We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mallory Guirgio. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mallory below.
Mallory, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I would say that I get my work ethic from my mom. She was a single mom who showed me what persistence, endurance, and drive looked like. Growing up, I always wondered why my mom was working all the time. In my young mind, I didn’t understand why someone would do that. I asked her one day and her response was “Because I love you.” As I got older, I started realizing just what she meant. Her hard work moved us from a one-bedroom apartment to a home. Her hard work put me through private school and college. Our lives were always improving due to her unwavering work ethic. When it was time for me to get my first job, she told me “Do more than what’s asked of you. Learn more than you think you need to know. Want more so that you will always have the desire to improve and be your best self.” Those very words stuck with me throughout my entire life. I began a 13-year modeling career where her very words would echo through my head and heart. I needed her words, being in an industry that included massive rejection, relentless competition, and photoshoots lasting 8+ hours. Armed with these skills, I was able to bring my life experience into a business of my own.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My husband and I started a company called Scentsuki. Our company sells anime-inspired perfume. Each scent is carefully crafted to reflect the personalities of characters from different anime shows. We came up with the concept while watching an anime show where the character was spraying perfume, and we were like “Oh! I wonder what that perfume smells like.” While researching our potential market, we realized that skincare in the anime community was little to none. To make ourselves stand out, we formulated our perfume oils to be vegan, lightweight, nourishing to skin, and smell heavenly! We test every one of our fragrances on ourselves to formulate long-lasting scents that are great for sensitive noses and skin. In the near future, we plan to expand our scents to body sprays, soaps, and candles.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The first skill I would say is to be willing to take risks, even in the face of failure. All the failures I’ve had in past business ventures have added value to my current business. The next skill that has helped me is having a vision. A vision acts as a map on what you want to do and how you will do it. Vision helps me to see something where others see nothing. This has helped bring success to my business by tapping into unique sectors. Thirdly would be endurance. For me, having the will to endure got me through some of the roughest times in my entrepreneurial journey. Before you put up the white flag, know that success or a valuable lesson may be on the horizon.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The book Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton has been an invaluable tool for my business and personal life. Wabi Sabi is a Japanese concept of striving for excellence instead of perfection, being content no matter what, and obtaining freedom and growth through acceptance of circumstances. This book has shown me that striving for perfection leads to disappointment. I try to strive for things that are feasible whether big or small, which is very rewarding. When it comes to being content, this book has shown me that there is beauty in the small things, difficult things, and things that don’t bring instant gratification. Lastly, the most helpful lesson in this book is learning to accept who you are and what you go through for the purpose of feeling peace and open to the lessons of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://scentsuki.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scentsuki
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scentsuki
Image Credits
Photographers: Steve Azzara, Adolphus Amissah, Quency Bonds
