How many things does a woman do to live up to our collective idea of beauty? She moisturizes, of course, lathering coat after coat of a trusted bottle’s formula from head to toe, outwitting wrinkles for as long as she can. She removes “unwanted” hair—shaving, waxing, plucking—so regularly that it barely registers as a chore. She fills shelves with masks and serums and makeup, perfecting the illusion of an effortless look. Vanessa Lee gets it. In fact, that’s why she named her beauty concept bar “The Things We Do.”
Lee spent years working for plastic surgeons and dermatologists who perpetuate this just-out-of-reach idea of beauty, where women basically take on a part-time job to grasp at it. She always loved the work involved with boosting a client’s confidence, but she didn’t like that these offices often exploited insecurities to book these treatments. After a decade of trying to voice her concerns, not only with this troubling practice but also with the industry’s need for greater diversity, Lee struck out on her own.
Today, The Things We Do has become the type of beauty secret passed on in front of bathroom mirrors between strangers and in group texts between friends. They come to Lee for her background—she’s a celebrated medical aesthetic provider with a stacked roster of celebrity clients—but also for the inclusive community she’s created. At The Things We Do, they know that their efforts have been recognized. And there’s no greater feeling of relaxation than being treated for a job well done.
How did you make your first dollar and what did that job teach you that still applies today?
My first dollar was made by massaging my Filipino mother’s feet and plucking out her white hairs when I was seven or eight. She worked very hard and commuted for three hours each weekday, so I remember her always being very tired on the weekends. Her only ask was that I massage her feet and pluck out the white hairs that were starting to sprout on her head! I was not psyched about this, naturally, so when she said that she would pay me 10 cents for every white hair and a few bucks for a foot massage, I would look forward to it every weekend.
(Cont’d…)
I used the money to buy ice cream from Mr. Freeze throughout the week. I loved being able to earn some coin at a young age, but I really loved making her happy. Even though I was literally pulling her hair out, she always had a little smile while I did it. It became more about the connection we were making rather than the actual task at hand. I believe that’s what makes us so different at The Things We Do: Human connection is always more important than the bottom line. I’ve had patients try out other clinics and come back to us saying, “I couldn’t wait for you so I tried out another place. The results were fine, but it just didn’t feel the same. It wasn’t the same kind of connection.” That’s the stuff you can’t really put a price tag on. I’m so grateful for my first little “job.”
Take us back to the beginning—what was the lightbulb moment for The Things We Do and what inspired you to pursue this path?
I had just left a dermatology office that pursued me for my industry experience since they were so green. It was one of those situations where I quickly learned everything was smoke and mirrors and there wasn’t any kindness or heart in the leadership. This issue was a constant factor at most of the medical offices I worked at, because the cosmetic medical industry straddles the line between boosting confidence and preying on insecurities for money. Sadly, most businesses make more when they settle on the latter option.
After leaving that job, I knew it was time to build my own business. I was inspired by the lack of positive leadership, mindful practice, and inclusivity. The Things We Do has a renowned reputation in our industry for acting with positive intention on behalf of our clients, as well as being a safe space for all skin types. Our staff is 90% people of color, and I am proud of what we have all built together. My staff is outstanding in character and in skill, and we push each other every day. It is a very special place.
How are you making a difference through The Things We Do and pushing your industry forward?
I once sat on a board and watched as a pharmaceutical company selling a popular injectable debuted their new commercial. It was more ethnically diverse than usual. There were only about a dozen of us in the room, and one provider raised their hand and commented that the commercial lacked white women, since approximately 90% of their current consumers were white women.
I had something to say to that. I shot up and let the vice president of the pharmaceutical company know that the reason you don’t see more people of color getting these treatments is because we are very rarely represented in the industry or marketed to as part of these types of campaigns. That creates a lot of mistrust within our communities. I dared them to break the cycle and see what a more diverse ad does. It’ll be different, I said, but it will be right.
I also sit on the diversity council of Allergan, along with around 40 other BIPOC doctors and nurses who are continuing to help push the needle forward in the cosmetic industry. This is a field where so many darker patients have been injured, misguided, and mistreated because of a lack of representation in providers. The Things We Do has been a success story not just in numbers, but in leading the industry through excellent technique and reputation by women of color.
What career or business mistake has given you the biggest lesson?
Going against my gut feeling has been a surefire way to get me into trouble. Always follow your gut. Do not talk yourself into shaking off those thoughts in the back of your head. Those thoughts are instincts that we try to push aside for the sake of politeness or compromising. Hold your ground!
2020 presented everybody around the globe with new, unprecedented challenges. How did you #FindNewRoads + switch gears towards your new version of success?
Focusing 100% on digital for an experiential business was new for us this year. We opened a brand-new location a couple of weeks before closures in March, and then stayed completely closed while still employing our staff for almost four months. But because we shifted our resources to digital quickly—focusing on who we could reach through e-commerce and online classes—our demographic’s attention zeroed in on us in a big way. Once we reopened, our numbers skyrocketed. We are now only 4% away from meeting our projected numbers for the year!
Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
I went through some very difficult things as a child, and I had to become my own greatest advocate. It was a confusing time, and life could have gone either way for me, but I decided that I wanted to be happy. I thrived when I was pretending to be confident, which allowed me to actually be confident over time. The way I saw it, if the little world around me was failing me, I would at least be able to believe in myself.
In my experience, some of the most confident people are usually those who have been deeply hurt in the past and are familiar with life’s heartbreaks. Emerging from the other side of friction and growth is powerful. If you’ve had it hard and don’t naturally feel confident, welcome to the club. Fake it ‘til you make it. And you will make it, even if it is a different path than what you imagined.
When you separate yourself from your job title and the bells and whistles of your business or career, who are you and what do you like to do?
I’m someone who thrives on interpersonal connection. I have a heart for the underdog, I love ghost stories, and I love reading about the metaphysical. I profoundly enjoy a late-night bonfire where I get to chat about endless tangential subjects with loved ones. I find it important to find common ground with people who think very differently than myself. I really, really love life and think a lot about how terribly cruel and simultaneously wonderful it is. Being a business owner is a smaller part of who I am—all of this comes first.
For those who haven’t started a business (or are about to) what advice do you have?
Find out your “why.” You will figure everything else out, but the reason for starting your business needs to be something that genuinely drives you. Starting a business entails so many moving parts and that can distract you from your real purpose. Make sure you know what your big motivating factor is, because that’s what you will draw on when things get tough. Use it to center yourself.
What is the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make with money early on? What advice do you have?
A common mistake I know new entrepreneurs make, and I’ve also been guilty of this, is trying to save money by initially paying a lower fee for something. Then that something ends up becoming a larger problem that could’ve been avoided if a more expensive but higher quality product was bought in the first place. So, be extremely choosy about what you spend money on, whether it’s to save or to splurge. If what you are deciding on is a truly integral part of your business, like a website or POS, make sure to always choose quality over cost.
It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?
I recently read that to have true growth, one must study each failure not through the eyes of defeat but through those of curiosity. I have not always looked at failure this way, but it’s how I have approached it in the last couple of years. It’s been a great tool for helping me step back and see an incident more objectively.
What is the biggest work challenge or mistake you’ve faced? What did you learn from it?
My biggest challenge has always been finding a balance between creating just enough structure for my team and letting my talented staff spread their wings. Anyone who knows me well knows that I couldn’t micromanage if my life depended on it. I love to hire a great team and get out of their way, but over time, I’ve learned that structure doesn’t take away from a happy workplace. In fact, it enforces it by diminishing miscommunication! Instead of seeing specific instruction as an unsolicited strictness, I am much more cognizant about supporting my team with succinct and clear systems so that we can function without problems.
With success comes opportunity, but that also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?
The reason I do what I do is because I have a very clear mission in life. I aim to help others feel good about themselves. It isn’t to make the most money in the world—I would be lost if this was my goal. Money comes in because my team and I feel that we are fulfilling what we were put on Earth to do. I could be making triple the amount of money I am now by working more, but our goal is to meet this purpose and ultimately enjoy our lives. So I enjoy my two days in the office injecting, I do some private training in between, and the rest of my time is spent with my precious little family. These few days are truly hard when I am helping people feel their best.
What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs? How can they achieve the same success you've experienced?
Just get started. Do it! It’s fine if your plan isn’t perfect, just get out there and take the first step. Take everything day by day and do not let stress defeat you. You can achieve the same success I’ve experienced by gaining experience over the span of a decade: working countless hours, observing the mistakes and wins of employers, saving money, securing a small business loan, and finally opening up a business of your own.
I like to list things out like this because from the outside, it may seem like a lot of entrepreneur success stories may have happened overnight. But a lot of us started with no money and worked our way up on our own without any connections. All of this takes time and work, but it is all possible.
What's the one productivity tip or work hack that truly changed your life?
Project planners! I love to cross things off a list, and project planners help me visualize what I am working on and what has been completed in a way that maps everything out perfectly. I just love them. Also, if you have a commute, I highly suggest using that time to set your intentions for the day. When I walk into my office, my mind has been cleared and set for all the action that is about to take place. I used to sit and listen to murder mysteries before work and I would walk in all kinds of bothered. I do not suggest it!
What is the #1 book you always recommend and why?
Little Black Book by Otegha Uwagba. It’s a smart and to-the-point career guide for creative, working women. I read this book at a time when I didn’t understand my worth in a company and it helped me realize that it was time to stop being taken advantage of. This book still motivates me and I love reading the little notes that I wrote to myself the first time I read it.
If you could go back to the beginning of your career journey—with the knowledge you have now— what advice would you give yourself?
Be at peace, girl. Your dreams are already coming true.
Fill in the blanks:
When I feel fear, I…
Remind myself that I have the guidance of my ancestors.
The best career advice I always give is…
It is normal to not be an overnight success. Pay your dues.
To be successful, you need to be…
In a mindset of abundance.
Three qualities that got me to where I am today are…
I’m positive, creative, and I’ve got grit.
The change I’d like to see in my industry is…
More kindness and inclusivity!
The craziest thing I’ve done for work is…
It’s all crazy! I poke people’s faces for a living!
