August 29, 2024 • 33 mins
In this episode of the Mom Owned and Operated podcast, Rita Suzanne and Christina Flach discuss raising a family, running a business and remembering yourself.
Christina is a world renowned celebrity makeup artist with experience working with celebrity clientele, magazines, and big name brands. She has been featured in Vogue, People, Time, and Elle, as well as campaigns for Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Bloomingdales.
She is the creator and CEO of her own makeup brand, Pretty Girl Makeup. Christina also writes articles detailing the must know tips, tricks, and hacks of the makeup, wellness, and nutrition industries. As well as creating a successful career as a makeup artist, she is also a philanthropist who has used her platform to raise funds for various philanthropic causes such as children's education and sepsis awareness.
Christina has participated in numerous podcasts, TV, radio, and magazine interviews to raise awareness for the causes she holds close to her heart.
You can connect with Christina on her website, at Pretty Girl Makeup, on Instagram and Pretty Girl Makeup's Instagram.
Send a text message! Email, if you want a reply though. ;)
P.S. You can find more interviews at momownedandoperated.com and learn about working with Rita at ritasuzanne.com/apply/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rita Suzanne (00:01):
Hi, this is Mom Owned and Operated.
I am Rita, suzanne, and today Ihave my guest, christina with
me.
Christina, I am so excited tochat with you.
Please tell everyone all aboutyou, your business and your
family.
Christina Flach (00:14):
Wow, that's a long that's a long time.
My name is Christina Flack.
I'm a celebrity makeup artist.
I am the CEO of Pretty GirlMakeup and I'm Too Busy
Cosmetics and Skin Care.
I am a TV host on I'm Too BusyTV.
I am a celebrity makeup artistbeauty expert on California Live
(00:41):
on NBC.
I'm a mother of five.
I'm a philanthropist onCalifornia Live on NBC.
I'm a mother of five.
I'm a philanthropist.
I am a sepsis awarenessadvocate and I think that is all
my titles.
Rita Suzanne (00:51):
Wow Five, you have your hands full.
Christina Flach (00:57):
They're 30, 28, 23, and 17.
Wow, almost 18.
Next month 18.
Wow, baby's getting all big.
Rita Suzanne (01:08):
Yeah, yeah, I mean that's amazing.
So how long have you been doingmakeup?
First of all, you're gorgeous.
Christina Flach (01:17):
You're very nice.
I have been doing makeup myentire life.
Just I was messing around withmy family and friends and doing
proms and weddings and then, youknow, some photographers asked
me to do some jobs and then Imiraculously got some things you
know in magazines, and so thenI was very lucky to be getting
(01:37):
an agent and so that reallychanged the trajectory of my
career, because then with theagents you know, I started
working with differentcelebrities and TV and different
fashion houses.
So it kind of I didn't expectto do any of these things that
I'm doing, which is kind ofinteresting.
You know, most people kind ofhave a clue of what their career
(01:58):
is going to be like, but Ireally didn't.
It's just kind of one thing ledto another and a lot of
uncomfortable situations.
Like you know, going in frontof a camera was not ever
something I wanted to do.
So when I was asked by NBC tobe a beauty expert, my first
reaction was absolutely not Ilike being behind the camera in
(02:20):
front.
But then, you know, my friendwas the host and he's just said
look, this is everything youknow, and get comfortable being
uncomfortable, you might besurprised what happens.
And so after he said that I itreally changed everything,
because I thought it gave me somuch confidence that I was able
to do something that I reallyhesitated and was reluctant to
(02:41):
do.
So that's what I would advise.
You know, advice I give topeople is get comfortable being
uncomfortable, because magicalthings will happen.
Rita Suzanne (02:50):
Yeah, I think that a lot of mom business owners
are fearful of one being oncamera and doing things that
maybe they're uncomfortable with, and so they get into that
complacent area, especially inbusiness.
So what is your, I guess?
How did you get into yourmakeup line Like, how did that
(03:12):
start?
Christina Flach (03:13):
So that's an interesting question.
So I was a mom of all thesekids and I was in a constant
battle between my lip gloss andmy tea or my water bottle, and I
was not winning ever.
So I thought there's got to bea lip gloss that you know that
can last more than two sips oftea.
And I couldn't find one, andthe ones that I found were
(03:33):
drying and irritating to theskin.
So I thought, okay, how hardcan this be?
I'll just create my own.
Ignorance is, you know, blissbecause you don't know what you
don't know.
Create my own Ignorance isbliss because you don't know
what you don't know, right?
So I found a beauty chemist andwe took almost a year over a
year to formulate the lip gloss,the lip plumper and the
(03:54):
different colors and the textureand the whole thing.
But I enjoyed every moment ofthe process.
It was so much fun meeting withthe chemist and learning you
know the science behind thesedifferent oils and different you
know products, differentingredients that are in the
products.
So I think that's a superimportant thing.
Whatever business that you,whatever endeavor, whatever
(04:15):
business that you decide to gointo, go into it because you
love it so much that you'll doit for free, and then you need
to figure out how to get paid,but you're going it for free,
and then you need to figure outhow to get paid, but you're
going to resent it.
You're going to resent whateverbusiness you're doing if you're
just doing it for the money.
You don't love it Because, asyou know, everything takes much
more time and much more money.
Rita Suzanne (04:37):
That's true, and and, as a addict to lip gloss
and and lip chapstick andeverything, I literally have a
little container over here withabout six or seven chapsticks
and lip glosses, and I'm acollector.
I will try all the differentkinds.
I have them in my car, my purse, my desk.
(04:58):
I love it and they're everywhere.
So I completely understand whyyou would say that, because if
my lips don't have something onthem, I just right it feels
weird.
Yeah, I don't know if, likeit's weird, so I'm definitely
going to have to check yourstuff out, especially if it
lasts longer than taking a sip.
Christina Flach (05:19):
Yes, it does, it does, and so what is it
called again?
Rita Suzanne (05:22):
Pretty?
You said Pretty Girl.
Christina Flach (05:24):
Pretty Girl, pretty Girl.
So you go toprettygirlmakeupcom and we're
offering a 25% discount codewith Pretty Girl as the special
word, as the coupon code.
Rita Suzanne (05:36):
Yeah, I love it.
Okay, so what is your biggestsource of revenue and how did
you get to that point?
How did you get there?
Christina Flach (05:45):
Well, it fluctuates a lot, you know it.
You know my the lip gloss.
So the lip gloss and the lipplumber.
The lip plumber has sold out,so we're just have lip gloss
right now with pretty girl, butI'm working on I'm too busy for
skincare and so I started thisbrand because I have heard for
years and years and years all myclients saying oh my gosh, I
(06:07):
don't know what products Iactually need.
I go to the department store orwherever they get their makeup
and they're sold a bunch ofthings that they don't need,
they're not appropriate fortheir lifestyle and that they
don't know how to use.
They're not a makeup artist,they don't have.
You know, a typical person amom or CEO or executive does not
have time to contour, bake anddo all these different things.
(06:30):
So I just thought how are yougoing to get brand loyalty If
you're selling your customersthings that you know sit in a in
a box or sit in their makeupdrawer?
I can't tell you how manypeople come to me with all these
products.
Oh well, I'm going to use itone day.
You're never going to use it.
If you're not using it, you'renot going to use it.
So what I urge people to dowith all the makeup, with the
(06:51):
gift, with purchases that we alllove is put them a little gift
bag together and give it to afriend or a neighbor who will
use it.
You know that's the right color, so you don't just have this
stuff sitting there wasted.
So I'm we're doing, we're inthe midst of fundraising right
now for for I'm too busy, butwe're doing.
You know, there's going to besomething for brows, concealer,
(07:12):
eyeshadows, eyeliner, mascara,cheek and lip, and that's it.
I just want people to be ableto look like the best versions
of themselves quickly and easily.
And then, regarding the skincareline, you know, again, people
buy.
They have such good intentionsand they buy all these beautiful
, very expensive skincare linesthat they don't use consistently
(07:34):
, so they don't work.
So I want there to be athree-step process for men and
women to use to, you know, havebeautiful skin.
So, again, I worked with thisamazing chemist in New York,
steve Cochran, and he is the onethat developed for Urban Decay,
the setting spray.
(07:54):
He's a genius.
And so he said, like let's dosomething interesting with this
three-step process.
And he said so tell me, what doyou do first thing in the
morning?
And I said, oh, splashing myface with water.
And he said, wrong, he goes.
Do you drink the water that yousplash your face with?
And I said no, and he goes.
So why would you put it on yourskin?
I'm like I don't know.
(08:15):
So, anyway, he he said look,we're going to put, we're going
to put a barrier up before youput the water on your skin.
So we're going to put on thecleanser and the moisturizer,
put it on your face as a shieldand then put on the water.
And so because oftentimes andyou can think about this you go
into the pool or you go in thewater, there's minerals, there's
(08:36):
chlorine, all these things inthe water, and then your skin
feels tight and it shows finelines and wrinkles and it's
really not good for your skin.
So we've done that.
And then the third step is aprotectant of you know
protecting, like a vitamin Cserum.
So that is what we're doingwith that?
Rita Suzanne (08:54):
Oh, I love that.
So one of the things that Ilove to talk about is what is a
financial lesson that you canshare with other mom business
owners that you've learned alongthe way in your journey?
Christina Flach (09:11):
Well, I think the first thing is to get.
I did not do this, so do as Isay.
Not as I do, but I'm doing.
I've.
You know, obviously, sincebeginning of that, I do this now
.
I did not have a business plan.
I had no idea what one was.
The thought of it terrified me.
I just had an American Express.
I was self-funded and I justwent along that way.
(09:32):
I think it's important to get apartner that you know.
If you're a creative, findsomeone that has a business
brain, that has experience inthis, because there's so many
things that you don't know thatneed to be done from a tax
perspective, from a way ofgetting funding.
There's all these things.
You can't know everything, andso I think the biggest lesson a
(09:54):
CEO can learn and know is hirethe best people you can.
Take your time to make sure.
Don't rush through the hiringprocess.
Make sure that they have thesame work ethic you do, the same
morals that you do, becauseyou're going to be working
closely with these people,they're going to be representing
you and you want to make surethat they are going to fit.
And let the people not tomicromanage.
(10:17):
That's one thing that I reallydon't do with my team.
I don't sit and tell them okay,do this, oh, let me check it,
and then I don't do that.
I'm like this is what I needdone.
Do it what you know, show mewhat it is, and I let them have
freedom, because I think peopleare happy when you, you know,
give them an open door policy oftelling you some great ideas
(10:38):
they have.
I can't think of everything youknow, I really can't.
I'm trying to do a millionthings but I can't.
So if someone comes in with agreat idea, I am so happy to
listen and let's do it.
So I think it makes for anenvironment where people are
happy to be there because theyfeel like they're heard, they
feel that they have freedom todo their job at a really high
(11:01):
level, without someone like methat, like I don't know how to
do all this tech stuff.
So there's, I have no businesstelling anyone oh no, you need
to do it like this, like thatwould be a waste of everyone's
time.
So I think that's a big deal.
You know it's important.
And then also asking for advicefrom people that are in your
industry and not in yourindustry.
(11:22):
Other CEOs, other executivesask them.
People are so, and that's onething of because I still am a
makeup artist.
I love being a makeup artist,so I'm really blessed that I get
to work with all these amazingpeople.
I have Jamie Diamond, who's youknow head of JP Morton, maria
Bartolomeo from Fox, so I amvery blessed that I get to hear
(11:43):
all these amazingly brilliantpeople talk about business and
different things that are goingon in the world, because it's
just like an education for me,and so it also enables me to ask
them questions, and you wouldbe shocked how generous and kind
and willing people are to helpyou.
So don't be ashamed orembarrassed.
Ask people.
(12:03):
I mean people come and ask methings, and I'm more than happy
to share any knowledge orcontacts that I have with people
, so I think those are reallyimportant things to keep in mind
.
Rita Suzanne (12:15):
So I think those are really important things to
keep in mind.
Yeah, I love that because Ithink that I love diving into
other people's businesses.
Obviously right, because I wantto get an insight to how things
are working for you and what isactually going well in your
business, and I think that it'simportant to see not just what's
going well but maybe the thingsthat have not gone well.
(12:37):
So have there been any mistakesthat you've made specifically
in your marketing that maybewere not so great that you would
share with everybody?
Christina Flach (12:48):
Oh, absolutely, my God, do you have an hour and
a half?
You know you can have the bestof intentions and think like,
especially in the beautyindustry it is so competitive
and so erratic and changingevery second, something that
you're like sure is going towork.
For example, I advertised anin-style magazine once, cause
(13:08):
I'm like, oh, every at that timethat was like everyone read
that magazine.
I sold nothing.
I was waiting by my you knowfax machine at the time because
that's how orders would come in.
Right, I couldn't believe it.
So it's really hard to knowwhat is going to work, and a lot
of it is luck.
I have to tell you, because Ihave a publicist and she would
(13:30):
get me into all these amazingpeople magazine, vogue, you know
us magazine, and then I gotinto this little magazine in
Minneapolis, minnesota, that thearticle was four lines.
I sold more lip gloss in thatone week period than I sold in
two quarters.
So you just never know, youdon't know, and I wish I could
(13:52):
be more like oh, you know, Idon't know, I have kind of a
problem paying some influencersome exorbitant sum of money.
I don't know if I'm going toget it back.
So a lot of it is, you can keepthrowing spaghetti on the wall.
Rita Suzanne (14:07):
Yeah, because one of the interviews that I did
yesterday we were talking aboutyou know how people are always
claiming to understand or havefigured out the algorithm and
how you know, like I'll teachyou how to do the algorithm or
this or that, and you know howto really master the whole thing
, but really they, they reallydon't know, you know algorithms
(14:31):
are constantly changing, andright and I know for a fact.
Christina Flach (14:35):
so as soon as you think you figured it out,
it's going to change.
So, thinking that you've got itfigured out, you have for a few
days or a week, but it's goingto change.
That's the one thing you youhave to learn to pivot, and I
don't believe in failure.
Rita Suzanne (14:51):
I don't believe there are failures, the only
failure.
Christina Flach (14:53):
Failure is not and I take away the word trying
execute, so I prefer to useexecuting.
I prefer to say I'm going toexecute this plan.
Trying gives you wiggle worm togo.
Oh well, I tried, you didn'treally try, right yeah so I
remove try and I also removefailure out of my vocabulary.
(15:14):
There is no failure.
I am doing everything I can tomake this successful.
And sometimes there's.
I mean there's always going tobe a bump.
Sometimes there's going to be ahuge bump and you just have to
pivot, and sometimes no.
I used to think why is thishappening to me?
Why is this happening to me?
It's not.
(15:34):
Sometimes it's happening foryou.
Sometimes it is like you knowthis, you need to just turn left
instead of right.
It wasn't a failure, it was wow,I did learn.
I mean, you always learnsomething from every experience.
But you know and I don't harpon things that didn't work, it's
like, okay, well, we tried ourbest with the knowledge we had
(15:54):
at the time.
That's what we decided to do.
So I just feel like if you canjust know the only failure is
sitting there talking aboutsomething that you're thinking
about doing and never doing it,and take the first step, do it.
You know it'll take all that.
Oh gosh, I don't have to be.
You know people sit and worryoh my God, it's not going to
(16:21):
work.
Don't stop overthinking.
Just do one thing.
It'll lead to the next thing orit'll lead to something else.
So I've had things happen to melike the NBC thing where I've
been on, you know, as a beautyexpert for the last few years.
I'm on it like three to fourtimes a month.
Um, I got this opportunity.
Yesterday was my first show.
I started a new TV show.
This company in New York calledme old, brave TV and they asked
(16:42):
me to host my own show, whichagain I'm like hell, no, yeah.
And so they're like look, andthis was funny because they said
well, our algorithm says thatfor your age, demographic, you
know, you know what you're doingand a lot of people like you,
so we want you and I'm just likean algorithm, I.
(17:02):
So I'm just laughing that Ipopped up in an algorithm, right
.
Yeah, well, I mean it, it it'sworking for you, so that, so
that's well sometimes it worksfor me, but so, anyway,
yesterday was my first show as ahost and it's a TV show, it's
on YouTube, it's on all thedifferent platforms, and
yesterday I interviewed one ofmy dearest friends who is this
(17:24):
amazing philanthropist and she'sa mom, she's a, you know, she's
a CEO, she's all these amazingthings.
So I wanted to start this thingbecause I was really
uncomfortable, because it's hard, like I have sponsors, so I
have to go to commercial breakand we have four 15 minute
segments.
That's a long time to bechatting with someone, even
(17:44):
someone that I know really,really well.
You know you have to askquestions and that pertain to
this and so you know, haveimages of.
So it was.
You know I have a producerthat's doing everything in New
York while I'm doing the show.
So it was.
You know I have a producerthat's doing everything in New
York while I'm doing the show.
So it's, it was reallyintimidating, but you know, I
survived and it wasn't nearly asbad as the craziness that I
(18:06):
made up in my head that like, oh, my God, this is going to be
like disaster.
So I feel so much better andcomfortable and confident after
that first show's over.
Rita Suzanne (18:18):
It's just like you know, the more that you do it,
the easier it'll become, and Ialways tell this story about the
first time that I ever did alive video, it was through that
app, periscope.
And so this was 10 years ago.
My coach had challenged me oh,we're going to get on Periscope,
(18:38):
and I'm an introvert, I'mscared to death.
And she says, no, we're goingto do it.
You know, she's an introvert aswell, and so we're going to do
it and it's going to bechallenging and I swear to you,
my heart was beating.
Christina Flach (18:51):
I thought I was going to pass out.
I know out, I know, I know thatfeeling You're just ready, that
you think you're having a heartattack.
Rita Suzanne (19:03):
Yes, it was the worst.
It was the worst, but now I'mperfectly fine with it, you know
.
But again, it's been 10 yearsand you know so the more that
you do it, the easier it becomes.
And I think that that's goes toyour point of just facing your
fears and just going for it andjust understanding that.
You know I heard this thing onetime and I always keep it with
me that you know, no matter whathappens to you, whether it's
(19:23):
good or it's bad, there's alwaysa lesson right.
So it's always for yourbetterment, it's always for your
benefit, for your betterment,and you just have to sit there
and figure out what the lessonis.
And I think that's where peoplego wrong.
They think that they're beingpunished or something, and
they're not.
Christina Flach (19:41):
No, I completely agree.
It's happening for you, not toyou, and I think also.
I mean, just look at theconfidence you have speaking in
public.
Speaking in public isterrifying for almost everyone.
You know we can sit and chatwhen we're in class or with our
friends, but when there's acamera on you especially my
(20:02):
shows live it's a live show, sothere's no buffer of.
You know like it's like when Igo on NBC and I do a live
segment.
It's terrifying because this isa major network and if I mess it
up, it's right, is a majornetwork and if I mess it up,
it's right.
There's no edits, no, so it'sso much easier.
(20:23):
Like when we tape a segment,you know we have a couple hours
to do, like a six or eightminute segment.
It's so great because if I messup, or my partner Berlin messes
up which he rarely does, it'smore me, but like we'll start
laughing or something you knowwe can start over.
So it's.
You know, live TV is notforgiving, but you know,
actually doing all thesepodcasts over the last six years
(20:44):
has really helped me being ableto speak comfortably in front
of a camera.
So all these things actuallyled up to me being able to do my
own show, which was notsomething I expected to do, so I
think being open is superimportant to opportunities.
My agents will call you knowwith a job or something, and I
(21:05):
always answer the phone.
Yes, I'll do it.
Rita Suzanne (21:07):
And they're like you don't even know what it is.
Christina Flach (21:09):
I'm like doesn't matter, I'll do it Right
, and if it's not a well-paidjob.
So, like magazines which Ialways want to do a magazine
because you want a tear sheetfor your book like a big deal,
they don't pay very well, whichis fine, I don't care.
I did Marita Moreno for PeopleMagazine.
I would have paid PeopleMagazine to let me do her makeup
(21:29):
right.
So I think you know getting inwith a new team of producers or
photographers or stylists, youknow you do a good job.
Maybe you don't get paid yourfull normal day rate, but you're
.
You know you do a good job.
They're going to hire you back.
You're on time, you do a goodjob and you're not paying the
ass.
They will call you back.
(21:49):
The hardest thing is getting in.
I started working with Fox,food Network, bloomberg, all
these different networks.
The hardest part, honestly, wasgetting in, because they you
know you have to do all thispaperwork, all this vetting and
all this stuff and once you'rein, you're in which is which is
nice, so more so, it's aboutcreating those connections and
(22:12):
in really like developing thoseand just maintaining them so
that you are, yeah, I check inwith different people I work
with, but also I thank them.
You know, when I leave for theday, first of all, when I get
there, I'm like wow, thank youso much for having me today.
And at the end of the day Ithank them again.
They don't need to hire me.
There's a million makeupartists in the world but I know
(22:37):
that I go the extra 25 miles.
I tend to my clients.
I make sure that they're happy,that they have water, something
to eat.
I, you know, give them space.
I give them.
You know I really take care ofthem.
And also, when I'm working on ashow or a team, I'll help the
lighting guy or I'll help this.
I'll do whatever needs to bedone.
I don't think I'm aboveanything.
(22:58):
Even after all these years andall the you know successes I've
had.
I am a very grateful and humbleperson and I don't think I'm
better than anyone on the set atall.
So I think because I'm notdifficult, that's another one of
the reasons I get hired.
Rita Suzanne (23:17):
I'm sure that speaks volumes, so, and so I
feel like because you have apublicist and you have an agent,
they do most of your marketingfor you, so you're not necessary
, and then you're building therelationship.
So that's probably the aspectof your entails kind of like
your marketing strategy.
Or am I incorrect?
(23:38):
Do you have another marketingstrategy or?
Christina Flach (23:41):
Oh, there's more, there's more.
I have two assistants.
I have one that pretty muchdoes all my bookings for
podcasts and article.
I write.
I'm also a writer, I write alot of beauty articles as well,
so she does that's Maya and shedoes all that stuff.
(24:02):
And then I have Avery, who isin charge of all the social
media and the marketing and thewebsites and you know getting
stuff on YouTube and thearticles up on.
We do a blog on the website.
We get all the videos fromdifferent TV shows.
I'm on, put it on the website.
We get all the videos fromdifferent TV shows.
I'm on, put it on the websitethere.
(24:27):
You cannot get lackadaisicalwith a portfolio.
As a makeup artist, itconstantly needs to get updated.
If I do a shoot, I have to keeptrack of who that celebrity was
or who that client was, becauseif there's anything out in the
world I want to get that image.
So I need to get it to my allthree of my agents.
I have to get it to Avery toput on you know
ChristinaFlackcom, which is mypersonal website a portfolio.
So it's a lot of work.
(24:48):
We also I will have Avery.
She'll send out, you know, acouple of times a month to
different event coordinators,different, I mean hotel
everything.
We are constantly coming upwith an email blast of current
work, things that we've donearticles, I've written, tv shows
, I'm on to keep the moneyflowing in.
(25:08):
So it's a constant thingbetween you know, getting press
for the makeup line and thengetting press for me.
So it's kind of like twobusinesses.
Rita Suzanne (25:19):
I think what is most important is that people
hear that you have a team andthat you trust other people to
help you with all of the thingsthat you have to do.
And that is the most important,because I find a lot of mom
business owners are resistant todelegating, and so that again
goes to your point that youmentioned earlier delegate, do
(25:42):
not micromanage.
And I believe in delegatingearly and and delegating quickly
, especially if you're trying toscale and grow your business,
because you can delegate andthen that way you can focus on
the generating the sales and theleads that you need Absolutely.
Christina Flach (26:00):
I think that's where people business owners,
you know get into trouble.
They're control freaks and youcan't control everything and you
should be focusing like I knowI'm really good at creating
products I'm good at I mean, Iknow what my skills are, but I
also know what my weaknesses areand it's not worth my time to
(26:23):
be focused on something that Ihave no idea how to build a
website.
It's not worth the time andeffort.
So I let Avery I just let herdo whatever and she feels good
about it because she's you knowshe's being respected.
I'm really.
I think I'm a pretty easyperson to work for.
(26:46):
I'm very positive.
I don't get mad very often.
I'm not going to say I don'tget mad ever, but when I do I'm.
It's bad.
If it's gotten to the pointwhere I'm about to erupt, it's
really bad.
And the only things that reallywill irritate the hell out of
me are someone not telling methe truth.
I don't care if you make amistake, we all make them, it's
(27:09):
not a big deal.
But come to me ahead of timeand just tell me like, oh gosh,
I made a mistake, because I haveto do that sometimes.
Sometimes I'm like, you know, myassistant, maya is amazing and
I know it drives her crazy whenI'm like oh, I have a shoot, oh,
(27:34):
I can't, I forgot I have anappointment, even though she
scheduled me something, and so Ireally try to be respectful to
her and I also praise her andthank her for all that she does.
And I cause I can't.
I couldn't do all the things Ido without my team.
I mean, there's no way that Icould do all of this stuff.
It's impossible.
And so I am really grateful forthe amazing team that I have
and they're they're very they'revery special and they're really
hardworking and they're veryloyal and I love them all.
Rita Suzanne (27:55):
Yay, okay, so let's pivot a little as we kind
of wrap up and let's talk aboutyour favorite.
Do you have any favorite tools,apps, software, anything that
you use that kind of makes yourlife, your um, your day easier
to run, your?
Christina Flach (28:11):
business.
Um, let's see, there's Calendry.
I do that.
We use that.
Um, what other?
Um Diptych, I use that a lotfor, um, we use that a lot for
creating images or video out ofpictures.
So the algorithm at the momentlikes video more than still
(28:32):
photography, still pictures on,you know, Instagram or TikTok or
whatever, so you can make themwith that, you can add music, so
that one I really like a lot.
Um, and then you know, I usethe Dropbox all the time for
images.
I just need to with my business, with my clients and that.
So those are two major onesthat I use, but I'm trying to
(28:53):
think of a dip tick.
Rita Suzanne (28:54):
I'm going to have to check it out D-I-P-T-I-C-K.
Christina Flach (29:00):
Yeah, it's great, it is really a good one.
You can add, like you know, 10different images and it'll turn
it into a video.
It'll move.
So you know, the algorithmlikes that.
Rita Suzanne (29:13):
So yeah, that's great.
Okay.
So are you currently reading orlistening to anything right now
that you want to share?
It doesn't have to be businessrelated, but do you read or I'm
a?
Christina Flach (29:26):
total nerd.
I am a total nerd and I love toread.
So you know, at night, when Iget into bed, I can't wait to go
read my book.
So right now I'm reading, Ithink, the fourth book by Kevin
Kwan, the guy that wrote CrazyRich Asians.
Oh, okay, he has a new book outthat I'm devouring and I love.
(29:47):
So I love to read.
I just think it's such a niceway to end the day.
I don't sleep fantastically allthe time, so I wake up in the
middle of the night.
I read on an iPad so I can turnoff the light.
So it's in the dark, so itdoesn't.
I just want it to put me backto sleep.
So I do that.
I also do a meditation app, the, you know, the Breathe app.
(30:11):
I will do that.
I'll do meditation apps.
I think those are really goodto center yourself and just keep
a clear head.
So I think you know all thesethings.
You know, I think.
Well, you know, self-care is notselfish.
It just enables you to be abetter version of you, a better
everything.
I think it's important to getenough rest, to exercise, drink
(30:33):
a lot of water, eat well, not alot of sugar.
I take supplements, I drinkgreen juice and I exercise and
those are something that thoseare have-tos.
Every day I either go to yoga,pilates, go for hike, lift
weights, you know, go play golfwhat something.
Because those are the thingsthat make me cause.
(30:55):
My job is physical.
If I'm on a shoot, I'm on myfeet all day and I'm running
around, so I really need to bein good shape.
And also, I cannot go on TV ora podcast like this talking
about beauty and wellness if Ilook like a disheveled mess.
So I can't.
I, you know I want to inspirepeople to be the best versions
of themselves.
So, you know, exercise and restand eating well or all, and
(31:19):
being grateful and happy andlaughing.
Just enjoy life.
You know you have the life.
I truly believe that you havethe life that you decide to have
.
If you want to be happy andlaugh and be successful, all
those things, these are allpossibilities that can happen,
but you have to just decide.
It's not.
You know you, things are goingto change and just know
(31:40):
nothing's going to stay the same.
So if you can get used toconstant change, you're going to
be happy.
Just know you have to pivot.
Sometimes.
Everything will work out.
Always, it always does.
Rita Suzanne (31:51):
I love that.
So you answered my lastquestion, which was about
self-care, already, so we didthat.
So tell everyone where they canfind you.
Where are you?
Christina Flach (32:00):
at.
You can find me onChristinaFlackcom I'm Too Busy
TV Pretty Girl Makeup and I'mTooBusycom as well, and we're on
Facebook, instagram, tiktok,linkedin, twitter.
Rita Suzanne (32:16):
I mean apps yes.
I love it.
Thank you so much, it's beensuch a pleasure.
Christina Flach (32:21):
Thank you, so nice to meet you.
Hi, this is Mom Owned and Operated.
I am Rita, suzanne, and today Ihave my guest, christina with
me.
Christina, I am so excited tochat with you.
Please tell everyone all aboutyou, your business and your
family.
Christina Flach (00:14):
Wow, that's a long that's a long time.
My name is Christina Flack.
I'm a celebrity makeup artist.
I am the CEO of Pretty GirlMakeup and I'm Too Busy
Cosmetics and Skin Care.
I am a TV host on I'm Too BusyTV.
I am a celebrity makeup artistbeauty expert on California Live
(00:41):
on NBC.
I'm a mother of five.
I'm a philanthropist onCalifornia Live on NBC.
I'm a mother of five.
I'm a philanthropist.
I am a sepsis awarenessadvocate and I think that is all
my titles.
Rita Suzanne (00:51):
Wow Five, you have your hands full.
Christina Flach (00:57):
They're 30, 28, 23, and 17.
Wow, almost 18.
Next month 18.
Wow, baby's getting all big.
Rita Suzanne (01:08):
Yeah, yeah, I mean that's amazing.
So how long have you been doingmakeup?
First of all, you're gorgeous.
Christina Flach (01:17):
You're very nice.
I have been doing makeup myentire life.
Just I was messing around withmy family and friends and doing
proms and weddings and then, youknow, some photographers asked
me to do some jobs and then Imiraculously got some things you
know in magazines, and so thenI was very lucky to be getting
(01:37):
an agent and so that reallychanged the trajectory of my
career, because then with theagents you know, I started
working with differentcelebrities and TV and different
fashion houses.
So it kind of I didn't expectto do any of these things that
I'm doing, which is kind ofinteresting.
You know, most people kind ofhave a clue of what their career
(01:58):
is going to be like, but Ireally didn't.
It's just kind of one thing ledto another and a lot of
uncomfortable situations.
Like you know, going in frontof a camera was not ever
something I wanted to do.
So when I was asked by NBC tobe a beauty expert, my first
reaction was absolutely not Ilike being behind the camera in
(02:20):
front.
But then, you know, my friendwas the host and he's just said
look, this is everything youknow, and get comfortable being
uncomfortable, you might besurprised what happens.
And so after he said that I itreally changed everything,
because I thought it gave me somuch confidence that I was able
to do something that I reallyhesitated and was reluctant to
(02:41):
do.
So that's what I would advise.
You know, advice I give topeople is get comfortable being
uncomfortable, because magicalthings will happen.
Rita Suzanne (02:50):
Yeah, I think that a lot of mom business owners
are fearful of one being oncamera and doing things that
maybe they're uncomfortable with, and so they get into that
complacent area, especially inbusiness.
So what is your, I guess?
How did you get into yourmakeup line Like, how did that
(03:12):
start?
Christina Flach (03:13):
So that's an interesting question.
So I was a mom of all thesekids and I was in a constant
battle between my lip gloss andmy tea or my water bottle, and I
was not winning ever.
So I thought there's got to bea lip gloss that you know that
can last more than two sips oftea.
And I couldn't find one, andthe ones that I found were
(03:33):
drying and irritating to theskin.
So I thought, okay, how hardcan this be?
I'll just create my own.
Ignorance is, you know, blissbecause you don't know what you
don't know.
Create my own Ignorance isbliss because you don't know
what you don't know, right?
So I found a beauty chemist andwe took almost a year over a
year to formulate the lip gloss,the lip plumper and the
(03:54):
different colors and the textureand the whole thing.
But I enjoyed every moment ofthe process.
It was so much fun meeting withthe chemist and learning you
know the science behind thesedifferent oils and different you
know products, differentingredients that are in the
products.
So I think that's a superimportant thing.
Whatever business that you,whatever endeavor, whatever
(04:15):
business that you decide to gointo, go into it because you
love it so much that you'll doit for free, and then you need
to figure out how to get paid,but you're going it for free,
and then you need to figure outhow to get paid, but you're
going to resent it.
You're going to resent whateverbusiness you're doing if you're
just doing it for the money.
You don't love it Because, asyou know, everything takes much
more time and much more money.
Rita Suzanne (04:37):
That's true, and and, as a addict to lip gloss
and and lip chapstick andeverything, I literally have a
little container over here withabout six or seven chapsticks
and lip glosses, and I'm acollector.
I will try all the differentkinds.
I have them in my car, my purse, my desk.
(04:58):
I love it and they're everywhere.
So I completely understand whyyou would say that, because if
my lips don't have something onthem, I just right it feels
weird.
Yeah, I don't know if, likeit's weird, so I'm definitely
going to have to check yourstuff out, especially if it
lasts longer than taking a sip.
Christina Flach (05:19):
Yes, it does, it does, and so what is it
called again?
Rita Suzanne (05:22):
Pretty?
You said Pretty Girl.
Christina Flach (05:24):
Pretty Girl, pretty Girl.
So you go toprettygirlmakeupcom and we're
offering a 25% discount codewith Pretty Girl as the special
word, as the coupon code.
Rita Suzanne (05:36):
Yeah, I love it.
Okay, so what is your biggestsource of revenue and how did
you get to that point?
How did you get there?
Christina Flach (05:45):
Well, it fluctuates a lot, you know it.
You know my the lip gloss.
So the lip gloss and the lipplumber.
The lip plumber has sold out,so we're just have lip gloss
right now with pretty girl, butI'm working on I'm too busy for
skincare and so I started thisbrand because I have heard for
years and years and years all myclients saying oh my gosh, I
(06:07):
don't know what products Iactually need.
I go to the department store orwherever they get their makeup
and they're sold a bunch ofthings that they don't need,
they're not appropriate fortheir lifestyle and that they
don't know how to use.
They're not a makeup artist,they don't have.
You know, a typical person amom or CEO or executive does not
have time to contour, bake anddo all these different things.
(06:30):
So I just thought how are yougoing to get brand loyalty If
you're selling your customersthings that you know sit in a in
a box or sit in their makeupdrawer?
I can't tell you how manypeople come to me with all these
products.
Oh well, I'm going to use itone day.
You're never going to use it.
If you're not using it, you'renot going to use it.
So what I urge people to dowith all the makeup, with the
(06:51):
gift, with purchases that we alllove is put them a little gift
bag together and give it to afriend or a neighbor who will
use it.
You know that's the right color, so you don't just have this
stuff sitting there wasted.
So I'm we're doing, we're inthe midst of fundraising right
now for for I'm too busy, butwe're doing.
You know, there's going to besomething for brows, concealer,
(07:12):
eyeshadows, eyeliner, mascara,cheek and lip, and that's it.
I just want people to be ableto look like the best versions
of themselves quickly and easily.
And then, regarding the skincareline, you know, again, people
buy.
They have such good intentionsand they buy all these beautiful
, very expensive skincare linesthat they don't use consistently
(07:34):
, so they don't work.
So I want there to be athree-step process for men and
women to use to, you know, havebeautiful skin.
So, again, I worked with thisamazing chemist in New York,
steve Cochran, and he is the onethat developed for Urban Decay,
the setting spray.
(07:54):
He's a genius.
And so he said, like let's dosomething interesting with this
three-step process.
And he said so tell me, what doyou do first thing in the
morning?
And I said, oh, splashing myface with water.
And he said, wrong, he goes.
Do you drink the water that yousplash your face with?
And I said no, and he goes.
So why would you put it on yourskin?
I'm like I don't know.
(08:15):
So, anyway, he he said look,we're going to put, we're going
to put a barrier up before youput the water on your skin.
So we're going to put on thecleanser and the moisturizer,
put it on your face as a shieldand then put on the water.
And so because oftentimes andyou can think about this you go
into the pool or you go in thewater, there's minerals, there's
(08:36):
chlorine, all these things inthe water, and then your skin
feels tight and it shows finelines and wrinkles and it's
really not good for your skin.
So we've done that.
And then the third step is aprotectant of you know
protecting, like a vitamin Cserum.
So that is what we're doingwith that?
Rita Suzanne (08:54):
Oh, I love that.
So one of the things that Ilove to talk about is what is a
financial lesson that you canshare with other mom business
owners that you've learned alongthe way in your journey?
Christina Flach (09:11):
Well, I think the first thing is to get.
I did not do this, so do as Isay.
Not as I do, but I'm doing.
I've.
You know, obviously, sincebeginning of that, I do this now
.
I did not have a business plan.
I had no idea what one was.
The thought of it terrified me.
I just had an American Express.
I was self-funded and I justwent along that way.
(09:32):
I think it's important to get apartner that you know.
If you're a creative, findsomeone that has a business
brain, that has experience inthis, because there's so many
things that you don't know thatneed to be done from a tax
perspective, from a way ofgetting funding.
There's all these things.
You can't know everything, andso I think the biggest lesson a
(09:54):
CEO can learn and know is hirethe best people you can.
Take your time to make sure.
Don't rush through the hiringprocess.
Make sure that they have thesame work ethic you do, the same
morals that you do, becauseyou're going to be working
closely with these people,they're going to be representing
you and you want to make surethat they are going to fit.
And let the people not tomicromanage.
(10:17):
That's one thing that I reallydon't do with my team.
I don't sit and tell them okay,do this, oh, let me check it,
and then I don't do that.
I'm like this is what I needdone.
Do it what you know, show mewhat it is, and I let them have
freedom, because I think peopleare happy when you, you know,
give them an open door policy oftelling you some great ideas
(10:38):
they have.
I can't think of everything youknow, I really can't.
I'm trying to do a millionthings but I can't.
So if someone comes in with agreat idea, I am so happy to
listen and let's do it.
So I think it makes for anenvironment where people are
happy to be there because theyfeel like they're heard, they
feel that they have freedom todo their job at a really high
(11:01):
level, without someone like methat, like I don't know how to
do all this tech stuff.
So there's, I have no businesstelling anyone oh no, you need
to do it like this, like thatwould be a waste of everyone's
time.
So I think that's a big deal.
You know it's important.
And then also asking for advicefrom people that are in your
industry and not in yourindustry.
(11:22):
Other CEOs, other executivesask them.
People are so, and that's onething of because I still am a
makeup artist.
I love being a makeup artist,so I'm really blessed that I get
to work with all these amazingpeople.
I have Jamie Diamond, who's youknow head of JP Morton, maria
Bartolomeo from Fox, so I amvery blessed that I get to hear
(11:43):
all these amazingly brilliantpeople talk about business and
different things that are goingon in the world, because it's
just like an education for me,and so it also enables me to ask
them questions, and you wouldbe shocked how generous and kind
and willing people are to helpyou.
So don't be ashamed orembarrassed.
Ask people.
(12:03):
I mean people come and ask methings, and I'm more than happy
to share any knowledge orcontacts that I have with people
, so I think those are reallyimportant things to keep in mind
.
Rita Suzanne (12:15):
So I think those are really important things to
keep in mind.
Yeah, I love that because Ithink that I love diving into
other people's businesses.
Obviously right, because I wantto get an insight to how things
are working for you and what isactually going well in your
business, and I think that it'simportant to see not just what's
going well but maybe the thingsthat have not gone well.
(12:37):
So have there been any mistakesthat you've made specifically
in your marketing that maybewere not so great that you would
share with everybody?
Christina Flach (12:48):
Oh, absolutely, my God, do you have an hour and
a half?
You know you can have the bestof intentions and think like,
especially in the beautyindustry it is so competitive
and so erratic and changingevery second, something that
you're like sure is going towork.
For example, I advertised anin-style magazine once, cause
(13:08):
I'm like, oh, every at that timethat was like everyone read
that magazine.
I sold nothing.
I was waiting by my you knowfax machine at the time because
that's how orders would come in.
Right, I couldn't believe it.
So it's really hard to knowwhat is going to work, and a lot
of it is luck.
I have to tell you, because Ihave a publicist and she would
(13:30):
get me into all these amazingpeople magazine, vogue, you know
us magazine, and then I gotinto this little magazine in
Minneapolis, minnesota, that thearticle was four lines.
I sold more lip gloss in thatone week period than I sold in
two quarters.
So you just never know, youdon't know, and I wish I could
(13:52):
be more like oh, you know, Idon't know, I have kind of a
problem paying some influencersome exorbitant sum of money.
I don't know if I'm going toget it back.
So a lot of it is, you can keepthrowing spaghetti on the wall.
Rita Suzanne (14:07):
Yeah, because one of the interviews that I did
yesterday we were talking aboutyou know how people are always
claiming to understand or havefigured out the algorithm and
how you know, like I'll teachyou how to do the algorithm or
this or that, and you know howto really master the whole thing
, but really they, they reallydon't know, you know algorithms
(14:31):
are constantly changing, andright and I know for a fact.
Christina Flach (14:35):
so as soon as you think you figured it out,
it's going to change.
So, thinking that you've got itfigured out, you have for a few
days or a week, but it's goingto change.
That's the one thing you youhave to learn to pivot, and I
don't believe in failure.
Rita Suzanne (14:51):
I don't believe there are failures, the only
failure.
Christina Flach (14:53):
Failure is not and I take away the word trying
execute, so I prefer to useexecuting.
I prefer to say I'm going toexecute this plan.
Trying gives you wiggle worm togo.
Oh well, I tried, you didn'treally try, right yeah so I
remove try and I also removefailure out of my vocabulary.
(15:14):
There is no failure.
I am doing everything I can tomake this successful.
And sometimes there's.
I mean there's always going tobe a bump.
Sometimes there's going to be ahuge bump and you just have to
pivot, and sometimes no.
I used to think why is thishappening to me?
Why is this happening to me?
It's not.
(15:34):
Sometimes it's happening foryou.
Sometimes it is like you knowthis, you need to just turn left
instead of right.
It wasn't a failure, it was wow,I did learn.
I mean, you always learnsomething from every experience.
But you know and I don't harpon things that didn't work, it's
like, okay, well, we tried ourbest with the knowledge we had
(15:54):
at the time.
That's what we decided to do.
So I just feel like if you canjust know the only failure is
sitting there talking aboutsomething that you're thinking
about doing and never doing it,and take the first step, do it.
You know it'll take all that.
Oh gosh, I don't have to be.
You know people sit and worryoh my God, it's not going to
(16:21):
work.
Don't stop overthinking.
Just do one thing.
It'll lead to the next thing orit'll lead to something else.
So I've had things happen to melike the NBC thing where I've
been on, you know, as a beautyexpert for the last few years.
I'm on it like three to fourtimes a month.
Um, I got this opportunity.
Yesterday was my first show.
I started a new TV show.
This company in New York calledme old, brave TV and they asked
(16:42):
me to host my own show, whichagain I'm like hell, no, yeah.
And so they're like look, andthis was funny because they said
well, our algorithm says thatfor your age, demographic, you
know, you know what you're doingand a lot of people like you,
so we want you and I'm just likean algorithm, I.
(17:02):
So I'm just laughing that Ipopped up in an algorithm, right
.
Yeah, well, I mean it, it it'sworking for you, so that, so
that's well sometimes it worksfor me, but so, anyway,
yesterday was my first show as ahost and it's a TV show, it's
on YouTube, it's on all thedifferent platforms, and
yesterday I interviewed one ofmy dearest friends who is this
(17:24):
amazing philanthropist and she'sa mom, she's a, you know, she's
a CEO, she's all these amazingthings.
So I wanted to start this thingbecause I was really
uncomfortable, because it's hard, like I have sponsors, so I
have to go to commercial breakand we have four 15 minute
segments.
That's a long time to bechatting with someone, even
(17:44):
someone that I know really,really well.
You know you have to askquestions and that pertain to
this and so you know, haveimages of.
So it was.
You know I have a producerthat's doing everything in New
York while I'm doing the show.
So it was.
You know I have a producerthat's doing everything in New
York while I'm doing the show.
So it's, it was reallyintimidating, but you know, I
survived and it wasn't nearly asbad as the craziness that I
(18:06):
made up in my head that like, oh, my God, this is going to be
like disaster.
So I feel so much better andcomfortable and confident after
that first show's over.
Rita Suzanne (18:18):
It's just like you know, the more that you do it,
the easier it'll become, and Ialways tell this story about the
first time that I ever did alive video, it was through that
app, periscope.
And so this was 10 years ago.
My coach had challenged me oh,we're going to get on Periscope,
(18:38):
and I'm an introvert, I'mscared to death.
And she says, no, we're goingto do it.
You know, she's an introvert aswell, and so we're going to do
it and it's going to bechallenging and I swear to you,
my heart was beating.
Christina Flach (18:51):
I thought I was going to pass out.
I know out, I know, I know thatfeeling You're just ready, that
you think you're having a heartattack.
Rita Suzanne (19:03):
Yes, it was the worst.
It was the worst, but now I'mperfectly fine with it, you know
.
But again, it's been 10 yearsand you know so the more that
you do it, the easier it becomes.
And I think that that's goes toyour point of just facing your
fears and just going for it andjust understanding that.
You know I heard this thing onetime and I always keep it with
me that you know, no matter whathappens to you, whether it's
(19:23):
good or it's bad, there's alwaysa lesson right.
So it's always for yourbetterment, it's always for your
benefit, for your betterment,and you just have to sit there
and figure out what the lessonis.
And I think that's where peoplego wrong.
They think that they're beingpunished or something, and
they're not.
Christina Flach (19:41):
No, I completely agree.
It's happening for you, not toyou, and I think also.
I mean, just look at theconfidence you have speaking in
public.
Speaking in public isterrifying for almost everyone.
You know we can sit and chatwhen we're in class or with our
friends, but when there's acamera on you especially my
(20:02):
shows live it's a live show, sothere's no buffer of.
You know like it's like when Igo on NBC and I do a live
segment.
It's terrifying because this isa major network and if I mess it
up, it's right, is a majornetwork and if I mess it up,
it's right.
There's no edits, no, so it'sso much easier.
(20:23):
Like when we tape a segment,you know we have a couple hours
to do, like a six or eightminute segment.
It's so great because if I messup, or my partner Berlin messes
up which he rarely does, it'smore me, but like we'll start
laughing or something you knowwe can start over.
So it's.
You know, live TV is notforgiving, but you know,
actually doing all thesepodcasts over the last six years
(20:44):
has really helped me being ableto speak comfortably in front
of a camera.
So all these things actuallyled up to me being able to do my
own show, which was notsomething I expected to do, so I
think being open is superimportant to opportunities.
My agents will call you knowwith a job or something, and I
(21:05):
always answer the phone.
Yes, I'll do it.
Rita Suzanne (21:07):
And they're like you don't even know what it is.
Christina Flach (21:09):
I'm like doesn't matter, I'll do it Right
, and if it's not a well-paidjob.
So, like magazines which Ialways want to do a magazine
because you want a tear sheetfor your book like a big deal,
they don't pay very well, whichis fine, I don't care.
I did Marita Moreno for PeopleMagazine.
I would have paid PeopleMagazine to let me do her makeup
(21:29):
right.
So I think you know getting inwith a new team of producers or
photographers or stylists, youknow you do a good job.
Maybe you don't get paid yourfull normal day rate, but you're
.
You know you do a good job.
They're going to hire you back.
You're on time, you do a goodjob and you're not paying the
ass.
They will call you back.
(21:49):
The hardest thing is getting in.
I started working with Fox,food Network, bloomberg, all
these different networks.
The hardest part, honestly, wasgetting in, because they you
know you have to do all thispaperwork, all this vetting and
all this stuff and once you'rein, you're in which is which is
nice, so more so, it's aboutcreating those connections and
(22:12):
in really like developing thoseand just maintaining them so
that you are, yeah, I check inwith different people I work
with, but also I thank them.
You know, when I leave for theday, first of all, when I get
there, I'm like wow, thank youso much for having me today.
And at the end of the day Ithank them again.
They don't need to hire me.
There's a million makeupartists in the world but I know
(22:37):
that I go the extra 25 miles.
I tend to my clients.
I make sure that they're happy,that they have water, something
to eat.
I, you know, give them space.
I give them.
You know I really take care ofthem.
And also, when I'm working on ashow or a team, I'll help the
lighting guy or I'll help this.
I'll do whatever needs to bedone.
I don't think I'm aboveanything.
(22:58):
Even after all these years andall the you know successes I've
had.
I am a very grateful and humbleperson and I don't think I'm
better than anyone on the set atall.
So I think because I'm notdifficult, that's another one of
the reasons I get hired.
Rita Suzanne (23:17):
I'm sure that speaks volumes, so, and so I
feel like because you have apublicist and you have an agent,
they do most of your marketingfor you, so you're not necessary
, and then you're building therelationship.
So that's probably the aspectof your entails kind of like
your marketing strategy.
Or am I incorrect?
(23:38):
Do you have another marketingstrategy or?
Christina Flach (23:41):
Oh, there's more, there's more.
I have two assistants.
I have one that pretty muchdoes all my bookings for
podcasts and article.
I write.
I'm also a writer, I write alot of beauty articles as well,
so she does that's Maya and shedoes all that stuff.
(24:02):
And then I have Avery, who isin charge of all the social
media and the marketing and thewebsites and you know getting
stuff on YouTube and thearticles up on.
We do a blog on the website.
We get all the videos fromdifferent TV shows.
I'm on, put it on the website.
We get all the videos fromdifferent TV shows.
I'm on, put it on the websitethere.
(24:27):
You cannot get lackadaisicalwith a portfolio.
As a makeup artist, itconstantly needs to get updated.
If I do a shoot, I have to keeptrack of who that celebrity was
or who that client was, becauseif there's anything out in the
world I want to get that image.
So I need to get it to my allthree of my agents.
I have to get it to Avery toput on you know
ChristinaFlackcom, which is mypersonal website a portfolio.
So it's a lot of work.
(24:48):
We also I will have Avery.
She'll send out, you know, acouple of times a month to
different event coordinators,different, I mean hotel
everything.
We are constantly coming upwith an email blast of current
work, things that we've donearticles, I've written, tv shows
, I'm on to keep the moneyflowing in.
(25:08):
So it's a constant thingbetween you know, getting press
for the makeup line and thengetting press for me.
So it's kind of like twobusinesses.
Rita Suzanne (25:19):
I think what is most important is that people
hear that you have a team andthat you trust other people to
help you with all of the thingsthat you have to do.
And that is the most important,because I find a lot of mom
business owners are resistant todelegating, and so that again
goes to your point that youmentioned earlier delegate, do
(25:42):
not micromanage.
And I believe in delegatingearly and and delegating quickly
, especially if you're trying toscale and grow your business,
because you can delegate andthen that way you can focus on
the generating the sales and theleads that you need Absolutely.
Christina Flach (26:00):
I think that's where people business owners,
you know get into trouble.
They're control freaks and youcan't control everything and you
should be focusing like I knowI'm really good at creating
products I'm good at I mean, Iknow what my skills are, but I
also know what my weaknesses areand it's not worth my time to
(26:23):
be focused on something that Ihave no idea how to build a
website.
It's not worth the time andeffort.
So I let Avery I just let herdo whatever and she feels good
about it because she's you knowshe's being respected.
I'm really.
I think I'm a pretty easyperson to work for.
(26:46):
I'm very positive.
I don't get mad very often.
I'm not going to say I don'tget mad ever, but when I do I'm.
It's bad.
If it's gotten to the pointwhere I'm about to erupt, it's
really bad.
And the only things that reallywill irritate the hell out of
me are someone not telling methe truth.
I don't care if you make amistake, we all make them, it's
(27:09):
not a big deal.
But come to me ahead of timeand just tell me like, oh gosh,
I made a mistake, because I haveto do that sometimes.
Sometimes I'm like, you know, myassistant, maya is amazing and
I know it drives her crazy whenI'm like oh, I have a shoot, oh,
(27:34):
I can't, I forgot I have anappointment, even though she
scheduled me something, and so Ireally try to be respectful to
her and I also praise her andthank her for all that she does.
And I cause I can't.
I couldn't do all the things Ido without my team.
I mean, there's no way that Icould do all of this stuff.
It's impossible.
And so I am really grateful forthe amazing team that I have
and they're they're very they'revery special and they're really
hardworking and they're veryloyal and I love them all.
Rita Suzanne (27:55):
Yay, okay, so let's pivot a little as we kind
of wrap up and let's talk aboutyour favorite.
Do you have any favorite tools,apps, software, anything that
you use that kind of makes yourlife, your um, your day easier
to run, your?
Christina Flach (28:11):
business.
Um, let's see, there's Calendry.
I do that.
We use that.
Um, what other?
Um Diptych, I use that a lotfor, um, we use that a lot for
creating images or video out ofpictures.
So the algorithm at the momentlikes video more than still
(28:32):
photography, still pictures on,you know, Instagram or TikTok or
whatever, so you can make themwith that, you can add music, so
that one I really like a lot.
Um, and then you know, I usethe Dropbox all the time for
images.
I just need to with my business, with my clients and that.
So those are two major onesthat I use, but I'm trying to
(28:53):
think of a dip tick.
Rita Suzanne (28:54):
I'm going to have to check it out D-I-P-T-I-C-K.
Christina Flach (29:00):
Yeah, it's great, it is really a good one.
You can add, like you know, 10different images and it'll turn
it into a video.
It'll move.
So you know, the algorithmlikes that.
Rita Suzanne (29:13):
So yeah, that's great.
Okay.
So are you currently reading orlistening to anything right now
that you want to share?
It doesn't have to be businessrelated, but do you read or I'm
a?
Christina Flach (29:26):
total nerd.
I am a total nerd and I love toread.
So you know, at night, when Iget into bed, I can't wait to go
read my book.
So right now I'm reading, Ithink, the fourth book by Kevin
Kwan, the guy that wrote CrazyRich Asians.
Oh, okay, he has a new book outthat I'm devouring and I love.
(29:47):
So I love to read.
I just think it's such a niceway to end the day.
I don't sleep fantastically allthe time, so I wake up in the
middle of the night.
I read on an iPad so I can turnoff the light.
So it's in the dark, so itdoesn't.
I just want it to put me backto sleep.
So I do that.
I also do a meditation app, the, you know, the Breathe app.
(30:11):
I will do that.
I'll do meditation apps.
I think those are really goodto center yourself and just keep
a clear head.
So I think you know all thesethings.
You know, I think.
Well, you know, self-care is notselfish.
It just enables you to be abetter version of you, a better
everything.
I think it's important to getenough rest, to exercise, drink
(30:33):
a lot of water, eat well, not alot of sugar.
I take supplements, I drinkgreen juice and I exercise and
those are something that thoseare have-tos.
Every day I either go to yoga,pilates, go for hike, lift
weights, you know, go play golfwhat something.
Because those are the thingsthat make me cause.
(30:55):
My job is physical.
If I'm on a shoot, I'm on myfeet all day and I'm running
around, so I really need to bein good shape.
And also, I cannot go on TV ora podcast like this talking
about beauty and wellness if Ilook like a disheveled mess.
So I can't.
I, you know I want to inspirepeople to be the best versions
of themselves.
So, you know, exercise and restand eating well or all, and
(31:19):
being grateful and happy andlaughing.
Just enjoy life.
You know you have the life.
I truly believe that you havethe life that you decide to have
.
If you want to be happy andlaugh and be successful, all
those things, these are allpossibilities that can happen,
but you have to just decide.
It's not.
You know you, things are goingto change and just know
(31:40):
nothing's going to stay the same.
So if you can get used toconstant change, you're going to
be happy.
Just know you have to pivot.
Sometimes.
Everything will work out.
Always, it always does.
Rita Suzanne (31:51):
I love that.
So you answered my lastquestion, which was about
self-care, already, so we didthat.
So tell everyone where they canfind you.
Where are you?
Christina Flach (32:00):
at.
You can find me onChristinaFlackcom I'm Too Busy
TV Pretty Girl Makeup and I'mTooBusycom as well, and we're on
Facebook, instagram, tiktok,linkedin, twitter.
Rita Suzanne (32:16):
I mean apps yes.
I love it.
Thank you so much, it's beensuch a pleasure.
Christina Flach (32:21):
Thank you, so nice to meet you.
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