Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Molly Russell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Molly, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Being an entrepreneur is tough. The possibilities are endless. At first, I really got hung up on that. I could do this, or I could do this or what if I tried this? My purpose came by getting my hands dirty and not being afraid to make mistakes. It either worked and I did more of it, or it didn’t and I pivoted. But gradually, I started to narrow down a focus of what I loved and what people needed.
I found my purpose when I created a career for myself that combined my strengths/passions: Helping people, communication skills, fashion and branding.
When working in the music industry, I loved the creative storytelling side of styling. But in personal styling, I realized the direct impact it was having on people’s lives. I was building a functional style/wardrobe that allowed them to look and feel their best while giving them time back to be with their families and do things they love. I was giving them the confidence to ask that person out on a date, go after that dream job and feel like themselves again after entering a new life stage. It’s developing a personal brand that really resonates with a client and authentically represents who they are. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a personal wardrobe stylist that works with clients all over the world, but calls Nashville, TN home. We are most known for our ability to build and maintain functional wardrobes for people of influence. We are able to create effortless, elevated style for a unique mix of clients ranging from new moms to Fortune 500 CEO’s and professional athletes.
We mix luxury brands with mainstream fashion to defy the industry standard to follow trends – but instead create meaningful, functional style that fits the lifestyle and individuality of our clients. This can be a really vulnerable process at first. Client’s are trusting us to go through their things and ultimately create a new image for them, so we do our best to share that vulnerability and make the process fun and enjoyable.
Most of our clients are incredibly busy, but understand the value of maintaining their image. They hire us as an extension of their team to handle all their styling needs and authentically elevate their style. I wanted to provide an actual solution for clients, not just a bandaid. And we found a way to build them a versatile wardrobe that worked for their lifestyle and maintain it in a way that seemed manageable. Our style strategy covers everything from defining their style, cleaning out their closet, personal shopping and then showing them how to wear everything.
We offer a base package and then various ways to maintain your wardrobe based on personal preference. We have had great results with this and have developed long-term relationships with the majority of our clients.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. You are not your job. Your job is not your worth: It still bothers me that the first thing we ask people is “what do you do?” It can be a good conversation starter, but it has created a culture where we define people by what they do. I have worked really hard to get to where I am and I am proud to share what I do. But my advice to those starting out is to not shy away from this question. Maybe you don’t know what you want to do or you aren’t where you want to be yet. Still talk to others about things you are interested in, goals you have and other areas of interest. You never know, they could have a priceless piece of advice or even a way to connect you to someone that could jumpstart your career.
2. Set boundaries, both personally and professionally, to avoid burnout. Being an entrepreneur is an unending job. There is and will always be something else you can be doing, but if you don’t take time to recharge, you could burn yourself out. This year, I was working 12 hour days pretty consistently to get everything in order before our baby is born in October. And I ran myself into the ground. I wasn’t doing anything I enjoyed and instead of me feeling good about making so much progress, it negatively impacted me. I decided to block days/times for me to do things that are most important to me. I workout in the mornings and wait to check my emails until 8 AM. I block Friday afternoons to do something with friends or family. That time off isn’t me being lazy, it’s doing what I need so I can operate at my best the rest of the week.
3. Always come back to your Why. It’s important to figure out why you are doing what you are doing. Figure it out early on and allow it to be what grounds you. This will keep you going when you have an 80 hour work week. It will also help you make decisions like: Should I take on an extra client this month?, Should I start offering a new service to a different target market?, or Should I raise my prices so I can hire a social media manager? Only you can answer these questions and your answer could be completely different depending in your Why.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did was allow me to be myself. I was always creative and saw things differently than other kids. They never pushed me into one career path or another. Instead, they let me follow my curiosity and try things out. I knew I had them as a safety net, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without them giving me that space to find myself.
They also made me figure things out for myself. If I had a flat tire, I had to find a mechanic, get pricing and call to schedule an appointment. I HATED this growing up, but it is one of the key traits that has made me so resourceful today. I just roll up my sleeves and figure it out.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mollyrussellstyling.com
- Instagram: @mollyrussellstyling
- Other: LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Molly%20Russell%20Styling
