We were lucky to catch up with Suzanne Sexton recently and have shared our conversation below.
Suzanne, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
After 15 years of working in traditional medical practices (hospitals and outpatient clinics), I realized that I was burnt out, overworked, under rested and that I was coveting my free time because I did not know when I would have it again. I spent my limited down time recovering so that I could start all over with more of the same. Because of these realizations, I knew my purpose when starting my own business would be freedom of time and energy. It is very easy to get caught up in the entrepreneurial networks and on social media encouraging you to go bigger, bigger, bigger with your business goals. Coming back to my purpose of freedom of time and energy has been crucial for me in managing my business growth in a way that still aligns with my purpose.
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 have been a certified physician assistant since 2007 and started my medical aesthetics practice, Root Medical Aesthetics, in August of 2020. This practice started out offering solely mobile/concierge treatments, including botox, dermal filler, chemical peels and microneedling during the pandemic. In just 3 years since the opening, Root Medical Aesthetics now includes two aesthetic injectors, the addition of advanced skincare laser and Semaglutide weight loss treatments, and includes a brick and mortar location. Through this tremendous growth, I have had the opportunity to work with other local female business owners to offer collaboration treatment events and to expand my referral sources to local estheticians, permanent makeup artists and even hair care/color specialists. I am a firm believer that when women support other women, especially small business owners, amazing things can happen for everyone involved!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would have to say resilience and the internal awareness that “I’ll figure it out” was huge for me. I was so unhappy by the time I left traditional medical practice that I knew I wouldn’t go back…being determined to figure it out made me push past my fears and resistance when challenges came up.
Confidence in my procedural abilities was also really important for me in learning, and now practicing, injectables and advanced skincare treatments. I spent many years doing a lot of hands-on procedures in clinical practice, so I felt extremely comfortable learning injectables.
Third, I would probably say my authenticity and honesty go a really long way in my field. Clients that are new to aesthetics, or have had bad experiences in the past, are always concerned about overdoing it or looking “fake”. I knew from the moment I started this business that I wanted my clients to feel that they could trust me implicitly to have his/her best interest at heart. The only way to earn this trust is to be honest and to tell it how it is, which is exactly what I do on social media and in person.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I think going all in on your strengths is a great way to build confidence and get things started, but the truth is that starting a business has a way of showing you the pieces of yourself that need a little work. The beautiful part about this is that when you lean into these weaknesses and start to improve/evolve, you feel infinitely more confident and empowered to do bigger and better things.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rootmedaesthetics.com
- Instagram: @rootmedaesthetics
- Facebook: Root Medical Aesthetics
Image Credits
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