We were lucky to catch up with Rebecca Hoffman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Rebecca with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I’ve been so fortunate to have been surrounded by people my entire life that I look up to and admire, and a key trait that they all share is that they have an incredible work ethic. I saw how fulfilled they were by their pursuits, and how their daily discipline fueled their success and I wanted that too. As a child, my grandmother always worked and took pride in being a businesswoman. I was always in awe of how she never viewed herself as being ‘less than’ because she was a woman (especially while being a product of a time that constantly reinforced that notion) and I wanted that same passion and self belief. I’ve been lucky to have parents that have encouraged my pursuits, a brother who is a big goal setter, friends that are talented and driven and now a husband who is not only supportive, but also an incredibly hard worker himself. It really is the best piece of advice I could give or receive – surround yourself with people whom you want to be like.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I started Bespoke Brows NYC from my studio apartment about 6 years ago and did everything from design the logo on Power Point, to build out the website, to create our LLC etc. from my couch. I had the idea that there could be a niche, specialty brow bar that gave customized, great results in an upscale setting at an affordable price. We cater to young professionals, busy parents, and people who just don’t want to spend their whole day in the salon with our unique model that is walk-ins only and allows us to perform multiple services at once without detracting from the quality of the services themselves nor the overall guest experience. With the support of my husband (after a lot of ‘Shark Tank’ like pitching to him) we took the idea of Bespoke Brows NYC out of our studio, drained our savings and opened a small salon that has now grown into three New York City brick and mortar locations.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
You must believe in your abilities, have perseverance, and allow yourself to take joy in the victories and not beat yourself up in defeat. The most important thing I would tell myself (and suggest people say to themselves) is no matter what comes up you can figure out how to push through it. If you are starting something new there are going to be countless issues, choices, financial discussions, legal options, etc. that will come up that you have never had to deal with before nor do you know how to tackle them. Believe in yourself . . . and google! No one has all of the answers but you have to know that you are keen enough to figure them out and keep pushing through until you do. And if you can, set aside a rainy day fund, or as I like to call it, the ‘inexperience tax’ – at some point you will make a mistake as you learn along the way that will cost you money, it’s always a good idea to have a little extra cushioning to fall back on in anticipation of those mistakes. You can’t beat yourself up for not having all of the answers or making a wrong choice; you have to know that that may happen but the best you can do is analyze a situation and move forward from it wiser and stronger.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Being overwhelmed is something we all go through at some point. I think of it like being in the ocean and getting caught up in a wave. You can either let it drown you or try to ride it out. And just like waves, it will crest and fall and pass. I try to focus on what I can control, allow myself to feel what I’m feeling and know that as with everything, it will pass.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bespokebrowsnyc.com
- Instagram: @bespokebrowsnyc
Image Credits
credit: Bespoke Brows NYC
