Hi geeks,

Just been sitting there thinking about how much i have achieved and feel very proud. I'm 17 and Ive qualified in most beauty treatments and nails and running my business at the same time and now a couture trainer I'm just so proud of where i have come. I left school at a very early age and decided to go into the beauty industry at 15, I felt like i wasn't going to get anywhere with no GCSE'S but i have and now hold 8 qualifications in beauty and nails.
Ive done it all by myself all my courses paid for and equipment and products, sorted out all my taxes and advertised myself all the way. And Ive learnt so much along the way, made mistakes and learnt from them and everyday i am still learning and i know that will continue. I really thought i would have been a bum with no GCSE'S but ive proved myself and everyone wrong and so glad ive got something to show for myself.

So what age did you start the industry? And what have you achieved that you are proud of?

I am proud of getting where I have and I have done it all myself and raised a child at the same time. Some people are lucky enough to have family fund their courses and equipment but I am not. It's taken me a long time to get all my bits together and it just makes me appreciate it even more xxx

A big well done Hun You should be proud that is a big achievement!

Like you Ive had to pay for all my courses and equipment but I'm glad i have now as it makes me appreciate it more.
xxx

You even sold your I phone! You should be very proud of yourself! To get where you have at just 17 is a fab achievement xxx

I know im crazy lol. To be honest i dont miss the phone it drove me nuts by running out of battery all the time and in return i managed to pay for my CND brisa conversion.

Thanks hunni xxx

i went to collage straight from school then worked in a salon for around a year to gain some experiance when i was 18 i open my business (in the same week as buying my first house! must of been mad! hehe i think you have no fears when you are young!) i have now had the salon for 6 years in oct and it has gone from strenght to strenght! dont get me wrong it hasnt been easy i have spent many hours sat in the salon just incase a client rings for a appointment and went many months without a wage but now i am starting to reep what i have sown! we are really busy now and i am so pleased i did what i did i cant imagine doing anything else i have so much drive and enthusiasum for the business! i hope to keep driving the business forward and who knows where the next 6 years will take us!

I was 17 when i first started ihbc/city and guilds beauty therapy college.I couldn't take the city and guilds exam because i wasn't 18 when i started the course eventhough we did exactly the same coursework so im only allowed an ihbc.
I havent stopped working and learning since and im now 46.

Wow thats a long time!!

I still haven't entered the industry and I'm 22 - I always wanted to but was told that I should focus on "more academic" things as beauty was for girls that didn't have anything else in their heads

After doing my level 2 beauty this year (one month to go, woo!), I can safely say that that is not true - you have to know a ridiculous amount of anatomy, health and safety etc etc. Much more work involved than there was in any of my secretarial qualifications or A levels - and far more practical than my degree!

God some people have no idea hey! lol

And to be honest yes i probably am a bit of an air head and can be scatty and i dont know the capital of france but i sure know what im doing within my job and IMO thats all that matters

The capital of France is Paris
There now you know

I haven't gone for the Beauty side of things but the Complementary Therapy side, and my Dad is always on at me to get a "proper" job and I can't go round massaging peoples feet as a career as he puts it (umm why not Dad ) It does make me giggle, they don't realise what we have to learn to do both sides, we are not complete airheads

Anyway cut a long story short I'm going for an interview tomorrow at the Uni for a degree in Advanced Reflexology, which hopefully can get me into working in the NHS in Palliative Care, (massaging peoples feet, yet he sees no problem with this lol funny man but I do love him to bits), I've studied the last 3 years and I am now 40 yes 40 and they're still trying to tell me what to do, I have enjoyed it immensely.

Well done to you Violet Star, and I didn't realise u were only 17 lol

Jo x

Thanks hun

I was 35 and was raising 5 children when I started my first nails only salon!

There are many many things I am proud of that I/we (hubby & family & I) have achieved since that time. I am most proud of my family's reputation in the industry for almost 25 years now.

The thing is I am proudest of is that there is not anything I did in our business that I am not proud of.

5 kids and opening up your business!!
Now that's dedication.
It's dedication that makes people succeed-well that and being good at what you do