Meet Elise Orozco

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elise Orozco. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elise, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I grew up in an atmosphere that required me to be extremely self sufficient and independent- emotionally, physically, and psychologically basically from infancy. When I look back on my childhood, I think of it as a boot camp of sorts. All of the traits that I developed as survival in childhood turned into my greatest strengths as an adult and as an entrepreneur. When I married eleven years ago, I realized soon after that I would be required to practice those very skills in order to survive my marriage. This marriage (that has since terminated) helped me to polish off those skills of resilience, grit, endurance, and doing so WITH GRACE. I learned in my marriage that I do not need to be miserable in difficult situations. I learned that I can create joy in ANY situation. This taught me to intentionally bring joy, happiness, fun, and humor wherever I go. No matter how challenging it is. These abilities are what make me a great entrepreneur. Not only can I endure hardship, but I can make it fun and look easy.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

The absolute most magical part about being a beautician is the incredibly sacred bond that you share with your clients. Hearing the words, “I have breast cancer”, “Your facial did more for me than 6 months of therapy”, “my dad died”, and watching my clients go through intense seasons of life and likewise them seeing me through my own, is something that I hold a lot of space for. Not only have my clients unloaded heavy burdens with me, we have also shared so much laughter together even during the darkest of times. This is why I do what I do and why it sets my soul on fire. And although nail appointments, facials, waxing, lashes, and make up services all encourage deep discussions, I have learned that talk therapy is not for everyone. Touch therapy, recreational therapy, beauty therapy- they all serve a profound purpose. I take this calling as a beauty therapist seriously.

As a current college student studying to achieve a master’s degree to be a clinical therapist, I aim to incorporate my newly acquired skills as a therapist for individuals and families of those with special needs, as well as women who are overcoming abuse trauma through talk therapy and adventure wellness.

Welcome to Spa Elise’s Adventure Retreats. Every year I plan to launch an adventure retreat for women who appreciate a balanced combination of talk therapy, group therapy, and adventure therapy. At these retreats, we will build a community of women overcoming abuse trauma, work through the roadblocks that we are having a hard time working through on our own- through individual and group talk therapy. Additionally, we will be spending a good amount of time moving our bodies, exploring nature, and connecting and grounding ourselves with the earth. Adventure wellness is what helped me survive my aggressive divorce and I want to share the magic of mountain therapy with others!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Growth mindset. Always be learning, developing new skills, perfecting current skills, and learn as you go. Always be studying.
2. Start before you are ready. Launch. Full send. The realization that there are people out there who are not as good as you at what you do, and are not as smart as you and are still doing it- should be enough to encourage you to just go for it.
3. Discover your signature move and make yourself known for that one thing. My clients don’t come to me because I am the best at what I do. They come because they appreciate the connection that we have and it is like therapy. Connecting with people may not be your greatest strength, but you do have something special and unique about you that is your signature move. Find it, develop it, perfect it, and make yourself known for “your thing” to attract the clients looking for “your thing”.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Feeling overwhelmed? Lost? Under-qualified? Imposter Syndrome much? Welcome to the club. We all feel this way until we don’t. This is your rite of passage. When I am feeling overwhelmed, I just remind myself that I only feel this way because I have joined an elite club of women in business as a single mom and college student and that I still have a lot to learn before I can consider myself a senior member of this club. Whatever “club” you are in, make friends with people in your club who are ahead of you. They are the most encouraging people you will find. Any discouragement, hate, or pessimism will come from those who are behind you. Look ahead, create a circle of empowerment, encouragement, and ambition. And always remember, you DO belong here. You only feel lost because you aren’t on somebody else’s path. YOU. ARE. THE. PATH. You are the pioneer- paving the way for others behind you- possibly your own children! That is your calling. Keep paving. Keep showing up. Create joy right where you stand. Build a strong inner circle. Pain of discipline of pain of regret.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.spaelise.com
• Instagram: @theeliseelizabeth
• Other: Tik Tok @theeliseelizabeth