We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hannah Lester. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hannah below.
Hannah, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
Knowing how to take a risk is not something you learn overnight. When it comes to starting your own small business, taking risks is a part of the job.
Hi my name is Hannah Lester, I live in Richmond Virginia with my husband Tanner. I own a Permanent Jewelry business called Interlinked, which I founded in March 2023.
At the time, I worked as an orthodontist assistant and was so unhappy, overworked and exhausted. I knew I wanted to do something different but didn’t know where to start. I’ve always love jewelry and making things. Then I heard about Permanent Jewelry and was so intrigued by the idea that it doesn’t come off. It’s fitted to you? It doesn’t tarnish either? My interests were peaked. So I did my research and really considered this a possibility for me to pursue. This is where learning to take the risk started.
Could I do this? Could I make my own business? Of course I was nervous, but I knew I had to give it a try, and change my current situation. My main thought was, “if I can make this work, I know I’ll be in a much happier place”. And so I didn’t back down.
The best answer to this question… is to try. I knew if I did in fact give this a shot, it would turn into something! You can’t take a risk without first taking that leap of faith. But it’s not a blind leap, because you are your best supporter. If you believe in yourself and give 110%, you will come out with something you did not have before. Of course, there are always failures. Mistakes, and missteps. But these are what leads to success.
Now I’m here, March 2025 having a full circle moment! My business and myself have come so far. I’ve realized life is about risk, and you have to take those risks! But more importantly to not give up if it doesn’t work out the first time. Keep trying, your hard work will pay off. It will be hard, but in the end it’s worth it!
I have an amazing husband, family and friends and I knew they would be there to support me.
Always trust in and be true to yourself. This is what I did, and in the end, it was worth risk!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As I mentioned previously, I wasn’t always a business owner. I’ve worked several different jobs, ranging from an orthodontist assistant, lifeguard, caregiver to name a few. In the early days of my business, I still worked in the dental field to sustain myself while I took on this new venture, trying to grow my business.
Now it is my sole focus, and something I absolutely love doing. One of the things I love so much about it, is that when someone comes to get a new piece of permanent jewelry from me, it’s a full experience for them. And not only is it a fun occasion for them, whether by themselves or with their friends and family, but it’s also a lasting memory afterward, because that piece of jewelry sticks with them day and night. A constant reminder of that time spent with the people they love.
One of my favorite perks of being the owner of my own small business is making it accessible to everyone. My goal has always been to make this experience affordable, which meant even putting myself at a loss financially if that’s what it took. It has never been about the money for me, and I feel that real happiness never stems from that. Therefore, the products I sell are always priced at a rate that caters to any consumer.
As far as some of the exciting new things coming to my lineup, I’ve just added clasps for my jewelry. It leans away from the idea of ‘permanent’, but it also extends my reach to a broader consumer market. Sometimes, there just may be someone who wants to take off that bracelet or necklace. And now they can!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the first, and one of the most important qualities I possess, is being personable. What that means to me is doing my upmost to understand and get to know each and every one of my clients. I always strive to greet them as if they’re a new friend, because that makes them feel comfortable with me. Asking questions about them, or maybe just ask how their day is doing, can be the easiest way to break the ice.
A skill in which I find very valuable for my field of work is being particularly precise with my hands. In my several years working in the dental and orthodontic industry, I picked up this skill which I did not think at the time would come in handy now. Because of my past work, I have extremely steady hands and the know the ins and outs of specific tools for handling small items. This has definitely been an impactful skill that benefits my jewelry making.
The knowledge that has made a great impact on my journey is having a realistic mindset. Knowing that not every decision or action will lead to success. This relates back to my ability in taking risks. There have been many times where I could have given up because maybe something didn’t go as I had imagined it. But knowing that sometimes you won’t always hit the mark and that that’s okay, has been a huge benefit to myself, and my overall mental awareness.
I think for those who are just starting out, the last bit of knowledge I listed is the most beneficial. Have a realistic view of your business and journey. Know that sometimes you may not quite know what the right course of action is, and the one you choose could be the wrong one. But this isn’t a bad thing. I will develop your decision making ability, and be a lesson to yourself in the future. Always remember your mistakes, they are your greatest teachers.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I could not have done any of this without the support of my loving husband. He has always been by my side from the beginning, and is always helping me with the complicated ins and outs or running a business. Most might not know it from the outside, but he is helping me create almost all of my social media content, building our website, and of course he’s my free on site photographer!
There is never a dull moment when he is by my side, and he never hesitates to help when it’s needed. Shoutout to all the incredible spouses who help their partner achieve their ambitions!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.interlinkedrva.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interlinkedrva/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Interlinkedrva/100089878516170/
Image Credits
Grow Explore Photography
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