Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alex Lobos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alex, 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?
All the credit goes to my parents who did an excellent job providing for my sisters and I growing up. Our family never struggled, or at least I didn’t see any signs of it because they worked hard. In my early childhood my dad was the sole provider of our household. Once I entered middle school, my mom went back to work. I remember the days where I didn’t see my dad due to his work schedule. He would leave super early so I didn’t catch him before getting ready for school. It was the same at night… I was sleeping before he came home. When the Northridge earthquake hit in 94’ we moved closer to his job so not seeing each other was no longer an issue. When we shopped, my mom would limit us to one item and it had to be on sale. In high school you feel the peer pressure but my sisters and I were never kids with huge social circles. We attained a lot of our parents work ethic and habits in our adulthood. Those habits made me a saavy survivor, a smart shopper and a sustainable business owner.
I’m first generation American. My dad is from Guatemala and my mom is from Mexico. They are the true epitome of the American Dream. My dad was an orphan who was very poor. He doesn’t talk much about his past but I’m assuming this molded him into an ambitious survivalist. My mom didn’t have it as hard but even so, being from a different country and starting over in another isn’t easy. My parents sustained themselves with honest labor, adapted to their new culture and currently live a comfortable life in Conroe, TX. My dad is still working even though he’s at retirement age because he feels useless not staying productive. They are the best example of hard workers in my opinion. I definitely match my dad’s ambitious survivalist nature which served me well in my personal life and career.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Alex Lobos, Owner of Elite Eyebrows & Makeup Studio located in San Antonio, TX. I’m from Los Angeles but moved to Texas in 2011. I started out as a traditional artist and studied its fundamentals. Over time, my work shifted to beauty when the idea of becoming a makeup artist was suggested by an acquaintance. In past interviews I shared a lot about my life in LA but truthfully, Texas is where I had the opportunity to flourish in my identity and career. When I decided to move to Texas, I was at a point in my life where I really needed a change. I grew weary of the fast paced world. I also wanted to be closer to my family but overall, life in Texas turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Now looking at it, I couldn’t be happier with my decision because of how fulfilled I am, but it was not void of its trials and tribulations.
The first few years in Texas were tough. I stayed with my parents and reflected on the big change I’ve made. Confused and culture shocked, I attempted to find a job without any sense of knowing what I wanted to do. Texas seemed like a cruel place to newcomers. I was having a hard time finding opportunities that appealed to me and wouldn’t get hired at the ones that did. I ended up in San Antonio and decided to revisit the beauty world once my credentials were transferred from California to Texas. This time, my intention was to find a position that mirrored what I did in California. I wanted to work for a prestige establishment in a good neighborhood doing eyebrows, makeup and threading. The beauty industry in San Antonio wasn’t as developed in 2012. I started in humble beauty shops and progressed from there, always in search for better situations that furthered my career. Slowly but surely, I built my clientele and in 2018, Elite Eyebrows & Makeup Studio was born. Starting a business was completely unplanned but it turned out to be a huge blessing for myself and my loyal community!
So what does Elite stand for? As the name suggests, an entity or group superior in class, qualities and abilities. We offer a classic style of beauty and specialize in eyebrows, makeup and threading with a twist of luxury pampering. We focus on enhancing a client’s natural features and empower them with authentic Hollywood pro makeup education. We’ve been able to create our niche in the threading industry because it’s not regulated in Texas. Our success proves that many women need a wax alternative in a more desirable setting. My artistry attracts women with high standards and a refined taste. My goal is to mentor artists with my techniques so the Elite concept and standards continue to flourish for future generations. Creating opportunities for others not only helps elevate our community but we build healthy competition for others to level up as well. Its a tough world and you have to be the best if you want to survive. I personally live with this mindset and its worked for me and my business!
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?
The skills or attributes that have always made me stand out amongst the crowd are my creativity via traditional forms or art, my strong work ethic and my genuine personality. Starting out as a traditional artist made me a great makeup artist. For many years I had the discipline to study it, practice it and master it. Nowadays, people are so sensitive to criticism but it’s vital for growth. Anyone wanting to perfect their craft needs to accept that getting your ego crushed is part of the process. Don’t let that discourage you because we all start somewhere!
I was always praised for being the best employee, meeting deadlines and looking for things to do during down time. Good reliable workers are rare so if you want to move up faster, follow direction but don’t be afraid take initiative if you find a better way to increase your productivity. If you take charge, people will appreciate you for it which is essential for management consideration and leadership.
Always stay true to who you are! Many misinterpret my introverted nature for aloofness but I know my worth. I only allow likeminded genuine people in my circle and am very protective of everything I’ve worked hard for. I’m not afraid to speak up when I feel I’m treated unfairly or something isn’t to my standards. People will treat you the way you allow them to treat you. Stand your ground and you’ll be surprised how much you’ll attract people that actually value you and those who don’t will naturally go away.
I’d like to conclude with some final comments that are also important for advancement; always be on time and never take those who support you for granted. Always have passion for what you do because people are attracted to inspiration. Don’t get caught up in your success that you forget who you are or where you came from because nothing in life is guaranteed. And when you make it, give back to your community!
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
If people were to look at my business growth from 2022 to now, you wouldn’t believe how much I’ve got out of my comfort zone. In fact, 2022 was a year of transition for Elite. I went from being a solo artist since 2014 to having my first team member and a marketing specialist, both who play a major role in the my business evolution. Without them, I wouldn’t have attained the knowledge I do now and am experiencing how much better it is to have a team, not only for sustainability, but for growth.
One of the toughest things for a solopreneur is learning to let go. All the hard work you put in to nurture your business turns into a chaotic mess of being overworked and losing balance. Still, many don’t seek help to keep their profits comfortable. Even though it’s a blessing to be in demand, you have to be aware of your boundaries to stay sustainable. You can’t be everything for everyone because the quality of your work will suffer. In other words, being alone will only get you so far.
For me it was the final straw once my body started physically breaking down from all the excess work. It affected my mental health, my sleep, my personal life… everything. I knew it wasn’t healthy but I didn’t like saying no to money. That’s when I started scouting for help. That took trial and error but I found the right team of who matched my work ethic and standards. I’m not going to pretend that financially it’s easy to have a team. I’ve had to adjust expenses and personal leisures to keep my team paid and overhead covered. It’s more important for me to invest in my business than having a luxurious lifestyle.
Another great thing about having a team is you glean inspiration from one another. Your learn to expand your network and become more sympathetic because now you’re contributing to the livelihood and success of others. Also accepting no one will every truly replace you is hard. You overcome that by being honest about your business goals which allows others to take part in your growth through their feedback and support. Networking is also something I’ve neglected and in this current stage of my career, I’m also giving way to more networking events and community work so we’ll see how that goes!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eliteeyebrowssa.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliteeyebrowssa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eliteeyebrowssa
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-lobos-mua
Image Credits
Ryn Pitts/Serendipity Social Co.
