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You Can't Afford Me
Making the leap from employment to entrepreneurship can be a scary time. The biggest fear people have is the unknown. Here on the “You Can’t Afford Me Podast” we speak with hustlers and innovators on how to make the most of your journey. If you have questions we have answers.
You Can't Afford Me
Makeup Brushes, Backroads, And “Sugar Honey Iced Tea”
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What happens when childhood pageants, Army discipline, and a love for beauty collide? We sit down with Kiersta, founder of Artistry by K, to unpack how a five-year-old’s stage sparkle turned into a luxury bridal brand built on grit, service, and smart systems. From North Carolina roots to back-to-back wedding seasons, she shows how legal setup, strict sanitation, and a reinvestment mindset turn side gigs into sustainable revenue.
We get real about the messy middle. Kiersta opens up about leaving corporate roles that clashed with motherhood, navigating single-parent logistics, and making the leap without a safety net—except sheer determination and a partner who believed. She breaks down the first-year playbook: starting with a lean kit, documenting workflows, pricing with confidence, and using social media like a storefront. When COVID hit, she didn’t pause; she pivoted—protecting clients, honoring reschedules, and keeping the referral flywheel spinning.
The conversation moves from craft to scale. We explore the crowded beauty market and why visibility now matters as much as mastery. Kiersta shares how digital masterclasses extend her reach, create recurring income, and help both clients and aspiring artists grow at home. Then we dive into the power of rooms—the conferences, founders, and celebrity stylists who expand your ceiling—and why you should pay to get in them. Her toughest lesson? Hiring to a luxury standard and protecting the brand promise at every touchpoint.
If you’re building a service business, dreaming of bridal work, or balancing entrepreneurship with parenting, this episode is a field guide. You’ll leave with practical steps, mindset shifts, and a reminder that purpose is the engine and process is the map. Love what you heard? Follow, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review so more creators can find us.
www.themrpreneur.com
Meet Kirsta And Her Craft
SPEAKER_00The You Can't Afford Me podcast. And that's great filter. Real. Real drop. And the unfiltered drug. Hey guys, thanks for joining us on another episode of the You Can't Afford Me Podcast. So this young lady, I think I met at a networking event we were hosting here at our office. I caught wind of what she was putting down on social media. We started chatting a little bit and we're like, we need to sit down and have a conversation. I'm enamored by her hustle, her grit, and what she's putting together with her business. So today we have Kirsta on the podcast. How are you doing today?
SPEAKER_01Hey, I'm doing great. How are you?
SPEAKER_00Awesome. Awesome. So if you can give everybody a quick rundown of who you are and what you do.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. I'm Kirsta Ray. I'm the founder of Artistry by K, Luxury Beauty Artistry. And I have grown up in the industry with hair and makeup. It started when I was really young, five years old with pageants in the South, where my mom threw me in every pageant in the state. We will talk about that. Absolutely. And so I have taken that love and passion for beauty and just that creative artistry, and I've turned it into the legacy that we have now, which is artistry by K. So I've done everything from music videos to commercials, production. I specialize in bridal and a lot of special events.
SPEAKER_00Nice. Awesome. So you may be the first person I have on the podcast that started their career at the age of five. So kind of talk to us about that. So you said in the South, like what part of the South did you grow up in?
Pageants To Passion
SPEAKER_01In North Carolina. Okay. North Carolina. Yep. Right outside of Charlotte, um, down in Wedding, North Carolina. Okay, yeah. Which is right there close to the border of South Carolina. So I would even go down to some of the little counties down there. Junior Miss Watermelon Queen of Pagelin, South Carolina, right here.
SPEAKER_00Is that something you jumped right into, or your mom was more forcing you? Like it was something natural for you?
SPEAKER_01Well, it it was definitely natural for me. I had a lot of fun. Um, I loved just being on stage. I loved playing dress up, I love doing my hair, doing my makeup, except having my hair teased because no child likes that. And but that's where we have the um the saying it's painful to be beautiful.
SPEAKER_00There you go.
SPEAKER_01So, and if you know it, you know it.
SPEAKER_00And when did that when did that switch go off that said, I think I could do some aspect of this as a career?
SPEAKER_01In 2018 was when I launched Artist Straight by K. Um and I had been doing it for years for like friends and family, um, for their weddings, their their events, um, stuff like that. But even growing up, you know, girlfriends would come stay the night, and you know, we're not really playing Barbies. I'm like, here, let me do your makeup and let me do your hair. Um, so I'm doing, you know, beauty makeovers all throughout elementary school and middle school. Everybody wants to sleep at your house. Yeah, right. Like we had so much fun. Um, we're playing dress up, we're putting all the all the pageant clothes on and stuff. So it's literally something that I have truly loved, but I never knew that it was something that I could make into a career. Yeah, you know, not until in 2018. I was like, you know what, I'm actually gonna do that leap of faith, take that step for me and my kids.
Launching Artistry By K
SPEAKER_00So let's let's build up that, let's rewind back. Yeah. So after high school, did you go to college? Did you go straight into the working force? What'd that look like?
SPEAKER_01I well, I was straight into the workforce. I actually didn't even graduate high school right off the bat. So um I had moved back down to Charlotte um from Chester, Virginia, um, in the middle of my senior year. And of course, down in Charlotte, I guess the curriculum was different. So they were like, well, even though you're a senior, to make up the credits that you'll need here, you'll have to go to high school a whole nother year.
SPEAKER_00Jeez.
SPEAKER_01I was like, nope. So I immediately went into the workforce um coaching gymnastics and cheer um locally, and um the rest was history. Actually, when I wanted to enlist in the army, is when I went back into the adult education program and got my my high school diploma.
SPEAKER_00Wait, so halt. Did you go into the army?
SPEAKER_01I did.
SPEAKER_00So when was this?
SPEAKER_01Oh gosh, that was back in 2008.
SPEAKER_00So that was immediately after high school?
SPEAKER_01No, no, that was a couple years after high school.
SPEAKER_00So what did you do in between that time?
SPEAKER_01Just worked. Just odd jobs or it was in the beauty space or um I went to school um after, well, that was after the military, but um for estology at the Aveda Institute of Charlotte. And um, yeah, just in between high school and in the military, I just worked.
SPEAKER_00What was what was that catalyst that made you say, I want to go serve my country? And the fact that you describe yourself as such a girly girl, I'm like, wait, you were in the military?
School, Setbacks, And The Army
SPEAKER_01Like so, what was that decision there? So, okay, um I'm trying to figure out the right words for this one. So I was raised very um, very soft, very girly, very um very opposite of who I am to my core. You know, like I did not know how to change attire, I did not know how to do anything for myself, really. Like it was just a very I had to be dependent on everybody else. And um, I don't know if that was like with a silver spoon in my mouth because I, you know, financially that wasn't the case, but it was just raised very delicate. So for me, I was at a hard spot in my life, which we don't have to dive into now, but I was like, I really need to toughen up, I need to figure some some stuff out, and um, I need to become more self-reliant, I need to really just kind of do something bigger than me, like a purpose bigger than me. And so that's when I enlisted in the army.
SPEAKER_00So, what was that experience like? Oh, did you let's say this what were what were your big three takeaways from serving in the military?
SPEAKER_01Um, I absolutely loved the people that I had met, like all of my battles, everybody that um I learned has such a different walk of life than me, that really opened my eyes like culturally to so many different people and just learning their stories absolutely loved it. I learned a lot about myself that there really is like true grit in embracing the suck is what my drill sergeant always said. And that is a statement that I carry true now, and I've even taught my own kids embrace the suck because when life gets hard, you just put your head down, keep your chin down, and you tough through it, and you can get through it. Um and yeah, physically, physically I'm you know, was killing it back then. Um, so that was something that definitely instilled in me. It was that that physical discipline.
SPEAKER_00And what age did you go into the military?
SPEAKER_01I was I actually had my 21st birthday in basic training.
SPEAKER_00Oh wow.
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_00So you get out of the military, what happens now?
Grit, Growth, And “Embrace The Suck”
SPEAKER_01Um, I didn't know what to do, you know. Um I had like most people in their early twenties. Yeah. Like, I mean, I could totally dive into that whole transition from military to civilian and how difficult that can be and all the changes that go with it. But that is a whole nother episode by all means. Um it I mean, it's a great transition, and if you learn a lot about yourself too in those moments. Um, but the mindset definitely it takes time to figure those things out. But yeah, in that transition, I moved back to Charlotte, and that was where you know I'm bartending, waiting tables, like just trying to figure things out and earning money while I could.
SPEAKER_00Which I think that's a job everybody should have at some point in their life.
SPEAKER_01Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00I think seeing how much it sucks to be on the wait staff, like at restaurants and stuff like that, you learn a lot and like just being on your feet for 10 straight hours and running around. I was the world's worst waiter ever. Really? I was so bad. Because, like, number one, like I was working at some Italian restaurant when I was in college. And number one, I took Spanish all throughout school. And then all of a sudden they're like, you need to learn this whole wine list and stuff like that. And of course, everything's Italian. I'm like, I don't know the first thing about Italian.
SPEAKER_01I took Spanish as fancy once you learn it though. You're like, I didn't learn nothing.
SPEAKER_00I didn't learn it. So I scored, it was like right at the time of like final exams or something for college too. And they wanted uh, it was me and one other guy, I remember this. Like he was in a fraternity too, I was in a fret. And I was like, bruh, I ain't got time for this. Like, we ain't gonna study for this. I got I scored like a 25 on the test or something like that. And they downgraded me to a hostess, which for somebody like me downgraded absolute best thing. Because all I got to do was I got to see people, talk to people, have chats, all that kind of stuff. And then at the end of the shift, because you know you're dead broke in college, um, I got a free meal at the end of uh each shift, and I got tip share from everybody. I was like, this is way better than being a waiter. But yeah, I sucked. That was horrible. I could I couldn't remember you tell me your drink, I would come back to a second. What did you tell me, Dan? You just said yeah, I sucked.
SPEAKER_01Well, I can remember everybody about what they're drinking or like something about them, like they're eating or something.
SPEAKER_00You're like long island versus their name.
SPEAKER_01Don't ask me to remember somebody's name at all.
SPEAKER_00So, what what what alcoholic beverage would I be if you just met me today?
SPEAKER_01Okay, I would say you are probably oh man.
SPEAKER_00I've never asked someone that question before.
SPEAKER_01That's a good question. Okay, I would say you're like a nice whiskey.
SPEAKER_00I can get with that. On the rocks?
SPEAKER_01On the rocks, okay.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I can go with that. Straight looking, no chaser. I'm with that. All right, so you're waiting tables, you're trying to figure it out. What was the next switch for it?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I went to um beauty school. I went to school to become an esthetician.
SPEAKER_00So, what was it that said, like, okay, like I'm I'm done, like this has always been a passion of mine. I'm ready to move forward in this.
Civilian Life And Service Jobs
SPEAKER_01It wasn't really like I'm ready to move forward. It was a hey, let me dip my toe in the water and see if it's something that I like. And of course, I loved it. I loved every bit of it. But if you know me, you know that I'm late to everything all the time. Have we learned this by now? Um, and Charlotte traffic is no joke. So, you know, they have a very strict no wait policy, third time and you're out. Yeah, and um, you know, we're down on the floor, like we're seeing pay or not patients, clients and stuff at this point. Um, and I was three minutes late. And so I never finished the program. Yes. So like it's so crazy because literally the matter of like two minutes can be a 45 minute difference than getting where you need to go.
SPEAKER_00Jeez. So yeah. So I'll never be moving there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, this is why I live in the country now. Like, there's solitude, there's peace, there's quiet, like there's back roads, there's not city traffic. You cannot pay me enough to live in the city anymore.
SPEAKER_00I'm a city boy, I love the city.
SPEAKER_01I love the city, but to visit, not to live.
SPEAKER_00See, and I couldn't live in I couldn't live in the country because like I like action around me. Like when we me and my wife bought our last house, or one of her first questions to the realtor was how close is the how close is Chick-fil-A and Target? And she's like, if it's past 15, 20 minutes, we're not living here. Like I need those, I need those in our backyard. Um so you don't complete the class, then what happens?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I don't, and I'm devastated, right? So I'm like, well shugar, honey, iced tea. Like, now what? Now what do I do? So I'm back to bartending and waiting tables and just trying to figure life out.
SPEAKER_00So when did the switch come back on and say, This ain't it? I don't want to spend the rest of my life doing this.
SPEAKER_01So I tapped into the corporate world for a while, um, and I'm doing like corporate accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, HR, you name it, like all the behind the scenes involved in the office setting and you know, getting a lot of really great experience under my belt when it comes to something like that. Um, like I'm managing fifty million dollars a month for like some corporate account, so you know what I mean? Um but it's not for me. It's the corporate world was never for me, um, especially when I became a mom. Um it is not forgiving when you're a single mom and you have sick kids and one gets sick and then the next gets sick, and next thing you're missing a week and a half of work, and they're like, nope, that doesn't cut it for us, you're gone. Like I have learned so quickly that you are replaceable um in every setting except for at home. And for me, that's you know, what comes first. That's the most important.
SPEAKER_00So when you were in corporate America, how long in the corporate America till you had your first child?
SPEAKER_01I was a couple years in.
SPEAKER_00And what was that meant like obviously, like in terms of like kids getting sick and like the corporate model? Um what was that moment for you where it was like I'm I'm not sure? Like it sounds like at some point mom hood may have been tugging at you a little bit more than the corporate life.
Corporate Lessons And Bad Bosses
SPEAKER_01Oh, absolutely. And I I think as a mom, like as a mother, we naturally carry this m this guilt anyway. Like when we have to be away from our kids, um, when we have to go to work, like once you hit that, um well, it varies per per business, but that nine weeks or twelve weeks and you have to leave your baby like with in the in the hands of somebody that you know is not gonna love them and take care of them the way that you are, like it is distressing, you know, it is absolutely heartbreaking. And um now you'll see a lot of women trying to find ways to work from home, like they're trying to find remote positions, they're trying to figure out ways where they can still be the one to take care of their baby and they don't have to leave. Yeah, um, and for me, like that when I had my daughter, she's 14 now, um, and my son is 11. Like that that didn't exist really. Like, there wasn't really any kind of remote jobs. There's MLMs, like there's all the network marketing. Hey, Mary Kay.
SPEAKER_00I did that for a while, not Mary Kay, but I did some MLM. That was my taste in the entrepreneurship.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, like so. Everybody's trying to dip into that to to get a taste of it to try to figure out different ways where they can stay home and and provide for their families at the same time, right? Um, it was after I had lost my last corporate job that I was just feeling so defeated. And naturally, like I'm taking it in internally, like something is wrong with me. Like, why can't I find a place where I belong? Like where I really fit, like I'm working my butt off. I'm super smart, you know what I mean? I'm bringing all these things to the table. I'm killing it in every challenge thrown my way at work. But when it comes to motherhood and it comes to taking care of my kids first, it's like I literally had an employer at one time, and I'm not gonna name who they are, but my kid was in the hospital. My daughter was in the hospital, and she was there for about two weeks, and she literally told me I still have to come to work that I need to put on Facebook or social media um somebody to come sit with my daughter if I was that worried about it. I'm like, Are you freaking kidding me? She's like, Yeah, because your obligation is here at work. And I'm like, and I knew her on a personal level outside of work, so to hear that hurt even more. I said a lot of really ugly words that I will never repeat here. But you know, like that's just kind of the mentality behind it. And for me, that's so unacceptable. And now that I have like my business, I would never I never ask that of somebody.
SPEAKER_00Some of the greatest lessons I've learned about being a good leader came from the poor bosses I had where I just took note and I'm like in the back of my mind, I always knew I was gonna be a business owner and always just said, Yep, I'm not gonna do that. Nope, I'm not gonna talk to people like that. Nope, I'm not gonna treat people that way.
SPEAKER_01Like, what is your biggest takeaway? What was the biggest thing for you?
SPEAKER_00In terms of like having a bad boss?
SPEAKER_01Mm-hmm.
Motherhood Versus The Office
SPEAKER_00Hmm. It was really, I think it was that the communication piece. Like, one, I try to be first, you have to learn everybody's language on your team. So, like, some people are gonna respond to a raise. Some people are just gonna respond to kind words of affirmation. Some people respond to you giving them more responsibility. So I think that was one of the first lessons I took away was like, I'd see how he kind of treated everybody exactly the same. And in my role, I couldn't even do that at his subordinate. Like, I couldn't operate with these people and talk the same way across the board. I had to change it up for everybody I was dealing with. So that was one big thing that stuck out to me. But some of the stuff that you're talking about, in terms of like I I could see it in my staff's, which I don't know why they do this. I get that like I'm the CEO and I'm sitting behind the big chair, so there's a certain fear sometimes when they may come and ask me or something. They're like, hey, like one of my staff today, he's like, hey man, like, is it possible? Like, you know, I got all this stuff done, and da-da-da-da. Like, um, but I gotta pick my girl up tonight, and this is the only time I'm gonna have to get a Valentine's Day gift. Like, can I roll out of here at three? I'm like, Absolutely. Dude, I don't give a shit. Like, you you're killing it, dude. Like, yeah. But it's like little stuff like that. Like, I had to like plead with my boss, like, can I please do this? Can I please do that? And understanding that number one, corporate America has changed big time, but I'm not dumb enough to think that everyone that works here, their life revolves around this. Like, I'm the only one that has to live, eat, and breathe this nonstop. Like, when they clock out, they get to clock out. But luckily, I have a team where they're still in communication, they're having thoughts, and they're like, Yeah, I love this. This is the best team I've ever put together, which I think has made all the difference in terms of growth. But yeah, I took more away from the bad bosses than I did the good ones. Um, but some of the good ones, it was more of the good mentors I had along the way that probably like helped sculpt me into what I wanted to be. Uh, but yeah, those let like you can get lessons from anybody the good, the bad, the ugly. Like, but I fully believe you get more lessons from the bad ones than you do the good ones.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I agree with that. Plenty of bad lessons, and I'm like, I never want to be you, I'm just gonna pray for you.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Now, looking into transitioning into entrepreneurship, talk to us about was it a leap of fate for you? Because it seems like this piece of your story, it's like, like you stated, I'm just trying to find somewhere where I fit in. Um did it get to the point for you where you're like, you know, I just can't fit in this box, and now I'm a mother and they're wanting me to do X, Y, and Z. Was it a big leap of fate for you to go into business for yourself, or was it like, no, this is just a natural transition for me?
SPEAKER_01A little bit of both. A little bit of both. Like I knew that my calling was something bigger and better than what I was doing. I had known um for years that like I'm not living my purpose. And it's so depressing when you're when you're stuck in that rut. And you know what I mean? Like it's so easy to just go through the emotions of you know, just going to the bar on the weekends or you know, living a completely unfulfilling life because you're not checking off that box inside of you that's really gonna light you up, like to live to find your purpose, to fulfill that destiny. And so when yes, it was a leap of faith, you know, um, but at the same time, I knew that it was the right pos right decision. I knew that I was right where I was supposed to be. And of course, faith more than anything, you know, God would not have opened that door for me if if it wasn't where I was supposed to be.
SPEAKER_00Talk about how, because like when I became an entrepreneur, I was still single, had met my wife, didn't have kids, none of that. So it's just like, dude, I can live in a cardboard box and eat a little season of pizza all day long. So like, especially as a guy, guys can live on like the absolute The only reason we have homes or nice cars is because we're trying to track y'all. If it was just men on this earth, we'd all be still running around in buggies and stuff like that. Um but looking at that, for me, that transition wasn't a massive leap because it was like, all right, I got a car payment of$200 a month and I'm paying, you know,$600 a month in rent. So like I only needed like a thousand bucks a month like to live. So$12,000 a year, like I'm straight. So it wasn't as big of a shift for me. It was still extremely scary, trust me. Um but having a child to take care of and looking to fulfill that passion, which to that extent too, like that passion piece, to me, there's nothing more fulfilling than finding your purpose on this earth. Like when, and I've shared this story before on the podcast, but like when I met my wife, our first date was a blonde date. And we we had our date and meal, like we were messaging on Facebook and stuff, so stuff like that, but like we had never seen each other in person. Um, we're finishing up the date and paying the tab, and uh, I turned around and I said, Look, really enjoyed meeting you. You know, I think it's great, love to take you out again. Um, but I need to tell you what this looks like. First and foremost, I'm an entrepreneur. At some point, I want to be a husband, I want to be a father, but I know my purpose on this earth is in the entrepreneurial space. I'm here to add value to others and build some great things. So if you're the type of woman that needs a man by her side 24-7 and you can't deal with this, hope you enjoyed your meal. It was a pleasure meeting you. But if you think you can ride with that, I'd love to take you out again. And she said, Yeah, no, I'll go out with you again. Um, so from the very beginning, I set the stage of like, this is my purpose. Um, and a big part of her purpose, and the reason we um ended up taking things further, was because I'd written a list of like the ideal things I wanted to make when I was like 20 years old. And once you get past the superficial things in terms of like how you want them to look and things like that, but it's like to the core, who do you want this person to be? Two things like that list taught me the person I needed to be to attract that type of person. It's like you dating someone. I had great mentors.
SPEAKER_01I didn't, but you did.
Taking The Leap Into Business
SPEAKER_00I had great mentors. Um, but it's like the you know, you can't you can't expect to attract a non-smoker. You're like, I don't want to date somebody who smokes, but you're smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. Like you can't, so you have to be a certain person in order to attract those certain qualities.
SPEAKER_01That is so true.
SPEAKER_00And for her, like being a stay-at-home mom was like one of her life goals. She's like, this is part of my purpose. Like, I'm good for her. So I'm like, okay, I found a woman that I can go out and build businesses, I can conquer the world, and she's gonna hold it down at home, and like this is something that she's gonna be happy in. So I knew immediately that was a big check mark for me. I I couldn't be with somebody unless she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that is fantastic.
SPEAKER_00So for you, like making that leap, having that that child, what was that transition like for you? Because it has to be scary knowing that I could have lived off a thousand bucks a month. You have to feed someone else.
SPEAKER_01Oh, absolutely. And so luck at that time, luckily, you know, the man I I was going through a divorce, right? Like I had been separated for a couple years or been divorced for a couple years. The man that I had started seeing and dating, um, we were serious at that point, and he was such a great supporter. Um, like he was my rock and my total backbone. And you know, he was there for me every time I fell, every time like I would lose a job, or you know what I mean? He's like, you know, as as frustrated as he was, not gonna lie, because he is very much like you show up, like he's very dedicated in in his corporate world.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um but he understood what I was going through, and he was just there to support. So luckily, I did not have to worry about well, can I make my rent this month? You know what I mean? Like he was my backbone and my complete rock.
SPEAKER_02Nice.
SPEAKER_01And you know, the weekends were hard because that's when most of my weddings and events were. So he's like, Well, but I'm stuck with the kids. Yeah. And I'm like, Yep, because you're working all week, and now it's my turn to work. So we're just kind of taking turns with that aspect. But um it was scary because I've always struggled with this feeling, or I don't even really know the right words, with having to be able to provide for my family, how to contribute. And if I'm not contributing as a woman, then I feel worthless. No, and um, and even as a mom, like it's just something that I'm overcoming still to this day. Like, if it's if I can't um pay this, this, this, or if I can't do like something extravagant, because of course my love language is gift giving and like financial stuff. If I can't do that, then then I'm not really feeling like much of a woman, right? Um, so through overcoming all of that and through overcoming his support, like yes, it was that leap of faith, but the transition even with motherhood, I was able to be with my kids and I I'm just really grateful.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. What's been that fur talk to us about the first year of starting your business? Because I tell people all the time if you start a business and you're not this seems rough to hear, but like if you're not willing to be unpaid or or underpaid for at least three years, don't even bother getting started. Because everybody has this thought process, like you open up an LLC and all of a sudden you're balling. No, that's not the case whatsoever.
SPEAKER_02Not at all.
SPEAKER_00So talk to us about that first year. Like, how did you ramp up sales? How did you attract new clients? How did you start building the brand?
First-Year Playbook And Legal Setup
SPEAKER_01So I just really dug deep and like figured out. I wrote down my goals first and foremost, and I I wrote down every step of the things that I needed to do to fully like run a legal business, right? Um, especially in the beauty industry, it's very easy to do everything like sidebar or under the table, um, which I mean, yeah, you can do it and that's great, but you better pray that you don't get caught, right? So I knew that if I'm gonna do this, I'm actually gonna do this right. So I'm setting up my business license, I'm setting up my accounts, I'm setting up like all of the licensures and everything that I need. Luckily in the state of Virginia, we don't need a um like a cosmetology license or any kind of actual licensure to do makeup artistry. Um now, if I'm cutting or coloring hair, then yes, you have to have a cosmetology license. But um, for makeup artistry, which was how I started, you don't need that. And you can do hairstyling too. Um I literally thought about all the different ways that I can brand myself. How can I brand myself? How can I market myself? I had already had a little bit of experience from doing um like unique and Mary Kay from that MLM. So I was using social media and free platforms, like as my base, as my platform to get my my word out for what I can do and offering services. Um, I had tapped into some different networks um for social media pages. Like this is a whole like course for stuff that I teach for all of like the beginning makeup artists or how to begin. Like, how where do you even start this foundation? Right, like how do you even grow? Like, who who should you talk to? How do I get in rooms with this person? Um, and it's literally like a whole thing. No, um, but that was exactly how I started. I didn't make millions, but luckily, like I'm very blessed to have been able to take off the way that I did. Um the first two years, two to three years of business, I mean, I was booming, absolutely booming. And it literally, once word got out, um, and I back then it's the word of mouth, like you have the referrals, right? Um, and I mean, I had people calling me left and right for hey, I'm getting married here, or hey, I have this event here, and I'm rocking and rolling it. Sometimes I would take my kids with me. Um, and I'm like, if you know me, you know that my kids come first. And you know, I mean, the I've got the baby with me today.
SPEAKER_00So I think I saw a recent post of you. You were doing someone's hair and makeup and you had the baby in your arm and you're still knocking it out.
SPEAKER_01Yes, absolutely. I mean, I am all about showing my kids the hard work that is a part of what we do and how they I try to teach my kids how to think outside of the box too. Like I know this is a total tangent. Um, but I want them to see the work that it is to be able to work for yourself. I want them to see what they are capable of um and that they can do it. If I can do it, they can do it too. You know? So, yes, I do have my kids with me all the time. That's just how it is.
Kits, Costs, And Pricing Mindset
SPEAKER_00Talk to us about the the struggle. Well, actually, two things. One, I think, and I've always been a service-based entrepreneur. Like I've I think at this point I've had nine or ten companies, but everything has been service-based. I've never launched a product or coded some software, made an app or anything like that. Um, I feel like the barrier to entry to service-based businesses is much easier than going into something with a product and need investments and all that other kind of stuff. So, for those who are listening that want to get in this space, what does it typically cost just to get things off the ground? Is it literally just you have your makeup kit, may cost you five, I don't know anything about makeup or hair, 500 bucks or something like that, and then you can go off and start booking client. Like, what does it look like getting started?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. So you do start with your kit. Like that's all you really need. Um, and it can be as expensive or as cheap as you want. I started my kit with what I could afford, which was literally like elf products when um when makeup brushes were a dollar a piece, you know. Like I started off with the I mean, they were great products, and like truly as an artist, you can work with any product and make it work, right?
SPEAKER_00You give me a$50 point shoot camera, I can still make magic.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. Like I'm ordering a makeup kit off of Amazon, and that was I think a hundred bucks or or eighty bucks or something. So um it's your foundation. It's you literally start off with just the bare necessities of what you need to build. Um, and then from there, hey, you're getting paid for it for this. So, you know, you set aside X amount for your business and then you pay yourself from there. Yeah. And then you take that, whatever you're paying yourself, and you, you know, you can spend it on products, or you can use your business money and spend it on products that way too.
Weddings, Referrals, And COVID Pivots
SPEAKER_00Talk talk about the demographic for your client base in terms of so right now, I was talking to my sales guy the other day. Uh, I have a hard focus on going after like medical professionals. To me, that is like recession proof clients. Like, if your tooth hurts, I don't care if your your brokerage account is up or down, you're going to the dentist to get your tooth fixed. For you, and then like med spas are like a big focus of mine right now, trying to acquire and work with some medical spas. It seems from an outsider's perspective, and this is coming from a man, not a woman, um, despite what is going on economically, women always gonna make sure they look good. They're gonna get their hair done, their nails done, makeup right, all that. Um talk to us about working with that demographic. Like, obviously, you know, from 2008 to now, we've seen a lot of economic up and downs. Where were the have you seen like major speed bumps in your industry? Like, I I can like when COVID came, my business almost came to a complete stop. And thank God for the PPP loan, because I don't think I'd be sitting here today if that didn't come through. Um, but I had to get creative, like I had to I started messaging all of our clients. I went in the studio, I made a video. I'm like, look, guys, here's what we're gonna do. We can't your content can't stop because of COVID. People are at home now more than ever, and all they're doing is being on social media. So if there's any time for you to start making content, it's now. I can't be in front of you. Here's what we're gonna do. And I literally went through and made like a 15-minute how-to video on here's how I need you to film on your iPhone, here are the settings I need you to select, da da da. I set up Google Drive for everybody, I had them sending us the footage, and then we would edit it, do our thing. So I had all my editors working at different homes and things like that. But COVID caused a hard pivot for me. But that was the only time since I've been in business that there was like this drastic steep decline. For you, do you ever see that, or women just always spending money to look right?
SPEAKER_01Well, okay, so there's two different answers to that for sure. So, yes, COVID did impact a lot of the industry, um, especially because I specialize in bridal, right? Yeah. So then you have venues that are like, nope, like everybody has to be six feet apart, or we're not even hosting any weddings right now.
SPEAKER_00Um, so then I had so many brides that had to reschedule, or um and then you couldn't use makeup that you would use on somebody else because the brushes are touched and all that other kind of stuff.
SPEAKER_01Oh, well, I'm super big about sanitation anyway. And that's like huge industry standard. And if you're if you're not following it, then you don't need to be here. Um, or I can teach you like all the right things to do. So, no, there's definitely some health standards that are in the beauty industry anyway that I am very strict about. But um we had a lot of brides that would just turn it into a backyard wedding, you know, and we're like F that. We're getting married, you know? Um, and we would still make it happen. So I could say that like, yes, it dropped off in a lot of ways, but no, we found ways around it, which they're sometimes probably willing to pay you more during that time because it might have been harder to get other people in your space. Oh, there was definitely a few cases, yeah, absolutely, where you know they're afraid of what you know, wearing a mask or they're afraid of you know all the different health things, and I'm over here like saddle up, let's go. Like we're gonna make this happen for you. Like I will go above and beyond for my clients um easily, easily. There's not much that I'm afraid of, and I you know, everybody kind of has their opinions about the whole COVID stuff anyway. Um, and and I was just ready to rock and roll. Um, I was actually still doing it as a side hustle at that point too. Um but during that time was where where I really had more weddings in my in my career. Like I was rocking 52 to 56 weddings and events a year.
Standing Out In A Crowded Market
SPEAKER_00Oh wow. And then what especially in the wedding industry, I found at least been in my experience, I don't like I still want to market everything hard that I do. I didn't have to, that was probably one of the services I had to market the least because it was just like from every wedding, we got booked for something else. Like a bride's made it this way, because they're always there's gonna be a single girl up there, like when her best friends get married, and then it's gonna be her turn next. And she's like, yo, who's the videographer that you use for a wedding? I loved your video. And they don't even question it. They're just like, You're good enough for my girl, you're good enough for me. Exactly. What's the cost? Um, so for you, like expanding the brand, has it been more of that? Like the referrals in the wedding space are just so heavy that you don't have to invest but so much in the marketing space, or are you seeing a turn where there's so so many people coming into your space that like now in order to get ahead, you do have to make sure that you're getting yourself out there more?
SPEAKER_01So a little bit of both. I I have a ton of I call them like the OGs. They're my original clients from the first couple years where I didn't have much to offer, I didn't have a whole lot of referrals, but they still trusted me, like with their beauty, beauty regimen, right? And making them feel great. Um so my OGs, they're still reaching out, or you know, I have people that were, hey, I was in so-and-so's wedding, exactly like you were saying. Um, you know, I need a makeup artist and a hairstylist. I got you, girl. Say less, I'll be there. Um, I've got three weddings this year actually from brads that um got married years ago, um, which I'm super excited about. But yeah, you've got your OGs and the referrals and stuff that way. But as far as building a brand, because the industry is starting to get um what's the looking for? It's a little, it's getting a little crowded. Like everybody, but I don't say in a bad way because you know, these girls are waking up, they're like, hey, I am great at this, and let me find, let me fulfill my passion, let me actually do something about it. And I love that. I encourage it so much. Um, it's getting a little dense, right? So to stand out, you have to start posting more on social media, which that's something I've I've started doing over the past year because I've wasn't really great about it before. Um, but you want to make yourself stand out on social marketing um or digitally, so to speak, um, which is another thing that I'm starting to offer as well is like all these digital courses and digital classes for um, you know, you've got your makeup classes, how to, you know, where I would host in-person classes, which I still do.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, now we're hosting digital master classes as well. So you don't have to leave your home. You can just, hey, here's my tutorial that I get to hold on to forever. Um, that shows me all the products and the insider tips and tricks. Um, and then two, hey, I really want to start my beauty brand. Where do I even begin? Hey, Artistry by K is offering that class.
SPEAKER_00What inspired you to do that? To start off in courses.
SPEAKER_01So I didn't even realize that digital courses were a thing up until like probably about a year and a half ago. And I started to see um as I'm scrolling, figuring out different ways to try to grow my brand. Like, I'm thinking of all these different things that I want to incorporate to make artistry by K bigger, right? Um, and then I'm seeing people start doing that, and I was like, I want to do that. I've got so much knowledge um about the industry, um, and I've got so many great networks. Like, yeah, let me put that stuff together, let me help figure out different ways to inspire other artists too.
Courses, Digital Masterclasses, And Scale
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And I've seen the biggest thing I've seen from you so far in the short time that we've known each other is um you seek out the knowledge, you seek out the education. So, like, I think when we first connected, you were telling me you were at some event or a conference or something like that, and it's like the top women in these spaces, like you were able to get some one-on-one time with. So, talk about how important it is not only just in this space, but as an entrepreneur to make sure that you're constantly putting yourself in the right rooms, that you're expanding your knowledge in the space.
Pay To Be In The Right Rooms
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. So, first you have to understand that you can be so smart and you can really know your ish, right? Like you can know it, but there's always gonna be somebody smarter than you. Yeah, there's always gonna be somebody better than you. Um, and the key is the goal is to try to put yourself in these rooms that of people who are doing better than you, right? Because that's really where you're gonna learn everything that you want to learn that you didn't even know that you needed to learn. So, yeah, I was just in LA um with some fantastic women, um, leaders in the beauty industry, um, the owner of Urban Decay, Jamie Kern Lima. She is the first um self-made woman billionaire. Oh wow. Um, yeah, she is phenomenal and I absolutely love her to death. And of course, I sent her a message um after the summit, and she messaged me back. And even being in the same room as her, like just put chills like all over my body. But I was so excited to even see like on my Instagram, you got a message. And it was actually her, not like a bot, right? And I was like, oh my god, she messaged me back, right? Um, the founder of Mint Body, um, Victoria is like the sweetest person you could ever meet in your life. And so I'm sitting there talking to her, which I'm super excited about tangent here because there was a big giveaway for a Pilates reformer machine, and um, she messaged me. I of course I like entered the giveaway and I just won it. Oh snack! She messaged me yesterday and she's like the day before, and she's like, Hey, just wanted to let you know, like you won. And I was like, Yes, I'm so excited. Sweet. Um, you know, but talking to these women that are founding these great companies, um, again, the owner of Kosas, the owner of um Lawless, like all these products, um, Callie Ray, um the owners and the founders of these companies, and and it's products that I have in my kit. Like I never dream, I never knew that these were were those women, you know. Um, so the fact that I'm in the room with them and I'm talking to them and I'm having these conversations, celebrity hairstylists, celebrity makeup artists, or networking, and they're like, Yeah, I'm gonna send business your way, or you're on the East Coast instead of me traveling, I'll just have you go work for them. Like you got it. Absolutely. Um, you always want to seek out the education. You want to pay to go to that class, you want to pay to go to that summit, you want to pay to invest in yourself. And of course, all of it is a business write-off anyway.
SPEAKER_02Yep.
SPEAKER_01You know, so why not? Why not? Because you're gonna be in front of people that you want to network with. Um, there's a big Ulta Beauty show coming up in Florida. Um, I highly encourage all beauty aspiring beauty artists and people in the industry, go to that and meet these people. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there either. Like you can think that you are um, you know, just this tiny little person and you're in this little box. Oh, I'm just a small town makeup artist, or I'm just a small town hairstylist, and there's 50,000 um hair salons in my my town. So, you know, who am I? No, you are you, and um, you're gonna do something that these other people aren't doing. And even if you have like the same business idea, um, there's something that you have that this other person doesn't. So it's like, do it, get yourself out there, invest in yourself, and that's just I mean, just it in a nutshell.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you got you gotta pay to be in the right rooms. Like you do. It that's one of those things where I'm like, man, I'm an idiot. Why did it take me so long to understand? Like, because I'd I'd look at some, oh, I want to go to this conference.$200, I ain't paying$200 to go hear somebody talk, da da da da. But like one thing I've learned, like going to the certain conferences, it ain't about who's on stage, it's about who's in the crowd, the networking that I'm gonna do there, like the business you can do, because now I know, hey, everybody in this room is trying to better themselves.
SPEAKER_02Exactly.
SPEAKER_00So I know these are like-minded people that I want to connect with. And like you said, like you meet somebody there on the West Coast, they got a client on the east coast, and they're like, Well, hey, I'm not gonna spend$3,000 traveling over here, like I'll just get you to do it.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. I have never felt more like I was supposed to be somewhere than when I was in that room in LA.
SPEAKER_00That's it.
SPEAKER_01I was like, these are my people. Um, all of these women have the exact same mentality as I do.
SPEAKER_00Like, that was that fit that you were looking for your whole life.
SPEAKER_01Yes, yes. Like that was that placement that I felt like I've needed, that the longing that I have been searching for. And I was there with these women. I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna be on that stage next year. There you go. Watch me. You know, I'm looking at all of these women on stage, and I'm like, I just want to do her makeup. I just want to do her hair, which I'm sending out emails still, like reaching out to all of them. Um, the the ladies of Good Day LA, um, they mentioned me on their their news show. Oh, nice the a couple, it was the next morning after they were on the stage for where I was at, and like they had talked a little bit about the single mom thing. And I was like, and of course, me, you know, I'm that person in church or I'm that person that's out there. I'm like, yes, Lord, like I'm I'm vocal sometimes in agreement with what is being said. And so they were talking about being a single mom, and I was like, Yes. They were like, Look, there's some right there. They said, email us, like, make sure you email us. And I'm emailing them so we can make these connections because you meet these people that literally genuinely want to lift you up, and that's Have the same heart as you do. Like it's an I don't care what industry you're in, right? For me, it's the beauty industry. For you, it's media. Like you want to see other people succeed. Right? Like it's the love for the industry as a whole and understanding the beauty of the industry that you're in. You want that to stay elevated.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01You want that to stay lifted. We don't want the ugly, we don't want the cattiness, we don't want the competition because there is no competition. Like everybody is bringing something phenomenal to the table to service the client.
SPEAKER_00That's it. You know? So with with all the I want to give hope to some of the single moms out there that that want to be boss babes too. How the community that you've put around you, because you have three kids.
SPEAKER_01Mm-hmm. I do.
SPEAKER_00You're talking about conferences in Florida and Vegas and all these different things. How are you able to travel and still be mom and still run a company? Like, talk to us about your setup, how are you able to do this?
Support Systems And Single-Mom Logistics
SPEAKER_01It's a lot. It is a lot. And I'm not gonna say that it's easy by any means because doing something like this, it's not for the faint of heart. It can be easily overwhelming. It's definitely emotional, right? Um, just having to leave your babies.
SPEAKER_00Um that's the easy part is the day. We don't we don't have that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, y'all like that vacation or going to the bar and the hotel. Um you know, you have all this opportunity, right? It's right at your fingertips. But building that support system is is the biggest key. I really don't have that much of a support system, I'm not gonna lie. Um, my mom's in South Carolina, so for me to make this trip to LA, I pretty much had to twist her arm and not really give her an option to come up so she could stay with my kids for a couple of days. Um, I mean, I had clients lined up in LA to pay for my trip, right? Luckily, being that it's a service that I can provide, um I had services lined up there. And so I was like, I can't not go. And literally this trip, nobody really knows, but it was down to like the wire of I wasn't gonna be able to go because I didn't have anybody to keep my kids. Um, and I was calling everybody I could think of. Um that I was friends with, that I would actually trust my kids with, and nobody could do it. Nobody or nobody was willing. And I know for me, my heart, if I have somebody call me, whether we're super close or not, she's like, hey, I've got this court trip and I really like need somebody to keep my kids, I'm gonna be the first person to be like, I got you, girl. Bring them here, they're safe, they'll be well taken care of, we're gonna have the best time. But that's not always reciprocated, right? So trying to figure out your support system is critical. Um, but I can definitely say that even when you barely have one, it's still possible.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. That's good insight. I'm gonna send you a uh a report. Um, I sent this to my mother-in-law. It says that uh grandparents who spend X amount of time with their kids end up living like 20% longer or something like that. So anytime you might because my mother that, Mom. My in-laws live in Charlesville, and my mom lives in Lynchburg. So like we don't have like we can't just go out on a Friday night and be like, hey, mom, come over and watch the kids.
SPEAKER_01I don't have that either.
SPEAKER_00We have to set that up. Um, so I've been able to coax the grandparents a couple times, be like, hey, now I read this report. Like, if you guys trying to kick around here a little bit longer, like more time you give your grandkids, the longer you end up living, so exactly.
SPEAKER_01I knew she was so upset though, you know, because she's got puppies or you know, dogs back home in South Carolina, so she had to line up a puppy sitter, and I know that it like it was a lot of coordination for her too, um, which I'm super grateful that she was able to make that happen. But I was thinking when I left and I was on the flight to LA, yeah. I knew I'm like, so this is kind of my way of making this happen for her too, because I know that it's some core memories that that are gonna be instilled with her and my kids forever.
SPEAKER_00Oh, for sure. Like when I randomly like I text my cause you know, iPhones will like show you like memory photos and stuff like that on your widgets. Um, and it was a photo of my mother-in-law and our daughter when she was like two years old, and our daughter had fallen asleep in the bed with her, and they were just knocked out, and either me or my wife took a picture. And that was years ago, but then I like randomly like texted to her and she's like, Oh my god.
SPEAKER_01It's like those are the Don't post that, but thank you for getting that picture.
SPEAKER_00That's me as a salesman just like leaving little crumbs, like, hey, you want to keep making more armies like this? So she's actually coming in town to watch kids so me and my wife can go out for Valentine's Day this year.
SPEAKER_01Um y'all deserve it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm I'm one of those people though, like if I wasn't married, I'd probably never take a vacation.
SPEAKER_02Really?
SPEAKER_00I just love the game so much. Like, it gets to a certain point. Don't get me wrong, I do really like money, but that's almost like the bonus to it. Like sitting in front of someone who number one didn't even know they needed me or my services, and then by the time I get up from the table, they can't see themselves moving forward without my team involved. Like, to me, that's the game.
Vision: From Local To Global
SPEAKER_02Exactly.
SPEAKER_00It's just like out in the dating world, like, guys be like, Man, you ain't never gonna pull that. Watch me though. Like, just the challenge of it, it's just like, so it's like, how big can I go? Like, you know, I want to get this client, I want to get that client. And it's not, you know, this means I'm gonna be able to pay myself X amount. It's like, no, it's the game. Just like to compete. But yeah, my wife didn't stop me. Like, and my ideal vacation, which is not hers, my ideal vacation is you always gotta have some business and pleasure. Because I'm like, one time I got hired this maybe two and a half, three years ago. Um, I got flown down to Turks and Caicos from the the Keller Williams branch there. They needed somebody to come in and train on social media, and I'd done a social media training here for Keller Williams, and then I ran, I thought it was a prank call at first. Hey, it's Keller Williams and Turks and Caicos, we want to hire you to come down, and I'm like, All right, like I was like, I need this, this, this, and here's my fee. And they're like, All right, done. When can you get down here? And I was like, Perfect, bruh. So for me to go into a room, flap my gums for three, four hours, and then I get the next two days to do whatever I want. That's the ideal vacation for me.
SPEAKER_01Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00But just like I tell my wife all the time, I'm like, remember, you married a black dude. I'm not gonna sit out on the beach with y'all for five hours, coming back looking like Wesley Snipes at the end of my vacation. Y'all go do that. Like, I'm gonna go golf, I'm gonna go inside and work for a little bit, y'all have fun. And to me, like, that's like the father in me. It's just like, as long as my people are good and I see them having fun, like, I'm happy. That's all most men need is just like, if y'all good, I'm good. Like, that's all we need.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00Um, where where does this brand go for you? What does this look like? Do you want a big team? Do you want to be national, international? Like, what's the vision for you moving forward?
SPEAKER_01Man, the vision is endless and ever changing. Um, because like you were saying, like when you just truly love what you do, the money is like you're not you're not really thinking about it, right? Like that's just the bonus. Yeah. Of course, to build a brand and to build a business, you need to celebrate that, and you do have to think about that, right? But Mr.
SPEAKER_00Wonderful says cash flow.
SPEAKER_01I definitely want to um become global. And I've been globally recognized by like the products that I use.
Celebrity Work And Boundaries
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you've done some stuff with celebrities and different things like that before.
SPEAKER_01Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00And even um Oh, pause right there, because that's gonna be a nugget. How did you get some like I don't even know who it is, but like how did you get someone at that level to be able to do any work with them?
SPEAKER_01Um, it really just kind of fell into my lap. And you don't ever say no to something like that, and not even understanding like how big it was. Um, like I was just as surprised when it happened, and I was like, oh sugar honey iced tea. That's my acronym if you've put that together yet.
SPEAKER_00Um we can cuss on this podcast. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_01So I'm like, oh shit, like this is real, like this is really happening, right? And I've been, you know, around a lot of celebrities, so I don't really get a whole lot of the um what do you call it, like fangirl status, you know, like they're everyday people just like us, but um just something of that magnitude and that capacity being able to see my work and to see that happen. Like it's just such an honor. Like for me, I just feel blessed. I feel so grateful um that that opportunity presented itself. Um, and of course, there's like ND NDAs that you sign, like of course, like things that you can't really talk about, which is totally fine. But believe me, the second that I can talk about these things and name drop, I will definitely do so.
SPEAKER_00That's gonna be the first book.
SPEAKER_01Maybe, maybe. I think that would be a great first book.
SPEAKER_00Love it. Here, here's the last question I like to ask every guest on this podcast. What was your hardest moment since becoming an entrepreneur and how did you overcome that?
SPEAKER_01The hardest moment for me was the fork in the road that I had trying to grow my team and build.
SPEAKER_00Um and it was Building a team is so hard.
Hardest Moment: Hiring To Standard
SPEAKER_01It is so hard, but I had to figure out who can I trust with my level of work and level of artistry. Like I I'm bougie as hell, right? So I know what I expect in a service and it's top tier, right? And I make sure that I don't give anything less than that into my clients, um, hence the luxury beauty part because it's literally above and beyond. Um but finding somebody that is able to hold that near and dear to their heart the way that I did um was a the biggest struggle for me. And I actually stepped away from the industry altogether for a couple years because again, I was doing it as a side hustle. Um, and I was in corporate world, um, industrial construction, actually, believe it or not. Um, and I was given an ultimatum by that company. Hey, like we want to promote you, but you have to be readily available 24-7. Like you can't do your side hustle anymore.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. They basically said, How much is your dream gonna cost us?
SPEAKER_01Well, that's exactly what I said. I was like, look, um, I'm making this amount of money every year, and this is the food on my family's table. And you're either gonna compensate me for that, like you're gonna cover that expense to where I don't have to worry about it for the next year.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, and they did. They did. They added that to my salary. Um, so I was like, okay. Um, so for me, the hardest part is building that team.
SPEAKER_00And were you hoping they called your bluff and be like, we'll just get out of here, and then you'd have been forced to start your business?
SPEAKER_01Well, or was that the ideal situation? I was fine, like, you know, where I was at in the company and you know, being able to do my my part-time gig. Well, I say part-time gig, it was just on the weekends, but it literally consumed my evenings and stuff too. Um, but it was a really nice break, too, like being able to step away and I'm enjoying weekends with my kids that are very active in sports. So um, you know, I'm not sitting in my truck at the baseball field, like working on my computer, just watching a couple plays as I'm looking down at my computer. I'm actually like engaged in what my son is doing. And, you know, I was watching my daughter on the wrestling mat, which she is crushing it in wrestling. Um, you know, and and she was cheerleading and dancing and stuff too. So I'm able to actually enjoy those moments with them instead of that weight of I've got to meet this goal and I've got to do this, like with my regular job, everyday job, on top of being able to meet the demands of my clients as well.
SPEAKER_00Awesome, awesome. This has been a phenomenal conversation. I think you're gonna give a lot of hope, inspiration um to some women that ain't just in your situation. Where I think a lot of times we just need to see that one person in front of us that looks like us that uh is in a similar situation to be able to say, all right, if she went out and did it, I can do it.
Community, Opportunity, And Closing
SPEAKER_01Absolutely, absolutely, and I absolutely love the industry so much that I'm I I want to help. I want to see other artists grow. I want to see people um find their passion. And you know, I want to create the option for moms to be able to stay at home. Like I I'm literally covering all of it for everybody between the digital products of showing how to, between growing my team. Like if you want to be a part of Artistry by K, let me know. And I would love to see your work and get you on board with us. Um, but even teaching like digital and affiliate marketing, like learning that whole aspect of things. I'm selling a course for people to do so that way, you know, these people can either um you know pay a grocery bill or pay off like their car, make their car payment every month, or or just retire themselves and their husbands or their husbands and their wives, you know. It's endless financial opportunity, and I just love to see people win.
SPEAKER_00Love that. Love that. Yeah. If people want to find you, they want to book your services, they want to talk to you, they're starting a business. How can people get in touch with you?
SPEAKER_01Um, on my socials, that's artistry by K on Instagram and on Facebook. Um, and then I can send you my booking link from there if you're interested in any services.
SPEAKER_00Beautiful, love it. Well, we're my wife's excited about it.
SPEAKER_01I cannot wait to meet her, by the way.
SPEAKER_00You do spray tanning and things like that. So she told me she definitely wants that. And I only have one female on my staff here, but like she's definitely been talking about getting her hair done with you.
SPEAKER_01So definitely, and we've got some really great big announcements coming too in the spray tan world. So um the spray tan company, I've joined the corporate department with them. So now I am the brand rep in the state of Virginia for Dolce Glow, which I'm super excited about, and an affiliate with their program. Um so that is more than a spray tan, of course, but definitely anybody aspiring to start their own business in that capacity, I I would gladly help.
SPEAKER_00And you guys may see a little uptick in her social media, maybe coming on to the Enzo team, getting some stuff done. Here's an idea I have for a spray tan. We'll end on this. I've always thought this is the most genius commercial I've ever come up with. Um, you have a guy go in, like you set him up, like get the spray tan, whatever. Cool.
SPEAKER_01When it comes more guys spray tan than you would think.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, watch, I didn't know that, but like I've learned I've learned that. But when he comes out, it was a white dude going in. When he comes out, I'm the one that's on camera. It's like, man, that was the best spray tan of my life. To me, that's the most genius video. And I've never seen anything like that when it comes to spray tan. So if you're down the clown, we'll make that video.
SPEAKER_01We will make that video. But literally, it's so funny that you say that because like some of the solutions that I use, um, which it they're totally customized to every person, right? So there's like olive and violet. And so I will have white girls going in, and when they come out, I'm like, just brace yourself because you're gonna be a completely different race for a few hours while you're marinating and they come out and they're like, whoa, like I'm black. Like I told you, you're gonna be a different race for a few hours. Um, oh my god, we have to do this video.
SPEAKER_00I'm getting so many ideas, like, even on the on the girls that I may get you canceled with the way my imagination's gone. But like, I see a white girl coming out, she's like, oh my god, I'm black. And then immediately we have her going to eat them, Mama J. She's getting ribs and fried chicken. Then she's at like a hip hop concert, and she's like in the front row, like that would be so fun. Wanna be black for a day? Here's sweet. I appreciate you. Thank you for having me. Absolutely, and we'll see you guys on the next episode.