Fearlessly Facing Fifty And Beyond
The Fearlessly Facing Fifty and beyond podcast encourages women to be fearless and fabulous at any age. Let's be honest, midlife and beyond comes with change. And let's face it, we are a masterclass in reinvention. So let's fearlessly face all the “F” words” together, like fashion, fitness, finances, family, friendships, faith, failures, our futures just to name a few. Let's get fired up about aging and CANNONBALL with confidence into our "next one thing".
Hosted by Amy Schmidt, a sought-after national media expert and thought leader on a variety of topics, an award-winning podcast host, stream show host, TEDx speaker, and author (Cannonball! Fearlessly Facing Midlife and Beyond) who has appeared in hundreds of publications, podcasts, live news, tv lifestyle segments, and radio, she is ready to arm you with all the tools to move the needle on your journey.
As a former journalist, turned what she calls, a ‘trailing spouse’ staying home to raise her children, she believes her voice and action-oriented advice allows people to move the needle on their journey and make positive changes in their relationships. Through countless reinventions, at the age of 49, she knew there was more to do, and she launched her brand and podcast, Fearlessly Facing Fifty.
Get ready to CANNONBALL with confidence and begin pushing play on your next adventure. Let's GOOOOOOO!
Fearlessly Facing Fifty And Beyond
EP207: Beauty Beyond Age with Laura Geller
Fearlessly Facing FACING our FUTURE FACES!
What happens when a Broadway makeup artist discovers her true passion lies in making everyday women feel beautiful? Laura Geller's remarkable journey from theater makeup to beauty mogul reveals the power of authenticity and the magic that unfolds when passion meets purpose.
Laura shares the pivotal moment that changed everything - working one-on-one with real women at a makeup counter and watching them transform not just physically but emotionally. "I'd see them starting to come alive as I would make up their face...holding their head up higher," she explains. This spark ignited a business that would eventually take her to QVC, where she amazingly sold 750 units in just six minutes during her first appearance.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Laura discusses her decision to focus specifically on women over 40, a demographic often overlooked in the beauty industry. Drawing from her own experiences with aging skin, Laura developed products addressing the unique needs of mature women while keeping application simple. Her authenticity shines through as she admits she didn't always have the business acumen needed, setting prices too low initially, but learned and adapted along the way.
Most poignant is Laura's passion for women's stories and her mission to champion them at every age. When asked how her son views her, Laura's answer is immediate: "He would tell you that I'm a badass." Her parting wisdom resonates deeply: "Don't be in a rush. Good things take time...stay in your lane." In a world obsessed with youth and instant success, Laura Geller stands as living proof that embracing your authentic self and serving others with genuine care creates enduring impact.
Ready to discover makeup that truly understands your skin's needs? Follow Laura on Instagram and explore products designed specifically for celebrating beauty at every age.
Connect with Laura Geller here
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Ready to FEARLESSLY FACE all the F WORDS - be inspired and encouraged?
Get a copy of Amy's Best selling book: CANNONBALL! FEARLESSLY Facing Midlife and Beyond here
Fearlessly Facing Fifty and Beyond has over 200 episodes with inspiration and stories to age fearlessly and connect confidently to others thriving at midlife an
Ready to FEARLESSLY FACE all the F WORDS – be inspired and encouraged?
Get a copy of Amy’s Best selling book: CANNONBALL! FEARLESSLY Facing Midlife and Beyond here
Fearlessly Facing Fifty and Beyond has over 200 episodes with inspiration and stories to age fearlessly and connect confidently to others thriving at midlife and beyond.
Make sure to share with friends and family and would love if you could leave a review. There are so many shows out there floating around and if you are finding value in the Fearlessly Facing Fifty podcast share it with the world – a review means so much.
And don’t forget to follow along on all the socials:
http://instagram.com/theamy.schmidt
https://www.instagram.com/fearlesslyfacingfifty_fwords/
Hey, fearless friends, it's Amy Schmidt and welcome to another episode of Fearlessly Facing 50. And you know what we're digging into. We are digging into those F words yeah, those words that we face as we age Finances, you know, freedom, friends, food, family, all those things. So I'm really, really excited about the guest today. First of all, I want to remind you to check me out on socials. You can go to theamyschmidt on Instagram. You can go to your Confidence Connector Fearlessly Facing 50 on Facebook. You can go to fearlesslyfacing50.com 50 is spelled out and check out my website All of the episodes. We've got over 200 episodes of the podcast up there.
Speaker 1:I also wanted to remind you that you can always pick up a book and go to Amazon and order Cannonball Fearlessly Facing Midlife and Beyond. It really is my story. I wrote it just before I turned 50. And you know there's lots of little nuggets in there, because we are all works in progress and one day at a time and we can age fearlessly and do a lot of great things after 50. So today's guest I have someone on that I admire. Today we're going to be fearlessly facing our future and our faces actually with this amazing guest, Laura Geller. I don't know if you have been introduced to Laura before.
Speaker 1:I had her on my show years and years ago and I just love her story, her just enthusiasm, her passion about what she does. Of course, her makeup, because I wear it every day, whether I'm on camera or not. It is so fabulous. So Laura has worked, starting in beauty back on Broadway as a makeup artist. She built her brand and you are going to want to stay tuned to this episode because you will not believe how she launched this business on QVC and sold more product in six minutes than it's mind boggling. So stay tuned and buckle up for my conversation with the amazing Laura Geller. Well, fearless friends, you know I got a good episode today. You heard it in the intro. I am so thrilled to have Laura Geller with me today. First of all, welcome, laura Geller. I'm so thrilled that you're here.
Speaker 2:Oh, thank you so much and thank you for having me as your guest. I love what you're doing and it really falls into play with my life and what I'm doing in work-wise and what I've been doing, so I'm honored to be on this podcast.
Speaker 1:Thank you. I appreciate that. You know it's funny because we were talking a little bit before we started recording and Laura is one of those people that before we started recording. And Laura is one of those people that I don't know what it is about you, laura, but you have a personality, a magnetic personality. You also have the ability to make people feel very valued and seen and it's such a gift. And you know, I have a lot of guests on and one thing I always ask them is do you really ever sit back, laura, and say, wow, I did this, like, do you ever take the time just to say, damn, I've done a good job?
Speaker 2:No, you know it's. I think we all probably have that same thing. It's like imposter syndrome. It really is. And you know, every now and again, a friend, a family member, will be like, do you realize what you've done, do you realize how far you've come? And I be like, uh, when you say it that way, maybe, but I also don't know if you feel like this, amy, I feel like there's so much more unfinished business. Yeah, and you know I. So I don't feel like I'm at that place where, okay, did it and I got to where I want to be, because I always am looking about what else could be done or what else you know unfinished business I have on my list of priorities and so you know, if things slowed down or opportunities weren't available anymore, I might say, okay, did a good job here, my work is done, you know, but I don't feel that way Right, right, you know I can relate to that and I think so many people listening and watching can relate to that, Although some people just kind of get stuck.
Speaker 1:You know they say, oh, I don't know, I think that ship has sailed, I think I'm too old, I think, oh, I don't know if I can learn that. And you exemplify lifetime learning. I think I think you're very passionate about learning. You're not only a great teacher and we'll talk about that but I think you also really embrace learning.
Speaker 2:I most definitely do and I always say every day is a learning. I mean, this morning something happened and I went okay, didn't know that, you know it doesn't end. And you've got to see the signs and say, okay, that's a teachable moment. How do I like make sure that I take that and value that and use it in my everyday life, that I take that and value that and use it in my everyday life? And I think, because you're hungry to learn and you realize you can't possibly know it all about your work or about the space you're in, I think that when you get to that place where you go, wow, you know, I'm still learning. That's why you're, you have unfinished business. I think, when you think you did it all or you know it all, that's troublesome, that's really troublesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think so too. You know we fearlessly face so many things as we age. We're going to talk about your story and the story behind the brand, but I want to ask you something about as we fearlessly face, you know, our futures. We have a little more freedom maybe as we age, even though we're continuing to be busy. Do you find that it is a challenge for you to ask for help? Or do you find, now that you've been in this industry and you've been a thought leader and everything and people come to you, do you ask for help more? Or do you find that you still kind of have this like I can still do it myself. I can get it done myself.
Speaker 2:It's funny. You said that I haven't had a personal assistant or anybody personally helping me manage my calendar. Or you know, come with me when I do TV appearances or things like that. I don't remember the last time, maybe it's been 20 years, because I also don't like having, like I like being around a lot of people, but in my everyday life I don't want somebody next to me, so I always think I can get it done myself.
Speaker 2:And the other day we were going to film a TV spot and I was going over my calendar with my office and I said, oh boy, I wrote this down wrong, or oh, I thought it was the next day, or, and that happens often, often, and I've been known to schedule myself twice. And you know, even though my office manages my calendar I think you're laughing, because you get it, oh, yeah, yeah, and I think everybody's gonna get it and somebody from the office was like I think maybe you should think about hiring like a virtual assistant or an assistant. I'm like at this point now, I should have had that 20 years ago or more. But now, and they're like, yeah, because you're busier than you've ever been. And it's true I am, I'm busier than I ever thought I'd be at this stage in my life. Isn't that incredible? Yeah, I think I don't ask for help enough, but I'm not embarrassed to ask for it anymore. That's the beauty of aging.
Speaker 1:There you go, you're not embarrassed, and that's a good word, because I think that's true. You know, I look at the younger generations. I have a daughter who's in her late 20s and you know I'm always kind of telling her ask for help, use your resources, because you do kind of think you can get further, faster or you have more control or you can finish it quicker if you do it by yourself. And there's a lot of falsehood around that, because I do think as we age, that's one of the things we fearlessly face. We use our resources more, we ask for help when we need it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, and the resources are available.
Speaker 2:I mean I feel like I'm ancient but at 66, I can tell you when I started my business I mean, listen, I started it I went right out of high school, I went into the business and the truth is there weren't, you know, leadership groups and you know things that could mentor and help me, and so I did have to learn by default, and that's why I say I keep learning.
Speaker 2:But now there's so many resources I mean just being able to listen to a podcast like this and the breadth of the people that you interview. You know, right before you went on you were talking about you know heart health and having interviewed and the truth is you know we're all so tunnel visioned in our lives and what we're doing that we, we all I don't take the time to listen to things outside my space. I'm always working on what's happening in my industry and trying to keep up with that alone that I don't really do the self-help or the doctors or those things that really would help me physically, mentally, emotionally, and I should. And when you mentioned it I was like, okay, I got to listen to that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, you know what, and it's good to be self-aware. It's good to be self-aware and I remember seeing a post. It was years ago, laura, I think you had a group of gals. You have tremendous support. I mean, it always looks like if you follow Laura on Instagram or you follow the brand which I'll have in the episode notes, you always look like you're having fun and you seem like you're surrounded by Geller girls, geller gals that are just that. They really love you for who you are. You have an authenticity to you, along with your story of really coming along through 40 years right Over 40 years of being in this business?
Speaker 1:Yeah, but the people that are surrounding you. They love you.
Speaker 2:I, you know, thank you for saying that. And you know I went to an event two nights ago and somebody interviewed me there and said you know what is it? Do you think about your brand or you that has kept you in the limelight and still enduring after all these years? You know, I have to tell you it's not like that question hasn't been asked before, but because I was at this event and I was running into people I hadn't seen in a while and six degrees of separation, this report or that report, it hit me hard and I remember thinking I know what it is.
Speaker 2:I love women, I love their stories, I sincerely care. Maybe everybody's saying, well, so do I, but I don't think everybody feels the way I do. I think if you do, you're good at what you do, then, whatever business it may be, I really champion women and always have. And you know, there was a time, amy, where there wasn't such a thing as having influencer, content creator events where I could be with all the geller gals. Right, I was really, you know, in my zone where I didn't get the chance to be with groups of women.
Speaker 2:There weren't organizations where you go to luncheons and hear guest speakers and, like I said, I'm making myself sound ancient, but it's true for a long time. So when I go to those events, I'm so fueled by the women and what they're doing and hearing about their stories and you know, and you really have to sit back and take interest and not just look at them collectively as like, oh she's, you know she's a content creator or she's started, or you have to hear people's stories. Yes, everybody's got one and it's got one and it's fascinating.
Speaker 1:It's really fascinating. That resonates so much with me, and I know it will with our listeners too, because that is so true there is power and women's stories. When you thread them together, it creates this masterpiece, and that's what you exemplify, and I love that.
Speaker 2:Let's talk about-. Well, I think you're in this business. You're in this business and doing what you do so well, because you're interested in women and what they're doing, and so nobody better than you you really are there to listen to what they have to say.
Speaker 1:Exactly. There's value in that. Thank you, thank you. You know let's talk about. I love to hear the story behind the brand and you know, when did your passion and purpose really intersect? I think there is that moment, that aha moment, like Oprah would say. But when your, when your passion and purpose really intersect, was it? Was it in theater and arts, when you started as a makeup artist, or was it your your first store there in Hell's Kitchen? Or was it your QVC appearance? When did it happen for you that?
Speaker 2:you were like wow, this happened. I'm going forward with this. Yeah, I'll tell you when it happened. That's such a good question. I was doing makeup for TV film and theater.
Speaker 2:And I wound up getting a job at a makeup store in Manhattan that was famous at the time that sold theater, film and stage makeup. Because if you know anything about the theater, most of the time the talent on Broadway, shows and things like have to do their own makeup. There's no budget for a makeup artist. They have people for wigs and costumes, but not for theater. And I was doing it and people were fascinated by what I was doing and I got to work on the biggest, most famous celebrities and I thought I was having fun. But when I got this job, they also had a line of their own cosmetics, like for real women. So the store serviced theater and film and television personalities, but then they had private rooms where you would do makeovers on real women, so I would get booked. The reason why they hired me was because I knew TV, film and theater makeup, like how to put a bald cap on or how to make someone look like they're bleeding or how to age a face.
Speaker 2:I understood how to work with theater makeup so I could sell it to people in the theater and arts. But when they booked me for a private makeup on a real woman, I'd go into this private room and I would use their makeup line. It was called On Stage and the store was called the Makeup Center. It was famous. It was across from City Center in New York and I would work on real women that were going to a function and I'd see them starting to come alive as I would make up their face and how they really felt like. I could see that they were holding their head up higher or more gratified with the enhancement I was putting on and I was like, wait a minute, this is so much more fun than schlepping around the city with my kit and traveling all over. I get to stay in one place and do real women for their real lifestyles and that was the shift.
Speaker 2:It was at that moment that was my shift and I was like wait a minute. Not only do I like doing real women, I like selling the makeup to them.
Speaker 1:You were a salesperson.
Speaker 2:There you go. I was a salesperson. I never went into the industry thinking I was going to be in sales. That was the last thing. I was an artist and I wasn't trying to sell them. But I'd finished making them up and they'd go wait a minute, can I buy this stuff? And I'd go, well, yeah. And they'd go, oh, okay, you know what, I'll take everything you used on me. And then the high I would get from going oh, my God, they want to. And I'd walk out to the front counter and I'd tell the owner of the store they want everything. I'll give you the face chart and can you pull everything for me? And so it was the combinations of those two things when my world collided and I said I want to open up my own makeup studio for women everywhere, for whatever occasion they may have.
Speaker 1:Isn't that awesome. I mean, there is that moment. There is that moment that was that moment. All of a sudden it happens. I want you to take me back to 1997. Correct me if I'm wrong, qvc. All right. So, qvc, you're going to be going on? I think you sold 750 units in six minutes, or something like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, wow, you're good at what you do, boy. Thank you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's goosebumps for me right there, because I just think that's amazing. I want you to take me to that moment and take our listeners there and say because you had never done that before, excuse me.
Speaker 2:I never sold 750 of anything, of many things and then to sell 750 of the same item. You know, I had always known about QVC and was fascinated by it, watched it and when I was given the opportunity my heart was palpitating. Because you know, here I opened a makeup studio in New York City on the Upper East Side, but I worked on one woman at a time. Maybe she brought her mother with her or her best friend or her sister, and maybe I talked to three women in a little private makeup booth. But when QVC came along and I knew I could talk to at that time it was 90 million households. I was like what? And um, 90 million, and that's nothing.
Speaker 2:Now that's the. I think they're well over 150 million households, maybe not at one time, but they reach that many Um. And so I think what happened was I put this makeup kit together and I went down there without any training they didn't have on-air training at the time, but I think what helped me was I had worked in television studios for so long that when I saw all the cameras, instead of being intimidated, it was my comfort place. It was like my familiar.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was my. I remember them saying to me when the red light goes on, you look at that camera. When it turns there, you look at that and you turn and you just follow the red light. And that's all the training I got. And I remember the light went on and my friends, some of my friends husbands, you know will catch me on TV and they'll go. Well, boy, you may not be talking, you may be quiet, but when that red light goes on. You really are in your zone. You got the.
Speaker 1:Laura Geller voice Yep, yep.
Speaker 2:They make fun of me all the time for that, but the truth is it's when I'm at most peace and it's like an actress, you know, I think or comedian or you know something about for us.
Speaker 2:I think in a way I'm a performer maybe I don't know and it's something about that light turning on that and I go into this zone where I can detach from who I am and become this expert.
Speaker 2:And so here I was, while I was excited and nervous I mean for sure I was that didn't go away. I stuck with what I knew and I always tell this to people who go on QVC you know I get calls from people, people I mentor. You know they'll say to me you know they tell me to study you on QVC, but I'm not like you, I'm not outgoing, I'm a brand founder, but I'm not an extrovert. And I always say this to them just talk about what you know. You don't have to be a performer, you don't have to be an extrovert, you don't have to be thinking I need to entertain. If you know your product and you developed something, or your service and you develop something that you know, you filled a white space for talk about that, because nobody else is doing what you're doing and people will be captivated and you don't have to be an expert at being on camera.
Speaker 1:Right and it puts everybody at ease. That authentic part of your story, that's the most important thing and I think so many shy away from that. You know so many. I always say you know you're the keeper of your stories and the historian of your life and you hold the pen to your autobiography. You know, write it, write it, tell it, because there's so much power in it. And I think that's true. You know, I think back to where I'm most comfortable to and I've always been a communicator that's just what I love to do and an encourager and for whatever reason, I'm on this earth to encourage and connect people and I found that about myself. And when you find that ease, like you said, it's just everything falls into place. Those red lights are going and you're looking at the camera, but it's authentic and that's why, you're so successful with what you do you can tell you are just authentic.
Speaker 2:Thank you, I am authentic and I will tell you I don't know how people are inauthentic. People are inauthentic Like it must be a trained thing if they're acting Right, Because I can't imagine not being me and who I am at the core, like my personality. I talk to customers, fans, friends, family the same way, because it would be too much work to try to be something else or act somewhere some way else. It would be too much work. It really would Well.
Speaker 1:Now, social media has played a big part, you know, for your industry, I mean I do think yeah, it has changed.
Speaker 1:And I got to say, you know, I might have said that that's the beginning. You know, now a 55-year-old brain, peach Bellini is what I'm wearing on my lips today. You know, laura, every time I go on camera and I do have some makeup artists that do my makeup from time to time, but a lot of times I want to do my own. It is all, laura Geller. I love the simplicity of it. I love the fact the spackle's fabulous, just everything about it. Now I'll link everything and you were nice enough to send some products my way to use, but today I've on Pink Bellini and I love it.
Speaker 1:It's just, I think we, so many women that are listening that might be 40, and you know, 40, 50, 60, we have 70 year olds and beyond that listen to this show we look in the mirror and we see this face and we say, wow, boy, when did this happen? You know, when did gravity? Because gravity always wins. Let's be honest, gravity always wins your market really. I mean, you really found a niche in this 40, you know, over 40 market.
Speaker 1:And it has exploded, and I am so proud of you for that, because, for a who is in her mid-50s, your makeup is simple. It's really fail-proof because you can put it on and you just feel great. It's not a million steps, it's just. There's an ease about it. When did that moment happen for you when you said all right, I'm going to really hone in on this over-40 market?
Speaker 2:What happened was I was over 40.
Speaker 1:There you go, your story. What happened was? I was over 40.
Speaker 2:And I will tell you yeah, I will tell you that I did makeup since I was 18 years old, was trained to do makeup since I was 18. I didn't understand the needs of women 40, 50, 60, into their nineties. I never understood it. In fact, I remember when I opened my store, never understood it. In fact, I remember when I opened my store, so maybe I was around 35 when I did that.
Speaker 2:I remember women would come in and I'd make them up and as I was making them up, they'd start perspiring and I'd be like, oh God, darn it, you know she's going to sweat and I have to retouch her. And I bought these little fans that I could position while I was making people up. But I was not empathetic. Yeah, I did. I had fans in every room, in every makeup room. I had little booths because I wanted women to have the privacy of having their makeup done. It was very unique. In New York there was only one other store that had something like I had and I remember thinking I don't know what's going on. Why are they sweating, like what is with the perspiration? And then it happened to me and I think I also as an educator, I loved teaching people how to do their own makeup.
Speaker 2:It wasn't good enough. I'm a teacher at heart. In fact, I went back to school for vocational teaching and I got my license and I wound up teaching makeup at a school because I really enjoyed teaching it, and so when I work on customers which I'm not doing any longer I would teach them how to do it themselves. I literally would hand them the brush and go okay, I'm going to do one eye, now you're going to do the other, and I would say you're holding the brush the wrong way. Wait, what was the? Oh, so okay.
Speaker 2:So what the moment was for me was that I realized women over 40 needed to start attacking their makeup and making their makeup and skincare where their needs were at that time in their life, and so when I was given because of QVC, I was blessed to be able to give them the opportunity to buy in bulk big orders, because they don't order a dozen or gross. So I was able to go to labs and work with manufacturers and go okay, listen, you got to create something for me that's going to make their makeup last longer but also make it easy for them to do so. That's always the combination of the two things I work on. Is the makeup easy for people to use on their own and will it be heavy lifting? Does it do what it's supposed to do? And you know I take it for granted, like I really make great product.
Speaker 1:You knocked it out of the ballpark. Oh 100%.
Speaker 2:I have to tell you like I'll spend a lot of money, people, I didn't know how to charge. So, like I remember when I started the business, I was handed a compact and I was like I don't know how much that compact cost me. I don't know how much to fill it. I didn't know it had to be, then go into a corrugated box and then you had to get a fulfillment house. So I remember making up prices and going you know, I'm going to charge $10 for this. And then Sephora came into my life and Sephora wanted my line and they were like your product is too cheap. I go, what they're like we can't sell it here, it's too cheap. You have to charge more.
Speaker 2:And I go well, I can't now because I charged this on QVC and they were like, well then, we can't take that skew here, because so I wasn't making enough margin on my products. I wasn't even making profit enough because I didn't understand the business behind creating the product. But over time, thankfully, I assembled the people with the business acumen that I had needed early on, and they slowly got me to a place where you made enough profit on your product that you could then invest in the next product, and then you could go into big box stores Right.
Speaker 2:But, that was a whole other journey. That was crazy.
Speaker 1:But I love that you said that, because the transparency around that is you didn't know it all. You didn't have the business acumen, I mean when I launched my business. I still tell the story about the fact I went into a bank to open up my account and I broke out in a horrible rash because I was so nervous about. I was terrible. I almost failed geometry in high school.
Speaker 1:I mean, a math was never my strong suit and but for you to share listen, I didn't know that, like, I made some mistakes and I learned and I figured it out and I had people around me that supported me. But that's what people need to hear, because we so often get stuck and say, well, you know, how many times do you hear about women applying for jobs and they wanna reenter the workforce, but they wanna check every box, and when they don't check the box, then they don't throw their hat in the ring.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'll tell you something, Amy. I had dinner about a week ago with four other women somewhere in their 50s. One was like almost 50. Then one was in their 60s and 70s. They were former employees of the company, of my company, but from years and years ago, and we'd have this annual dinner together and it really was disturbing to see the older woman who was in her 70s tell us how ageism is a thing.
Speaker 2:You know, I own my own business and I am the face of the brand, so I have legacy and I could keep moving on with the brand. I don't take it for granted because there will be a time maybe that I can't talk. I can't see that well, and they're going to be like OK, laura, get someone else for this. But for now I'm sort of still very important to the equation. She has amassed so much knowledge at what she does. She does logistics and she's smarter than any 30 year old or anybody really, even in their forties, because she's been through it all and seen it all and can bring her knowledge to any company. She's a consultant and she talked about how people look at her and they think, oh, she's not up with the time, she doesn't know, and it bothered me so much and I know it exists out there but I haven't experienced it really personally and because, remember, the brand is still me, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah exactly, but hearing it from my colleague, it really is. It's disturbing. And how do women who have amassed the knowledge after 40, 50, 60, let companies know or brands know that they're helpful? I don't know the answer to that.
Speaker 1:It's a challenge and I've had several women on that own companies about relaunching your career.
Speaker 1:And one thing I always tell women and I think this is valuable for anybody it's a practice I do and I've done a long time and that is looking at your highlight reel and it's not just your successes and triumphs, but it's your challenges and your failures and those obstacles that you've overcome.
Speaker 1:But you look back. We want to move forward, obviously, but looking back at what you've accomplished as a wife, a mom, sister, daughter, friend, any of those things over the last 10, 20, 30 years, when you actually practice that and look and use that time and self-reflect, all of a sudden these things come into focus for you and you're like, wow, I did manage that budget. Wow, I did resolve that conflict. Wow, I overcame this incredible obstacle. And then that gives you a little more power. Because I think that's what we struggle with. We struggle with knowing our value and realizing that these experiences that we've had, they translate into and propel us forward. So you know, ageism is a thing, but we just have to continue to work hard to surround ourselves with people that are going to continue to challenge us and push us forward because we don't have to check all the boxes.
Speaker 1:We probably check more than all the boxes with our experiences and stories. We just undervalue them too often.
Speaker 2:That's it and that's where you started this conversation. Do you ever look and say, look what I've created, look what I've done, look how far I've come? And the fact you know I'll say to I answered you and I'll go? No, because I'm a humble person and that's humility. And while that's attractive, it doesn't sell Right. And, to your point, when you start to really look at what you've accomplished and become empowered by that, that's going to sell. Yes, exactly that's going to sell to whoever you need to sell it to.
Speaker 2:Yes, exactly, and the one area I know I'm maybe humbled, but the one area I'm confident in is what I do for a living as a makeup artist, as teaching women to do their own makeup, as creating product, and that I never second guess. I may not look like how far the brand has come or what I accomplished, but I can speak to you about makeup and never feel like I don't know at all or somebody might be doing it better. So I think you do have to hone in on your skill set.
Speaker 1:You're right. Yeah, you are so amazing. This conversation could go on forever. I mean I just, I love learning from you. I love being in your space.
Speaker 1:I just think you offer so much to this world for women as we age fearlessly. I love it. I'm going to link everything to the episode notes where you can find the products. Follow Laura, I'll have all the Instagram and that, but also on your website you've got some great influencers for your brand that you know kind of put the makeup on and follow their routine in a day and I love all that stuff. I love it. I'm going to ask you two things, and please don't answer this if it's too personal and we didn't talk about this before. But I know you have a son and because I follow you and I admire you, I see photos of you with your son or different activities you do with your son and I see that relationship and I think it's fabulous. I would like to ask you how your son if I were to have him sitting here how he views you through his lens, because I think that changes over time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he would tell you that.
Speaker 1:I'm a badass.
Speaker 2:Okay, that's the mic drop. That's the moment right here.
Speaker 1:That's what I'm a badass. Okay, that's the mic drop. That's the moment right here. That's what I wanted to hear, that's amazing.
Speaker 2:He's the one that reminds me when I start to get unraveled about something coming up or that I'm nervous about. He'll be like how many years are you doing it? And how many times after you do it you go oh, that was nothing, that was a cinch, he's like, and you're getting nervous again. You're a badass, you created that. Let's not forget that. He's super proud and I think all of us who are parents can say maybe not about I only have one. I'm sure that people who have multiple children will say some are more like me than others, but I think we can all say they learn from us, so be careful of what we teach them.
Speaker 1:We do still have that barometer. We are their barometer. They watch us how we navigate through the world. But thank you for answering that, because I admire it from afar and from what I can see is exactly how you just answered that he's so proud of you.
Speaker 2:Thank you for asking.
Speaker 1:And that is reciprocated and you are so proud of him.
Speaker 2:You got it, boy. You don't even know us and you know that just from pictures. Yeah, it's really true. It's true, thank you. I mean, I gush, I gush and I have to be careful because I know other people gush and we all want to gush, but like I got to sometimes lock it down, you know.
Speaker 1:I'm very proud of him. That's wonderful. That's wonderful. Thank you. Before we leave today, I want to ask you the question I ask everyone, and that is Laura. If you're sitting on the couch and you look to your side and there's Laura at 30, what advice would you give her?
Speaker 2:would you give her? Yeah, I think I would say don't be in a rush. Good things take time and don't look to the left or the right, at people who are further along, because there's always somebody behind you, and stop thinking you should be where that person is. Everybody gets there at their own pace and just stay in your lane. You know it's good to have that maybe as a carrot to dangle to push you forward. But don't be envious, don't be jealous. Everybody's got a story. You don't know how they got there and just enjoy the journey and buckle up too.
Speaker 1:Buckle up. I always say that, and buckle up, laura, you're a delight. Thank you for that. That's wonderful wisdom. Thank you, amy, everybody that I'm telling you. I'm sorry this ends, because I would love to get even deeper into.
Speaker 2:So I hope Can can do it again.
Speaker 1:I hope our paths will cross, because you say it often too you have to let women know when you admire them. I think so often I've heard you say that in other interviews that's what you emulate. I do the same. At least I hope other people would see that from me. We need to let those women in our life know that we admire them, that we're proud of them, and they are a badass, and you know, I think that's so important and sometimes we don't make enough time for that. So I want to thank you for somebody that I admire in my life. I want to thank you for making and taking time today for your incredible team for just. You know, they're great on just responding and all of that because you know, getting time with you is really an honor and I appreciate it.
Speaker 2:So I appreciate you, amy, and you ended with the right thing. Team. You're only really as good as the people you surround yourself with, and that took a long time to get right, but, boy, I really am fortunate to have it right now. So thanks to my team is right. So, amy, I'm honored that you did this with me. Thank you.
Speaker 1:You're welcome. I hope to see you soon. All right, me too.
Speaker 2:Me too.
Speaker 1:See you, Laura. Thanks so much for listening today. We know how valuable your time is and that's why we keep it short and sweet. Don't forget to follow us on all the socials, and you can check out all the links and resources in the show notes. Until next time, go forth and be awesome.