Okay - 

I'll be honest. I didn't do it alone. I had help.
It was hard work, but I employed help for sure.

When I first started out, I had an esthetics license, a comical body art license, a one-room lease, and little else. I needed a lot of help. I had no clue where to start. I was on the hamster wheel: I need to buy another course to make better before and afters to get new clients for more revenue to buy another course to make better before and afters to get new clients for more revenue to buy another course to make better before and afters to get new clients for more revenue to .... you get it. 

That cycle was doing two things: 1. Giving me imposter syndrome 2. Running me BROKE!  For 2 years it went on this way. I didn't have any business education to speak of. I didn't know my numbers, I didn't have a business bank account or know how to pay myself, I was terrified of owing taxes because I wasn't even profitable... It was a nightmare. My poor...

When I first began my beauty business there was a ton of "gatekeeping" locally in my area. I wasn't even sure how to find colleagues outside of my town... I knew about Facebook groups for permanent makeup, but they were so intimidating! People on those groups can be quick to point out what you've done wrong and be less than supportive.

I wound up following a handful that I found to be positive and supportive. I noticed who they worked with or appeared to be friendly with and followed those folks, too. 

After following for a while, I noticed something important:
The girls that get it, get it. The ones who don't, dont.
what does that even mean?
In THIS circumstance, it means the ones who understood kindness and inclusivity received blessings back. The more they  allowed others into their circle and to sit at their table, the more their network (and net worth) grew. 

As it turns out, when you're not very nice, less people want to be around you, lol! Go figure.

So I took this...