Meet Mercy Lee

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mercy Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mercy, 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 believe imposter syndrome for me is something that I battle with daily. There are days I feel on top of the world and I’m like wow I’m really doing this thing and then there are days that I doubt myself and what I got myself into. It’s hard when you are learning every day and trying your best on days that it’s hard and still balancing being confident and not letting anyone down. Being a 23-year-old business owner is not for the weak; giving myself daily pep talks to be graceful to myself and not taking myself so seriously is key to enjoying the roller coaster that owning a small business is.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a 23-year-old hairstylist who was born and raised in Western Colorado. I’ve always been a girls girl since I could remember. I competed in Miss Teen Colorado running First Runner up 2 years in a row and being a part of the glits a glam I realized I was completely in love with the beauty industry. I graduated from Beauty School in 2020 and was off into the salon world. In 2021 I opened up my small business Angel Energy Beauty in a salon suite. I grew my clientele organically and broadened my services and specializing in the niches that I perfected such as blonding and extensions. In 2o23 I had an opportunity to buy out the commercial building space where the studio salons i had been working out of since 2021. I went from having to be responsible for 1 studio salon which felt like plenty enough to being responsible for 11 studios and keeping the commercial space running. Although it felt over my head i felt pressed in my heart i could make a dream of mine come true and it was in the palm of my hands. I’m passionate about seeking out highly qualified professionals who are ready to rebrand and light the fire inside them again, while running their own business they are also surrounded by like-minded individuals who are motivated and with that we all support each other and are true friends.

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?

One of the biggest qualities I have had to learn that was crucial is patience. Patience to me is a lifestyle, not a characteristic. I went into this industry with a fire under me expecting it to happen overnight. I can laugh looking back that that’s not how life works with anything or anyone. Things that are meant be will be with time and patience. Along with that is consistency and grit, starting something from scratch is not an easy thing to succeed, you have to go out of your way and out of your comfort zone, things don’t just come to you. Talking to strangers and being out there even on days you’d rather do anything else is so uncomfortable but staying consistent comes with having grit.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed I like to ground myself. It’s so easy to be hard on yourself and put yourself down when you feel stuck in the mud but taking a few deep breaths and realizing that it’s okay to be overwhelmed, its how you handle it. I like to wake up and write 10 things I’m grateful for, small or big and realize I’m more blessed than I give credit for. I learned this in the book “The Secret” I talk to myself kindly and remind myself that I’m human and life can be really overwhelming. Take one thing at a time and then suddenly you’re better prepared for the next thing. We’re all living and learning.

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Image Credits

Kristen De La Torre

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