Meet Rachel Jorich

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Jorich. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rachel , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I believe I developed my confidence and self-esteem by the major risks I took in life to find myself and my own self worth. By leaping into the unknown, I discovered a way of living I never knew existed- one that allowed me to open up and embrace my most authentic self.

I personally believe people are born confident, but the world has a way of stripping that confidence away. I was born a child who had a joy for life and found the beauty and fun in the little things. Over time, the world started to influence me into believing that I was worthless, unintelligent, ugly, and never good enough. I think much of my self worth and confidence got stripped away because of fear. I had fears of being made fun by cruel kids at school, which caused me to shrink myself and keep my head down, as well as fears from my religious upbringing. “Don’t step out of line or you could go to hell.”

I was living in so much fear, it even affected how I cut and styled my hair. I never would cut my hair shorter than my ears. I had larger ears that became the target of ridicule causing me to wear my hair down most of the time. I was in a constant state of fear and discomfort.

I wish I could go back in time and hug my younger self and tell her all about how wonderful her life would become in the future. I want to tell her how unique and special she is to have so much love, kindness, and forgiveness inside of her. I want to tell her how strong she is for pulling through and not becoming a bitter or angry person. I want to tell her she’s deeply loved, appreciated, and not a bad person for being imperfect. In fact, her imperfections will actually be embraced in the future.

I got married too young, for all the wrong reasons. I stayed because it was “the good Christian thing to do” and what was expected of me. But I reached a point where I was more than miserable, and I had to get out.

So I took a giant leap, got divorced, and moved to LA without knowing a soul. No job, no place to live, and spending all my savings just to get there. I was terrified, but I was more scared of what my life would look like if I stayed in Michigan. Little did I know, it would be the best decision I’d ever make. Moving to LA and falling into my burner community completely changed my life. It gave me a safe space to explore and express myself without fear of judgment. Self-expression was actually encouraged!

Some friends eventually talked me into getting a pixie haircut. I was terrified sitting in that barber chair, watching my hair fall to the floor. All the middle school memories of kids laughing and berating me came flooding back. I could feel all the emotions from the childhood trauma start to well up. But then the barber turned the chair around, and my jaw dropped. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was seeing ME. My insecurities were exposed and I looked GOOD! I wanted to cry from the relief. I had been holding onto something I thought was protecting me, but it had been a prison all along. This was one of the first steps I would take in my self-love journey.

P.S. I would eventually meet the love of my life who absolutely adores my ears and builds me up daily. 😉

A few months after the pixie cut transformation, I had a powerful emotional breakthrough journey at a friend’s house where I learned what self love truly felt like. I was lying on her couch, overwhelmed with feelings, when I started hearing encouraging affirmations in my mind. I suddenly realized they were coming from ME. They were truths I’d always known deep down, buried under years of negativity. I sobbed as I held myself, flooded with a sense of love and appreciation I hadn’t felt in years. “I am a good person. I am brave and strong. I am beautiful and loving. I am enough.”

This would be the jumpstart that ignited a fire within me that propelled me into the incredible transformation that is my wonderful self today. Over the next few months, my clothes became more colorful, I started embracing and wearing more artwork from others, I dyed my hair rainbows and started wearing cat ears. Why? Because it made me feel good, and the person I saw staring back at me in the mirror made me smile. It no longer mattered what others thought about my appearance. I finally felt like the beautiful, strong, creative, intelligent, and silly person I always had inside of me.

I took this confidence and ran with it. I started making choices that were best for ME. In February 2020, I rented my very own apartment for the first time. A month later, the world shut down. However, I took it in stride and used that time for more self-growth and awareness.

When jobs returned, I managed and ran the grooming salon where I worked for several more years. Then a grooming student told me she was buying a mobile grooming van after graduation, and I had a moment of reckoning. I’d been grooming for other companies for 14 years, and all I had ever done was make excuses of why I couldn’t open my own business. Here was a brand-new groomer going for it. What was I waiting for?

So, once again, I took a risk. I got a huge loan, bought my van, got all the necessary licenses, and started my own mobile grooming business. It turned out to be exactly what I needed. If I hadn’t taken all those risks, I wouldn’t be the confident, badass businesswoman I am today.

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

I’m the proud owner and operator of Ray’s Holistic Grooming, a mobile pet grooming business I launched in 2024 to spread my rays of sunshine everywhere I go. After 14 years of grooming for other companies, I finally took the leap to build something of my own—and it’s been one of the most empowering decisions of my life.

What makes my business unique is the heart behind it. I genuinely care about each animal I work with. I’m not just here to make them look cute (though I absolutely do that too!)—I’m here to help them feel safe, respected, and understood. No chaotic salons, no loud distractions—just me and the pet, building trust. And honestly, that peaceful environment helps me show up as the best version of myself, too. A calm groomer creates a calm pet, and I’ve crafted my mobile van to be a little oasis of peace where that magic can happen. I draw from my background as a vet tech and certified cat and dog groomer, plus my knowledge of animal behavior and energy work, to create a vibe that’s peaceful, intentional, and totally centered around the pet.

As for what’s new—I’m currently growing my client base in the Mid to West San Fernando Valley and building my brand locally. I’m passionate about bringing a creative and personal flair to my work. From colorful dye jobs to special request cuts, I love when I get to collaborate with clients on fun, unique styles for their pets. I’m also exploring ways to share more educational and entertaining grooming content on social media, because I believe grooming can be both informative and joyful.

I also see my work as part of something bigger: I love educating my clients about their pets’ health and behavior, and I’m passionate about helping other groomers build confidence and find balance in this demanding field. There’s a big shift happening in the grooming world—toward kindness, empathy, and sustainability—and I’m so excited to be a part of that movement.

At the end of the day, my brand is about love, creativity, and authenticity—for both pets and people. I hope when people see me and my business, they feel inspired to embrace their own unique selves, take that leap they’ve been putting off, and trust that joy is waiting on the other side of fear.

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?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in both my personal life and professional journey are patience, faith in the unknown, and a deep commitment to growth through learning.

1. Patience
Patience is hands down the number one quality you need to become a great groomer and a successful business owner. It has shaped everything from how I work with animals, to how I built my business and navigated the most difficult chapters of my life. It helps me slow down and breathe, even when things feel overwhelming. In grooming, patience allows me to create calm, trusting relationships with the pets I work with. In life, it’s helped me move through challenges with grace, even when progress felt slow. It’s taught me that healing, growth, and success all take time, and that’s okay.

2. Faith in the Unknown
There were moments, both personally and professionally, when the path forward wasn’t clear. I had to make brave decisions, like choosing myself over others’ expectations, or launching my own business when security wasn’t guaranteed. Things may not always turn out the way you want or expect either. What helped me keep going was a belief that things would unfold the way they were meant to. It’s not about having all the answers, but about trusting that you’re being guided, even when the next step feels uncertain.

3. Lifelong Learning & Growth
Investing in my growth has been a lifeline. In grooming, this meant learning from other experienced professionals, taking classes, and staying curious. Personally, it meant facing hard truths, doing the inner work, and allowing myself to evolve. Both journeys are intertwined, and when I deepen my skills and knowledge, I show up more fully in life, too.

For anyone just starting out—whether you’re pursuing a career, starting a new chapter, or finding your way through something difficult—know this: you don’t need to have it all figured out. Give yourself time, stay open, and trust that even the messiest parts are shaping something beautiful.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

If I had to name one book that’s had the biggest impact on both my personal and professional development, it would be “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins. This book completely shifted the way I show up in the world, especially as someone who spent a lifetime trying to make everyone else happy. I used to exhaust myself worrying about how others perceived me, bending over backwards to make sure everyone else was okay, even when I wasn’t.

Mel’s “Let Them” mindset was a wake-up call. It reminded me that I can’t control everything or anyone else. If someone misunderstands me? Let them. If someone wants to leave, lash out, or judge me? Let them. Their actions don’t define me. What does define me is how I choose to respond. That’s where “Let Me” comes in. Let me stay grounded. Let me move with compassion. Let me keep growing, no matter what’s happening around me.

Another powerful shift was letting go of comparison. Instead of feeling behind or discouraged when I see others succeed, I now see inspiration. I ask, What can I learn from them? How can I make it my own? That shift has allowed me to grow without shame and to genuinely celebrate others while continuing to honor my unique journey.

At its core, The Let Them Theory gave me permission to stop over-functioning, stop overthinking, and to start fully trusting myself. And that’s a gift I’ll carry with me for life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.raysholisticgrooming.com
• Instagram: @raysholisticgrooming
• Facebook: @raysholisticgrooming
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Raysholisticgrooming
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rays-holistic-grooming-san-fernando-valley

Image Credits

Damian Kevitt
Tea Miller