We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amanda Varney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amanda below.
Hi Amanda, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
I think to achieve almost any life-changing goal or to obtain the things we want, often times we do need to take a risk to get there. In order to grow and make big life changes, we have to step outside of our comfort zone and take those risks. I just would hate to look back at my life when I’m older, and think of all the things that could have been if I had just taken the risk. I want to look back and be proud of my accomplishments, and be able to say I was a woman of resilience and confidence.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been in the tattoo industry since 2014 and I opened my studio, The Pretty Pin-Up Tattoo Parlor, in 2018. I was always interested in art, I actually remember my mom finding an old school project from 1st grade that said “When I grow up I want to be an artist!”. I was 16 the first time I went to a tattoo shop and I just fell in love. I always sort of beat to my own drum, and struggled finding where I truly felt like I fit in. The tattoo industry seemed like the first place I was able to be myself and I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be. My number one goal when planning my business was to create a studio that is accepting of all people, and a safe space to get tattooed. We are probably most well known for having all female artists, our pink and pin-up themed decor, and for doing tattoo styles that are delicate and feminine. We actually just hit our 5 year anniversary and I am just thrilled with where we are and everything we have accomplished so far.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think if it weren’t for having a strong work ethic by nature, I wouldn’t be where I am. My dad is an insanely hard worker, and has sacrificed so much for our family, and I think coming from a small town where most everyone is either a farmer or a blue collar worker, who are both some of the hardest working people there are, I think it’s naturally formed me into having a very strong work ethic as well. I also have the type of personality where I just don’t have much care for what others think of me. I tend to do what I want, the way I want to do it, and I think that’s what has made our studio stand out. And when you’re opening a business or working in the service industry, you have got to stand out. I couldn’t wait to paint our walls pink because I just knew it would get people talking! Being resilient is something else I think has played a pretty big role in my journey. Since opening my studio, I’ve had plenty of people and others in my industry who said I couldn’t do what I’ve done, and who wanted me to fail. But I’m very competitive and I love proving people wrong. The best advice I can give anyone is to just stay focused and don’t give up or care what anyone else is saying about you.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
“The Four Agreements” is a book written by Don Miguel Ruiz, and it is based on the Toltec belief that by making these four agreements with ourselves, we can drastically change our lives for the better. I have read this book through twice and flip through it frequently, and I just think it offers us some of the truest wisdom about life and happiness. So the first agreement is “Be impeccable with your word.” Your words have power within them and the way you use them matters. The way you use your words to speak of others and the way you use them to speak of yourself. Do not gossip, and be mindful of how you use your words when talking to yourself. The second agreement is “Don’t take anything personally.” As someone who suffers with anxiety, I need to remind myself of this one often! Anything someone else does has nothing to do with you, it has to do with them. Their words, their actions and opinions, all have nothing to do with you so don’t take it personal. The third agreement is “Don’t make assumptions.” Making assumptions sets you up for pain and emotional suffering, as well as creating unnecessary conflict with yourself and others. The fourth agreement is “Always do your best.” Doing your best makes you happy, productive, and helpful to others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/tattoosbyamandabv?igshid=MmIzYWVlNDQ5Yg==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprettypinuptattooparlor?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Haley Hunley Photography
