When it comes to success, there is no one-size-fits-all. It’s all subjective, and looks different for everyone. And I don’t know about you, but as I move through life, my ideas of success are ever-changing. However, as a proud and strong, independent woman looking to move up the career ladder and make waves in her industry, I’m always open to hearing career advice from other women.
Enter: Rachel Apfel Glass, CEO and founder of GLOSSLAB, and Dr. Elisa Hallerman, founder of Recovery Management Agency (RMA) and author of Soulbriety. I asked these two boss ladies for their must-know pieces of career advice, and let me tell you: their answers did not disappoint.
Whether you’re looking to start a new business venture, move up the career ladder, or make a change, these tips can help. Keep scrolling to learn the 9 must-know pieces of career advice successful female entrepreneurs swear by.
Career Advice From Female Entrepreneurs:
MEET THE EXPERT
Rachel Apfel Glass
CEO AND FOUNDER OF GLOSSLAB
In 2018, Glass reimagined the nail space and built GLOSSLAB under three key pillars: Hygiene, Efficiency, and Membership. First launched in NYC, GLOSSLAB has expanded to New Jersey, Texas, Maryland, Connecticut, Florida, and DC.
1. Find what you love and do it
The old saying “do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life” applies here. “I was working in finance and so frustrated with the lack of clean, efficient manicures. Getting my nails done always felt like a chore,” Glass told me, citing this as the inspiration behind GLOSSLAB. “I believe a manicure is much more than just polish on the nails—to me, a manicure is empowering,” she explained. “Looking polished creates a positive feeling, and that positivity empowers you to take on your day with confidence.”
This passion and drive for something more in the nail space is what led to the creation of GLOSSLAB, which Glass built under three key pillars: Hygiene, Efficiency, and Membership. “It’s so important to find what you love,” Glass told me. “If you’re not doing something you love most of the time, look for what needs to change to make that happen.”
2. Trust your gut
As humans, we question our natural instincts, but Glass believes trusting your gut is key to finding success. It makes sense when you think about it. After all, she launched GLOSSLAB in a billion-dollar industry—one that isn’t always easy to make a mark in. However, Glass stuck to her instincts and built up the courage to ask for what she wanted, which helped lead the company to success.
3. Hard work and luck go hand in hand
Sure, luck is a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and there’s no substitute for hard work. However, Glass believes the two go hand in hand. “I have found that the harder I work for something, the luckier I get,” she told me. So, give yourself time and never stop working towards your dreams. Chances are, the harder you work, the more likely you’ll find yourself in a position to be lucky.
4. Just start
With anything in life, it’s easy to make excuses or hold off on taking risks. This is especially true when it comes to making any sort of career change or diving into a new business venture. It’s scary, but Glass implores you to forget about the fear and just start. The longer you put something off, the less likely you’ll be to do it.
Additionally, Glass also recommends creating short-term goals. Having smaller goals to work towards on your journey is going to help lead you to your end goal, and help you move farther along on your journey. Remember: Just start—don’t be scared.
MEET THE EXPERT
Dr. Elisa Hallerman
PHD, JD, AND FOUNDER OF RECOVERY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (RMA)
As the mastermind behind RMA, Hallerman’s created a business that helps clients get to the root cause of their symptomatology by integrating mental health, behavioral-health, and primary-care treatment options.
5. Always stay curious and never stop learning
Hallerman was five years into her sobriety and working as a successful Hollywood agent at WME when she realized there was something missing. So, in search of something that’d feed her soul and light her up inside, she decided to pursue something she was curious about and took night classes on neuroscience, trauma, and soul-centered wellness. Hallerman then went on to retire from the entertainment industry and receive her master’s and doctorate in depth psychology and somatic studies, with a focus on neuroscience and trauma.
“If you view life as a never-ending learning journey, it’ll help you step into a greater awareness of opportunities to help you fulfill your purpose and happiness,” she said. Likewise, this attitude will help you acquire skills, develop your potential, and become a more well-rounded human being. “We stop growing when we stop learning. So, commit to always expanding your palette of knowledge and wisdom. You might be surprised where it takes you.”
6. Get clear on what’s important you
“Ask yourself what your purpose is, why this is important to you, and how it’ll help others,” Hallerman told me. “Getting very clear about all of these things will help you to develop your ‘elevator speech’ around your work and to clearly convey its value to other people, especially if you are looking for investors, partners, and so on.”
In Hallerman’s case, her passion for helping others—something she’d done as a Hollywood agent—led to the creation of RMA. “I decided to channel my strength into helping others achieve optimal wellness,” she told me. “With my book Soulbriety and RMA, I want to give people the tools they need to know they aren’t alone. I want to empower women and let them know feelings of unworthiness, fear, and abandonment often mean old coping mechanisms aren’t working anymore,” she said. “We’ve confused the core of our true self with our external identity, but it’s never too late to ‘grow down’ and tap into the gifts of soul.”
7. Don’t be afraid of the dark
“The dark nights will come, and that’s a part of life,” Hallerman told me. “You won’t feel happy, joyous, and free everyday. You won’t have all the answers; in fact, you will be afraid and uncertain, and you will experience pain and suffering. However, it is in the darkness that you will find the courage to ‘grow down’ and develop roots in something deeper than your daily struggles. You will find meaning in your experiences, and that will lead to your purpose.”
8. Just begin
Hallerman also believes in not waiting around. Instead, she recommends simply beginning. “Don’t quit your day job as you lay out the plan for your business or new career,” she said. Likewise, you can still dive headfirst into something and still take take it slow. “Be patient with yourself in this process, and be willing to start out slow—as long as you start.”
Furthermore, Hallerman also believes business owners should take on and learn every role in their operation. “Do everything yourself at first, and make sure you know exactly what each job entails before you bring on other employees,” she cautioned.
9. Be the hero of your own story
Although there’s plenty of business and career advisors out there, Hallerman swears there’s no formula for success, which is why it’s so vital that you believe in yourself. “Some of the most successful people are the ones who did it their way,” she said. “You may encounter lots of people whispering in your ear and trying to sway you in a certain direction, so it’s important to trust your intuition and soul whispers. Be curious, keep learning, make mistakes, and don’t be afraid to pivot!”
Additionally, this is also why it’s important to recognize that you are and be the hero of your own story. “While you will struggle with insecurities, grief, and heartbreak the answer does not lie in something outside of yourself,” Hallerman explained. “No one is coming to fix you—and having that expectation isn’t true soul-centered healing.”
