Eny Oh, a self-made, Potomac, Maryland-born beauty entrepreneur, shares with rolling out readers what the life of a girl boss looks like.
What is your day-to-day like at work?
No two days are ever the same with my career. Some days, I’m handling shipping, other days I’m driving around doing errands and sometimes I’m traveling for weeks at a time. Regardless of what the day looks like, I always make sure work is handled.
What inspires you to show up at work every day?
I love to create. I’m blessed to own a company that makes women feel beautiful, and their stories and testimonials inspire me daily. My supporters are my motivation.
How did you determine your career path?
Growing up, it was drilled into my head that I had to have a very traditional professional career. I did everything I was “supposed” to do, but had to make a shift when I wasn’t having luck finding a corporate career. I’d always loved the beauty industry, so I just decided to explore it full force and I’ve never looked back. This is what I was put on Earth to do.
Describe the future skill sets that are essential to future business leader and innovators?
Future business leaders and innovators have to be creative, disciplined, persistent, organized and focused. However, time management and sound accounting sense are what will ensure your business lasts. You’ll fail quickly if you can’t manage your time or if you spend all of your money. I always advise people to learn about and start saving and investing their profits early on.
Describe innovative methods you apply to your business and life.
You have to consistently innovate if you want to be successful. I’m a perfect example — my online business is great, but in the hair industry, clients want to be able to see and feel the hair before they purchase. I’m meeting my market by opening storefronts that can give customers another way to experience the Beholder EL lifestyle.
How do you set goals and evaluate your success?
I have to see things in front of me. I have three huge whiteboards in my office — one has monthly goals, one has goals for the next three months and the last one has the year goals. Seeing the whiteboards in front of me daily is a constant reminder of what has to be completed. I have to accomplish at least one thing on the lists each day, and this method allows me to accomplish goals in half the time. Then, I can start working on the next month’s goals.
Name your favorite role models for success in two different industries.
I love Draya Michelle because she’s such a great example of how you can power through anything that is said about you and be successful. She used her TV platform to create successful and empowering businesses and she’s really expanding her brand. You can’t say anything bad about her. Conna Walker, the owner of House of CB, is also amazing. I’m really inspired by her and the brand she’s built – it’s great quality products, people stand by what she sells, it’s branded impeccably and she gives the customer what they need, quickly.
Names three books that changed how you saw life and you recommend to others.
1) The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
2) 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
3) Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Describe why life-long learning is important to you.
Life-long learning is so essential.There’s always something new to learn, and, I know it sounds cliche’, but the more you know, the further you go. I enjoy reading because it helps me learn new things daily. Branching out and learning as much as I can is a big part of my business’s success. Never ever stop learning and being willing to put yourself in situations where you aren’t the smartest person in the room.
Describe the voice of success that you hear in your head.
This voice is telling me that I have to stay disciplined and focused. I have to stay on top of everything. The voice is telling me to always push for what I want and be willing to do the work. Laziness is not an option.
Community success based on what you do in the community means what to you.
I truly believe in giving back. I enjoy talking to girls and women to inspire and motivate them, so they see that they can get through any situations. I also give back to different charities regularly.
What role does technology play in your daily life?
Technology literally rules my life! From the time I wake up to the time I go to bed, I’m constantly using technology to run all parts of my online business. With the ever-changing digital landscape, I have to know whats going on…staying on top of trends and new technologies is vital. I have to be able to learn new systems and apply them to my business so that we can stay relevant and competitive.
What software tools have made the biggest difference in your life?
Microsoft Excel. I can’t live without Excel. I also depend heavily on Quickbooks to manage my business’s finances. Instagram is also super important as 98 percent of Beholder EL customers connect with us via our Instagram page.
Define your personal culture.
My mother is West Indian and my father is Nigerian. I was raised with a strong West-Indian background, so I had a very strict upbringing. Manners were so important in our home and I was raised to do everything by the book. It was drilled into me from early childhood. We went to church every Sunday and I apply a lot of these things to my life now.
How does music impact and influence you?
Music is life. I do everything with music — work, working out, creating. It impacts my life heavily, and what I listen to is determined by my mood. I love Jay-Z and Jeezy for motivation, Beyoncé for getting through life’s ups and downs, and, of course, gospel.
Describe your favorite vacation spot.
It would have to be St. Barts. It’s a beautiful, peaceful island and I love going there to just get away.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
I wish that people could be more kind. We aren’t kind anymore. To see today’s youth going through so much over others not being kind is really hard to witness.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d stop trying to be a perfectionist because it causes me to stress and worry. There’s no such thing as perfection.
