We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leslie Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Leslie, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
One of my favorite quotes from Amy Cuddy is “Fake it until you become it!” This statement led me through imposter syndrome when I began my yoga teaching journey in 2010.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I founded Yo Soy Candle in 2011 and The Candle Creation Bar in 2020. Our gorgeous, sun-filled retail shop and workshop space are located in Portland, Oregon.
Our soy candles provide enchanting and unique aromas that each pair with an I AM statement to use as a tool for self-empowerment, healing, growth, and a way to connect with your needs.
I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset and Yo Soy Candle is my third brainchild.
I first started as an aesthetician, then a yoga instructor, and now have a conscious candle business where I get to lead open-hearted individuals through the process of finding an aroma and an I AM statement that feels like home.
Going back around about ten years, (while I was still an aesthetician) I traveled to Costa Rica to study yoga. At the time I was really getting into the wellness benefits that yoga brings. That trip gave me a lot of clarity and deepened my passion for wellness.
After returning from Costa Rica, I hung up my boots at the beauty parlor and decided to focus on yoga and develop my own home aesthetics studio.
And many of my clients, who I had been working with for many years, supported me in my yoga venture, staying on as clients.
I really wanted to find a way to thank them. I was after a creative way to do this that wouldn’t burn a hole in my pocket.
So I picked up a candle-making kit and whipped up around 100 candles for my supportive clients.
While it was meant to be a one-off gift, when I saw many of my clients after that they would ask me when they could expect their next candle.
And in that time a lot of serendipitous things happened which really nudged me towards the candle business and to take this on full time. So I took the plunge and committed to Yo Soy Candle.
And my love for wellness and affirmations was something I knew I could bring to this business to give it a lot of heart. And it really makes it more personal and meaningful to complement our beautifully scented candles.
We currently offer weekly Affirmation Candle Making Workshops @ The Candle Creation Bar and some upcoming events happening this fall: A Soul-Led Writing + Candle Making, and a fundraiser with Portland New Family Fund.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Starting and running a business is not for the faint of heart. It takes ambition, perseverance, patience, and the ability to wear as many hats as you can (at first) to get your feet off the ground. Being creative and having the ability to innovate, problem-solve and pivot during tough times is crucial.
Having people skills has definitely been helpful, however, I wasn’t born that way. I used to be very shy and did not really know what to say to strangers or how to sell something without being pushy. My advice here would be to start with eye contact, acknowledging who is in front of you, and treating everyone with kindness and curiosity. If you are communicating online, acknowledge and appreciate your potential customers through words and by responding within 24-48 hours. Listen to the needs of your people, not just your own. Make it a win-win with everything you put out into the world. Stay curious and keep listening.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal customer is someone who appreciates quality and seeks out brands that are low waste and eco-friendly. They also seek empowering products that create rituals around being a better human, living a happier more fulfilling life, and giving back to communities in need. They enjoy simplicity, practicality, and meaning.
Contact Info:
- Website: yosoycandle.com and t
hecandlecreationbar.com - Instagram: @yosoycandle and @thecandlecreationbar
- Other: Tiktok is @yosoycandle
Image Credits
Briana Cerezo, Dave Moore, Mandi Murphy
