Owner of a Skin Care Center in the San Francisco Bay Area Since 1990
Sales and Training of Esthetic Equipment Since 2005
2009 Educator Face & Body Show
The Long Story! I was in my mid-twenties, working at a job that kept me in a cubicle all day. Although the pay was great, I realized I didn't want to spend any more time alone in a cubicle. So, I up and quit and got a job at the Clinique counter at Macy's. The strange part is that I had never done sales and I didn't wear makeup, but I still got the job. It turned out that I was a bit of a natural because in my third month there I was crowned salesperson of the month and won a TV/VCR. I didn't much care for the cosmetic counter scene though and moved on after six months.
Around that time I had become re-acquainted with a high school friend who was an Esthetician. She worked for a dermatologist in San Francisco and they were looking to hire someone to do computer work. I didn't really want to go back to computer work, but at least I wouldn't be in a cubicle. This was a totally different atmosphere. Two days into the job, the Doctor ask me if I would like to be trained to be his back office assistant. I only had to think about that a quick split second before saying yes.
So, the next day I came in dressed in white pants and white shoes, looking very official and feeling confident. I'm a quick learner, so I was very excited. I was told to go observe what they called "a small surgery" going on in treatment room number three. I opened the door to a Liposuction in progress! Did I mention that I'm not real fond of needles, none the less tubes coming out of a woman's stomach with gushes of fat running through plain as day? I turned a beautiful shade of green and was escorted from the room. Perhaps a little mole removal would have been a better place to start.
As time went on, needles and blood became no big deal. I learned a lot and saw a lot while working there. It was a great education. I have many stories I could share with you! I soon began to notice though, that each client coming out of the room from my Esthetician friend seemed very relaxed and happy. Hey, I want to do that, I want to make people happy. So, I quit and went off to Esthetician school full time.
After taking my state boards and receiving my license, I went back to work in a dermatology office. It was 1988 and not many Dermatologists knew what an Esthetician was back then. I worked hard for this Doctor as his back office assistant, all the while convincing him that he needed me to do skin care on his patients. He soon relented and I built up quite a practice working on his teenagers before and after regular office hours. Now many years later, Esthetic work is a big part of his practice!
About a year and half into being an Esthetician, I received a phone call from a woman I knew that owned a small skin care center in Belmont. She had just been given the opportunity to become the Director of a Day Spa opening in New Mexico. She needed to leave for this position immediately and needed someone to take over running her business. She ask me if I would be that person. Me? I hadn't been an Esthetician for very long, I had only worked in a medical setting and I knew nothing about running a business. But what an opportunity this was for me! She needed to know my answer by the next morning. Wow, this was a big decision. I pretty much didn't sleep that night. I had worked so hard building up my Esthetic practice at the Doctors office. I had made myself a very secure position there. But this was an incredible opportunity being handed to me.
I called her the next morning and said "Yes, let's do this". We met for about 3 hours to go over where everything was and how to do the books and off she went. I never saw her again! She stayed in New Mexico and I purchased her Center from her three months later.
During the years of running my business I always worked closely with at least one local Plastic Surgeon. Most of those years were with Dr. Mary Lynn Moran, Facial Plastic Surgeon in Woodside California. Working with her helped me stay up on the latest in the medical side of esthetics.
Fast forward 22 wonderful years! I have many stories that I could share about growing and running a business, all the little in and outs and the do's and don'ts! It's hard work, but very fulfilling. I'm so glad I took the leap of faith and said "Yes" to that offer so many years ago.
In 2005 I sold that skin care center and began focusing on helping other Estheticians with their businesses. I love this industry! I still do some clients that have been with me from the beginning, but I'm so enjoying this new venture of sales and training.
Thanks for reading my story and I look forward to the opportunity to work with you soon!
