Meet Liana Brackett

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Liana Brackett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Liana below.

Hi Liana, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I start off by thinking “Why not me?” when I’m standing in a room and I’m the only one in there who looks like me. Because why shouldn’t I be in that room when everyone else has a place in it. I used to be more self-aware of how I looked, how I spoke, how I came across to others…it was all about me. I feel like that self-awareness stilted my chances of real connection to others, regardless of what they look like or what they do. When I turn my attention from myself to the other person, that helps me connect to others genuinely. I am more present and I’m able to enjoy working the room even more. So it’s twofold: believing I too deserve to be in the room and also turning the focus from myself to the other person.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

You’re catching me at a unique time in life. After working as a meteorologist in the federal government then jumping into television meteorology then pivoting into entertainment, I’m once again pivoting in my career. In January 2024, I walked into a cute local bead store in my beach town to make my first beaded necklace and after seeing a small handwritten sign from the previous owner which said “BUSINESS FOR SALE”…I walked out and called my husband, “Babe, I feel like we need to buy this place.” By May 2024, my husband and I were officially the new owners of the business.

It’s actually a full circle moment because I made my first dollar creating little hemp bracelets and choker for friends during my middle school years. It’s not lost on me that in some way, buying this bead store is what they call, healing my inner child. Yet, it’s not even about me! I see it in person in my customers faces, as they rekindle their love for design, rediscovering their childlike creativity. And the exciting part about all of this is that I have no idea what is next for me in this journey, and I love that! I do know that OC Beads is one of the best bead stores in Southern California, if I do say so myself. The selection is insane and also hand picked. I went inventory shopping for the first time this year and went with the previous owner, where we literally went through strand after strand of beads, searching for the best of the best to bring back to the store. I’m completely smitten with this endeavor.

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?

Three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey so far:
1. Say yes. Yes to being afraid, yes to the unknown, yes to not being ready yet. Saying yes has brought me the best adventures so far.

2. Listen to your body. I’ve had a few significant health issues in life so far that have forced me to take pause. I used to just go, go, go…and I’ve learned that if you do it too hard, your body will force you take a moment. Now I listen to my body, if it’s saying I need rest, I rest. If it needs exercise, then I exercise. There’s that saying “Health is wealth,” and after dealing with my own round of health issues, I truly believe this.

3. Knowing what this journey is really all about…my faith in Christ has been my main motivator and reason to say yes and ultimately, share His light into this world.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m really excited to explore this creative world of jewelry. What does that look like now? Well, I’m wanting to merge my TV hosting skills with my love for jewelry and all things gemstones. I would love to collaborate with or interview jewelry designers either in person or virtually. I would love to connect, just email me at Liana@OCBeads.com. Talk soon!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

The one professional shot is from Stephanie Sunderland.

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