9# - Mastering the Business Pivot & Releasing Imposter Syndrome: Tracey's Journey from Beauty Influencer to Fashion Entrepreneur

[: 00:00:00

[00:00:10] Tracey: to be on here.

[: 00:00:12

So just give us a little bit of a background and just introduce yourself to the audience. Who are you? So I'm

[: 00:00:29

So the Navier edit, and most recently Now I've gone into Dwells of Navier, which is sort of like a sister brand to Navier. So yeah, I have a passion for all things. And I would say like, working in marketing, I've done that for 10 years. It's really driven me to like, do something of my own. And I think where I love everything creative, and I've been like, into sketching when I was younger, like from Disney characters to Winnie the Pooh and all of that stuff.

I was like, let me just try. And I think that's where it comes from. It's just, I love creativity. Like it just draws whatever I want to do. Like it is drawn from the fact that I just love being creative.

[: 00:01:27

And obviously I remember like following you like back in the day, like when you were doing like a lot of beauty, beauty. And I was like, Oh my God, like your makeup, like style was incredible. So I guess like, how did you have the courage to start? your beauty account, I guess. So you're a makeup artist, then kind of beauty influencer?

Yeah,

[: 00:01:56

I actually started obviously just doing makeup because I had so much samples. Like I was given like so many to play with. I was like, let me just try. And so I create my Instagram and I started playing around with makeup and I was like, let me see if I can actually do it. Like, you know, back then it was like thin eyebrows and like really weird makeup and like stretched out like eyeliner, et cetera.

So I was like, I'm going to keep it subtle. And then I was like, I was like, I really enjoy this. And I started seeing people engaging and I was like, I really enjoy this. And I was, I saw that there was no one really doing makeup in a creative way back then. So like, I love colorful looks, obviously now I'm a bit more.

Matured. but I love colorful looks. I love playing with like makeup palettes that have color in it because with Asian skin tone, we tend to like, just stay with the gold. Yeah. And I think that's what drove me to be like, no, we can wear color. Yeah. So then I decided to do a, a course. So, got qualified to be a makeup artist, hair and Asian makeup.

And then after that COVID hit.

[: 00:03:18

[00:03:19] Tracey: So I was like, I invested so much money. Like I can't let it go to waste. And I want my dad would be like, why did you do this? And so I started practicing on myself more and more. And before I knew it, like brands were approaching me. They wanted to work with me. Like I've worked with.

amazing brands like Boots, Look Fantastic, Charlotte Tilbury, et cetera. Like I've worked with so many of them and I've really realized that my passion of like just playing with makeup and having fun is basically what I was showing on Instagram back then, obviously. so that's where it stemmed from.

[: 00:03:53

[00:03:54] Tracey: still

[: 00:03:54

[00:03:58] Tracey: No, I think I got to a point and. to realize that I can't actually do it all. And I think it was letting go of it. That was a bit hard, but it was the right reason. So I think I stopped actually taking on makeup clients and started using Starwood Tracy, which is obviously my beauty account, as a platform to just express myself and to kind of go away from the busyness and find somewhere where I can just be me, be creative and just show and share when I want to rather than add pressure because it got.

point where I was burning out. Like I was doing my nine to five every Saturday and Sunday all day. I would record and film like my batch content every single weekend. So I was actually posting things that were like three months ago because I already had batch recorded or batch created. but then I got burnt out and so wedding happened, COVID happened.

And I think that's when I realized like, I've designed all my wedding outfits. Now I want to really focus on this. And it was just switching priorities, I would say.

[: 00:05:02

And, I just, I remember I was in, obviously I was living in Canada for the audience that don't know, like I lived in Canada for a few years. Yeah, I manifested that one. So me and my husband were living in Canada and, I was doing like a wedding planning client and they didn't say anything like particularly bad or wrong, but something just like tipped me over the edge.

And I just started. Crying like uncontrollably. I don't know what it was. It wasn't them necessarily. I think it was like this feeling was building up that I need to let go of weddings. But then I just remember there being so much shame, like what people going to think, like, is it because it, it wasn't like, I couldn't make the business work.

Was it because I'm like flaky, like all these things. And it was actually the direct opposite. Like I was turning down wedding inquiries. I was so busy and I could have carried on doing that business, but I, my heart and soul just wasn't in it. It was really The Asian female entrepreneur collective, the coaching side of things, but I just remember feeling like there's so much shame in this and, and I was like, I'm going to have to make a big announcement, blah, blah.

And then I was like, actually, I know I don't need to, I can just let that account kind of go. It doesn't need to be this big thing. And it's so liberating when you let go of something that isn't serving you, right?

[: 00:06:25

Like you always, your makeup's always like, you know, flawless. And then you get back into it. And I think I had the same notion of like, do I let this guy, because obviously I was getting brand collabs all the time. I was getting sent PR all the time. Obviously my room's still a state because it's got so much on there and I still do.

And I'm so grateful for it. But also like, If I compare it, like, makeup was so easy to actually make a return on investment in. Yeah. Because everyone needs a makeup artist. Yeah. There's always an occasion, whether that's Asian bridal or that's party wear or whatever events and things like that. So it was just actually quite easy, I would say, to become a makeup artist and to go into like beauty influencing.

But the flip side of Navya, oh my God, it's so difficult. Yeah. And I think like. Even though it's difficult, I enjoy it because it's such a challenge. Whereas with the makeup, I think I just got so good at it. Not to obviously be big, big headed in that way. It just didn't push me as much. Yeah, but the fear was, do I let something go, which I know is making me so much like money and it's such a good investment.

It's return investment is amazing in it. Or do I try something new?

[: 00:07:46

[00:07:53] Tracey: I would say like, because obviously it's me. Yeah. When you are like starting off a business and it's just you, you are Everything

[: 00:08:03

[00:08:03] Tracey: literally you are every single thing that you can think of from customer service to admin to being the designer as well, you know, and being a, being the designer, because I obviously sketch every single outfit that I make, it takes so much time and you have to have time to be creative, to do your research, do your mood boards, to really think about the material, etc.

But then there's so much other stuff that you have to consider, like logistics, like, you know, how are you going to market this? Who are you talking to? What's the collaborations? Blah, blah, blah. It is actually quite difficult. and I would say like, that's what's difficult. I think I think you can vouch for this, like in your first few years, it's the most difficult time because you're literally running on your own two feet, hands, legs, everything, you know, and I think that's what's difficult at the moment is finding that, but I would say also I sort of lost myself in it.

as well. And I think because I was putting so much time into it and I was putting pressure on myself to figure out what kind of designer am I? Because like I was saying, I'm super creative. I knew I just wanted to go down and purchase loads of things from India and resell it. Like that wasn't me. I wanted sketch to reality.

And that's what I found difficult is my process is so slow.

[: 00:09:19

[00:09:20] Tracey: really want to put all my passion into it and like dedication and I think that's what's hard is I could probably elevate this brand like, you know, in, in couple of like years, but it's probably going to take a bit more longer because I want to be authentic.

That makes sense.

[: 00:09:35

Like, I can just like fuel off coffee and just do this. all the time, every day, and it's all good. But I just, I feel like that was such a recipe for disaster for me because I ended up getting like, obviously like, I've been really open about this, like loads of health issues, but it is really hard in the beginning.

It's like an aeroplane and like, you're just using so much energy to like get that aeroplane off the ground. But honestly, it's just so difficult. And I think you're right. Like we do, I do end up doing so much of it ourselves and I think with business these days, it's not like what it used to be back in the day where you just kind of, someone would ring you up and you just deliver the service.

Like now it's like partnerships, influences, that it might be pop ups, events, yeah. Just there's just so much content. Content creation is like a full time job.

[: 00:10:47

That's about it. Now there's offline, there's, you know, digital, there's like performance marketing, like there's just so much that you have to consider. And especially if the ambition is to be global, which is my ambition,

you know, to reach other markets as well, not just purely the market. I live in, you have to extend your marketing.

And then I think that's where like, I'm not very good at maths, but like, that's where, like, you know, that finance side and like the accountability side and like, you know, responsibly working with your business. Cause I'm self funded. Everything I do is basically from my salary for my savings. And I think like.

That also is probably the second biggest thing that I struggle with because I'm doing it all on my own, you know, there's no investors backing this, this dream of mine. I'm working on that dream. so yeah, it's, it is really difficult.

[: 00:11:56

Yeah. I just think that like if you have a passion and you are like, you've got that talent and that passion, and you are willing to just go to the edges of your comfort zone, I think like you'll have so much success because you just can't beat passion. No, you just can't beat it. Like you could be the most talented person in the world, but.

If you just don't have that passion to keep going, you, you just won't, you just won't make it through because there are like, I mean, entrepreneurship in general is a rollercoaster. Yeah,

[: 00:12:42

[00:12:47] Sharn: It's not the easiest. Yeah. Cause I mean, I've been in business for so many years now, but even now, like it's just such a rollercoaster.

And before I'd think. Oh, when I have like more success, like my problems would just go away. Or when I have like more money into my business, like I can hire more team members, but the decisions just get bigger. The, the kind of goals get bigger and then it's just a rollercoaster every single day. And now you just have to embrace it.

Cause it's like, if you just want a. Easy life, like get a nine to five.

[: 00:13:19

Like he, he's, he's known me for 10 years as well, but he knows I just can't do that. And I think like, I always say even to him, I'm like, why don't you try? Like you won't know until you give it a go, you know, until you try something, how do you know it's for you? And that's why like, where you spoke about like passion, I knew I wanted to do fashion as soon when I was applying for uni, when I was writing my little, what was it, personal statements, I think back then, you know, with my library teacher, like I was like Then I was going to apply for fashion marketing or go into a fashion school because I was so passionate about fashion.

but you know, typical Asian parents and dad was like, what are you going to do with art? Blah, blah, blah. So I was like, okay, fine. I'll just do business marketing and, and that's kind of creative. so I always wanted to do fashion. So I actually started a clothing brand when I was 21, whilst I was working in Topshop Topman, and it was the same concept as Navia today.

It was just under a different name and it was so successful in Canada and US because back then there was more, women out there. who wanted more Indo Western outfits, who wanted to really show that being in America, you could still wear Desi wear basically. so it did really well, but because I always give my 100 percent and I was so young, I've freelance for a bit so I could kick off my business.

But then I was like, I need a backup plan. Like, I can't just, as they say, just carry on with this. I need a backup plan. So I went into marketing back into it. So I got another job working for Debenhams. And that's where the beauty element started. and with that, I was like, okay, I'm just gonna push this aside, focus on marketing.

But I never stopped dreaming about fashion. Like it was in me every single time. And The opportunity came when obviously I was designing my outfits for my wedding. I was like, why should I go to someone else? I did. I explored, but nothing fit me and nothing fit my personality or who I am as a mixed. You know, heritage background and I was like, why not just design my own and that sparked the passion again.

So it never disappeared. It just, I think I put it in a little box, you know, and I wanted to come back, with a more mature sense. And I guess because working in marketing, doing the course, like, doing mindset work and things like that. I was like, why not?

[: 00:15:56

[00:15:57] Tracey: brought it back and it's the best decision ever.

[: 00:16:00

[00:16:04] Speaker 4: that never go away. It's like this podcast. They're so annoying, honestly. They're like in the back of your head, like keeps you awake for a day. It kills you inside because even with this podcast,

[: 00:16:13

and I'll go into another episode why it's taken so long, but yeah, it just didn't leave me and it was like, I was like, okay, it's fine. Like I'm really busy. It's all good. Like I'll just do it at the channel, but it's like, no, like I do want to do this. Like, and it is obviously again, like, you know, just coming back to putting the, the work in like this, creating podcasts in a studio, it's not easy.

Like building a brand up from scratch is not easy, but. I think then what's the alternative, you know, like not living out your passion, not living out your dreams. Like you just don't want to die with any regrets, you know,

[: 00:16:48

And that's why, like, I've tried so many different things and it's worked out well because like beauty goes hand in hand with fashion. Like you need a makeup artist anyways. and like with the jewelry, it's complimentary. So why not? And I think like, I obviously tried like with podcasting as well. And I think like, I love trying things out because you don't know what's going to stick.

And like, you know, even in your corporate world, people change careers just like that. You have people in finance that move into like marketing. You have marketeers that move into like finance. Like it, you can swap. It's just, do you have the courage, I guess, and like the

[: 00:17:31

To like do different things, I think people get scared of being judged. Yeah. Oh, like she's just, people think, oh, people are going to think, oh, she's just doing something different now. Look at her. She's like, you know, flaky, but actually like two people are too busy living their own lives. Like they don't even know what happened last week, let alone what's happening with your business.

So. It's absolutely fine if anyone out there is like thinking about pivoting, because I think that's so important. And also like you evolve as a person. You learn

[: 00:18:04

Not even just like the business sense, but in terms of like, who do I want to be and recognizing myself. I think like I did obviously a lot of work with yourself on that. I think like that has truly helped is like I invested in myself to figure out where do I really want to go.

[: 00:18:33

Yeah, it was, yeah. Yeah, and it's a real mix of like mindset and marketing, but I think, I think for you, it probably really helped with the mindset side of things, wasn't it? Yeah, I think so. And how, like, obviously you're newly married, you've got family commitments, you now have a puppy, we're just talking about.

You know, having a puppy just before we came on air, how, I don't like the word balance because I don't think that exists, but how do you manage it all?

[: 00:19:07

It's kind of instilled, like, you know, in you, and I love it. Like, I love my family, but I think without their support, I wouldn't even be able to manage. And I think, like, I made decisions to allow myself to do what I do today. So. I made decision that like I was going to find a role like a corporate role.

that obviously is passionate for me because I love marketing and I love like CRM and what I do there and loyalty. but I wanted something that I could work from home because that meant that I could do my nine to five, I could switch off and I can focus on my business. and I think I found that.

And I actually manifested it and I'm not going to lie. And, and then from that as well, it's like, also my husband is so supportive. He's probably going to watch this and be like, Oh my God.but he's so supportive and he gives me the time to just do me.

[: 00:20:15

[00:20:15] Tracey: think like that is so important. I'm sure you can say that about your husband as well.

Like he gives me the time and also. Funny thing, like, the dad who told me not to go do fashion is now my biggest supporter. Like, he will help me when I need help. And he will, like, literally go to India and, like, try to look around and stuff. And he will always keep Navya in mind, which is so amazing. So I think, like, without a supportive family, it's actually really quite hard, to manage it.

So I would say, like, that's how I, Being able to do it is obviously prioritizing, of course. and I would say like, even my friends, they always say to me, you're so busy. How do you even have time to go to the pub? How do you have time to come out with us? And I'm like, but without you guys, I wouldn't have the happiness that I feel to even like put it towards something.

And I think like, you really have to feel happy and you have to feel yourself to really put your worth into your business as well.

[: 00:21:12

Beyonce. Exactly. Or Gary V. But what I have found is, especially in my earlier years, when I was just constantly like on working on my business, not seeing anyone, like I remember Dav was working in Canada. I'd be back and forth for like, I was just. a bit miserable. Like, I just, that's not fulfilling. And I think, I think that you can be really productive in like, seven or eight hours in a day, rather than like, I dunno, doing like 5am to 10pm and then like getting like six hours or seven hours sleep.

Like, I just don't think it needs to be that way. And I do, I think as women actually, that like, we're not built. to work like that. And I think if you do work like that in your twenties, I think you suffer in your thirties. Like I was definitely like that. Like this is where all my hormonal problems came because I got PCOS that, that comes from unbalanced hormones.

The unbalanced hormones came from stress. And I just wasn't, I wasn't looking after myself. Yeah. and I think a form of self care is obviously like looking after your mindset and looking after yourself and doing things for yourself. But I think a form of self care is actually like spending time doing things you love.

A hundred percent. And seeing other human beings, not just being at

[: 00:22:42

[00:22:48] Sharn: You're his AI. So yeah, absolutely. And Do you find like, so Tracy obviously do your nine to five. Yeah. And then do you do like all of your stuff in the evenings, weekends? How does your kind of schedule look like?

[: 00:23:01

He's like, you always working. And I was like, no, I'm not. I just work smart. And I was like, I'm the most laid back person ever.and it's because if I don't, like you were saying, like, if I don't do something that I enjoy, like spend an evening with my friend and like, just chill out, then I'm not rejuvenated the next day to then go do, okay, I need to do this and this and this.

So I would say like, I don't work every single evening, but obviously if there's like ideas in my head, I'll quickly like note it down, whether that's like quickly on my phone or notes or an iPad or whatever, but I do most of the time work in the, like, in the mornings if I can, so as soon as I wake up, do what I need to do, and then I'm like, On to my supplier or clients or whatever.

Yeah. Then I'll do the same thing in the evening, but I make sure that like in the evenings I have time to like cook, take easy for like a walk my puppy. cook with like hearty, have dinner at the like dining table. And then I allow myself, okay, between eight to 10. I work but I work in an environment where I have Netflix on because like for me I'm doing both and I know some people like might say that oh well you're not concentrating as much but that's what works for me and I think it's really important because there's so much influence out there especially with social media it's really important to figure out what works for you

[: 00:24:36

[00:24:36] Tracey: for me like background background music or like turning on afro beats and all of that stuff work really well for me because I'm like you in this high vibration, right?

Yeah. And I'm like, okay, I'm going to get so much done.

[: 00:24:48

[00:24:49] Tracey: If I'm in like just a four, four walls and I'm just typing away, I'm literally the unproductive like person ever. I will procrastinate and I won't even do what I would achieve just chilling. And I think that's what you need to figure out. You really need to figure out what works for you.

And that's where the whole. Balance comes,

[: 00:25:08

So I have to just have one room and like, for me, like, I can't, can't really work with stuff in the background. but now obviously we're recording this around Christmas time. I do have like my Spotify Christmas list. A bit of Christmas cheer, but absolutely you have to find what works for you. and I remember when I first started, This is when I, the year, the year before I was going to get married, I was blogging, I was doing some marketing for some other wedding brands and I was working full time.

And I remember like I used to do stuff in my lunch hour, like I'd open up a Word document, write my blog post and I email it to myself or some evenings I would work and then like go to the gym. Right. But I think when you really love what you do and you've got a vision, You'll just make it work.

[: 00:26:12

And I think like, I do do some things like during my lunch break as well. but I don't see it as work.

[: 00:26:19

[00:26:20] Tracey: I, I just see it as I'm going to make my dream come true and I'm going to keep working on it. I'm going to make sure that it's, it's what I want to do by 35. This is what I want to do. Like also obviously setting goals and realistic goals is, is so important.

but I would say like, don't beat yourself up with it either. Like if you do have a day where you're like, actually, I'm just not going to do anything that that is okay, because that means that your body's telling you something or your mind's telling you something. And it just means that you will then come back stronger.

Yeah. and I think like, Again, don't let like the social influence get to you because I used to suffer a lot with that. Like, because I was on social media so much as a beauty influencer, like all of that would get to me like, Oh my God, this person's got this

[: 00:27:05

[00:27:06] Tracey: that person's done that or do you know what I mean?

Like it was just so difficult, but now it's got to a point where I'm just like, I'm actually quite private on social media. I don't share that much. I only share what I want to share and what I feel like, is enough, you know, in terms of like, this is fine. Like, I don't need to show everything. Some people don't even know maybe what Hardip looks like, you know, like he's, he's like right at the bottom of like my Instagram page, but it's fine.

Like, they know I'm married and that's it, like, it's fine, but like, yeah, just finding out like what works for you is so important, but don't beat yourself up.

[: 00:27:40

And it was just, That just like floors you and you're like, hang on a minute. I can't like create content now. So I had to just take time off. Like it was very traumatic. The whole experience, obviously, what it is like with Indian funerals and then the same thing happened in October. you know, I was like, yeah, like we went, me and Davinda, my husband, we went on holiday.

I was like, yeah, like, yeah. I'm going to smash Q4. It's going to be the best. I'm going to do so many things. I'm going to launch my podcast. Literally, the day we landed, the next day, my brother in law, Devinder's cousin got taken into ICU and they were like, he's end of life. Like he's going to die. And then you're like navigating all of that.

And, you know, when it, when you have times like that, like there's no way, like I was like literally a mess, I was like crying all the time. There's no way I was going to get on socials and create content. So then I just thought, okay, I can't shut my business down for like a month or six weeks whilst we're in this kind of navigating this really difficult period.

So I just thought to myself, right, what can I do and what can I do behind the scenes? So I still, I was really lucky, like my mastermind group started the end of October, which gave me whole of October to like, not have any masterminds, but I had. I've been fully booked with one to one clients, so I had to show up for those calls.

So I did that, obviously told my clients, like, this is happening. I might need to cancel a call last minute because we just, it's like touch and go, like any moment. but then I was like, okay, I don't want to show up on Instagram. I don't want to do face stories like my usual self don't feel like it. So I was like, what else can I do?

Okay. Let me work on my podcast. Like in the background, you know, there's loads of things that you can do in the background, I think in those seasons. And then, you know, when things are going well, like life is going well, then you can do the content side of things, you know, like it's a real balance, I think.

So you mentioned, Kind of like the comparison and the imposter syndrome. And I know you've been very open and honest about this over the last few years. So talk to me a little bit about that. Cause. I just think, I think now comparison is even more rife. I think there's like just insane beauty standards to live up to.

Thank you, the Kardashians. I mean, although I

[: 00:30:11

[00:30:12] Sharn: just

[: 00:30:12

[00:30:14] Sharn: Exactly. Although I love them and I watch them on Disney

[: 00:30:17

[00:30:20] Sharn: It's just, I feel like there's, there is a pressure to look a certain way. There is obviously then the whole comparison, like, Oh, that person got that opportunity or that person's got that many followers.

Like, I know a lot of my clients deal with this. How did you kind of overcome that? I suppose.

[: 00:30:40

And you always think like, am I like good enough? I think that was also like something I always struggled with and you know why I joined like Mastermind as well. was the self belief bit as well. So then when I got on social, it kind of just made it even worse, if that makes sense. And I think like the way I navigate like through that was a lot of like self work, of course.

and realizing that like, I am trying to do something that feels right to me. And as long as I'm authentic with myself and on authentic with what I'm showing, it's going to be fine. And of course, like, look. With anything, even like, you know, 10 years down the line, you are in a way going to compare because you start doing competitor analysis and things like that.

Right. but not to a degree where you're like self hair in yourself, I think. And, I just made sure that when I was like posting stuff, I was posting it because I wanted to post it and it fit like my, my niche and my like avenue that I wanted to go down. I stopped posting for the sake of it

[: 00:32:03

[00:32:03] Tracey: I was literally hustling like, like anything.

I was posting every single day. I was creating content every single weekend and I just burnt myself out. And I was like, is this really worth it? Because I look so tired in the first place.but that was because I kept comparing. I was like, I need to like elevate quickly. I need to do this. I need to try and jump on this trend and that trend and stuff like that.

And like, I was so good at transitions. I was like, let me just do this. Because this is what I love doing. And I was so good at doing like colorful makeup. I was like, I'm just going to keep carrying on doing this. So I start finding bits that I was really good at and what I felt really comfortable with.

And that's what I just kept posting. And even now today, like I don't post every day anymore on Star Wars Tracy, because obviously my focus is on my business.But I still keep it active because I have an amazing community on there, you know, and I know there's women there that are learning things, but my style of makeup has changed now where like what I look like today is a bit more natural.

Yes, I'll still do colorful makeup because I have the urge and like, you know, the passion to do it, but I'm more natural now and that's what I'm showing up as. So I think as long as you show up for yourself. You won't let imposter syndrome get to you too much. And, you'll hear like even from bigger influencers, like everyone goes through it, like you're not on your own really.

Like it is so common. And I think it's because social media is such a big thing. Like it, especially Instagram. I'll say Instagram is the worst, like TikTok, you can find, cause I go to TikTok for entertainment, like, you know, I'll just scroll and scroll and scroll because it's so funny. but like Instagram is the worst.

Yeah. And like, and people are so true when they say, like, people show their highlights. They don't show their low lights. You do get some people like I, I tried to keep a balance on social. So if I'm going through something, I will post about it. Yeah. because it's a reason why I'm not showing up. Right.

And if there's something good happening, I'll share it to a degree. Yeah. Because I very much believe in Nazer.

[: 00:34:01

[00:34:01] Tracey: but like to a degree, but I think like that's how I've really overcome it is to believe in myself a little bit more. and make sure that I'm posting what I really want to post rather than put the pressure on me.

So now like I just post whatever. And also guys, like I don't even care about the numbers anymore. Like it's so crazy. Cause I was so like, Oh my God. I need. Like, I would need these numbers. I need these likes, but now I really don't care. Like, I don't even look at insights. It's so bad. Like now I look at like, like traffic on website rather than the insight on my Instagram page.

It's, it's changed. But I love that for me. Like, I really love that for me because it means that I can just post whatever picture I want. And also like, I got to a place where I was posting. pictures without makeup on and I felt so good. Oh, that's amazing. And like, you know, I felt like I was representing other people who might not have like the best skin or like suffer with eczema.

I even did like recently like a makeup look where I had really bad like dermatitis on my eyes. But I filmed a makeup look because I was like, people actually go through this. Yeah. So why not? Yeah. Like I'm, I'm not trying to cover it. I'm trying to show you how to like use makeup to, like with. the problem at hand, rather than like try to cover it or like hide away from it and be like, I'm not posting today because I look a mess.

[: 00:35:19

And I think like. Numbers don't really mean anything because if you look at my business, I've only got like, granted I've got quite a big email list, but I've got, I'm not even hit 10, 000, but I have like a, you know, like touch wood, like not to be braggy, but like a successful business. Like I can sell out my programs.

I can sell out my events and my retreats and things like that without going to like massive influences. Like for our event that's coming up in February, this will probably come out actually just after the event, but we're in December now. And like, I think a hundred tickets are sold,

[: 00:36:17

[00:36:18] Sharn: no, no influencer shared it.

Obviously, we've got Shivani speaking, Noreen, I think Noreen shared it the other day, but Shivani's not going to share it until January. and it's like, you, I feel like so many people chase after numbers, but actually that your audience needs to be engaged. engaged audience is so much more important. I feel like if you're in, if you want to be a successful business, if you want to be an influencer, that's a different game, obviously.

But I think sometimes like people blur the lines between influencer and business. I so

[: 00:36:51

Yeah. but what percentage of that actually open and click through and make the conversion. That's what you need to think about when it comes to numbers is you could have like 100, 000. Thousand people on your Instagram, but if you're getting like two likes, then what's the point? What's the point? Yeah, and I think that's what's so important.

Like obviously, you know, there's loads that happen with the algorithm, stuff like that. Like people's numbers fail even like biggest influencers, et cetera. But like, even for me now, like, what likes I used to get before and even engagement, I don't get that now, but for me, it's always the same people that show up for me.

It's always the same people that DM me and I always like, I'll get to that place where I want to reply to those people as well. I don't want to leave them hanging because these are the people, my day ones, basically like the OGs. Yeah. And I think like, that's, what's important. You have to nurture the community you have rather than chase a community that was, was Probably never going to be yours, you know, because you can keep growing, keep growing, keep growing, but who are the people that make you, you, I think, and what's your why?

Like if your business is, I'm going to cater for, like for me. With Navya, I've now found my feet where I was like, I'm going to cater for people who are like me, who want to like, wear Indo Western outfits, like really wear like trainers with their outfits and be like a personality, show their personality.

I might not cater for all sizes, but that's okay because there's amazing brands out there that cater for it as well. But for me, it's, I'm going to target my customers and look after the customers who I know are going to fit there. I don't want to try and go and like, get, you know, heavier women if I'm not catering for them.

It's not fair for me, for them or other businesses. Like, like I said, it's other business out there. And I think we just, compete so much in the market. And I think that's also adds to the imposter syndrome. It sometimes gets so clicky, you know, you get so competitive in it as well. And it's just like, the more you try to network, network, network, you become a click.

And I, I personally don't like that. And I think it just plays so much with imposter syndrome

[: 00:39:17

I'm really sorry. I'm just, it's just never been me and never will be me. I've just, I've just accepted that now. But if a good event comes along, I will go, you know, or if my client's having like a launch party or something, they're putting on an event, I will definitely 100 percent be there. But what I found recently is like, it's the same people going to the event.

vent that I kind of knew from: 2017

But it, it attracts a wide spectrum of people. And I honestly, hardly ever get group bookings. Like you'll never see like five people booking onto my event. It's normally maximum two, but 80 to 90 percent of people that come to my event come on their own. And I, I think I have all age ranges, you know, all women, like it's not just Sikh women, it's Hindu women, Muslim women, mixed heritage.

And I think that's so important. and I think that, You just have to do business your own way. Like what's for me, like, I don't want to go to a million networking events. Yeah, me too. I'm just, I don't like, I just, it's just not me. Yeah. So I think you definitely have to do what works for you. So just two other questions, Tracy, because I feel like this, oh my God, like all the podcast episodes just go so quickly.

So. Obviously, you are like a content creator as well at heart. Is there any tips and tricks that you can give, especially for reels, because I love your reels. Like they're so good. And I'm like, that's so pretty. So do you just film it on your iPhone? Is there any like apps that you use? How does that

[: 00:41:36

So I use Canva for everything that I can possibly think of. And when it comes to like creating reels, I used to like create reels that were like trendy, like on trend and stuff. And I still do sometimes because they're like super fun. And I want to give it a go. I just give it a go. But I think when it comes to reels, I actually don't have like so much of big of a strategy.

I think like for me, what works for me is when I'm actually feeling it in the moment, I create it because I think like, like I was saying, like for me to get over this imposter syndrome, I had to feel like I was authentic to myself. So I've really much stick to that when I do reels. But batch content obviously saves your life so much.

So if I'm doing like a full look, I know I'm going to do my brows. I know I'm going to do my cheeks, blah, blah, blah. So I will like cut those into slices and I have content. So like batch content is like, should be in your survival kit of like social media. and I would say like, even with reels, like the trick that I've learned now is obviously when you're looking for like an audio, I'm not saying I go viral.

I think the last time I did was my wedding time, but, and that's still going. but I would say like, if you want to kind of be on trend, then obviously look for music that is, you know, in the like five to 10 K like real mark. And that's probably one of my like nicest tips that I would give, in, in terms of what works for me that way as well.

And I think like I use my iPhone all the time. when the sun now I'm like. Yes.and obviously I have like ring lights. I have like studio lights as well. White space background is my favorite thing to do with a bit of like greenery, like, you know, behind you as well. so I would say like create your own backdrop, create your own space.

No one needs to know like whether your shoe is there or like, you know, wherever everything is, but create your own like little background and use that as a filming space. Like some of the biggest influences is have. continuously done the same, like, I don't know, fashion shot in the same mirror every single time.

So you don't have to keep innovating. You just have to find your rhythm.

[: 00:43:45

[00:43:46] Tracey: So I would say like, that's what you need to do.

[: 00:43:48

How do you feel like, and obviously since then you have Honestly, just like grown so much. It's been such a pleasure to watch you. How do you feel like the Mastermind specifically helped you?

[: 00:44:10

And I learned so much from that role to be honest. and I love it, but I think like it was the fact that I didn't have self belief. I was going into this whole social media Avenue where I was getting approached by brands and you know, there was so many amazing makeup artists. Now everyone's anyways. Um, but.

Like, I wanted to learn how to do the mindset work because I read upon it, but I can't. I'm that type of person that someone needs to tell me.

[: 00:44:54

[00:44:55] Tracey: know, otherwise I don't do it. so I think like I wanted to go into it with that mindset of like, how can I help myself?

[: 00:45:02

[00:45:03] Tracey: And like, how do I show up for myself?

I think that's what was really important with mastermind. And I think like, yeah. The beauty of it was there were so many other amazing women on there with different backgrounds, like not everyone was doing exactly the same thing, like different businesses, different, like, I guess scales of what they were like.

Some people only were just starting. Some people were in the midst of it. and I think that was the beauty of, of mastermind. Just having a community, you know, and like everyone was different age as well. I think I was probably the youngest one there, but everyone was so different and I didn't feel like I was the youngest.

I felt like we were all exactly the same and it's the common issues that we were going through as female Asians trying to run a business.

[: 00:45:48

[00:45:49] Tracey: And, and so I learned so much from that. And of course, like the worksheets to help hold yourself accountable as well. Yeah. and I think. What really was shocking to me as well, even though I studied marketing and was in marketing some of the marketing stuff in there I was like, how could I forget?

Yeah, you know, and I think it's because like social media became such a big thing when we started like when I was in mastermind that you forgot about how strong email marketing is, even though I do that for a living, you forget like how strong like having a really good website is and I think that's what is so important.

Like you get so lost into one channel that you're trying to like, Keep growing, go viral and all of this ambition that people put behind it. You forget everything else that makes a business. Yeah. Like a business is not built on just social media. There's so much other pillars around it. And I think that's what mindset really brought back out on, on me

[: 00:46:42

Yeah, I completely agree. The mastermind is. a holistic approach towards business. It talks, it doesn't just talk about Instagram, it talks about LinkedIn, like content, like SEO, email marketing, website, sales, conversions, all these things are so important because I think if you're just operating on an Instagram business, I mean, you can do it, you can get, have loads of success with it.

But I think I just think it can be quite volatile as we have seen in the last few years. Yeah. And I

[: 00:47:11

Like I would not say like. Social media is be all and end all. Of course not. Like when you even go work for a business, even if that's a startup and they're at a scale where they want to scale up, they will be like, what are we doing on performance marketing? What are we doing on the website? What are we doing on the app?

What are we doing here? Why? What pop up? What events? Yeah. So it's, it's never that. So I would say like, Definitely consider that if you want to scale up your business, start putting those seeds in now and start working on growing your email marketing there, you know, working on other channels as well.

Even if it's like 1 percent that you work on each one, it's going to make so much of a difference.

[: 00:48:16

[00:48:29] Tracey: for all of them, so for my beauty content, you can follow me on star with Tracy and that's on all platforms.

So Tik TOK, Facebook, Instagram. if you want to follow my clothing line, so that's Navia, the Navia edits. and that's again on Tik TOK, Facebook and, What's the other one? TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. and also the website's also called the Navia Edit. And within that you'll see my sub brand as well, which is Joels by Navia, which is fairly new.

So yeah, basically it's all linked guys. So if you find me on Star Wars Tracer, you pretty much find my other business as well and vice versa. Oh, well, thank you so much for coming in Tracer. It's been great to have you.

[: 00:49:08