Meet Shelly Dagata

We were lucky to catch up with Shelly Dagata recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelly , 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?

Growing up, my father was the embodiment of discipline and loyalty. As a retired veteran he had a very structured way of life. He still rocked the military cut, loved food that he was served in the Army, and was absolutely never late. At first as a kid, I didn’t fully grasp why he was so regimented. And retirement never slowed him down either. He even took a job delivering pizza for Dominos pizza because he missed the interaction with different kinds of folks. He also led by example whether it was fixing the lawn mower, tending to something around the house, or organizing his coin collection. The man never stopped. He attacked every job with precision. At his funeral an old coworker of his told me that my father made a man out of him, I still think about that to this day. That’s how my father gave me my work ethic.

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

I’ve been a professional esthetician/makeup artist since 1995. Ever since I was a little girl I was fascinated with the world of beauty. It all started when I watched the Michael Jackson video Thriller. Now mind you, I was scared out of my mind and had nightmares for weeks! And then the network released the making of Thriller, backstage stage, behind the scenes with the legendary special effect artist Rick Baker. I was hooked, no more fear just inspiration. That’s when I knew my path. But how do I get there?.. I took a job in the mall at a store called Trade Secret, from there I was recruited to a department story selling Lancôme cosmetics at a very young age. Completely terrified, I ended up putting my big girl pants on and hit the ground running. I made friends quickly at that store even though there was an age gap since I was so young. From there I learned you could get a license in skincare. So in 1996, I enrolled at Indian River State College (community college back then) and became an esthetician-youngest in the class. I have always enjoyed working for corporate companies including Walt Disney World and Ulta and remember my time there fondly. But my professional life took a shift when that pesky thing called Covid hit. So when it was safe to go back to work, I decided to take the leap and become a small business owner. It was now or never.

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?

I would have to say customer service, I truly love people just like my father, I love to hear their stories, and experiences. I feel like number one, if you have found your passion that’s most of the battle, and number two, being a true people person. If you can relate to your clients, you’re ahead of the game. I don’t think I’ve ever had a day working for myself that I haven’t wanted to go in.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

My biggest area of growth was jumping into different organizations to volunteer. Through volunteering I’ve developed stronger communication skills, learned to adapt quickly when things don’t go according to plan, and to become patient. It has made me more grateful for what I have as well, and motivated to continue to find new ways to give back. It’s such an amazing feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Freshstartskinstudio.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: @freshstartskinstudio
• Facebook: Fresh Start Skin Studio
• Linkedin: Shelly Dagata
• Twitter: N/a
• Youtube: N/a
• Yelp: N/a
• Soundcloud: N/a
• Other: N/a

Image Credits

N/a