We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Ly a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I’ve been financially independent since the age of 16, so I’ve always had a strong work ethic. It definitely originates from my mother though. She’s a strong Cambodian woman and serves as a constant inspiration for me.
I’ve always hated the feeling of being reliant on someone else, and not having that or anything to fall back on fuels me. If I want to have the life I envision, I have to work hard for it – nobody else is going to do it for me!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My path to where I am today started with a simple goal: to make my mother proud. As a second-generation immigrant from Cambodia, this was really important for me – I wanted to break the mold, since most women in my culture are expected to be wives or caretakers. With those expectations looming, I wanted to show my mother that she had raised a strong, independent, and ambitious daughter, and someone who could achieve anything she set her mind to. Due to my care-free approach to life, we didn’t always get along when I was younger – my perspectives didn’t fit with the usual norms for Cambodian women. I sometimes wish I’d been more obedient, but I don’t have any regrets about following my spirit’s direction.
Travel is a big part of who I am and what inspires me. I love to immerse myself in different cultures, meet new people and experience everything the world has to offer. Viewing life through a different lens is definitely a key driver for my business.
I visited Secret Beach in San Pedro with a girlfriend once, indulging in the cuisine, basking in the sun and taking in the world around us. That’s where the idea for the business started – I needed to pursue my own swimsuit line. I knew then it would be a brand that represents my playful nature and leaves women feeling unapologetically confident. And that was the moment Bronzed Babe Swim was born!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three skills that matter most to me are self-discipline, resilience, and adaptability.
Self-discipline is essential for anyone starting a brand, business, or any kind of project for that matter. If you don’t hold yourself accountable, dedicate the hours and keep yourself on track, you’ll never meet your potential.
Resilience is a must-have for when things go wrong, which they always do in the end. Failure is part and parcel of every journey, but it’s how we deal with it that says the most about our character. Knowing how to bounce back is just as important as succeeding the first time around.
Which brings me to adaptability – the skill that’s needed to make bouncing back possible. Creating a swimwear brand is hard, and I’ve hit many roadblocks along the way. But my adaptability has ensured I can change direction or evolve my strategy when needed, overcoming the challenges to come back stronger.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, my strategy is pretty simple: disconnect, reset and then continue. I usually have to force myself to take a step back as this doesn’t come naturally to me, but I always know it’s needed. A reset can be as extravagant as a planned vacation or as simple as a long walk – disconnecting your mind from whatever is causing your stress works wonders. Once I’ve reset, I can see things a lot more clearly and my creativity, focus and spirit always get a much-needed boost.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bronzedbabeswim.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bronzedbabeswim/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BronzedBabeSwim
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lisa-ly-12605226b
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bronzedbabeswim
Image Credits
KSS Photos Rich Laru Studios Phocustudio Cabo Photographers
