Episode 17 Elizabeth interviews Lauren Sporle (Skin care expert)

"I decided to take my biggest passion of education and combine it with my #1 hobby in skincare. I knew that because I had no qualifications that no one would be interested in me, so while in Emergency Teaching I started an Instagram page called @the.girl.who.loves.cosmetics. I got rejected, rejected and rejected from beauty positions, even though my page did well from day 1.

Then I got offered an interview for one of the biggest cosmetic retails worldwide and excitedly the night before the interview my Instagram trended from one post - yay. I went for the interview and explained I was self taught, with no prior experience in the cosmetic retail industry, had no beauty qualifications but a successful and now trending Instagram page. I also exaggerated that teachers have so many skills that other professions don't: negotiation, strong communication, ability to talk in front of crowds, can cater to all learning styles, speak clearly, explain things easily to others etc.

They obviously took that on board and the lady who pushed for me to work in her store as her full timer was a previous teacher too who knew how capable teachers are to a business and asked me for to be placed with her. I have never had such an incredibly positive, supportive and insightful boss. We understand each other due to our teaching background that no one else in our business or store can relate to in the same way.

I had too much skincare knowledge for this job, more than required and so within 3 months I became the Skincare Expert at my store. I educated my staff, the state and the customers I serve on a daily basis through education, training, providing resources and providing feedback.

I have now been in this position for 3 years, I love it but like any jobs there are things I would like to alter and change. I was at home one day when a friend of mine of 15 years inspired me on Facebook, I reached out, asked questions and within days I signed up to a program that has helped me start my online skincare business. I analysed the positives and opportunities of my current situation - life and profession and thought "if I could make my dream life, what would it be and how can I get it to come true?"

Now it is happening every single day in front of my very eyes. I joined the program and have been working with the same highly capable and incredible team since. I waited until the isolation period began and haven't stopped work on this venture since. I am loving every single second of what I have created so far. I wanted a promotion, I didn't want what was available to me and so I created my own bigger and better dream."

I cannot wait to see where this takes me! ~Lauren Sporle

To find Lauren, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/lauren.sporle or @the.girl.who.loves.cosmetics

Transcript

Elizabeth Diacos : 0:01

Welcome to the Get out of Teaching podcast, presented by Larksong Enterprises. I'm your host, Elizabeth Diacos. On the show, we'll look at the who, what, why, where, when and how of moving out of your education career and into a life you love. We'll meet ex-teachers, delve into what we love about teaching and how to translate that into something new. We'll talk to people who can support and inspire us as we make the transition and work on identifying the legacy we want to leave in the world. So come along for the ride as we Get out of Teaching. Episode 17. Hi, everyone and welcome to the show. On today's show I'm very excited to be interviewing Lauren Sporle. So welcome to the show, Lauren.

Lauren Sporle : 0:48

Thank you for having me.

Elizabeth Diacos : 0:49

It's a pleasure. So, Lauren, tell us a little bit about yourself and what got you into teaching in the first place?

Lauren Sporle : 0:57

Yeah, so I got into teaching originally, I was doing some lessons at school, where I got the opportunity to go out to primary schools and have an opportunity to work with them during the week as like a special project as part of my year 10 course. So that was a huge influence on me deciding to go into teaching. So I would go with three students a week and we would go over to the local primary school and teach them how to use musical instruments. And we all had our role, but essentially, I was the teacher. So that's how it all started. I also did work experience at my primary school, that was a great experience, too, that made me want to go back and do that as a profession. And I did a lot of, like, mentoring for one of my subjects with the year seven students when I was in year 10, as well. So they're probably the three things that influenced it the most.

Elizabeth Diacos : 1:53

Hmm, wow, okay

Lauren Sporle : 1:55

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 1:56

And so when you finally got into teaching how long were you actually in the profession for?

Lauren Sporle : 2:02

I was teaching for five years, so I had lived in Bendigo all my life. So I went to university there. And then I moved to Wangaratta for two years. So my first grade was 3/4 and then they decided the next year to stream it so that it was just one grade per class. So I went to grade three.

Elizabeth Diacos : 2:24

Okay

Lauren Sporle : 2:25

After that, the school was about 350 kids at the time, so I really loved being there, but it was a long way from home. So I decided that I would move closer to home. So I moved to Kerang and I was there for two years where I taught 5/6, just with different circumstances and things I decided I didn't know if teaching was for me any longer. And so I moved home to Bendigo and I did CRT for nine months in Bendigo at five different schools.

Elizabeth Diacos : 3:01

Okay, so CRTs for for the international audience is Casual Relief Teaching or subbing.

Lauren Sporle : 3:07

Yes, that's right. Yes.

Elizabeth Diacos : 3:09

Okay. And so, is that included in your last year? So that was five years total, including that year of being a CRT?

Lauren Sporle : 3:18

That's correct. Yes.

Elizabeth Diacos : 3:19

Okay

Lauren Sporle : 3:20

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 3:20

Okay, and so I understand that your tagline on Instagram is 'the.girl.who.loves.cosmetics'.

Lauren Sporle : 3:29

Mm hmm

Elizabeth Diacos : 3:29

So, how does that fit in with all of that? Were you still, like, into that while you were teaching?

Lauren Sporle : 3:36

Yeah, um very interesting. I, when I was 13 years old, my mum came into the bathroom one night before I went to bed and she just handed over a moisturiser and she didn't really say anything. All she said was, here's a moisturiser, maybe you should put on before you go to bed, and then she walked out of the room. And I was just, because I'm always been a big learner and researcher of things, I just started looking at the bottle and reading it and I was like, "Oh my goodness, this feels so nice on my skin". And so I would go when I was, when I was with -- I'd volunteer to go with mum to the supermarket. And I would try and get everything that was at that end, the cosmetic end of the store and I would pick everything up she needed and I'd tell her "Back in like five minutes" and then I'd go up the cosmetic aisle and I'd read all the labels to figure out what everything did. Not that -- she probably actually doesn't even know that till she listens to this. I don't think I've ever told her that.

Elizabeth Diacos : 4:32

Okay

Lauren Sporle : 4:32

Um, but yeah, so I did things like that. And then, when, I remember one day I went to, back to Kerang, to have a dinner with the teachers that I'd worked with in Kerang and they were about to go back for their next year of school, which was my -- that was my CRT year.

Elizabeth Diacos : 4:52

Okay

Lauren Sporle : 4:53

And they were all going back to school and I thought, "Oh, this is so odd. I've been a teacher for four years and everyone's back at school and I'm not doing anything". And so I reached out to a girl I went to school with who had an Instagram page and I said, "Listen, my biggest passion is education, going to be doing CRT this year, but I want to start combining my love of education with my number one hobby, which is skincare. How should I go about it?" We had some really great conversations around that. And that's where the Instagram grew from. And I've been doing it now for three years.

Elizabeth Diacos : 5:27

Wow. Okay and how many followers on Instagram do you have?

Lauren Sporle : 5:31

I am very close to 2000.

Elizabeth Diacos : 5:34

Awesome, that's amazing!

Lauren Sporle : 5:35

Yes. Haven't been as consistent with it once I got into the beauty industry, but... been more consistent with it over the last couple of months and the feedback's been really good, which is great.

Elizabeth Diacos : 5:48

Hmm. So what was your -- the tipping point that made you decide to get out of teaching? Because even though you'd stopped being a regular classroom teacher, you were still in education, doing the relief teaching.

Lauren Sporle : 6:02

Yeah, that's right. I had a few things. I think probably the last thing that happened was I had some mental health struggles in teaching. I'd sort of mentioned to a couple people I was thinking about leaving and as I'm sure you know and you've been told in the podcast previously, like people don't make you feel that great about leaving teaching, you know, it's meant to be this job that you do for your whole life. And I'd sort of mentioned it to a couple people and they didn't make me feel that good about it. But as my mental health started going up and down a little bit, I turned up at work one day, I had a whole week worth of extra-curricular things I was doing so I wasn't in the classroom with the kids at all. And I turned up to a meeting and I was just so mentally exhausted and so drained, that I got myself out of bed and I got to work but when I got there I just felt like I was in a completely different world. I just felt like I was - I was there, but I wasn't there if that makes sense. I was just so, I just felt so out of it. And I just realised how sleep deprived I was. And it was almost one of those things where it didn't matter how much sleep I had, I was just always so exhausted and then when you're exhausted, obviously you don't do your job as well as you would like and just ends up becoming this circle. And so yeah, the fatigue of it all, I would say, ended up being the tipping point over probably two years it was, of really bad fatigue that I had and like, almost not quite, almost like an insomnia-type thing.

Elizabeth Diacos : 7:33

Wow, okay, so it sounds like it had a really significant impact.

Lauren Sporle : 7:37

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 7:37

So, so I mean, if you were in that state for two years...

Lauren Sporle : 7:41

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 7:42

Why did you stay in there so long, like what was stopping you from making that transition?

Lauren Sporle : 7:48

I'm a real people pleaser, so, and I like to be liked and I guess everyone, when they're telling you because I'm also a perfectionist, so when people will tell me, you know, how well I was doing my job and that, you know, I kept having success with the kids and with the school and I, anything I did, I was still doing to a really good standard. So it was almost like the praise and the feedback, I was getting almost overtook what I thought of myself and what I wanted for myself. So as long as I'm impressing everybody else and as long as everyone else is happy, that's all that matters. That's how I felt at the time.

Elizabeth Diacos : 8:28

Right, so it sounds like there was this, almost like -- a you know, when you think about it being described as being beside yourself. It's like you stepped out of yourself. Yeah, what you're describing sounds to me like you actually, were really disconnected with yourself and what you really wanted.

Lauren Sporle : 8:47

Yeah, I was disconnected from -- and I think that's probably the tipping point. I was disconnected from myself for quite a long time. But it wasn't until I walked in that room that day and people were talking to me and greeting me for the morning and whatever I was saying things back, but I didn't really know, I couldn't really comprehend what was coming out of my mouth. I was just saying it. And I felt like you said, I just felt at that point, I was disconnected from everything. It had no longer been just me. I was disconnected from the world essentially.

Elizabeth Diacos : 9:18

Right. Yeah. So, did you at that time -- did you go and get some professional help?

Lauren Sporle : 9:23

Yeah, so I actually asked that, that week. Funny we talk about that. That week, I spoke to the principal and I had some time off. And he -- we basically both walked in the room and I went to ask for time off and he went to tell me I needed to take time off. So, it worked out really well. And we ended up having a bit of a laugh about it at the time, because we just couldn't believe the chances of it. And then yes, I took some time off. And in that time, I was told that if I had time off, I had to get professional help. So I did get that which was amazing. Yeah.

Elizabeth Diacos : 9:58

Okay, great. Okay, so you don't need to tell us all the gory details, but it obviously was a significant enough mental health issue that you needed to go and see some professional, see a professional. Yeah.

Lauren Sporle : 10:10

Yes. Yeah.

Elizabeth Diacos : 10:12

Okay, so was there - was - it sounds like there were, there were lots of factors that contributed. Were you afraid to leave, like was there something holding you back?

Lauren Sporle : 10:22

I wasn't afraid to leave. I just, like I said, I'm a people pleaser. And so I was almost worried about what people thought moreso than the fear in myself, I think. I've said to people about this before, the best way to describe my teaching experience was it ended up being a bit of a diamond, you know. I moved from Bendigo and then I moved north and then I moved across so it ended up being like this bit of a diamond shape in five years. And for me, I was never scared to move to a new town and start a new job and make new friends because that's just never been an issue for me. So I was never scared. But that's probably the biggest question everyone asks me is I can't believe you moved to five different towns in X amount of time and yet you would totally, you were never afraid. And I said, no, I wasn't. I was just afraid of what people thought of me, but I was never afraid to step out of it. No.

Elizabeth Diacos : 11:17

Yeah. Okay. All right. So, so you're out now completely. Is that right?

Lauren Sporle : 11:22

Completely out, yep.

Elizabeth Diacos : 11:23

And so what are you doing now?

Lauren Sporle : 11:25

Ah so yeah, after I set up the Instagram page with my friend, one of the first things she said to me was, like, anyone can make an Instagram page. And so I think it's great that you're doing that, but she was like, I want you to really think about what is it you're creating this for? And she goes, you don't tell me the answer. I remember writing back to her on Instagram. And I said, No, I know what the answer is. The answer is that I will make this a success. I will make people see that I know what I'm talking about. And that just because I don't have a qualification, I'm self-taught and I I'm going to use this Instagram page as a platform to get into the skincare industry. And that's what I did.

Elizabeth Diacos : 12:07

Okay, so

Lauren Sporle : 12:07

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 12:08

So, so you're working now in that industry?

Lauren Sporle : 12:11

I am. So yeah, did the nine months of emergency teaching. And then after I did - while I was doing that sorry, I was also running the Instagram page. And by the time that nine months was up, the Instagram page continued and then I got a job in one of the biggest beauty retailers in the world.

Elizabeth Diacos : 12:32

Okay, so so and you're still working with them now?

Lauren Sporle : 12:36

I am. So I'm a 'Beauty Expert', that's the name of my role. Skincare expert, essentially. So I work with them to provide people's education on skincare on a daily basis, whether it's customers, the state, the country, or whether it's with the people I work with and I train them up as well.

Elizabeth Diacos : 12:57

Right okay

Lauren Sporle : 12:58

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 12:58

So, so in terms of transferable skills then, obviously, your training as a teacher has helped you with being able to transition into a training role in your new workplace. What other skills do you think you brought with you from education into your new job?

Lauren Sporle : 13:18

So yeah, communication, obviously key, but for me, it was a lot of as well, I think one of the biggest things I noticed between myself in the retail industry and some of the other people that I've worked with or seen in the profession, is that because we're so used to as teachers catering for different learning styles, when I'm speaking to a customer about skincare, I can't say the same sentence to every person and they're all going to automatically get what I say. The same with the staff that I teach. I had this conversation not long ago, with a staff member actually and I was saying that, you know, some are visual learners and some learn, some are more, like, they want to physically do it and some would prefer me to stand there and read off a sheet to them. Not, not everyone in our job can do that and know how to cater for someone. And so I think that's a huge bonus. Just knowing how to communicate with someone in order for them to feel confident in what you're teaching them.

Elizabeth Diacos : 14:15

Yeah, great. And and so were there -- were there other skills that you brought, or did you need to go and do any further training to work in this new field?

Lauren Sporle : 14:24

No, no new training. Training through the company, but not training as in like a new qualification or anything.

Elizabeth Diacos : 14:31

Right, ok, but training through the company. I mean that's training.

Lauren Sporle : 14:34

Yeah, that's true. Yeah. So, but it was more like product knowledge and things like that moreso than like, the actual teaching side of things and the communication side of things.

Elizabeth Diacos : 14:47

Right. Okay

Lauren Sporle : 14:47

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 14:48

Do you think that - like you obviously had a real interest in this. With someone going -- I guess what I'm trying to discover from you is did the - would it, have mattered if you hadn't been a teacher? If you just say, come straight out of high school, could you have still got that job? And would it be as fulfilling for you as it is now? And is it going to be sustainable for you?

Lauren Sporle : 15:11

Yeah, so

Elizabeth Diacos : 15:12

I'm kind of getting at there?

Lauren Sporle : 15:13

Yeah, yeah, so um, for me, I felt like the teaching was definitely a bonus. I felt like because with teaching, you have to sort of fake it till you make it. And you have to always seem confident in yourself, even if you're not. It's just almost like a switch you put on when you get up in front of a class or assembly or whatever. And there's hundreds of people standing there in front of you. For me, I felt like that was a big advantage for me in my interview. Huge, huge advantage. And the other reason I got my job specifically was my store manager was very adamant that she wanted me to get that job because she was an ex school teacher as well. And she knew the skills that if there were two teachers on the team she knew that would be something that would be really incredible. And it would be a major advantage for her as the boss. So,

Elizabeth Diacos : 16:08

Right, okay, so

Lauren Sporle : 16:09

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 16:09

I guess because you're adaptable and reflective and all those things as well, you can sort of I think teachers are great at looking at the big picture, but also focusing in on the details. So it's a really winning combination.

Lauren Sporle : 16:24

Yeah, I think so, and when I went into the interview, I think the teacher aspect, it, probably didn't seem like, I think if you knew I was a teacher, it would make sense. But there were things like we were sitting in a room and we did a group interview and we would get told to do things on the spot like, oh, we're going to give you a piece of butchers paper and you've got to sit in a group of three and you've got to write down different strategies you would use if you were helping a customer with, I think it was at the time, like finding a new moisturiser or something like that. And yeah, I have this skincare knowledge, but I knew that it was actually more about okay, well, we've got the butchers paper. And you know, it's like me teaching someone has to be the scribe. Someone has to be this, someone has to be that. So I slotted -- just filled into that leader role all and was like, okay, let's figure out what everyone's doing. And then started writing things down. And I realised very quickly in that interview, because that was sort of the whole gist of the whole interview. A lot of people kept saying to me, I'm not sure what I'm meant to be doing, or I'm not sure what I'm meant to be saying. And it's because like you said, we have to be so adaptable to change all the time and seem confident when we're not. I just, I didn't necessarily know what I was doing, either. I was never going to show that in an interview.

Elizabeth Diacos : 17:37

Yep

Lauren Sporle : 17:38

Yes

Elizabeth Diacos : 17:40

So it sounds like that faking it till you make it actually was a good strategy for you.

Lauren Sporle : 17:44

Absolutely, yeah and if - like you asked me earlier, if it wasn't for the fact that I was a teacher, I don't think that would've - that interview would have been as successful as what it was.

Elizabeth Diacos : 17:56

Hmmm

Lauren Sporle : 17:56

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 17:57

Okay, so I mean, it sounds like there were, there were lots of issues going on for you as you transition out of education and into the beauty industry.

Lauren Sporle : 18:06

Hmm

Elizabeth Diacos : 18:07

What advice would you give to someone who's feeling stuck, where they're maybe afraid to take that leap? And often they're held back by things like, like I know, when I'm working with my Get Out of Teaching tribe, that there's money is often a big issue for people, that there's a fear that maybe they just don't have anything to offer another industry, or that, that somehow they won't get, I don't know the joy that they get in teaching of sharing their learning and sharing their knowledge. So how, what advice would you give to someone who's feeling stuck? And has that been your experience?

Lauren Sporle : 18:48

Uh, yeah, I am the sort of person I'm always like, once I get a job. I'm always like thinking towards the future, not as in like leaving straight away, but I'm always aiming for something new. And, with teaching, it's sort of - to me felt like it didn't matter what school I moved to, or what grade that I taught. It was never like, it just felt like the same thing day after day, which I know is some, some people would think that's what teaching is. But really every day is different every day is so exciting and thrilling. And so I get why people wouldn't want to leave the profession for that reason, you know, it's never the same. But for me, I totally understand those fears. I think I was just lucky enough that I had somewhere to go. You know, I lived with my parents for nine months and that was, that made everything a lot easier if I'm being honest. Like, I could have gone on to do it on my own, but I just needed a home base for a while where I was familiar and comfortable with. I, for me, it felt a lot better to leaving where I was. So I was in Kerang and I went back to Bendigo. So I had no -- if I wanted to keep in contact with people, which I did, I could do it on my own terms. I didn't have to talk to them every day. I didn't have to see them down at the shops, you know, but if I wanted to see them or talk to them I could. I think that's the other thing. Some people probably, I think the community sense within all the teachers and how you feel and all the friendships you develop, makes it a little bit hard to leave as well. People think that if they leave those people won't want to be friends with them anymore. And if anything, my teacher friends in Kerang were so proud of me for taking that leap of faith that I actually feel like our -- a lot of the friendships developed further or stronger after I left, if anything.

Elizabeth Diacos : 20:34

Ok, so that's good.

Lauren Sporle : 20:35

Yeah, so I understand the fears, I totally do, but I just feel like it was worth it. And it was hard work. I'm not gonna say it wasn't. It was hard work and the plan was a risk. Not having a qualification and everything like that. It was a risk, but it was so worth it. But it was all about persistence and positivity. And for me, it was patience. Like, if I wasn't quite ready to leave so I waited until something else came up that was secure enough to help with the money side of things, but that I knew could lead into something else later on.

Elizabeth Diacos : 21:10

So have you been -- on that topic, have you been able to replace your teaching income?

Lauren Sporle : 21:16

Yeah, so that's where I am now. So I have a plan for the future, essentially, like I said, I always do. So, I'm in the retail industry right now, retail compared to teaching there was a big jump. It was a huge shock, actually in terms of money. And it's not the retailer's fault, you know, they've got so many people to pay and whatever and there's only a certain amount of money that's going into the companies and everything. I totally understand all that. But yeah, I've taken a massive pay cut in order to be able to pursue my passion and that's probably the one thing I'm stuck with now is oh it's all well and good, I'm living my dream life. However, I'm not making the money that I was.

Elizabeth Diacos : 22:00

Yeah, okay, so this is like, you know, a huge factor in people's thinking.

Lauren Sporle : 22:07

Yeah.

Elizabeth Diacos : 22:07

How do you reconcile with that?

Lauren Sporle : 22:10

Yeah, it's really difficult. And I think that's why I've sort of moved my next career step forward a little bit as well. I'm developing my own online education skincare business. So, essentially, it's, for me, it's two things. It's creating my dream life and creating my dream career. However, because that's how I feel now, the only thing really that's holding me back is the fact that I don't make enough income to be able to keep living on that money for much longer. So, for me, I've sort of sat down and gone, okay, what are the real positives in my job? What are the opportunities and now let's change those and become your own boss. And then that way, it'll help with those financial things a little bit more.

Elizabeth Diacos : 22:57

Yeah. Okay.

Lauren Sporle : 22:58

Yeah.

Elizabeth Diacos : 22:59

So what is the plan, then? Are you able to share that with us now?

Lauren Sporle : 23:02

Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, online skincare business that I'm starting. Education is my biggest passion. So I combined the two together is vital. The skincare and the education have to go together for me in order to be happy with what I'm doing. I'm currently working through a free challenge. And I've had a skincare guide that went out recently as well to people, but my Instagram followers have been asking me for quite some time to do this sort of thing as well. So, the exciting thing was, I think for me in my career, like you said before, you know, did you ever feel fear? I didn't really. This is probably the most fear I've ever had. If I'm being completely honest. It's probably the biggest risk I've ever taken. And, I actually happened to be, not by the time this is obviously released, but I'm starting a skincare challenge tonight online with people to help them learn about the five essential steps to skincare. And then after that I'll be offering paid services for people to come and get assistance on their skin from me. So that's where it's all heading. It's very exciting, but it's extremely scary at the same time.

Elizabeth Diacos : 24:16

Yes, so okay, and that's actually how we met. So, I'm creating some online courses, and you're creating an online course as well. And so we met in the online course training.

Lauren Sporle : 24:28

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 24:29

And so, which was a great opportunity, actually, to meet another teacher in that space, of course.

Lauren Sporle : 24:34

Yep

Elizabeth Diacos : 24:34

And it's a good fit, isn't it? So, okay, so you're doing that now and your plan is to create an online platform where you can run these courses from - is that right?

Lauren Sporle : 24:48

That's right.

Elizabeth Diacos : 24:49

What's the name of your actual course. So this episode is being recorded mid May, but probably won't go out until about the end of May. So your challenge will be over, but I imagine your course will still be running. So, what are you calling your course?

Lauren Sporle : 25:03

So the course will, I reckon by the time this is out, the course will actually be over and then I'll be starting a new one I would say. So that name is still in the unknown stage.

Elizabeth Diacos : 25:15

Okay, so this so maybe I can put some of that information in the show notes for our listeners, so that they can come and find you if they're interested in in skincare. Are you dealing, Lauren, with a particular target market? If you got a bit like an age group in mind or particular skin conditions in mind, or what's your, your sort of, what's your niche in that industry? That's a huge industry.

Lauren Sporle : 25:40

Yeah, it is a huge industry and I think for me, there were a lot of frustrations I was noticing in the industry as someone that didn't have a qualification but was watching it as a hobby. It was getting really frustrating for me to see certain things that weren't being done to the standard that I know the research would link up with if that makes sense.

Elizabeth Diacos : 25:59

Okay

Lauren Sporle : 26:00

So, for me, yeah, I wanted to make sure that with this course that it aligned with aligned -- I'm trying, sorry, I'm trying to get my wording right. I wanted to make sure that the frustrations that I was feeling weren't being dealt with in this competitive industry were being showcased. And I've been doing it for free for such a long time. And I was like, "Well, if I'm not making a lot in the retail industry, it makes more sense for me to try and create my own content and inspire people that way." So, that's the course I've led to. Your original question, can I get you to tell me again? Niche, wasn't it?

Elizabeth Diacos : 26:41

Yeah, yeah.

Lauren Sporle : 26:41

Niche, yeah.

Elizabeth Diacos : 26:42

So, are you dealing, so for instance, I mean, I imagine your own experience, maybe that would lead you to help young women like you know, teenagers, developers a skincare regimen, for instance.

Lauren Sporle : 26:54

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 26:55

But I guess I want to know what you actually are sort of focusing on?

Lauren Sporle : 26:58

Yeah, sure. So I focus on 20 to 35 year old women. The reason for that being that I'm 30 years old this year, so I've been through that, you know, 20s phase but at the same time, I'm now doing more research. I'm always doing research and skincare, but the research I'm doing at the moment is into more preventative measures for future-proofing youth-enhancing the skin and so I want to also bring along people for the ride from that 30 to 35 bracket that I can learn from, but they can also continue to learn from me as well. And it's all about, for me, I not only want to help customers with their short term concerns, which, usually like you said are more like your skin concerns. But I also want them to realise that 20 to 35 is the perfect time to start getting your skin ready for when it gets older. Biggest mistake a lot of women make is they see a wrinkle, they freak out and then they start thinking "Oh, now it's time to do something". And it's not case, the earlier you start, the better. So it's all about prevention for me, I'm working with people that I know what they've been through already. And a small section of people that I know are going to be going through the same things as me over the next few years as well.

Elizabeth Diacos : 28:14

Nice. So that's really clear niche. So basically, you're, you're, it's a preventative system to, I guess, help enhance the look of the skin and the health of the skin as preparation for ageing.

Lauren Sporle : 28:30

Yeah, yeah. So again, there's so many things out there I was, I was watching these videos in teaching. So I'd come home from work and I'd be like, oh, I'll go onto YouTube. And I'll watch one of my favorite YouTubers or whatever, do some skincare, which for me is like a dream that I'd start watching them and I'm like, hang on a minute. Like, you've just done x, y and z that doesn't make any sense with the research side of things. And so that's where I started it all going but the other thing was as well, another thing on top of that was people were recommending so many products. So they were making out like people needed 10 products in their regime. And if you needed 10 products, you would also take over 30 minutes in your bathroom every night. And it's like, that is not how long you need. That is not the amount of products you need. I think the people that are selling a lot of these products, they're trying to make out like you need everything on the market and that they're all a need, instead of realising that there's needs and wants as well. So I distinguish that quite early. So with the free challenge that I will be running that'll probably actually To be honest, that'll almost be coming around again, I would say, by the time your podcast comes out, but essentially it's these are the five steps you need to start with no matter what age you are because they set your skin up for the success and the confidence that you deserve to feel. And then from there, you can add in the youth enhancing items from there but they won't work unless you've got the basis right first.

Elizabeth Diacos : 30:02

Nice. Okay.

Lauren Sporle : 30:03

Yeah.

Elizabeth Diacos : 30:03

It's all about a good foundation, isn't it?

Lauren Sporle : 30:06

Absolutely. Yeah.

Elizabeth Diacos : 30:07

A metaphorical and a cosmetic one.

Lauren Sporle : 30:11

Absolutely.

Elizabeth Diacos : 30:13

Okay, so Lauren, how can people get in touch with you if they want to use your service or want to go on one of your courses that you're running?

Lauren Sporle : 30:22

Yeah, the best way to find me would actually be to go onto my Instagram page, which happens to be 'the.girl.who.loves.cosmetics'. Biggest trick with that is every word has a dot in between.

Elizabeth Diacos : 30:33

Okay

Lauren Sporle : 30:34

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 30:35

"the.girl." so on

Lauren Sporle : 30:37

Yeah

Elizabeth Diacos : 30:38

Ok, got it. All right, and so, the final question then, in our interview today, Lauren, is what's the legacy that you want to leave in the world?

Lauren Sporle : 30:52

Oh, I love that question. Um, I think for me, I want people to realise I think when I came out of teaching people don't - didn't take me seriously because I would say that I was in the skincare industry or the beauty industry. And people would think, "Oh, yeah, you're living in that vain world where you have to look perfect all the time." And, so not the case. I want people to realise that just because I left teaching, it doesn't mean that my passion for education went away, it was still there. Still as strong as ever. And I've just happened to change my niche from primary school children to women. I've always been a big believer in things being fair for everybody. And for me, I don't want people to ever feel that they can't be provided with education in skincare without having to pay money. I want them to know there are free opportunities out there. And there are people like me on social media platforms that are always willing to help, so, yeah, I just want them to know that education's key. And it doesn't matter how much money in the world you have, or if you're female or male, that you can be provided with that at any time and I'm always willing to help with that.

Elizabeth Diacos : 31:58

That sounds like a wonderful legacy and a very kind-hearted, altruistic one, like so many teachers making a difference in the world, Lauren Sporle, thank you so much for being on the Get Out of Teaching podcast today.

Lauren Sporle : 32:10

You're welcome, I appreciate you having me.

Elizabeth Diacos : 32:12

You've been listening to the Get Out of Teaching podcast, presented by Larksong Enterprises, with your host Elizabeth Diacos. Do you know someone else who could benefit from hearing more stories of hope and transition from teachers all around the world? Please take a moment to share this, and other episodes via your podcast app. Each share helps me reach listeners just like you who can benefit from this content. The Get Out of Teaching podcast is proud to be part of the 'Experts on Air' Podcast Network. For show notes and other resources please visit www.larksong.com.au/podcast