Opening your own business can take many turns, some right and some wrong. How you start out isn’ t always how you’ ll finish, and how you finish is hardly ever what you imagined. But if your goal is to always work your tail off, success is imminent.
Here are self-made entrepreneurs at various levels of success with stories and advice to inspire you to either take the leap you’ ve been dreaming of, or keep you steady on your own entrepreneurial path.
Starting Young“ I always knew I wanted to own a business, even as a young child,” says Lisa M. Crary, CEO and owner of Sanitas Skincare.“ I think my desire to lead likely stems from being the oldest of a large Southern family— I have six younger siblings— and I would venture that each of them would tell you I always liked being the boss!”
Crary officially became a business owner at the age of 27 when she was made partner in an investment research and money management firm.“ Although I loved the work and the company, the drive to start my own business facilitated my move to public accounting for a couple of years to learn about other kinds of businesses,” says Crary.“ This was one of the best things I ever did, because understanding finances and numbers is key to being a successful entrepreneur.”
After two years, she founded an accounting business management firm where she worked with other entrepreneurs to help them grow and thrive. Her clients spanned industries and included everything— from local salons and spas
“ Never look back. You will make mistakes but you can’ t change them. Learn from them and then move on.”
— LISA M. CRARY, CEO and Owner, Sanitas Skincare
to national restaurant chains.“ The main focus of our firm was to help turn around small to mid-size companies that were struggling, and that’ s where I first learned of Sanitas Skincare.”
Sanitas Skincare was a small, fledgling company struggling to succeed back in 2000 when they became Crary’ s client. After a few years, she was offered the majority equity stake to become the managing partner.“ I initially declined, as on paper the likelihood of success didn’ t appear promising. However, the formulator suggested I try the product( I had never even used it up to that point) and I did. I used our Topical C for one week and saw an amazing result on my skin. I was hooked! So hooked in fact, that I sold my practice and took over the business.”
Over the past 16 years, Crary has become the sole owner of Sanitas Skincare and focused on growing the business organically from a small startup to a thriving, international brand.“ We now formulate, manufacture and build lines for other companies, including large brands such as Elizabeth Arden’ s Eight Hour line and Sandals Resorts International’ s Red Lane Skin Care line,” she says.
For Crary, the hardest challenge she has faced as an entrepreneur was pulling the skin-care company from the brink of bankruptcy and turning it around into a thriving business.“ Although I had helped do that with other companies, I learned very quickly that the stakes are a lot higher when it’ s your own!”
January / February 2017 ■ PULSE 27