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.
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to another episode of FearlesslyFacing 50.
And you know what we're digginginto.
We are digging into those Fwords yeah, those words that we
face as we age Finances, youknow, freedom, friends, food,
family, all those things.
So I'm really, really excitedabout the guest today.
(00:24):
First of all, I want to remindyou to check me out on socials.
You can go to theamyschmidt onInstagram.
You can go to your ConfidenceConnector Fearlessly Facing 50
on Facebook.
You can go tofearlesslyfacing50.com 50 is
spelled out and check out mywebsite All of the episodes.
We've got over 200 episodes ofthe podcast up there.
I also wanted to remind you thatyou can always pick up a book
(00:47):
and go to Amazon and orderCannonball Fearlessly Facing
Midlife and Beyond.
It really is my story.
I wrote it just before I turned50.
And you know there's lots oflittle nuggets in there, because
we are all works in progressand one day at a time and we can
age fearlessly and do a lot ofgreat things after 50.
So today's guest I have someoneon that I admire.
(01:10):
Today we're going to befearlessly facing our future and
our faces actually with thisamazing guest, Laura Geller.
I don't know if you have beenintroduced to Laura before.
I had her on my show years andyears ago and I just love her
story, her just enthusiasm, herpassion about what she does.
Of course, her makeup, becauseI wear it every day, whether I'm
(01:33):
on camera or not.
It is so fabulous.
So Laura has worked, startingin beauty back on Broadway as a
makeup artist.
She built her brand and you aregoing to want to stay tuned to
this episode because you willnot believe how she launched
this business on QVC and soldmore product in six minutes than
(01:54):
it's mind boggling.
So stay tuned and buckle up formy conversation with the
amazing Laura Geller.
Well, fearless friends, youknow I got a good episode today.
You heard it in the intro.
I am so thrilled to have LauraGeller with me today.
(02:15):
First of all, welcome, lauraGeller.
I'm so thrilled that you'rehere.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Oh, thank you so much
and thank you for having me as
your guest.
I love what you're doing and itreally falls into play with my
life and what I'm doing inwork-wise and what I've been
doing, so I'm honored to be onthis podcast.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Thank you.
I appreciate that.
You know it's funny because wewere talking a little bit before
we started recording and Laurais one of those people that
before we started recording.
And Laura is one of thosepeople that I don't know what it
is about you, laura, but youhave a personality, a magnetic
personality.
You also have the ability tomake people feel very valued and
(02:55):
seen and it's such a gift.
And you know, I have a lot ofguests on and one thing I always
ask them is do you really eversit back, laura, and say, wow, I
did this, like, do you evertake the time just to say, damn,
I've done a good job?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
No, you know it's.
I think we all probably havethat same thing.
It's like imposter syndrome.
It really is.
And you know, every now andagain, a friend, a family member
, will be like, do you realizewhat you've done, do you realize
how far you've come?
And I be like, uh, when you sayit that way, maybe, but I also
(03:40):
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 atthat 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 orwhat else you know unfinished
(04:00):
business I have on my list ofpriorities and so you know, if
things slowed down oropportunities weren't available
anymore, I might say, okay, dida good job here, my work is done
, you know, but I don't feelthat way Right, right, you know
I can relate to that and I thinkso many people listening and
watching can relate to that,Although some people just kind
(04:23):
of get stuck.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
You know they say, oh
, I don't know, I think that
ship has sailed, I think I'm tooold, I think, oh, I don't know
if I can learn that.
And you exemplify lifetimelearning.
I think I think you're verypassionate about learning.
You're not only a great teacherand we'll talk about that but I
think you also really embracelearning.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I most definitely do
and I always say every day is a
learning.
I mean, this morning somethinghappened and I went okay, didn't
know that, you know it doesn'tend.
And you've got to see the signsand say, okay, that's a
teachable moment.
How do I like make sure that Itake that and value that and use
it in my everyday life, that Itake that and value that and use
(05:08):
it in my everyday life?
And I think, because you'rehungry to learn and you realize
you can't possibly know it allabout your work or about the
space you're in, I think thatwhen you get to that place where
you go, wow, you know, I'mstill learning.
That's why you're, you haveunfinished business.
I think, when you think you didit all or you know it all,
that's troublesome, that'sreally troublesome.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Yeah, I think so too.
You know we fearlessly face somany things as we age.
We're going to talk about yourstory and the story behind the
brand, but I want to ask yousomething about as we fearlessly
face, you know, our futures.
We have a little more freedommaybe as we age, even though
(05:53):
we're continuing to be busy.
Do you find that it is achallenge for you to ask for
help?
Or do you find, now that you'vebeen in this industry and
you've been a thought leader andeverything and people come to
you, do you ask for help more?
Or do you find that you stillkind of have this like I can
still do it myself.
I can get it done myself.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It's funny.
You said that I haven't had apersonal assistant or anybody
personally helping me manage mycalendar.
Or you know, come with me whenI 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
(06:34):
of people, but in my everydaylife I don't want somebody next
to me, so I always think I canget it done myself.
And the other day we were goingto film a TV spot and I was
going over my calendar with myoffice and I said, oh boy, I
wrote this down wrong, or oh, Ithought it was the next day, or,
(06:55):
and that happens often, often,and I've been known to schedule
myself twice.
And you know, even though myoffice manages my calendar I
think you're laughing, becauseyou get it, oh, yeah, yeah, and
I think everybody's gonna get itand somebody from the office
was like I think maybe youshould think about hiring like a
(07:15):
virtual assistant or anassistant.
I'm like at this point now, Ishould 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 busierthan I ever thought I'd be at
this stage in my life.
Isn't that incredible?
Yeah, I think I don't ask forhelp enough, but I'm not
(07:37):
embarrassed to ask for itanymore.
That's the beauty of aging.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
There you go, you're
not embarrassed, and that's a
good word, because I thinkthat's true.
You know, I look at the youngergenerations.
I have a daughter who's in herlate 20s and you know I'm always
kind of telling her ask forhelp, use your resources,
because you do kind of think youcan get further, faster or you
have more control or you canfinish it quicker if you do it
by yourself.
(08:00):
And there's a lot of falsehoodaround that, because I do think
as we age, that's one of thethings we fearlessly face.
We use our resources more, weask for help when we need it.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, absolutely, and
the resources are available.
I mean I feel like I'm ancientbut 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 wentinto the business and the truth
is there weren't, you know,leadership groups and you know
(08:31):
things that could mentor andhelp me, and so I did have to
learn by default, and that's whyI say I keep learning.
But now there's so manyresources I mean just being able
to listen to a podcast likethis and the breadth of the
people that you interview.
You know, right before you wenton you were talking about you
know heart health and havinginterviewed and the truth is you
(08:55):
know we're all so tunnelvisioned in our lives and what
we're doing that we, we all Idon't take the time to listen to
things outside my space.
I'm always working on what'shappening in my industry and
trying to keep up with thatalone that I don't really do the
self-help or the doctors orthose things that really would
(09:21):
help me physically, mentally,emotionally, and I should.
And when you mentioned it I waslike, okay, I got to listen to
that.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Yeah, yeah, you know
what, and it's good to be
self-aware.
It's good to be self-aware andI remember seeing a post.
It was years ago, laura, Ithink you had a group of gals.
You have tremendous support.
I mean, it always looks like ifyou follow Laura on Instagram
or you follow the brand whichI'll have in the episode notes,
you always look like you'rehaving fun and you seem like
you're surrounded by Gellergirls, geller gals that are just
(09:53):
that.
They really love you for whoyou are.
You have an authenticity to you, along with your story of
really coming along through 40years right Over 40 years of
being in this business?
Yeah, but the people that aresurrounding you.
They love you.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
I, you know, thank
you for saying that.
And you know I went to an eventtwo nights ago and somebody
interviewed me there and saidyou know what is it?
Do you think about your brandor you that has kept you in the
limelight and still enduringafter all these years?
You know, I have to tell youit's not like that question
(10:30):
hasn't been asked before, butbecause I was at this event and
I was running into people Ihadn't seen in a while and six
degrees of separation, thisreport or that report, it hit me
hard and I remember thinking Iknow what it is.
I love women, I love theirstories, I sincerely care.
(10:54):
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 goodat what you do, then, whatever
business it may be, I reallychampion women and always have.
And you know, there was a time,amy, where there wasn't such a
(11:16):
thing as having influencer,content creator events where I
could be with all the gellergals.
Right, I was really, you know,in my zone where I didn't get
the chance to be with groups ofwomen.
There weren't organizationswhere you go to luncheons and
hear guest speakers and, like Isaid, I'm making myself sound
(11:39):
ancient, but it's true for along time.
So when I go to those events,I'm so fueled by the women and
what they're doing and hearingabout their stories and you know
, and you really have to sitback and take interest and not
just look at them collectivelyas like, oh she's, you know
she's a content creator or she'sstarted, or you have to hear
(12:03):
people's stories.
Yes, everybody's got one andit's got one and it's
fascinating.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
It's really
fascinating.
That resonates so much with me,and I know it will with our
listeners too, because that isso true there is power and
women's stories.
When you thread them together,it creates this masterpiece, and
that's what you exemplify, andI love that.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Let's talk about-.
Well, I think you're in thisbusiness.
You're in this business anddoing what you do so well,
because you're interested inwomen and what they're doing,
and so nobody better than youyou really are there to listen
to what they have to say.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Exactly.
There's value in that.
Thank you, thank you.
You know let's talk about.
I love to hear the story behindthe brand and you know, when
did your passion and purposereally intersect?
I think there is that moment,that aha moment, like Oprah
would say.
But when your, when yourpassion and purpose really
intersect, was it?
Was it in theater and arts,when you started as a makeup
(13:00):
artist, or was it your yourfirst store there in Hell's
Kitchen?
Or was it your QVC appearance?
When did it happen for you that?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
you were like wow,
this happened.
I'm going forward with this.
Yeah, I'll tell you when ithappened.
That's such a good question.
I was doing makeup for TV filmand theater.
And I wound up getting a job ata makeup store in Manhattan that
was famous at the time thatsold theater, film and stage
makeup.
Because if you know anythingabout the theater, most of the
(13:36):
time the talent on Broadway,shows and things like have to do
their own makeup.
There's no budget for a makeupartist.
They have people for wigs andcostumes, but not for theater.
And I was doing it and peoplewere fascinated by what I was
doing and I got to work on thebiggest, most famous celebrities
and I thought I was having fun.
(13:56):
But when I got this job, theyalso had a line of their own
cosmetics, like for real women.
So the store serviced theaterand film and television
personalities, but then they hadprivate rooms where you would
do makeovers on real women, so Iwould get booked.
(14:17):
The reason why they hired mewas because I knew TV, film and
theater makeup, like how to puta bald cap on or how to make
someone look like they'rebleeding or how to age a face.
I understood how to work withtheater makeup so I could sell
it to people in the theater andarts.
But when they booked me for aprivate makeup on a real woman,
I'd go into this private roomand I would use their makeup
(14:40):
line.
It was called On Stage and thestore was called the Makeup
Center.
It was famous.
It was across from City Centerin New York and I would work on
real women that were going to afunction and I'd see them
starting to come alive as Iwould make up their face and how
they really felt like.
I could see that they wereholding their head up higher or
(15:02):
more gratified with theenhancement I was putting on and
I was like, wait a minute, thisis so much more fun than
schlepping around the city withmy kit and traveling all over.
I get to stay in one place anddo real women for their real
lifestyles and that was theshift.
It was at that moment that wasmy shift and I was like wait a
(15:25):
minute.
Not only do I like doing realwomen, I like selling the makeup
to them.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
You were a
salesperson.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
There you go.
I was a salesperson.
I never went into the industrythinking I was going to be in
sales.
That was the last thing.
I was an artist and I wasn'ttrying to sell them.
But I'd finished making them upand they'd go wait a minute,
can I buy this stuff?
And I'd go, well, yeah.
And they'd go, oh, okay, youknow what, I'll take everything
(15:53):
you used on me.
And then the high I would getfrom going oh, my God, they want
to.
And I'd walk out to the frontcounter and I'd tell the owner
of the store they wanteverything.
I'll give you the face chartand can you pull everything for
me?
And so it was the combinationsof those two things when my
world collided and I said I wantto open up my own makeup studio
(16:16):
for women everywhere, forwhatever occasion they may have.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Isn't that awesome.
I mean, there is that moment.
There is that moment that wasthat moment.
All of a sudden it happens.
I want you to take me back to1997.
Correct me if I'm wrong, qvc.
All right.
So, qvc, you're going to begoing on?
I think you sold 750 units insix minutes, or something like
(16:44):
that.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yeah, wow, you're
good at what you do, boy.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Yeah, that's
goosebumps for me right there,
because I just think that'samazing.
I want you to take me to thatmoment and take our listeners
there and say because you hadnever done that before, excuse
me.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I never sold 750 of
anything, of many things and
then to sell 750 of the sameitem.
You know, I had always knownabout QVC and was fascinated by
it, watched it and when I wasgiven the opportunity my heart
was palpitating.
Because you know, here I openeda makeup studio in New York
(17:22):
City on the Upper East Side, butI worked on one woman at a time
.
Maybe she brought her motherwith her or her best friend or
her sister, and maybe I talkedto three women in a little
private makeup booth.
But when QVC came along and Iknew I could talk to at that
time it was 90 millionhouseholds.
I was like what?
And um, 90 million, and that'snothing.
(17:45):
Now that's the.
I think they're well over 150million households, maybe not at
one time, but they reach thatmany Um.
And so I think what happenedwas I put this makeup kit
together and I went down therewithout any training they didn't
have on-air training at thetime, but I think what helped me
(18:06):
was I had worked in televisionstudios for so long that when I
saw all the cameras, instead ofbeing intimidated, it was my
comfort place.
It was like my familiar.
Yeah, it was my.
I remember them saying to mewhen the red light goes on, you
look at that camera.
When it turns there, you lookat that and you turn and you
just follow the red light.
(18:27):
And that's all the training Igot.
And I remember the light wenton and my friends, some of my
friends husbands, you know willcatch me on TV and they'll go.
Well, boy, you may not betalking, you may be quiet, but
when that red light goes on.
You really are in your zone.
You got the.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Laura Geller voice
Yep, yep.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
They make fun of me
all the time for that, but the
truth is it's when I'm at mostpeace and it's like an actress,
you know, I think or comedian oryou know something about for us
.
I think in a way I'm a performermaybe I don't know and it's
something about that lightturning on that and I go into
this zone where I can detachfrom who I am and become this
(19:11):
expert.
And so here I was, while I wasexcited and nervous I mean for
sure I was that didn't go away.
I stuck with what I knew and Ialways tell this to people who
go on QVC you know I get callsfrom people, people I mentor.
You know they'll say to me youknow they tell me to study you
(19:32):
on QVC, but I'm not like you,I'm not outgoing, I'm a brand
founder, but I'm not anextrovert.
And I always say this to themjust talk about what you know.
You don't have to be aperformer, you don't have to be
an extrovert, you don't have tobe thinking I need to entertain.
(19:52):
If you know your product andyou developed something, or your
service and you developsomething that you know, you
filled a white space for talkabout that, because nobody else
is doing what you're doing andpeople will be captivated and
you don't have to be an expertat being on camera.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Right and it puts
everybody at ease.
That authentic part of yourstory, that's the most important
thing and I think so many shyaway from that.
You know so many.
I always say you know you'rethe keeper of your stories and
the historian of your life andyou hold the pen to your
autobiography.
You know, write it, write it,tell it, because there's so much
(20:34):
power in it.
And I think that's true.
You know, I think back to whereI'm most comfortable to and
I've always been a communicatorthat's just what I love to do
and an encourager and forwhatever reason, I'm on this
(20:54):
earth to encourage and connectpeople 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 andyou're looking at the camera,
but it's authentic and that'swhy, you're so successful with
what you do you can tell you arejust authentic.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Thank you, I am
authentic and I will tell you I
don't know how people areinauthentic.
People are inauthentic Like itmust be a trained thing if
they're acting Right, Because Ican't imagine not being me and
who I am at the core, like mypersonality.
I talk to customers, fans,friends, family the same way,
(21:35):
because it would be too muchwork to try to be something else
or act somewhere some way else.
It would be too much work.
It really would Well.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Now, social media has
played a big part, you know,
for your industry, I mean I dothink yeah, it has changed.
And I got to say, you know, Imight have said that that's the
beginning.
You know, now a 55-year-oldbrain, peach Bellini is what I'm
wearing on my lips today.
You know, laura, every time Igo on camera and I do have some
makeup artists that do my makeupfrom time to time, but a lot of
(22:04):
times I want to do my own.
It is all, laura Geller.
I love the simplicity of it.
I love the fact the spackle'sfabulous, just everything about
it.
Now I'll link everything andyou were nice enough to send
some products my way to use, buttoday I've on Pink Bellini and
I love it.
It's just, I think we, so manywomen that are listening that
(22:27):
might be 40, and you know, 40,50, 60, we have 70 year olds and
beyond that listen to this showwe 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 alwayswins your market really.
(22:48):
I mean, you really found aniche in this 40, you know, over
40 market.
And it has exploded, and I am soproud of you for that, because,
for a who is in her mid-50s,your makeup is simple.
It's really fail-proof becauseyou can put it on and you just
feel great.
It's not a million steps, it'sjust.
There's an ease about it.
(23:09):
When did that moment happen foryou when you said all right,
I'm going to really hone in onthis over-40 market?
Speaker 2 (23:15):
What happened was I
was over 40.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
There you go, your
story.
What happened was?
I was over 40.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
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 needsof women 40, 50, 60, into their
nineties.
I never understood it.
In fact, I remember when Iopened my store, never
(23:41):
understood it.
In fact, I remember when Iopened my store, so maybe I was
around 35 when I did that.
I remember women would come inand I'd make them up and as I
was making them up, they'd startperspiring and I'd be like, oh
God, darn it, you know she'sgoing to sweat and I have to
retouch her.
And I bought these little fansthat I could position while I
was making people up.
But I was not empathetic.
(24:01):
Yeah, I did.
I had fans in every room, inevery makeup room.
I had little booths because Iwanted women to have the privacy
of having their makeup done.
It was very unique.
In New York there was only oneother store that had something
like I had and I rememberthinking I don't know what's
going on.
Why are they sweating, likewhat is with the perspiration?
(24:22):
And then it happened to me andI think I also as an educator, I
loved teaching people how to dotheir own makeup.
It wasn't good enough.
I'm a teacher at heart.
In fact, I went back to schoolfor vocational teaching and I
got my license and I wound upteaching makeup at a school
(24:43):
because I really enjoyedteaching it, and so when I work
on customers which I'm not doingany longer I would teach them
how to do it themselves.
I literally would hand them thebrush and go okay, I'm going to
do one eye, now you're going todo the other, and I would say
you're holding the brush thewrong way.
Wait, what was the?
(25:03):
Oh, so okay.
So what the moment was for mewas that I realized women over
40 needed to start attackingtheir makeup and making their
makeup and skincare where theirneeds were at that time in their
life, and so when I was givenbecause of QVC, I was blessed to
be able to give them theopportunity to buy in bulk big
(25:27):
orders, because they don't ordera dozen or gross.
So I was able to go to labs andwork with manufacturers and go
okay, listen, you got to createsomething for me that's going to
make their makeup last longerbut also make it easy for them
to do so.
That's always the combinationof the two things I work on.
(25:49):
Is the makeup easy for peopleto use on their own and will it
be heavy lifting?
Does it do what it's supposedto do?
And you know I take it forgranted, like I really make
great product.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
You knocked it out of
the ballpark.
Oh 100%.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I have to tell you
like I'll spend a lot of money,
people, I didn't know how tocharge.
So, like I remember when Istarted the business, I was
handed a compact and I was likeI don't know how much that
compact cost me.
I don't know how much to fillit.
I didn't know it had to be,then go into a corrugated box
and then you had to get afulfillment house.
So I remember making up pricesand going you know, I'm going to
(26:29):
charge $10 for this.
And then Sephora came into mylife and Sephora wanted my line
and they were like your productis too cheap.
I go, what they're like wecan't sell it here, it's too
cheap.
You have to charge more.
And I go well, I can't nowbecause I charged this on QVC
and they were like, well then,we can't take that skew here,
(26:50):
because so I wasn't makingenough margin on my products.
I wasn't even making profitenough because I didn't
understand the business behindcreating the product.
But over time, thankfully, Iassembled the people with the
business acumen that I hadneeded early on, and they slowly
(27:11):
got me to a place where youmade enough profit on your
product that you could theninvest in the next product, and
then you could go into big boxstores Right.
But, that was a whole otherjourney.
That was crazy.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
But I love that you
said that, because the
transparency around that is youdidn't know it all.
You didn't have the businessacumen, I mean when I launched
my business.
I still tell the story aboutthe fact I went into a bank to
open up my account and I brokeout in a horrible rash because I
was so nervous about.
I was terrible.
I almost failed geometry inhigh school.
I mean, a math was never mystrong suit and but for you to
(27:47):
share listen, I didn't know that, like, I made some mistakes and
I learned and I figured it outand I had people around me that
supported me.
But that's what people need tohear, because we so often get
stuck and say, well, you know,how many times do you hear about
women applying for jobs andthey wanna reenter the workforce
, but they wanna check every box, and when they don't check the
(28:08):
box, then they don't throw theirhat in the ring.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Yeah, I'll tell you
something, Amy.
I had dinner about a week agowith four other women somewhere
in their 50s.
One was like almost 50.
Then one was in their 60s and70s.
They were former employees ofthe company, of my company, but
from years and years ago, andwe'd have this annual dinner
(28:35):
together and it really wasdisturbing to see the older
woman who was in her 70s tell ushow ageism is a thing.
You know, I own my own businessand I am the face of the brand,
so I have legacy and I couldkeep moving on with the brand.
(28:56):
I don't take it for grantedbecause there will be a time
maybe that I can't talk.
I can't see that well, andthey're going to be like OK,
laura, get someone else for this.
But for now I'm sort of stillvery important to the equation.
She has amassed so muchknowledge at what she does.
She does logistics and she'ssmarter than any 30 year old or
(29:27):
anybody really, even in theirforties, because she's been
through it all and seen it alland can bring her knowledge to
any company.
She's a consultant and shetalked about how people look at
her and they think, oh, she'snot up with the time, she
doesn't know, and it bothered meso much and I know it exists
out there but I haven'texperienced it really personally
(29:47):
and because, remember, thebrand is still me, you know.
Yeah exactly, but hearing itfrom my colleague, it really is.
It's disturbing.
And how do women who haveamassed the knowledge after 40,
50, 60, let companies know orbrands know that they're helpful
(30:08):
?
I don't know the answer to that.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
It's a challenge and
I've had several women on that
own companies about relaunchingyour career.
And one thing I always tellwomen and I think this is
valuable for anybody it's apractice I do and I've done a
long time and that is looking atyour highlight reel and it's
not just your successes andtriumphs, but it's your
challenges and your failures andthose obstacles that you've
overcome.
(30:30):
But you look back.
We want to move forward,obviously, but looking back at
what you've accomplished as awife, a mom, sister, daughter,
friend, any of those things overthe last 10, 20, 30 years, when
you actually practice that andlook and use that time and
self-reflect, all of a suddenthese things come into focus for
you and you're like, wow, I didmanage that budget.
(30:53):
Wow, I did resolve thatconflict.
Wow, I overcame this incredibleobstacle.
And then that gives you alittle more power.
Because I think that's what westruggle with.
We struggle with knowing ourvalue and realizing that these
experiences that we've had, theytranslate into and propel us
forward.
So you know, ageism is a thing,but we just have to continue to
(31:15):
work hard to surround ourselveswith people that are going to
continue to challenge us andpush us forward because we don't
have to check all the boxes.
We probably check more than allthe boxes with our experiences
and stories.
We just undervalue them toooften.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
That's it and that's
where you started this
conversation.
Do you ever look and say, lookwhat I've created, look what
I've done, look how far I'vecome?
And the fact you know I'll sayto I answered you and I'll go?
No, because I'm a humble personand that's humility.
And while that's attractive, itdoesn't sell Right.
And, to your point, when youstart to really look at what
(31:50):
you've accomplished and becomeempowered by that, that's going
to sell.
Yes, exactly that's going tosell to whoever you need to sell
it to.
Yes, exactly, and the one area Iknow I'm maybe humbled, but the
one area I'm confident in iswhat I do for a living as a
makeup artist, as teaching womento do their own makeup, as
(32:12):
creating product, and that Inever second guess.
I may not look like how far thebrand has come or what I
accomplished, but I can speak toyou about makeup and never feel
like I don't know at all orsomebody might be doing it
better.
So I think you do have to honein on your skill set.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
You're right.
Yeah, you are so amazing.
This conversation could go onforever.
I mean I just, I love learningfrom you.
I love being in your space.
I just think you offer so muchto this world for women as we
age fearlessly.
I love it.
I'm going to link everything tothe episode notes where you can
find the products.
Follow Laura, I'll have all theInstagram and that, but also on
(32:54):
your website you've got somegreat influencers for your brand
that you know kind of put themakeup on and follow their
routine in a day and I love allthat stuff.
I love it.
I'm going to ask you two things, and please don't answer this
if it's too personal and wedidn't talk about this before.
But I know you have a son andbecause I follow you and I
(33:20):
admire you, I see photos of youwith your son or different
activities you do with your sonand I see that relationship and
I think it's fabulous.
I would like to ask you howyour son if I were to have him
sitting here how he views youthrough his lens, because I
think that changes over time.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Yeah, he would tell
you that.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
I'm a badass.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Okay, that's the mic
drop.
That's the moment right here.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
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 (33:48):
He's the one that
reminds me when I start to get
unraveled about something comingup or that I'm nervous about.
He'll be like how many yearsare you doing it?
And how many times after you doit you go oh, that was nothing,
that was a cinch, he's like,and you're getting nervous again
.
You're a badass, you createdthat.
(34:09):
Let's not forget that.
He's super proud and I thinkall of us who are parents can
say maybe not about I only haveone.
I'm sure that people who havemultiple children will say some
are more like me than others,but I think we can all say they
learn from us, so be careful ofwhat we teach them.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
We do still have that
barometer.
We are their barometer.
They watch us how we navigatethrough the world.
But thank you for answeringthat, because I admire it from
afar and from what I can see isexactly how you just answered
that he's so proud of you.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Thank you for asking.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
And that is
reciprocated and you are so
proud of him.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
You got it, boy.
You don't even know us and youknow that just from pictures.
Yeah, it's really true.
It's true, thank you.
I mean, I gush, I gush and Ihave to be careful because I
know other people gush and weall want to gush, but like I got
to sometimes lock it down, youknow.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
I'm very proud of him
.
That's wonderful.
That's wonderful.
Thank you.
Before we leave today, I wantto ask you the question I ask
everyone, and that is Laura.
If you're sitting on the couchand you look to your side and
there's Laura at 30, what advicewould you give her?
Speaker 2 (35:26):
would you give her?
Yeah, I think I would say don'tbe in a rush.
Good things take time and don'tlook to the left or the right,
at people who are further along,because there's always somebody
behind you, and stop thinkingyou should be where that person
is.
Everybody gets there at theirown pace and just stay in your
(35:48):
lane.
You know it's good to have thatmaybe as a carrot to dangle to
push you forward.
But don't be envious, don't bejealous.
Everybody's got a story.
You don't know how they gotthere and just enjoy the journey
and buckle up too.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Buckle up.
I always say that, and buckleup, laura, you're a delight.
Thank you for that.
That's wonderful wisdom.
Thank you, amy, everybody thatI'm telling you.
I'm sorry this ends, because Iwould love to get even deeper
into.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
So I hope Can can do
it again.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
I hope our paths will
cross, because you say it often
too you have to let women knowwhen you admire them.
I think so often I've heard yousay that in other interviews
that's what you emulate.
I do the same.
At least I hope other peoplewould see that from me.
We need to let those women inour life know that we admire
(36:41):
them, that we're proud of them,and they are a badass, and you
know, I think that's soimportant and sometimes we don't
make enough time for that.
So I want to thank you forsomebody that I admire in my
life.
I want to thank you for makingand taking time today for your
incredible team for just.
You know, they're great on justresponding and all of that
because you know, getting timewith you is really an honor and
(37:04):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
So I appreciate you,
amy, and you ended with the
right thing.
Team.
You're only really as good asthe people you surround yourself
with, and that took a long timeto get right, but, boy, I
really am fortunate to have itright now.
So thanks to my team is right.
So, amy, I'm honored that youdid this with me.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
You're welcome.
I hope to see you soon.
All right, me too.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Me too.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
See you, Laura.
Thanks so much for listeningtoday.
We know how valuable your timeis and that's why we keep it
short and sweet.
Don't forget to follow us onall the socials, and you can
check out all the links andresources in the show notes.
Until next time, go forth andbe awesome.