Speaker
meant a lot to us. and And I know that anybody who listens to this episode is going to man, I don't even know if there's words for it. Yeah.
01:52:32
Speaker
I really don't. so much value and and wisdom was just shared. And i think I'm going to be like processing this for a while. And like I can't wait to to listen back myself. And it will probably be another episode that we listen to like multiple times personally. So thank you so much, like literally from the bottom of our hearts for that.
01:52:55
Speaker
And can you tell us where we can find you? How can people, ah you know, reach out to you or or find you and just kind of watch you and get to know you? um So I have Instagram and it's just at the Dragonfly Spa.
01:53:10
Speaker
um That's really where I am mostly. and then you can just DM me there. no Awesome. Thank you. Tiff, is there anything else that you want ask, share, tell us where everyone can find you I do have one question before we wrap up with Michelle.
01:53:27
Speaker
Is there a story behind Dragonfly that we haven't talked about? Great question. um Yes, there is. so i I am very spiritual and well, shouldn't say very spiritual, but I'm very open to that. So um i was at a psychic getting a reading once and she said that um my my grandmother always comes through and she said, whenever you see a dragonfly, you know, that's think about your grandmother, she's around. And um so she wanted me to know that. Yeah.
01:54:06
Speaker
back when I was younger and my parents separated, i became very close to my grandma and grandpa um for a couple of years. And then they both passed within a very short amount of time of one another.
01:54:19
Speaker
um So that meant a lot to me. So then when I searched up what dragonfly, like the meaning of dragonfly and everything, it's, it is about like, transformation and change and, you know, self-care and growing as a person. And so at that time in my life, it was very suiting for me. So I started my business called Aesthetics by Michelle. And then when I took a business, course,
01:54:47
Speaker
like course that is when I dove into like, okay, I need to change my name. I need a website. I need to make this official. um So then that came to me and I, and I felt like it suited where one, where I was at in my life and to just the meaning of like self-care and, and we're here to grow as humans. And we're always, you know, supposed to be not supposed to be, but we're always, know,
01:55:14
Speaker
you know evolving and and working on ourselves. So it just seemed very fitting for where I was at. And it's funny because i just revisited you know the dragonfly and everything. And I feel like it has even more meaning now, right? And, you know, like how old a dragonfly is and how it starts so many years in water and then eventually it emerges. And I feel like that's where I am now. And I'm like, you know, coming out of the water and I'm flying. And yeah, so.
01:55:48
Speaker
Wow. wow Tiffany, I'm so glad yeah so glad that you asked that question. yeah So it's like, it meant something at that time, but now it's like, it's like, wow, that really it's changed even now as I'm doing more like self development and personal development.
01:56:09
Speaker
hmm. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that so much. That's so powerful. i have so many chills and again, just so much love for you and, um, a greater understanding, which I love and just deeper connection.
01:56:23
Speaker
And so thank you so much for just being so open and willing to share and transparent in your journey. And, um, yeah, what an amazing conversation. um So yeah, I think that wraps it up. I don't have any further questions. ti Tell us where everyone can find you.
01:56:43
Speaker
ah You can find me. My name is Tiffany or at Sweet Cheeks University or at Sweet Cheeks Waxing Skincare dot com. If you want to follow my my business. my personal skincare business page.
01:56:55
Speaker
Um, and then of course, you if you want to follow us on, uh, at beyond aesthetics, uh, what is it at the beyond athetics the beyond aesthetics, beyond aesthetics, beyond aesthetics, definitely reach out. Um, we love to connect. We love questions. We love Follow Zulia, anything, just like shoot us a DM, slide into our DMs always.
01:57:17
Speaker
Jess, where can everyone find you? Yeah, um you can find me at the underscore SD underscore coach. And we do have an email address. It's hello at beyond aesthetics coaching.
01:57:28
Speaker
And then just a quick plug as well that we are only going to add a few more names to the wait list for the January mastermind. And so if you guys are interested in joining, you know, a tribe of loving, supportive estheticians, we would love to get your name actually ASAP. So please reach out then yeah and get on the list because it's actually...
01:57:51
Speaker
basically almost full. So yeah, yeah. For January. So thank you guys so much for being here uh, please give us a rating and review. We would love that and really appreciate it. And it just helps us grow and to reach more people and just continue to raise the vibes of the industry and elevate our industry. So thank you again, Michelle, for being here and Tiff. I love you. And I hope that you guys both have an amazing day and, ah have pretty dreams and we will talk to you guys soon.
01:58:18
Speaker
Bye everyone. Bye. so