We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Lianna Mayer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lisa Lianna, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I build my resilience by focusing on the task at hand and allowing my Dreamer mindset to guide me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Creativity sparked my entrepreneurial journey and turned my dreams into a tangible path in life.
Raised in a household where both parents worked and financial resources were limited, I often relied on my imagination for entertainment. At 17, inspired by a foreign massage therapist and health enthusiast who was a close friend of my mother, I enrolled in massage school. In my twenties, I pursued liberal arts at community college, and at 25, I relocated to Los Angeles, where I worked at a makeup counter in the Beverly Center and launched my first business, Integrative Bodywork. This freelance venture led me to beauty school to become a licensed aesthetician, aiming for dual licensure. 2. While in beauty school, a conversation with my friend Holly sparked the idea of opening a spa, which I initially dismissed due to financial constraints. However, as I neared graduation, Holly informed me of a massage franchise in Santa Monica seeking an aesthetician to rent a room. Despite lacking clients, I accepted the opportunity, believing I could attract clients from their existing customer base. In 2003, I began my venture on Montana Avenue, distributing brochures and engaging with local shop owners to promote my organic and natural skincare services.
My first day ended with six clients.
“Can you believe it?” she laughed, eyes wide with disbelief. “I thought I’d be lucky to get one!”
“I told you it would work out,” Holly said, her voice vibrating with pride. “You’re a natural.”
Four years later, I stood in my own brick and mortar spa, the walls adorned with calming colors and the scent of essential oils filling the air. “We did it!” I exclaimed, hugging my manager Nancy. “I’m living my dream.”
“From a tiny room to this? It’s incredible!” Nancy laughed. “What’s next? A chain of spas?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I grinned. “But who knows?”
After 15 years of success, I made the decision to sell the spa and launch a new venture called Feather. Established in Culver City, where I was living at the time, this business was dedicated to lashes and brows, capitalizing on the booming semi-permanent makeup industry. Feather quickly attracted a diverse clientele, including notable figures like Cameron Diaz, as well as behind-the-scenes creators, artists, students, and their families, all of whom I proudly consider my clients. While the future remains uncertain, I stay attuned to emerging markets and am always prepared to embrace new opportunities.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My success came from a vision and hard work. Also creating a team that shared a common goal. I made sure there was a system in place for everyone and I would meet with the staff monthly to review their progress. By providing the encouragement they needed to stay focused. They were motivated to keep standards high. The real win was when our customers walked away happy and satisfied.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
It’s important to prioritize self-care and listen to what our bodies are telling us. By taking the time to slow down and recharge, we can better handle the challenges that come our way. Engaging in activities that bring us joy and peace can help us maintain a healthy balance in our lives. I love being in the garden, hiking or walking near the beach. Remembering to nurture our mind, body, and soul is essential for overall well-being and fulfillment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.feather lash and brow.com
- Instagram: @feather_lashandbrow
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/me?trk=p_mwlite_feed-secondary_nav
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