We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Isis Moreno a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Isis, 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?
I am fortunate and blessed; I’ve always had great role models as parents. I got my work ethic from watching them tirelessly provide us with a home as I was growing up. Both of my parents are Mexican immigrants who arrived in the US with four children – two in high school and two in diapers. They didn’t know English but always found a way to make a living.
My father was the primary provider when my sister and I were too young to attend school. He would wake up at 4 A.M. to work in an electric plant company called Tucson Electric Power (T.E.P.). He moved around within the company quite a bit, but I vividly remember him working as a meter reader. His job was to walk areas of Tucson and read the electric meters that measure how much electricity people have used in their homes. He also worked as a painter for Transformers, which people had vandalized. His days were long. Arizona’s winters were frigid, and the summers were scorching. At the end of his day, he would go home and be so exhausted that he had to nap. Before going to bed at night, my younger sister and I would massage him and pop the blisters that had formed under his feet from all his walking.
My mother had her way of making money; She would make tamales for sale. Once we became old enough, my sister and I would help her make corn, red meat, and sweet tamales all day. She would wake up with my father at 4 A.M., make him lunch, grab us from our sleep, and put us in the car to drop him off at work because we only had one vehicle. We would deliver all the dozens people had ordered from her.
Once we were old enough to be full-time in school, she started working. She worked in a salon and worked her way up to owning one of the franchises. Again, my mom had my younger sister and me helping her with work. We were working as receptionists after school and on weekends.
Around this time, my father injured his knee at T.E.P., so he pursued his passion for cooking and opened a food truck. He would cook all day and night. We would help him prepare for the day by cutting all his ingredients. He had us work as cashiers and help make the dishes when he was overwhelmed with too many orders. We also worked after school and early on the weekends. Instead of sports and after-school programs, we worked with our parents.
My entire life, my family has been grooming me to be a hard worker, and I am very grateful for my upbringing.
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?
My art is creating an unforgettable, exclusive experience for people. I am deeply committed to enhancing individuals’ well-being in the present moment. Here’s how I do it
I have a one-chair barber studio in Las Vegas.
I channel my energy into creating a vibrant, personalized experience for each individual.
Clients aren’t just clients – they’re friends! When they step into my shop, they take charge: choose the music, enjoy a beverage, and trust me to enhance their well-being inside and out. And hey, secrets? Those are my absolute favorites to hear!
Another avenue I created, along with two local barbers, is a local networking event called ‘Vegas Barber Bash.’
Bringing professionals from every corner of the city and different backgrounds, the main focus of this event is to strengthen the community and bring together members of the industry so that they can uplift and support each other in an ego-free environment.
The highlight of the bash is the live-cutting showcase, where stylists unleash their creativity and skills on a promotional stage. But the excitement doesn’t stop there – we’ve got a vibrant lineup of vendors, captivating guest speakers, thrilling raffles, and even live body painting to add an extra splash of fun to the event!
Also, I am working with a business partner named Osiris. Osiris is a skilled barber, and together, we are launching a new essential oil company called I&O. Our company is set to transform various industries, and we are excited to share our revolutionary products with everyone. You can easily incorporate our products into your daily life, whether dining out, staying at a hotel, or traveling in private transport.
Lastly, I’ve just launched ‘Voluptuary Agency,’ a one-of-a-kind, luxurious modeling and mobile grooming service.
Imagine this -professional barbers and stylists who offer a personalized, luxurious, sensual experience. Our goal is to make your Las Vegas trip unique and special. We offer a range of options such as packages, memberships, and personalized add-ons to cater to your individual needs. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a frequent traveler, we have something special in store for you!
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 top three things that enormously changed and influenced my life are networking, staying true to myself, and not letting fear take over my decision-making,
The saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” rings true in every industry. When I started my career as a barber, I was eager for opportunities to grow. I attended numerous events and made connections with industry coordinators and influential people. I asked each of them, “How did you achieve your success?” I hoped to discover a shortcut or an easier path to reach mine. However, everyone told me the same thing: “Hard work.” At first, I didn’t want to believe it, so I kept asking until I finally realized there was no other way. They were right.
I worked hard and greeted everyone with a warm smile and eye contact. I stood out with my bright pink hair, which made me memorable. I played into my bubbly energy. Our personalities are what make us unique and set us apart from others. No two people are alike; we are attracted to others because of their authentic character. In a world where conformity is valued, seeing someone who stands out and embraces their individuality is refreshing. When meeting new people, tap into the positive energy that comes naturally and approach each interaction with humility and respect. Remember that everyone is a potential friend, and no one is better than anyone else.
Eventually, my hard work paid off, and people started recognizing me. I began receiving invitations to events and was thrilled. Now, I am getting paid to travel, speak, judge, educate, and showcase my work.
When you are hired for events, you must address a large crowd on stage. According to statistics, public speaking is the number one fear among people.
I have been speaking and giving lectures for a few years, but I still experience nervousness when I am on stage. However, there were two quotes that I lived by for years, and I kept them on my phone to look at daily. My screen saver said, “Fear is a liar.” On my home page, it read, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” I have realized that the more positive thoughts and affirmations I tell myself, the more likely I am to believe them and achieve my goals. Our brains tend to believe everything we tell them, so filling them with positive thoughts will ultimately lead to positive outcomes. It is natural for anything new to be difficult and scary, but once you overcome that fear, a beautiful sense of excitement and energy awaits you on the other side.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
Honing your strengths and bolstering your weaknesses hold significant importance, and you should not limit your potential by choosing one over the other. Diving deep into your strengths can make you an expert in that area while addressing your weaknesses can contribute to a more balanced skill set.
If forced to choose, I would advocate for being well-rounded rather than focusing solely on strengths. By’ well-rounded’, I mean having a broad range of skills and knowledge, not just being good at one thing. This versatility can open up more opportunities and lead a more fulfilling life.
Imagine this: if you only focus on running during your workouts, you’ll undoubtedly become a faster runner. But what happens when you need to climb a hill or lift a heavy object? Just like in physical training, focusing solely on your strengths without addressing your weaknesses can lead to unbalanced personal growth.
By now, I’m sure we have all heard the quote: “Jack of all trades is a master of none.” Being an artistic person, I never agreed with this; why wouldn’t we want to work on our weaknesses and try new things? I discovered that this quote was cut in half somewhere along the line. The full quote is, “Jack of all trades is a master of none, though often better than master of one.” This made more sense to me. Some might argue that focusing on one thing and becoming a master at it is more beneficial, but I believe that being a ‘jack of all trades’ can also have its advantages. It allows you to adapt to different situations and challenges, and it can also lead to new opportunities and experiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/lipstickbarberisis
- Instagram: lipstickbaber_isis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LipstickBarberIsis
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/6ah762FDN4
