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Episode 32 : Building Without Permission with Dominique Dizon, owner of Belly Smoothie Co,
38 Plays1 day ago
What does it really take to build a business when you’re young, ambitious, and done waiting for permission?
In this episode of Gritty Is the New Pretty, Krystle sits down with Dominique Dizon, founder of Belly Smoothie Co., to talk about grit, leadership, and the unfiltered reality of opening a brick-and-mortar business before 25.
From trusting the idea placed in your head to hearing “no” and finding a better room, Dominique shares how she built a brand rooted in energy, culture, and community . It not just smoothies. She opens up about burnout, balance, and the emotional crash that can come after a big launch, and why collaboration — not competition — is the real power move for women in business.
If you’re building something, dreaming bigger, or questioning whether you’re “ready” this episode is your sign.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Acting on ideas before you feel “ready” : why clarity comes after action, not before
- Leadership through culture, not control :creating a human-first work environment rooted in trust and mutual support
- The emotional reality of building from scratch: normalizing burnout, imbalance, and the post-launch crash ambitious women rarely talk about
This is a conversation about betting on yourself, building without permission, and redefining what leadership looks like when grit meets heart.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Gritty is the New Pretty
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to Gritty is the New Pretty, where resilience meets real talk. I'm your host, Crystal, entrepreneur, leadership coach, change maker, and outdoor enthusiast.
Redefining Success Through Resilience
00:00:15
Speaker
Join me as I sit down with powerhouse women leaders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who share their raw, unfiltered stories of success, struggle, and the grit it takes to make an impact. From navigating change to redefining success, we'll explore what it takes to rise, lead, and thrive.
00:00:35
Speaker
Expect raw conversations to fuel your journey, whether you're breaking down barriers in life or in business. We're redefining success, not by perfection, but by the strength it takes to rise again and again. Because in this space, gritty is the new pretty.
00:00:53
Speaker
Hit subscribe and let's get gritty with it.
Sponsor Acknowledgement: Hey Becks Creative House
00:00:58
Speaker
This episode is sponsored by Hey Becks Creative House, founded by brand strategist Becky LaFranche, known for building crave-worthy brands that blend story, soul, and strategy.
00:01:10
Speaker
Explore the work at heybecks.com.
Interview with Dominique Dizon
00:01:12
Speaker
On this episode of Gritty is the New Pretty, we have Dominique Dizon, founder of Belly Smoothie Co., a space built on energy, community, and bold leadership. She knew at 19 she was meant to lead, and she's been building with intention ever since. Welcome, Dominique.
00:01:29
Speaker
Hello. Thank you for having me. So excited to do this. I'm happy you're here. Why don't you start off with telling us a little bit about you?
Dominique's Path to Entrepreneurship
00:01:39
Speaker
um'm so i worked very few jobs before deciding that I wanted to work for myself.
00:01:48
Speaker
Um, I had a problem with like not being the one in charge. Right. And so I always knew like my roles were needing to be like a manager or someone i was telling people what to do. I'm the eldest sibling sibling. So like that for me is,
00:02:06
Speaker
you know, just first nature. And so i knew again from like 17, 18, 19, I was like struggling in my work and I was like, I need to be doing something for myself.
00:02:17
Speaker
um And so I got an esthetician license in 2023 and I started my own esthetician business. So I do like lashes and brows and stuff like that too But through that, I think I wanted something bigger and I saw people having all these like glamorous businesses and stuff like that. And I knew I immediately wanted that for myself. So Here we are today. We have Belly Smoothie Co. It's our brick and mortar in Point Reston, and I'm very proud of it.
00:02:49
Speaker
And I've just worked really hard to build it. And so I'm just excited to get more eyes on it, basically. And it's pretty new then. So when did you actually open Belly Smoothie Co.?
00:03:02
Speaker
We opened in May. So very new. Not even a year. Thank you. um The thought of Belly was last September. So not this past, but the following. So I think it would be 2024 September. And then we opened in May. So very short time period there.
00:03:24
Speaker
And what made you decide to do smoothies?
The Birth of Belly Smoothie Co.
00:03:27
Speaker
I did work at Emerald City Smoothie. And so like I did have smoothie background and then my next job was a barista. So I learned coffee there and I've always just had this like thing for like drink making. I love to make stuff for my friends or even just like being in the kitchen.
00:03:45
Speaker
i love to like make food. I like to make drinks. Like I like to do that. And so... I think that was just like second nature for me. And then I was like, let's just do that um and make something healthy actually, but also have like the specialty coffee and matchas for like balance. um And yeah, that's pretty much how I got into the smoothie stuff, but yeah.
00:04:12
Speaker
Everybody loves smoothies and coffees, though. I know. It's such a trending thing. It was really the Hailey Bieber, like, Erewhon stuff. And I was just so intrigued by... i think l LA really has a big, like, play in it. I love LA and I like... I love how fast everything moves there. And I love the aesthetic and how everything is so pleasing to the eye there. And I think that definitely has some play into our drink looks, our names, stuff like that.
00:04:48
Speaker
That's fun. What made you decide to open on Point Rustin?
00:04:53
Speaker
Um, for me, Rustin just always been like a hotspot. I feel like I like to go there in the summer. If we have family in town, we're bringing our family to Point Rustin or the waterfront. We're eating on the waterfront. I feel like it's just like a beautiful location. um it's safe. I actually live in Point Rustin myself, so it's really safe here. i feel like I can walk around, you know, whenever, when I was younger, I could walk around without a parent.
00:05:21
Speaker
yeah. And i think it's really just like the people here. Everyone's so kind and nice. And that is definitely like my target clientele ah are the people that live down here. um Health focused. They're always walking. They're always running. Fitness is really important. um Wellness is really important. So I really i just love this area.
00:05:45
Speaker
I think it's perfect. Yeah, I think it's great. I like Point Rustin too. I mean, the waterfront right is beautiful in Tacoma. And most people don't realize that Tacoma, Washington is surrounded by water on pretty much three sides. So yeah there's only one side that goes off to like more land. The rest is like commencement Bay, the port, and then the chamber side. So there's really all these little beach areas around and it's beautiful. And when we do get nice weather or a nice gloomy day where it's not really pouring down on you, you can really write out and enjoy the beautiful waterfront views. So it's gorgeous.
00:06:26
Speaker
Yeah. It's amazing. And it's Just like just walk right up. That's what I really like about our location in the summer. We have our garage door window up. So people just walk walk right up to the counter. Sometimes they don't even come inside.
00:06:40
Speaker
They go back on their walk and it's just really easy and accessible.
00:06:48
Speaker
So you started this vision a couple years ago. You're young entrepreneur and founder. What lessons have you learned in the last few years about opening a business that other women that might be, you know, a little bit younger might be interested in hearing before they open a
Pivotal Advice and Financial Decisions
00:07:11
Speaker
business? Or even if they're just thinking like, I don't want to work for my boss anymore. i don't like this, this company. Um, well, like what have you learned?
00:07:22
Speaker
um So I don't know if you're familiar with the PNW Live Women's Network. Yes. so my aunt took me to that last year. And um the first speaker, her name is like Keisha something.
00:07:36
Speaker
But she shared this piece of advice that would like always stick with me. um If you have the idea like you were blessed with that idea. So that means like you need to...
00:07:49
Speaker
move forward with that idea. Not everyone was placed or given the same idea in your brain. And so if you have something, especially that you're so confident in and passionate about, my thing is just like, just do it.
00:08:02
Speaker
You know, um there's always way. Obviously, I'm young and I always tell anyone who was like, oh, how did you do this? How did you start this? um I was obviously just blessed with stock for my grandparents. And so, I mean, I had the option to just blow that and go spend it and do something else um with it. And I was just like, no, let's invest um at a young age and just –
00:08:34
Speaker
Yeah, just really do something smart with my money and work hard and do something that I'm passionate about and have something that I'm passionate about so I don't have to go to my nine to five every single day. How can i do something that I enjoy and create a life for myself that I enjoy? i think that's a really big problem with...
00:08:56
Speaker
younger kids is like, they don't think that they could get to where I'm at currently. Like it takes a ton of money and it takes a ton of this and this and that. But really, i mean, it takes, it just takes work.
00:09:09
Speaker
If you're willing to do it someone will help you. yeah, I feel like if someone is telling you no you're in the wrong room. i was I get told that all the time. um And that is like my biggest, I think, motivator. Like if someone tells me no, I'm like, oh, I'm going to find someone who's going to tell me yes. So really just, it's hard to say. i would say obviously just...
00:09:41
Speaker
Now I'm thinking. my gosh. I'm sorry. that's okay. Um... um
00:09:50
Speaker
Can you ask me the question one more time? so I think you answered it. You think I answered it? Okay, yeah. I'm like, do i have do I need to have a better answer? No, I think that that's a good answer. it It's really just that, honestly. Yeah. I learn little stuff every day, like, you know, when to pivot. If it's a slower season, when do I cut down my hours? When do I, like, I think pivoting, like i learned how to pivot this year. um How to, you
Business Adaptability and Unique Vibes
00:10:17
Speaker
know,
00:10:18
Speaker
I mean, shut our hours. I mean, it what is it called? um Minimize our hours or, you know, change staffing and scheduling and stuff around. um So pivoting, that would be like a big other thing too, is pivoting.
00:10:35
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, that's a great answer. And that's, I love the If you you hear no, you're in the wrong room, because to me, that's one of the sort of pillars in my mind of right gritty is that we pretty. And right my work, I was, yeah even though I wasn't starting a business at first and in my career, I was told no.
00:11:01
Speaker
A lot. All the time. Or I was told that's just the way we've always done it or it'd take too much work to make a change and make an impact. and Right. um I would keep talking about these things and bringing them up until almost essentially they got annoyed that I was talking about them. And I would also go and find data to support why they should listen to what I'm saying. You know, that would be yeah that why like, what's in it for them, you know? And eventually, um,
00:11:37
Speaker
I would start making headway. Somebody would say yes. and and it And it wouldn't be, it's not always a yes, I'm going to give you everything you want. I'm going to make it so easy for you. Sometimes I'd say yes and a yes, but you're going to get only this amount of a loan or yes. And um I can only support you in this way. Right. You just don't know, but that's okay. You know, it doesn't mean you have to take everything. If it doesn't work with your plan, that's something you have to think about.
00:12:12
Speaker
But that is a step because sometimes people need to see if you're going to show up to the plate and match what they're bringing to the plate. So there's a little bit of of that, of what comes to the table. So 100%. And sometimes people might say no two or three times. And then if you come in a third time, they might say yes, because they're like, you're committed.
00:12:36
Speaker
I don't even care anymore about anything else. You're committed. i have a story. i have a good friend. She's in her seventies now, but i I actually ended up working for her for a few years. And she started at this engineering company. She had just um gotten divorced, was a single mom years and years ago and didn't have a ton of skills and was trying to find a job. And so she kept showing up to this engineering company.
00:13:02
Speaker
company and sitting in the lobby and they're like, you know can we help you? And she said, I'm, I'm looking for a job as a receptionist. You guys need a receptionist or, you know, something like that. And so essentially right she came in every day for weeks and they kept telling her, no, we don't have a job for you. We don't have a job for you. And she would just sit in the lobby and then she would start helping them with stuff.
00:13:28
Speaker
Oh, I can help with that. Oh, you need this done. i can help with that. And then they hired her and she worked for for many, many years and ran their office and made good money, good benefits because she managed all of these engineers who...
00:13:44
Speaker
right engineers yeah man it like let's be honest they're very technical they're not the best man and just because you're a leader doesn't mean you're a good manager just because you're a manager doesn't mean you're a good leader there's different skill sets so but she held it together and um I always think about that story of her showing up every day even though they were literally like we don't We're not going to hire you. um Yeah, so that I can so relate. I feel like my dad tells me once a week, he's like, closed mouth doesn't get fed, Dominique, closed mouth. And I'm like, okay, yes, yes, yes. So he's always just like, say what you have to say or do what you need to do, get your foot in the door. And I'm like, dad, like, I'm nervous. And he's like, well, closed mouths don't get fed. So he is a big, he's a big pusher for me. And like, I think, I mean, piggybacking off of like what you were saying,
00:14:35
Speaker
I mean, when I'm pitching these things, like I'm pitching to like my grandparents, I'm pitching to my family. So they could easily just be like, oh, no, you're not very serious about this. But I think I got so many like, OK, I think you're on to something, you know, as you know, when you're a kid, when you're asking for something, it's like, no, not really. Like you don't really have enough information to back this.
00:15:00
Speaker
Um, but I think they saw me being consistent with lashing and, you know, following through with my aesthetics license. I think they were kind of finally like, hmm, she's onto something.
00:15:12
Speaker
Like, maybe let's let her. So for sure. And did they come in and as investors into Belly Smoothie Co.? A family member did invest.
00:15:25
Speaker
um And then again, we got gifted stocks. Like that's a normal thing for us um instead of like birthday gifts and Christmas gifts. um And so when I was 21, I finally got access to stocks. So it kind of like aligned all in the same year.
00:15:41
Speaker
i love that. I think that's great that your family was thinking about that because look at the opportunities that it opened up for you to really take charge of your life and to not be,
00:15:53
Speaker
just another cog in the wheel. um i have two sons and I always tell people, even though they don't really listen, I'm like, give us some money for the boys for gifts. They don't need toys. Like we've they've got everything they need and we will put it in an investment account for them. and then when they're older And they decide what they want to do, whether it's go to school, you know, whatever, join the military, go to, you know, maybe they just want to go to trade school or work, whatever that path is, they have some money to either buy a home or to pay for their schooling or to start a business, um whatever it is. Because, you know, we...
00:16:35
Speaker
I have no idea what my kids are going to be like when they're older and what path they're going to choose. But, you know, like having that financial support, I think is really, really important. And I think that's cool to hear that story coming from you because it kind of validates what I'm doing a little bit. like under for this is This is great. yeah Yeah. And I love that you have a supportive family.
00:16:59
Speaker
Yeah. And every Christmas card, I'm like, thank you so much. You've changed my life, grandma and grandpa. So they, I tell them all the time and it's great. And i mean, it truly changed my life. Like I would still be working, a you know, for someone else if that was the case.
00:17:15
Speaker
um Truly. Yeah. yeah Absolutely. Yeah. When you designed and built Smoothie Co, Belly Smoothie Co, you said that you really kind of were inspired by LA. How intentional were you about building the space and community and not just creating another smoothie business? i am So I really, Belly for me belly is now like a brand kind of um it's just like from the way I carry myself every day and it's like I always tell my dad I'm like it's a vibe dad like it's it's just like the vibe we're creating and he's like oh is it is it just the vibe and I'm like yes it's like what like of course it's the vibe
00:18:05
Speaker
um When you come into Belly on like a summer day, right, you hear loud music, you hear just all of us laughing in our banter. And I mean, these are like some of my best friends that work there, my sister, like we are just having the best time. And for me, I really just wanted to show...
00:18:26
Speaker
a healthy work environment. That was one thing that I really wanted um there. And that was just really important to me as I've had like some not great ones. um And so that was number one, like just creating that energy, like dang, like I feel like I want to work there or dang, I feel like I want to just walk up to the counter and go talk to these girls because they're having so much fun and they're creating all this love and whatever.
00:18:56
Speaker
Um, and as for like the LA vibe,
00:19:01
Speaker
I think for me, so if you look at something like Air One or La La Land, I mean, we don't have one here. Right. And so every day when I see it on my For You page or my Explore page, I'm like, I need that right now. I want that. And I feel like we didn't have that here.
00:19:20
Speaker
You know, and especially in Tacoma, I feel like everything's in Bellevue or everything is in Seattle. And for me, I don't want to travel up there. And so I was like, we need something like that down here at a prime location, like how everything is in Seattle and how everything is in Bellevue. We need something in Point Reston.
00:19:35
Speaker
So that for me is like Tacoma's Bellevue or something, you know? And so... Fortunately enough, we had that build out ready. So we didn't have to build anything. It was really just design and color scheme and stuff like that and making things aesthetic in there. And so it's really just a place like where you come and it doesn't feel like every other cafe, like it's bright. We have blue everywhere. There's colors, there's, you know, colors to the drinks, like everything is very bright.
00:20:06
Speaker
um Especially in Washington. I know it can be very gloomy sometimes. And kind of low. um So we really just wanted to make sure everything was bright and felt light, you know, not like a heavy, like, oh, I need to be quiet in this cafe. I need to act a certain way or I need to do that. Like it's very open and you can just have fun, I feel.
00:20:30
Speaker
um yeah So yeah, that's how that came about. And that's how I want people to feel when they walk in. Yeah. Even just you talking about it, I feel like I'm on a beach somewhere and I'm going to have a smoothie and go surfing.
00:20:43
Speaker
Even though I only got up twice on a board. i feel like I can now. Right. And that that's just, that's the vibe really. It's just wherever you feel good, your drink will make you feel good. It'll make you feel like you're in happy place.
00:21:02
Speaker
You mentioned work culture and making sure it was a ah good place to
Creating a Supportive Work Environment
00:21:08
Speaker
work. What are some things that you do to support that?
00:21:13
Speaker
um Well, first of all, it's not a very traditional like hiring process. um As like everyone I pretty much know, they're like some of my best friends or my sister or my cousin or stuff like that. And so... um I feel like for me as a boss, I am young. Again, I'm not very far off from these girls that are 20, 19, 18, 15.
00:21:47
Speaker
um and so i feel like for me as a boss, like I want to be as understanding as possible. hey, I can't make it today. ah Can we figure something out? I want to meet you in the middle. um I don't want to be a, no, absolutely not. You're getting written up. like That's not how I want to be at all. I want to be accommodating. um I want to be there for my girls. I want to, if they have something outside, I have, I mean, I have girls in nursing school. I have girls that do content creation. I have someone that's a cosmetologist, like they're, you know, upcoming and they want their own things too. And so for me, I want to support just how they're supporting me. So I want to, if that means I need to go get my hair done by this girl, I will go get my hair done by this girl. um If I need to book a shoot or use her services throughout the family um for my content creator, I mean, I will, we will do that.
00:22:41
Speaker
Um, yeah, I just want to be supportive in any way that they've shown me support to my business. Them coming to work is supporting me. And so I want to in some way, shape or form, do that for them as well.
00:22:56
Speaker
That's great. And I think that builds a mutual respect and a mutual trust. It might not always work for every business. Like, i mean, Chipotle probably wouldn't be able to do that. But because you are your own owner and you have such a great network of family and friends around you that want to support you,
00:23:20
Speaker
you're able to do that. And I think that's amazing. And then hopefully, over time, you're able to bring in other people to use, you know, working for you as a launchpad for their next step.
00:23:31
Speaker
Right. Right. I, um, it's kind of bittersweet. Um, we have a girl, she, her last day is coming up and like, I was her manager at Emerald. So this is going to be the first time in like four years that we haven't worked together. And, um,
00:23:51
Speaker
she's having a graduation coming up soon. And I texted her mom and obviously I'm that close with all of these girls. I'm like texting their moms and I'm like, Hey, like, can we, and the whole team like surprise her at graduation? Like we want to show her that support. We want to be there for her. Like, you know, it really takes a village to get through things. And so, you know, she's been in Cosmo school for a long time. And so that's an example of like what it means for us to be supportive to, you know, our coworkers and,
00:24:20
Speaker
things like that. I love that. I just got a little teary eyed. We made each other cry without even knowing. I mean, that's powerful to celebrate accomplishments and your team's accomplishments and to show up and just be there. I think that's amazing.
00:24:40
Speaker
Right. And I feel like because every other, I mean, i could have just been mad that she was moving on and, you know, bitter. Oh, yeah. But it's like, I knew that from the beginning that was going to, I mean, her time was going to come to an end. And it's like, why be bitter when I can just be supportive?
00:24:59
Speaker
see You know, that's my, that's my thing. and that's a sign of a true leader is somebody who helps their people develop into the the next step, the better version of themselves, the better version of them professionally, and and to go on to a journey that is best for them, not best for you.
00:25:25
Speaker
Right. 100%. hundred percent i agree.
00:25:29
Speaker
What's been the hardest thing about starting the business?
Balancing Challenges and Personal Growth
00:25:38
Speaker
um So when we first opened, I would say that was a pretty... low point for me. I was so busy. i was still lashing. I mean, as I am now, but I mean, we're in peak summer, so it's so busy. We're running out of things.
00:25:57
Speaker
And I'm like learning as we go. I'm like running around to Costco. I'm going to cash and carry. I'm running around. And I had no life. I really, i had no social life at all. um I barely saw my friends. Granted, like some of my friends work there or whatever, but my like best friends, I wasn't hanging out with them. I wasn't going out anywhere. Like, and like, those are, i mean, I'm young. I should be able to do that too um and spend time with my friends or my family. And I feel like I wasn't,
00:26:30
Speaker
getting to do that. I had no balance at the beginning of things. And like, rightfully so I just opened a business and let alone like a needy one, like it's a brick and mortar store. It's your a drink business. You're going to run out of things. Um,
00:26:45
Speaker
But I had a client tell me, and she was like, it kind of sounds like you're going through postpartum. Like, like you're just with your... That's your baby. And, like, you're just sad. And i was just like, I feel like I am sad. Like, I was very sad. i don't know why.
00:27:00
Speaker
um but like, reflecting on it, that was, like... not one of the worst times in my life, but I mean, it was a very, very low point. And from then on, I was like, how can I be better at this? Like, how can I be more balanced?
00:27:18
Speaker
Um, So I think one of my biggest lessons was balance. um How can I like ground myself? What does that mean? How can I get a couple hours to go do yoga or something to start my week off right or take time for myself? Because ultimately, i mean, I have a boyfriend and i have a family and I have sisters. Like I'm very close with my family, so I don't get a lot of time to myself. And so when I do, how do I use that time to reboot and reground and refocus and recenter myself? So big, big ah learning curve there.
00:27:57
Speaker
I think that's great that you shared that. I feel like I've just gone through not opening a business, but that feeling of when you're launching something or even a event like a fundraiser or whatever,
00:28:10
Speaker
maybe like a um ah large networking event, whatever it is, yeah's you you do it over a period of time, right? And then as you get closer to go live date, it's busier and busier and busier. And when I was doing fundraisers for the Liz Rocks Foundation, i remember the first year,
00:28:32
Speaker
um one of liz's friends had come to town from europe and she was staying with me while we were getting ready for the event so over a few days out and i remember being at the computer and she was literally feeding me toast because i hadn't eaten in like two days she's like you haven't eaten anything and she's feeding it in my mouth and i'm just like getting things organized having a big auction event making sure we have all the you know things we need for the event And, right and it's this, it's like, you're climbing a mountain. Like you're just in the zone and and nothing else matters at that point. And then once the event launches or you do the event and it's exciting and you kick ass and people are just like, this is amazing. And it's like everything that you wanted and like your grand opening. And um then the day after, or the, you know, the next morning you
00:29:29
Speaker
you feel hungover. You're just like, and yeah. And it is a little bit of this depression, right? This thing that you've been working on for so long. I know I felt that way after both Liz Rocks fundraisers and we just launched the Liz Rocks wall last Saturday. and I would say i I don't feel as depressed this time around because i think it's a new beginning for the front for the fundraiser with the wall opening. But the event itself, the stress and the planning and then the excitement and then kind of coming down to the space of like, I need to focus on myself right now. And so I tell people I'm going to disappear for a couple of weeks. Yeah.
00:30:09
Speaker
And i'm not goingnna I'm not going to be doing much with this until I like come back out from from the ground. Because I need to regroup and think about it. Seriously.
00:30:21
Speaker
Well, because you're putting everything, you have every ounce of yourself into... this thing and it's not even like for example like belly it's not even like a baby like you know what i'm saying like you're getting a lot out of it but you're like you're literally growing this thing and then it's like that's it yeah And then it's, yeah, but now it's better. It's better now. And I've got better at that. I threw an event the last weekend and i mean, i was just so stressed. And my dad, he was like all of that stress. And then here you are, you're doing better. Yeah.
00:31:04
Speaker
Yeah. So it's, it's learning curve again. Everything is a learning curve. Yeah, yeah. And it's normal to feel that way. And I think it's good to share that message with other women that are innovating or starting businesses or, you know, coming up to huge milestones in their career or life. Or even if you are growing a human
Collaboration Over Competition
00:31:25
Speaker
baby and you've had a baby, those yeah feelings from the adrenaline and the emotion and the energy and then kind of this crash when it ends, that is normal.
00:31:37
Speaker
There's nothing wrong with you. you know, if you so if you struggle with it over time, then definitely like that's something that you want to look into and, you know, seek help from a professional. But that that is an adrenaline rush that you get and hormones and all of these things happening from the wonderful thing that you're doing. And then when it kind of goes away, it's like, where did that go?
00:31:58
Speaker
Right. And I'm sure it's men too, you know, but I think for women, it's kind of just like, okay, and I have to keep going and I have to keep going. And yes, that we just reached that business high or reached, you know, I just gave, i mean, went into labor and whatever. But then it's like, you have to keep getting the groceries. You have to keep keeping up with social media. You have to keep posting. You have to keep You have to keep a smile on your face when you walk into the establishment because if something's wrong, everyone will know. um
00:32:33
Speaker
and so it is hard. it is very hard. But I think in the end, it's there's more good than there is bad. And yeah there's more like light and glamorous stuff more than there is sadness. so It's a little bit of the process. It's the process.
00:32:53
Speaker
yeah Gritty, very gritty. Yeah, absolutely. yeah Absolutely. Yes. What would be your biggest piece of advice for Grit City women?
00:33:05
Speaker
um I think
00:33:10
Speaker
as women, we need to stick together. i saw this post on Instagram and it was something along the lines of,
00:33:22
Speaker
Oh gosh, it was, can I pull it up? Do you mind? Yeah, go ahead. No, pull it up. Okay. um a Sorry. It's just been sticking with me. I'm not going to lie.
00:33:34
Speaker
And then let's go hear a lot of people were reposting it as well. So then I'm like, yes. So it says it's okay to support another person who's in the same niche as you. It won't hurt your hurt your business. If anything, it'll both help you. Competition happens at the bottom. Yeah.
00:33:51
Speaker
at the top we collaborate. um So for me, there's a lot of estheticians, there's a lot of lash techs, there's a lot of cafes, there's a lot of whatever we're all doing. But I think for a gritty female, a gritty woman, collaborate.
00:34:13
Speaker
Don't compete. Don't be mean. Don't be petty. We're all in the same boat. If we work together, we're going to grow 10 times more versus everyone going at each other's necks and I'm going to come for her and I'm, she's going to come for me. It's just, how can we work together? How can we collaborate? Because I think we're going get much further if we do so.
00:34:38
Speaker
So that would be my biggest advice is work together and not work against each other.
00:34:46
Speaker
Great advice. Thank you so much, Dominique, for joining us today. Thank you for having me. That was so nice. I loved it. Born from the spirit of Grit City Women, Gritty is the New Pretty carries the torch, amplifying the voices, stories, and power of women who lead with resilience, purpose, and unapologetic grit.
00:35:08
Speaker
To support Gritty is the New Pretty, follow us on Instagram at Grit City Women or shop our online store at gritcitywomen.com.