We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justi EMBREE. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justi below.
Justi, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I do not think you ever really get over “Imposter Syndrome”, but you can learn to manage it. I remember, it was all new to me for a long time, I was learning, then the lines blurred, and it got so hard to see when I had crossed the line of “Knowing,” to becoming an “Expert.” It was a deep pit to climb out of. For me it took a decade.
See, that’s the thing. When you do something long enough, you get better at it, hopefully. Most likely, there will be a series of obstacles along the way, milestones you can rely on to document your progress, but deciding when it is cool to be “Great”, that is deeply personal.
There are two relentless voices competing in my head. One says, “There is abundance! You are the Bomb, Girl! A leader! You know your stuff!” and one other that says, “Nobody cares. You don’t know. Your art is ugly. Yea, definitely ugly.”
For a long time, I worked on shutting out negative “self talk” until I realized that it was a part of my core belief system. I started developing those coping mechanisms as a child. Beliefs formed in early childhood are known to be hard to shift because they keep popping back up, apparently to protect the person. Sometimes with unsavory tactics. I get it. Children make sense of the world as best they can. So, I honor and respect my infantile coping methods when they come up. They are as much a part of me as baby, Justi is. Now, as an adult it’s my job to lead us and I choose to keep us going forward despite any reasons I can come up with not to. I learned to treat myself better and make decisions that demonstrate my prudence. Sometimes, you gotta fake it till you make it!
So, I haven’t gotten over “Imposter Syndrome”. I have learned to recognize when I am being unloving and or unkind to myself and I make a shift. It doesn’t matter if I believe my hype on any given day. My job is to keep creating, doing what is in front of me, and confidently affirming to my “younger self” that I am present and can protect her.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
When I started the hair industry was having a rebirth. In the 90’s modern hair care techniques and tools were being developed, revamped, perfected, or invented. So, I stay focused on expanding my reach in the Beauty community through innovation.
Once, I attended a networking event. It was right after I finished college. The thing is, I went to college after I became a hair stylist. I was thinking, get a degree then I’m out. Time to put down the curlers! It didn’t happen that way, though. A guy at the event changed my course. While I explained to him why I was leaving the hair industry after ten years, he looked baffled. When I finished, he spoke. He said, “Beauty is a big industry, don’t waste your skill set, repurpose it.” Life got a lot less confusing, right there. From that moment on I became “All things beauty.” I realized that I could mix formal education with creativity and create my own blend. I’ve been doing it ever since.
Sharing what I have learned throughout the years about hair is on trend for me, right now. We bond through shared hair experiences, I think. The way we do everything is changing rapidly. It is easier than ever before to become invisible for businesses that do no establish an online presence. A “digital footprint” is literally mandatory these days for us to stay connected. We must continue to let people know we are still out here, making art, building, and connecting. You can find some of us @embreetheory on IG talking about hair. Come through.
On the other hand, as a Wig Designer it is tricky right now. SAG-AFTRA and WGA are unable to reach an equitable deal with AMPTP leaving most of Hollywood shut down. Just before the work stoppage, I had an opportunity to design wigs for an NBC pilot, “Non – Evil Twin” starring 2 uber talented women, Amber Ruffin, who is reimaging “The Wiz,” for Broadway, amazing, and Christina Anthony, from the hit series “Mixtish”. It was awe inspiring to be among other grounded women of color blowing up and doing it gracefully. I can’t wait for the next one! I am hopeful that the strike ends soon so that we can get back to doing what we love and do best. It’s an important fight, though. Perhaps, for all of us.
I have been working with hair for decades in makeup rooms and behind the chair. I touched hair before I could walk! That might be a little bit of an exaggeration. I have touched a lot, though, that is true. I will touch more. Also, true.
Actually, a few years back I started an E-commerce embreetheory.com to solve a problem when it came to purchasing both reliable and affordable hair to use for making wigs and sewing in extensions. Frankly, it was a lot catfishing out there. I was confident I could provide a more premium product that was also reasonably priced. We started with a few wigs but this year we are expanding our inventory to include other raw hair products at unbelievably low prices. It is an exciting time!
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?
Learning how to pick up my bed and keep walking is number one. You know, when you put in 100 and it doesn”t pan out. Yea, just keep moving because that’s the only way to get there. Period. I let myself greive some, though. 1 day for the small scrapes. Managing my household business, number 2. I know that may seem random, but I have learned that managing my home is practice for running a successful business. How I organize my personal life is a good indicator of how I handle my business affairs.
When my personal life is in alignment everything else flows. These days, I explain less and practice more faith. Believe you are worth everything you ask for, be willing to stand on it, and wait on it is my mantra. Not just when everybody eats also, when it gets hard because you believe. Trust that there is abundance, that is just simply a decision to make everyday.
My customers have been my mentors. Building my business has been REAL on the job training. It was “situations” that molded me most. The ones that left me feeling full and wanting more and others that left me wanting to retreat and never return. I just started making the rules as I went along, tweaking and tweaking along the way until I put together a well-seasoned plan laced with policies. I made a lot of mistakes but that is just decoration. Don’t be afraid to make them. The point is you know what is best. The journey is to remember that you do and trust the plan.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Last year I read a book called, “Hair Story, Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America,” by Ayana D. Byrd and Lori L. Tharpes. It is never overrated to get an accurate account of history and this book did not disappoint. Reading it, I felt a sense of community and unbelievable pride. Realizing, I have aligned with a group of humans, for example, that helped make the Crown Act possible, that’s fly. It was the braiders in the 70’s that quaffed the controversial locks and got a conversation started that has lasted for decades about the appropriateness of certain hairstyles in the workplace. Those conversations and others alike led to the passing of the act into law in 19 states that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and texture. It is still a civil rights issue, currently.
In the 90’s iconic naturalista, “Roshumba,” showed up for her cover shoot with her natural hair, refused to wear a wig, rocked her natural hair instead, shut it down, and it changed the game, FOEVA! I worked with her back then. Innovative publications like, “Honey” and “Essence Magazine” set groundbreaking beauty standards by being among the first ones to feature all textures, braids, and locks on their covers. My work has appeared on the covers of both magazines throughout the years. It filled me with a lot of pride to learn that I had been a part of such an important movement. Wow, it turns out that while I was young adulting and fixing hair, I apparently also, was making a little history. Who would have thought? It is amazing how a few little facts can straighten one’s posture. It feels like I got a new superpower. I’ll have work to stay humble, now. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.embreetheory.com
- Instagram: @embreetheory
