We recently connected with Danecha’ McKisset and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Danecha’, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
I wasn’t always a risk taker. I used to be very afraid of trying things without being certain of the outcome. As I got older I realized that my apprehension was holding me back. I’m the person who over analyzes things which isn’t particularly bad but you have to know when to shut it off. Back in 2017 my mindset about life completely changed. I experienced an apartment fire and lost everything and for the first time in my life I had nothing but the clothes on my back. This happened 3 months after I moved out of my parents house for the first time. It was a huge wake up call and made me realize that you have no idea what the next moment or day will bring. You won’t know the outcome and that’s where your confidence and faith comes in. You have to have an unwavering belief in your abilities to get what you want out of life and if you lose it you can get it back! This applies to my business and my personal life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m the owner of Kiss Me Pretty located in Baltimore, MD. My specialty is eyebrows and makeup artistry. My service list includes threading, waxing, tinting, lamination, microshading and soft glam makeup. In addition to my services KMP has a brow product line which includes everything a person needs to fill their brows in!
I absolutely love what I do! It’s really fun because not only do I get to provide exceptional service but I meet new people. My clientele is full of great people from all different backgrounds. My business has been curated to be more than getting a service but I want my clients to have a small getaway to relax while they’re being serviced. I have mostly women as clients and they work hard so it’s important for me to create an environment where they can unwind even if it’s only for 30mins!
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’d say the most important quality for me was being teachable. I love to learn new things so I am like a sponge! I’m confident in my skills but I never get to a point where I feel like nobody can tell me anything. I really study the people who are in spaces I strive to be in. That’s how you elevate. Also in the service industry you have to be a people person. You cannot be afraid to network and talk to people. Getting out and collaborating is crucial because no one can do it on their own. You need to build a network! In doing so I’ve had so many opportunities. Lastly, take the time to actually educate yourself on operating a business. This goes hand in hand with networking because I’ve had so many people in different industries educate me on the ins and outs of your back office. Doing the thing you love is great but there has to be structure if you want longevity! So invest in your education and do your research!
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents are the reason I’m the woman I am today. As an adult what sticks out to me is the confidence they instilled in me. Since I was a little girl both my parents taught me to always walk with my head high and take pride in who I am. I never felt the need to follow others even as a child because I was raised to be a leader and think for myself. My father was also an entrepreneur and kept me close so both him and my mom showed me what it means to run a business properly. Even now I call my mom my manager because she keeps me sharp and makes sure I stay on my “A” game. Very blessed to have my parents.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kissmepretty_mua
Image Credits
IG: YRNPHOTO (Austin Hill)
