From Basement Dreams to a Thriving Business: Nicole Farsalas on Building Without Permission

In this episode of Her Purpose, I sit down with Nicole Farsalas, founder of Glow Up in Chicago, to uncover the real, raw journey behind building a thriving business from almost nothing — and doing it without the applause, financial support, or easy road many expect.

Nicole shares how she turned $1,500 in gift cards, a basement, and an unshakable work ethic into a salon that now empowers her team, uplifts women, and redefines what’s possible for those who dare to dream differently. From overcoming betrayal, imposter syndrome, and the weight of unsupportive relationships, Nicole’s story is a powerful reminder that your purpose doesn’t require permission — just bold, relentless action.

If you’ve ever felt like the odds were stacked against you, or wondered if you’re “qualified” enough to chase your bigger dreams, this episode will leave you feeling seen, equipped, and unstoppable.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• How Nicole found the courage to pivot when her original plan didn’t fit
• What it really takes to build a business when no one is cheering for you
• The biggest myths about what you "need" to start
• How betrayal and setbacks shaped her into the leader she is today
• Why women need to stop waiting for permission and start moving toward their own vision

Listener Reflection:
✨ What dream could you chase if you stopped waiting for someone else’s approval and started trusting your own voice?

Keywords

entrepreneurship, aesthetics, leadership, empowerment, business growth, women in business, overcoming challenges, mentorship, self-discovery, beauty industry

Takeaways

Nicole transitioned from hospitality to aesthetics, driven by her passion for beauty.
She emphasizes the importance of service-based jobs in developing discipline and customer service skills.
Nicole's journey began in her basement, showcasing the potential for success from humble beginnings.
She highlights the significance of building a strong team and leadership in business.
Overcoming challenges and imposter syndrome is a common theme in her entrepreneurial journey.
Nicole values the freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur, allowing her to express herself authentically.
She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to set realistic goals and take small steps towards their vision.
The importance of mentorship and support is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Nicole takes pride in empowering her staff and helping them develop their skills.
She believes that anyone can achieve their dreams with determination and hard work. 

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Entrepreneurship
02:44 Finding Passion in Aesthetics
06:10 Building a Business from the Ground Up
08:58 Leadership and Overcoming Challenges
11:49 The Importance of Work Ethic
15:02 Navigating Doubts and Imposter Syndrome
18:04 What Women Need to Succeed in Business
21:13 Creating Impact and Responsibility
24:19 The Impact of Leadership on Personal Growth
27:22 Building a Business from Scratch
32:00 Future Plans and Expanding Horizons
32:21 Lessons in Reinvestment and Growth
34:45 Overcoming Challenges and Building Resilience
36:50 Finding Your Path and Taking Action
39:17 The Importance of Mentorship and Learning from Others
41:26 Strength Through Adversity
44:54 Becoming Your Own Cheerleader
46:09 Creating a Welcoming Business Environment
47:51 The Importance of Speaking Up for Women

Aligned & Ascending is an 8-week space where I help you get clear on your next step, your message, your offers—all of it—so you can stop second-guessing everything and actually build the purpose-driven business you’ve been thinking about.

So if you’re craving clarity and momentum—and a business that feels like you—DM me the word ALIGN on Instagram to get all the info.

Transcript

Kindra Morse (00:01)
So you have been running the glow up, isn't it the glow up salon, glow up Chicago? What do you call the salon?

Nicole Farsalas (00:13)
So I call it glow up, but we are a salon and then we are in Oakbrook. But when I first started the Instagram to put us like in the right demographic, I had to do glow up Chicago because most people wouldn't know like Oakbrook, if that makes sense.

Kindra Morse (00:31)
Yeah, it's amazing how many cities there are around Chicago. I have a girlfriend, a couple girlfriends that live there and talking about the different cities, it seems like it's city after city after city after city suburbs. growing up, you've been running this salon, growing up, did you see yourself running a business?

Nicole Farsalas (00:45)
Yes.

Honestly, yes, I just didn't know what I was gonna do. So I worked in hospitality for a long time and I kind of ran my like shifts as my own business. So I kind of turned that into you know, what I do today. So I think I always had an idea that I was entrepreneurial, but I just didn't know exactly in what

Kindra Morse (01:14)
Yeah, it's interesting. I think everyone should have a service-based job growing up, but how much it teaches you about the better service you provide, the more you can earn. It totally teaches you that.

Nicole Farsalas (01:30)
I agree. Yeah, I always say like ⁓ with my employees there I'm telling them little things that I learned along the way when I served and I'm like I know you guys feel like this probably doesn't make any sense but even the stuff that I make you do here like throwing out the garbage or like picking up certain things that you're like why should I need to know this I'm gonna take business classes

you need to still learn discipline. So I think service base is discipline and truly customer service.

Kindra Morse (02:00)
Did

you take business classes?

Nicole Farsalas (02:05)
I did not. Yeah, I actually went to school. I took a lot of pre nursing classes. So totally different.

Kindra Morse (02:14)
So you want it to be a nurse for at some point.

Nicole Farsalas (02:16)
Yes.

Yeah. Yeah. So I always wanted to be an anesthetic somehow. So I was hoping to go to nursing school and be an injector.

Kindra Morse (02:29)
⁓ okay. So when did that change? When did that shift to something different?

Nicole Farsalas (02:36)
So I think one, it's kind of a crazy story, but I was working at a restaurant. I know it sounds so silly, but.

somewhat like an older person like like had an accident in the bathroom and I remember going in there and I was like like we had to get like the dishwasher to like clean it up because it was like so bad and I thought to myself I'm like girl there is no way if you can't handle this like you're not gonna be able to be a nurse like just real tough so I said that to myself because I I know I knew I didn't want to do that like bedside but you have to do that to get to the injection

part so then I ended up just being like okay maybe I'll just do aesthetics like just aesthetics

Kindra Morse (03:24)
What was it about aesthetics that you were drawn to?

Nicole Farsalas (03:30)
I think to be honest, I always loved makeup and the skin. I think because everyone else was like, well, at least just be a nurse because you'll at least have more stability. People that work in beauty don't make any money. It's not like a respected job to go to beauty school. So I think.

I truly always liked that. just didn't know that it was like an actual job that can like find like a life. So yeah.

Kindra Morse (04:01)
It's so interesting. So describe the difference between pursuing a path that everyone else thinks you should be pursuing because it's what will make more money versus what you've done, what you've walked out pursuing a path that feels a lot more in alignment with who you are and is also providing.

Nicole Farsalas (04:23)
Yeah, I mean, so I think when you like love something like truly one, it's not work. Two, I think it just flows better. Like naturally, like things just kind of flow better. I will say like math and science, the hardest classes for me. So it was like a struggle. Like I was naturally not good at it. And I think I worked at this one place and I'll never forget this day I was doing the rolling silverware.

And my manager was like, well, why would you go to school for something you're good at go to something you're you're not go to school for something you're not good at. And so that like made me do things that I'm not good at and I sucked at it. So I'm like, okay, I think this guy's kind of like an idiot, like no offense. And I'm just gonna like throw myself into things that I enjoy and like that I am good at. And then it started just flourishing a little bit easier, less resistance.

Kindra Morse (05:19)
So how did you get introduced to what you're doing now, initially?

Nicole Farsalas (05:27)
So I just, was waiting to take to my state boards because to be an esthetician you have to be licensed by the state. Well there's like a long process, like appointment times, whatever. And so my friend that I worked with, she's like, I work at a spray tan salon.

We do really well, it's great. So come work for us and learn. So that's what I did. And once I did that, I fell in love with it. And I'm like, screw the waxing, screw the facials. Like, this is something that is like, I don't know, at 15 minutes, you make people feel good. don't, it's not like a, honestly, like doing Brazilian waxes, that's like a lot of work and like, you know, like in people's spaces and it's not like the most enjoyable.

job, know, kind of stuck in a room. So that's kind how I got exposed to it all and kind of fell in love with it.

Kindra Morse (06:15)
So,

your salon offers multiple different services, but it started out as just for ATM.

Nicole Farsalas (06:26)
Yeah, so it was just spray tan and just makeup, which is again funny because when I moved from Massachusetts, I had to wait to switch over my license to Illinois. So it was my goal to do the waxing and all the other stuff, but.

then they didn't equivolate. I had to take more classes and do different things. So I ended up just focusing on this while I was working on my license here. And then at the same time, I had to stop doing all those other services anyways because this just really took off.

Kindra Morse (07:02)
Now you started in the basement, correct, of your home?

Nicole Farsalas (07:09)
Yes, yep, started in my basement in Elmhurst.

Kindra Morse (07:13)
So when you started, at that point, it was a means to an end to get to the other vision you had as far as the waxing and all of those other things. Or did you see it as something you wanted to offer yourself as a business?

Nicole Farsalas (07:28)
Honestly, I had an idea. I'm like, I always want to storefront. I didn't know where or like in like what we want to do. But I think I did want like more services. Like, I just, I guess I didn't realize how attainable it really was in such a short amount of time.

Kindra Morse (07:48)
Now talk about that. What do you mean by that as far as how long it took for you to become profitable?

Nicole Farsalas (07:55)
Well, no, I think I was actually profitable each like right away. I think I just didn't realize that like once you kind of start this, it kind of like snowballs like you actually become

pretty successful and pretty busy if you do like good quality work and have like, like you do the right things. Like I had reviews right away. That was something I focused on. And I learned all these little tricks with Google and different things. So ⁓ I was like, yeah, one day I'll own a salon. But in my mind, I'm like, I don't know, in 15 years when I'm older, but I'm like, I'm older now. Like this is, I have this salon. Like I've been in business for only six years and I have a product line. I have this, I have that. And I think when you're first starting out, even in school, you're like,

Like I would never own a salon, but it would be great if I do you know what I mean

Kindra Morse (08:45)
You have to become the person that owns the salon before you own the salon, but you become that person by being that person before you have it.

Nicole Farsalas (08:58)
Yeah, essentially yes. So you like it's like fake it till you make it right

Kindra Morse (09:03)
Yeah, what was the time frame between when you were doing the spray tans in your basement in Elmhurst to opening your first storefront?

Nicole Farsalas (09:15)
like two and a half, two and a half years. Yeah.

Kindra Morse (09:18)
Okay. And

when you opened the storefront, did you have a full team or was it just you?

Nicole Farsalas (09:27)
My storefront, I had probably like three to four employees.

Kindra Morse (09:31)
Okay, and were they employees when you were at your house?

Nicole Farsalas (09:37)
So I went from my house and then COVID happened and then we opened into the salon suite. So once I was in salon suite, I needed a front desk, even though we didn't have a front desk, it was just a room and then the waiting area. So this, this young girl, she started working for me as like my front desk, my answering system, my assistant, like ran and walked my dogs for a little bit. So she was like my little first employee. And then I got another spray tan artist with me.

And then I started like building a team before I even had the storefront.

Kindra Morse (10:14)
I see. So you have taken on the role of leader. Obviously any business owner is a leader. Speak to some of the life experiences that led you to know that you were meant to be a leader.

Nicole Farsalas (10:29)
I think just from a young age, I'm, I'm a natural born leader. don't quite believe in zodiacs by massage there. They're natural born leaders. I'm like the oldest in my household again, natural born leader. I think being in sports, ⁓ and also I was very shy as a kid, so I kind of got picked on actually. So I had to become this like outspoken because I started noticing like I would

not not not nice things would happen to me and then I'm like like what did I do you know and so I had to learn from a young age like no you have to stick up for yourself because no one else is going to and if you see someone else going through that struggle you got to stick up for them too so I from a young age I would see injustice like on the school like playground like somewhat like a bully picking on like the new one and I would be like no no no like we're not doing that

Like we're nice to everyone here. So I think from a young age, I think my own struggles and just like being the oldest in the house and whatever, like it's just in me.

Kindra Morse (11:30)
you

Right. Now, did you still have some sense of imposter syndrome when you started your own business?

Nicole Farsalas (11:49)
I think probably like when people like come up to me and they're like, I've heard about your salon. And I'm like, really? Like, you know, like, like, like, prominent people are like, you know, like I had, I saw a plastic surgeon for something and he asked me like, how do you do your social media? I'm like, what?

like you're like really famous and like successful like you're asking me about like social media you know what mean so I feel like like times like that when people are like like I really like like have heard of you or I admire your work or even when I went to the Dolce Glo summit like Isabelle's like I've heard of you I'm like really like that's cool you know

Kindra Morse (12:34)
awesome. Were there any books or mentors in your life that really spoke into you becoming an entrepreneur?

Nicole Farsalas (12:48)
I mean, honestly, I think I know this is so weird, but like, feel like watching, like I watching my, my ex, like, there's a lot of not good things that have happened with him. But I think watching the dedication from like that corporate world, like the finance corporate world and like attending

their summits and their things that like the spouses can attend and watching the intense work and

determination and like what how they live I Took all that in I mean some of it wasn't unhealthy But I just like did my own twist to it. So kind of watching that and be like, okay That's kind of overboard, but I can use a lot of like some of these things, know So I don't necessarily read a lot of books. I read the Bible I think maybe some of those stories like how to overcome things when everything's against you ⁓

And then also just like my past experience in work, like working for companies, like reading their manuals, reading the way that they would even train us. So I feel like that, but not necessarily like one book or like an artist or something.

Kindra Morse (14:05)
Were there any obstacles that were moments that you questioned whether or not this was the right path?

Nicole Farsalas (14:16)
Yeah. Yeah, all the time. I mean, I think the first betrayal from my employees or like, like having vendors or like other businesses I work with and then like, kind of like doing not nice things to me or, you know, like, when we were opening this place, the city was like, we're not going to pass you for inspection because of your bathroom and I had a

set up a salon in my in my garage for one month. And like it was chaos like change everything on Google. So I feel like that I'm like, am I like meant for this? Like this is like a lot, you know, but I was like, I'm like, this is like normal. ⁓

Kindra Morse (14:57)
How did you get?

It's all part of business. How did you get through those? Am I meant for this moment?

Nicole Farsalas (15:10)
So honest to God, my work ethic, like there's just something inside of you where you're like, I can't think about anything else. I have clients, they're getting married. We got to make it happen. those, those sounds and those voices in your head, you're like, okay, that doesn't really matter when there's 30 people that rely on you and need you or people that you help pay their rent. Like stop feeling bad for yourself. Like you got yourself into this.

figure it out. It's basically how I had to go.

Kindra Morse (15:42)
The bigger success you have, the bigger problems you have, the bigger scale, right?

Nicole Farsalas (15:50)
Yeah.

Kindra Morse (15:51)
But it's worth it speak to how much it's worth it. What does your life feel like? living it out

Nicole Farsalas (16:01)
So honestly, I feel like I have a lot of freedom. Like I feel like I don't remember having this much freedom like when I, well one, when I didn't work obviously, but when I work for other people, like even the fact that I can like come on here and say things that I wanna say, like I don't have a boss that's like, ⁓ like you can't say that or you can't act that way or like you can't be vocal about this or whatever. Like.

I'm in charge. like, it's so freeing that like, I want to run my business this way today, or I want to go on vacation or I want to, I want to hold classes here. Like I can do that. You know, I want, I want everyone to be happy. I want everyone to wear a certain outfit. Like I can control that. So it's amazing. But also with that comes a lot of responsibility.

Kindra Morse (16:53)
Yeah, it does. And also it takes a lot of courage stepping into being that person, right?

Nicole Farsalas (17:02)
Yeah, yeah, I don't think it's okay year one versus year six. Like did I have the nerve that I have now? I didn't, I was like, is this gonna work? Like can I spend this on this marketing? Can I do this? Like what if we get a bad review? Like now I'm like, ⁓ yeah, like you just figure it out, it's fine, you know.

Kindra Morse (17:27)
much do you feel is expected for the woman that's listening that's thinking about doing something how much should she expect to know what the plan is going to look

Nicole Farsalas (17:41)
I mean, honestly, I feel like you're never gonna know exactly. I think go with your gut, do things that seem authentic to yourself. Try to quiet out the noise, the negative noise. Positive noise we like, negative no. We don't want any of that.

But I think that really like, you don't really know the plan. I think it has to like unravel itself. But yeah, I think to be like, I want this by this time, that's setting yourself up for failure. So just kind of go with it, know, definitely write down your goals, put the right people around you. If you want to partner, find someone that compliments the things that you lack. You know, you don't, you're not gonna know everything. But.

be receptive, like this is the biggest learning process.

Kindra Morse (18:36)
It's so much more than learning the business. It's learning who you're meant to be in the world, right?

Nicole Farsalas (18:44)
Yeah, truly.

Kindra Morse (18:45)
Because

the way you're showing up in the world today is an entirely different Nicole than in 2019, correct?

Nicole Farsalas (18:55)
Yeah, yeah, I definitely think like, I have more confidence. ⁓ I feel like I feel like I have an authority to say things to people like, hey, you can create your own business, like before people will be like, okay, what do you know, but it's like, well, I've done it. And it's and it's showing. And now I can help you, you know. So yeah, I have a lot more confidence than I did in 2019.

Kindra Morse (19:25)
What does a woman need to run her own business?

I would actually, let me clarify.

Nicole Farsalas (19:31)
Well,

I think

Kindra Morse (19:35)
I want to clarify, compare and contrast the things that women think they need to run a business compared to what they actually need to run a business.

Nicole Farsalas (19:49)
Okay, so I think one people probably think you need a lot of money, but you know, I think people because I talk to women all the time, I talked to successful people that still don't know some of these things. You don't have to spend your own money in business. That's like, number one, spend like loans or whatever, get lines of credits, get investors, do that.

⁓ You don't need a lot of people around you to help you and lift you up because I didn't have that You don't even need investors because I didn't have that you don't need it It's nice if you have it and you don't need to know anything about business to be honest. I think you need to ⁓ Have a very strong work ethic and a solid mind like

Be so determined like no matter what if your day sucks your week sucks your month sucks your year sucks You still wake up and you still do what you got to do like that's truly what has to be because probably the first couple years and I'm in year six and Things are great and then things are not and then they're good and then they're not so it's not all gonna be Perfect. It's that's one thing. It's never gonna be perfect. Just go with it

every day.

Kindra Morse (21:15)
Awesome, such good advice. I want to dive into several things that you just said. When you said that you didn't have anyone cheering for you, what was that like? Did you have people around you actually naysaying you or did you just have nobody believing in your vision?

Nicole Farsalas (21:35)
Well, I think, well, one, my partner, my ex partner, like, wasn't dogging me, but wasn't supporting me. You know, once I got to a certain level, they're like, Oh, good job. That's great. So like, no one totally that's like, that's my wife. Like, that's like, yes, you know, like, no one really like that, or at least not to me.

And then like my family pretty quiet, you know, like didn't really understand it still don't understand it. Like they don't know what all this is like they don't even understand the gravity of like how I've like financed people's lives, you know, and change people's like our clients lives. So definitely in that way. And then naysayers I think like a lot of people you don't even know they're like that name. ⁓ spray tanning.

orange you know like you're like wow ⁓ so just like little comments and they're like ⁓ that's all you do like okay you know

Kindra Morse (22:38)
Well, it's amazing how they don't understand that you're creating both an impact for your clients lives in their special day, their special moment, their special trip, but also speak to what does it feel like to know that you're financing your staffs, you've built a team, you've built a business, you're financing their lives and you're a part of their journey.

Nicole Farsalas (23:02)
Yeah, I mean, I think I take great responsibility for and I always have with my staff. One, you're able to pay for your life. That's like a big thing, you know? Two, I'm teaching you things every day, like.

I talked to my staff and I tell them like I want things done a certain way and then I explained to them you guys I'm not a stickler. I'm teaching you like Discipline I'm teaching you like stuff that you wouldn't learn in school so like you're gonna take this with you to the next job and hopefully Change you like in your personal relationships at home with your own self your confidence so that I take great accountability and responsibility for like

having that much over other people, especially young people, people that are figuring out their lives. I think it's really important. I don't see a lot of people leading young girls, you know? I think if I didn't really have that, and I would kill to have what I'm doing for these people.

Kindra Morse (24:06)
How have you had any of your staff go on to create something that they're passionate about because of the impact that your leadership has had on their beliefs?

Nicole Farsalas (24:19)
Yeah, so it's kind of, it's kind of interesting. Like I feel like for me, I always wish everyone well. Obviously, if you talk to some of the people that I've worked here, they probably are like, whatever. But I like to say I'm like, I gave you a platform and I taught, I taught a lot of people a skill they didn't have before. And now whether they like me or not, they are very successful because of me.

So ⁓ I would say there's a lot of people that are now, you know, have their own places and you know, they have a different opinion about me, but they don't realize what I still did, right? Whether you like it or not, I taught you a lot. ⁓ And now you're successful from it. And then on top of that to piggyback that

There's some like I'm doing these certifications and these girls are like, you know, I'm like pouring into them and this is kind of like my passion project. Even the young girls that I hired for the front and I'm teaching them spray tanning while they're in high school and they're going to go to college. And I'm like, you guys, ⁓ I'm pouring into you. Just take it all in. ⁓ And some of these girls are starting their own businesses now and, and we're like creating this like little family, you know, of support.

Kindra Morse (25:31)
is beautiful. So I'm just curious. I know you've said X a couple times, so he's gone. And the family that did not see your vision, was there a turning point where they all of a sudden caught on and now understand what you've built? Or are they all still not clapping, not cheering for you?

Nicole Farsalas (25:52)
I think some right so like for sure like my dad he calms and hangs things and fixes the AC and does all the things like he doesn't understand beauty but he's like so proud he's like ⁓ like I know you do well he doesn't understand like for a little bit of time you know a lot of people think obviously

strangers usually think like she either got from her husband to fund the place or her parents and I got neither so my dad knows that my parents and helped me but he thought that my ex funded everything so when during my divorce I'm like don't you understand that this is all me that's when he started realizing like ⁓ okay you know and then some other people in my family like

Obviously, I offer a lot of women services like your woman it's offered free to you like use it but they Don't and I feel like it's just because they feel some type of way, you know, unfortunately

Kindra Morse (26:48)
How was it to know that your husband was financially extremely successful and yet he didn't support you in starting your own business?

Nicole Farsalas (27:00)
I mean, I always say he has watches that cost more than what it costs to start this business. I actually use gift cards. We moved into our place. They gave us like $1,500 in gift cards and I used that to buy my machines and all this stuff. And then I went back to waitressing at a place that he would have lunch and dinner and I was serving.

to fund this business and we were building like a really expensive house down the street. So even the people I worked with were like, what? Like we're confused. So it was definitely like, I thought that ⁓ it was normal. But now looking back, I'm like, that's not normal.

And no wonder why I felt it made me feel like I needed to do this more like prove to everyone even my own husband that I can do something. But it does suck like a lot of people have support financially, emotionally. And I could I always think like I probably could have been higher and had you know, better sound ideas and better help with finances like even just helping me like stay on the path because that was his industry.

Kindra Morse (28:07)
but speak to the empowerment of knowing that you were able to create this with next to nothing. And the woman listening that does not have a supportive spouse also, because yes, if you have a supportive spouse, go for it, that's great, good for you, but there's a lot of women that don't. And speak to the empowerment of, you still got this.

Nicole Farsalas (28:29)
Yeah, so I think honestly, to be honest, and I know I said it's like sucks, but I think it's a blessing. When you have no help. It's just you yourself and I right me myself and I so you have your back against the wall and you have to figure it out. So I think that should show that should show anyone that anything's possible. Like I had all the ingredients. But like none of like no one want to share those ingredients with me.

So I'm like, all right, I'll just create all this on my own. And I sure did. And now it's even better because like, I don't only realize anything, you know?

Kindra Morse (29:06)
Yes! How good does that feel? my gosh, yes.

Nicole Farsalas (29:13)
Amazing and anyone it's possible so you don't have to have all this stuff like it's literally possible

Kindra Morse (29:20)
Yeah, so how much would you say that you started out with financially? have $1,500 in gift cards to start your business. And that was about it.

Nicole Farsalas (29:29)
I mean, yeah, I think so when I moved like with my ex, I moved to a couple of states and I think I had like in my bank account, like $7,000 and then probably by the time I moved, maybe like 4500 and then 1500 and gift cards.

Kindra Morse (29:45)
Wow, that's amazing. A lot of people I think do think you need a lot of money. You need money to make money and that is not true. You need creativity, you need ingenuitiveness or ingenuity. You need to be a visionary. If you have the vision, you will source the things that you need to create that vision.

Nicole Farsalas (30:12)
It's true. It's kind of funny because to reconnect at all, I now live in the same town homes where I started my business because we had a sour house and ⁓ he moved away and I stayed to be close to the salon. it's like, wow, six years later, the old townhouse that I used to work in is across the way. And I'm like,

in the same area walking my one dog. It's like, it's kind of interesting to see, you know, I'm like, wow, so much has happened. And I remember being in that, in that, you know, room thinking like, what's gonna happen? You know, like if I just work hard, like what's possible? You know? Now I see.

Kindra Morse (30:53)
Yeah.

Yeah. Well, describe like what is a day life now you have all kinds of things going projects you're working on. What are your future plans?

Nicole Farsalas (31:07)
So my future plans right now are, we're trying to like.

push our one product into some major retailers. So kind of rebranding, changing the bottles and just the packaging, the logo, really changing that up to the next level. Creating it in a very different way than anyone else has ⁓ shown, like Sunless Tanning. So we've kind of been working on that with someone from the Netherlands, which is awesome. And then ⁓ what else? Expanding. I have some meetings with people about different

partnerships, franchising, figuring out which one's the best for us. And eventually I want to get down to Florida. So in the next couple months, I want to open something in Florida, because I'm going to be living there like part time so.

Kindra Morse (32:00)
What is the best advice you've ever received?

Nicole Farsalas (32:07)
Honestly, I think just like being a sponge, know, like just taking everything in being optimistic listening always listening to others, you know and

No one's ever told me this, but I kind of always like, say this to people like, no one's ever said, man, I wish I spent more money. I to me, I'm like, I wish I saved more. So when it comes to like business, I just in life, like, I'm always like, man, I wish I wouldn't have done that. Or, you know, I wish I saved more and said spending on stupid things and invested more in my business, you know.

Kindra Morse (32:48)
Yeah, where have you learned about reinvesting back into the business? Part of that though, I think comes from having a bigger vision because when you don't have a vision that's so big that causes you to not want to spend money on whatever, then that's what happens. Well, when you catch the bigger vision, wait, I've created this, what else could I create? Then you realize I need more resources to create that.

Nicole Farsalas (33:16)
Yeah, sure. Yeah. I mean, as you grow, you have to start thinking bigger, like, I guess back to that imposter syndrome. That's where that's one time where I'm like, ⁓ like, I have to like, create a pitch deck and like, ask like for money. And like, you know what I mean? Like, this is the time when you want to grow. You're like, ⁓ like,

people would be like, are you a franchise? I'm like, no, you think you think I'm a franchise? So then I'm like, I want to be one. like, now I'm able to talk about that. And that's what we're working on. So I'm like, ⁓ that's cool. Or like getting into big stores. I'm like, wait, it's even possible to do that. So now I'm like, all right, let's figure out how we get like the best people to design for us, the best people to fund us. Like, you know, so that's, yeah, that's like how you reinvest and just kind of thinking

on like a larger scale.

Kindra Morse (34:07)
But you have to put in the reps. You have to do the foundational basic business building activities over and over and over before you ever get to that point. And you make mistakes, right?

Nicole Farsalas (34:23)
Yeah, I think one big mistake people do is they get out of study school and I think a lot of younger people now, they're like, they see social media like, I just make a bunch of reels and I should be famous and have clients. I even had someone say, man, like it's a lot harder getting clients than I thought. She took a class of mine and then I don't know what she was thinking but.

She's like, it's a lot harder than one thinks. I'm like, ⁓ yeah, like, I was building my clients for the last however many years worse, worse year six, we're still building. It's like, you know, so I think people don't realize like, you have to do the foundation before you can do retail or product line or employees like

You know, I still do our social media. I've had other people do it, but I'm like way too expensive. I think we do it the best anyways. I'm sure I'm lacking in certain things, but no, I'm doing it. You know, cause I want to save for other things.

Kindra Morse (35:19)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. ⁓

I'm trying to think of what direction that I want to go. And it's so, I wanna pick your brain, I guess, a little bit on this. It's so interesting to go from being a person that would never even imagine, like you're talking about owning a franchise and having your products on the shelves in retail stores. Speak to the woman that's listening that can't even fathom that. What would you say to her to get the ball rolling?

Nicole Farsalas (35:59)
Honestly Each day I and I think a lot of people suffer from this like they don't know where to start Start with get your LLC or s-corporate. Whatever you want to do start there Right out each day. Okay, I'm gonna start an Instagram today. I'm gonna post five photos today I'm gonna put myself on Google today. I'm gonna inquire about the machines or whatever business go to school Sign up for the real estate class. Whatever is your thing?

Kindra Morse (36:05)
Mm-hmm.

Nicole Farsalas (36:27)
Do like five things a day. Okay, now we're gonna do this. I'm gonna tell five people about my business. I'm gonna take five spray tan clients today. I'm gonna pay for that class. I'm gonna do that. Like slowly just pick a way out. You're not gonna build Roman a day. Slowly, brick by brick. Just do the basics and then go from there, you know?

Kindra Morse (36:50)
your vision grows as you grow the business. Did you have any kind of, I know you said that you worked for someone else who had the same type of business model. So how would you encourage someone to, if you think there's a path you'd like to follow, how much would you encourage them to find a mentor that's doing what you would like to do?

Nicole Farsalas (37:17)
you

Sorry, we can edit that, right? So it's kind of interesting. So I feel like kind of finding a business model or even if you don't have a mentor, because I didn't technically have a mentor. I followed another person's business. She wasn't necessarily around.

Kindra Morse (37:22)
You're fine. Yeah, I'll totally.

Nicole Farsalas (37:46)
I was kind of following like more of the managers and like seeing what she kind of laid as the foundation. And then unfortunately, when I moved to Chicago,

she like kind of told me she does not bless my business because I didn't ask her so it kind of made me sad because deep down I thought like she was my mentor and I was like hoping to connect with her and it really like her I'm like dang like I love your business and I love paying homage to you know everything you've done but like you literally are like trying to like not be supportive so whatever so

I don't necessarily think it will be a person all the time, but it could be their idea and what they've created. And you could find other businesses like for me, like I think waxing in the city, I think European wax, I think the blowout bars, dry bar, I saw that I'm like, I want to be the spray tanning blow dry bar, like that's the level I want. So I think that's really important to kind of like see like, okay,

It's possible like the person that started dry bar People were like that's the dumbest thing ever work people are gonna pay to get their hair wash Yes, like she knew something before other people knew so I feel like she was probably so convicted like okay I want this done. I know other people want this done and that's how I felt I saw it I worked for a place in Boston where these girls were lining up like

five times booked every 15 minutes come same time for years on end. I'm like, okay, this is insane. No one would believe this unless you saw it for yourself. So I think it's important to kind of see this vision or see something kind of play out. So you are like convicted like, okay, it's possible.

Kindra Morse (39:39)
Yes, the model and it's also the problem that you're solving. You see a business model that's successful because of the amount of time and effort that you're investing in each client. But then also you see a need, right, in the marketplace. And when you, I'm so surprised that she didn't give you her blessing when you moved to an entirely different state because you're not competition. want, how much does that play a part in the way that you want to be a mentor for other people or, or

not be the same.

Nicole Farsalas (40:14)
Yeah, I mean, yes, I agree that it was I was caught off guard because one I went to school for this she was an accountant. And she just started this and so was like, Well, I let you knew that I was an ascetician and this was like what I went to school for. Also, I'm not competition. I'm in the middle of the country like nothing's the same. ⁓ mean, the same solution and stuff like that. But

you know, it's not proprietary, you know, so I feel like it sucks that that happened. But again, learning lesson, everything's a learning lesson. And it kind of geared me up to, hey, can't rely on anyone, you know, you think you have someone to kind of like play things off of, or, you know, like have support from and you don't. So I was

when it was my turn to be a mentor, I take it very seriously. I do these certifications and I'm like, very truthful. I'm like, you guys, I'm gonna tell you the good, the bad, the ugly, the ways that I've messed up like forgetting certain things at a client's house or whatever. And I want the best for you because I didn't have that and it sucks. So I just want to be there for you because I didn't have that.

Kindra Morse (41:26)
But you still did it anyways.

Nicole Farsalas (41:31)
Correct.

Kindra Morse (41:33)
I just, it's amazing how were there any moments in like having betrayal, having you set a landlord that wasn't being very helpful. Were there any moments that now you look back on and realize I didn't know that I had the strength to get through that, but I always did.

Nicole Farsalas (41:54)
Yeah, I feel like being in a lawsuit and not having support. mean, even my ex husband, you I was harassed at my job by my old landlord. I had it on camera. Like it was bad. Other clients saw it. And I remember coming home and my ex was like, didn't really care. And I'm like, dang, like people are just like really not supportive. And like I am completely on my own. So I feel like

It's definitely made me such a strong person because I didn't think I could withstand I didn't think I would even be able to handle core costs and and now hindsight, it was a prep even for my divorce, you know, because

just hitting that from like ground zero, that would have taken me out. Like I was like, I don't understand this process. You know, so I really believe like hindsight, everything kind of gears you slowly. Like the disappointment that I felt when my old boss was not supportive and sent me not nice texts about it. You know, the disappointment when I didn't feel like my family was as supportive or some of my friends were getting married and they wouldn't even use me for their spray tan and they use someone that was like shitty. And I'm like,

but you can use me and on the bat. Okay, that's fine. So it's like these slow little things and you just become stronger and stronger and stronger, but I wouldn't be able to handle that huge blow if I didn't have those little ones.

Kindra Morse (43:25)
Can you even imagine if you never stepped into the woman you've become back in the day when you took that first step?

Nicole Farsalas (43:35)
No, I I constantly think about my what like I can't even imagine my life not being an entrepreneur or being in business. Like I take great pride in like, I know what I'm talking about. I have the proof is in the pudding. The proof is in the pudding. The reviews the proof is in the pudding, you know, my clients like I've been with them since they got engaged to weddings to baby showers. It's like they wouldn't come to me for this long if I wasn't good at what I do, you know.

Kindra Morse (44:05)
But you build that foundation, speak to the woman that's listening thinking that she is not qualified to become the woman you've become and speak to the process of how you actually become her.

Nicole Farsalas (44:05)
So yeah.

Yeah, so again, I think you have to be your biggest cheerleader, you know, and anything's possible. If someone else can do it, you can do it. We have the same amount of time in the day. We all have the same amount of bones in our body. We all are just as smart as one another. No one's smarter than the other. The only thing is some people practice more more discipline. So anything is possible. Better self talk, talk, like talk yourself up.

You can have bad days, but don't stay in that. So anything is possible. You don't have to have all this stuff. I didn't have all this stuff. You don't have to be the smartest. You don't have to be the prettiest. You don't have to have the best idea. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. Just do your best. Figure out what the best in your industry is and study it. Figure out how you can be better.

Kindra Morse (45:18)
and put your own spin on it. And I love you share with this, think off camera that you wanted to incorporate more of your background from when you were waitressing and just that level of customer service. You saw a blueprint and thought, how can I make this even better by incorporating what I know about customer service?

Nicole Farsalas (45:40)
Yes, yeah, I would. remember in he's still there. There's a very famous gentleman that works for this famous steakhouse. And he's an amazing man. And he started from nothing with the company. And he is like in his 70s or possibly 80s still working talking with the clients, you know, front people love everyone knows him. And I'm like, that's what I want. I want when people come to go up, they're like, I know the

I know the girls like it's like the old school way to Greek and Italian. This is how we are. So I wanted to bring that love that passion like okay, you go to the salon sometimes and they're like, yeah, okay, take a seat. Yeah, we'll be with you like there's kind of like an attitude or like a lack of warmth in some of these places like you're just a number like yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, calls. All right, go back there. You know, and sure when you're busy that can happen at any place or when you're training new people they don't know you

know how to maybe they're too shy at the front desk but my goal is like I want you to come in and hang out hang out talk to us all day talk to us you know

Kindra Morse (46:46)
How fun I want to fly to

Chicago just to come hang out that sounds awesome. ⁓ last I will probably ⁓ Last question is what is one thing that you wish people knew better about you?

Nicole Farsalas (46:56)
Thank

I think I wish people judged maybe me on their own interaction with me. I think when you are on social media, when you have a business and you have to stick to practices and principles and boundaries, people are like, she's not that nice or she's crazy or she's hard to work for or you know, she's this, she's that and the other. But really,

Everything is for a reason or you know, you're not getting the full story, you know So I feel like that happens a lot especially women that speak up for things, you know, we're You're either crazy or you're lunatic or you need to be quiet, you know

Kindra Morse (47:51)
Yeah, how much do women need to not be quiet in your eyes?

Nicole Farsalas (47:57)
I mean, honestly, the things that I have seen and heard and just of recently, feel like we are very behind and I think we have a lot of work to do. And that's why I'm talking. That's why I'm not going to stop talking because I thought we were better in a better place. One with each other.

you know, so that's why I want to thank you for even having me in this conversation because I just said to another woman, I said, thank you for speaking my name in a room of opportunity. Because unfortunately, just within ourselves, every all women are always trying to take each other down. And I genuinely mean it. And ⁓ so one, I think we're behind in that. And I think we're behind in like business and being taken seriously by men.

Kindra Morse (48:44)
There's enough sunshine, I've said this so many times, there's enough sunshine for all of us. it's, we can all rise if we don't look at each other as competition and actually as partners in our growth, that we all have something to offer each other. share a little bit about, I know you just launched your own podcast. So listeners that want to tune in to hear more of your story, what you're looking to create, talk about what it is and what it's called.

Nicole Farsalas (49:15)
Yeah, so I'm still figuring out the name. think we, ⁓ the globe journey, I think we're kind of playing around with something like that, but it's basically just giving a platform one to like explain like who I am, my history and focus on like anything is possible. ⁓ I want to interview other people, like lawyers that are female that

you know, working because I saw firsthand, women are not taken as seriously in the courtroom and they're treated differently. I literally saw firsthand, I know I was treated differently during my you know, time in court. ⁓ I want to interview other business owners that you know, they couldn't get a line of credit because they were very successful. But they were asked like, well, is your husband involved? I mean, that happened to me, you know, like, I want to because I've been pretty open about my, you know,

I've gone through and then in my DMs like ⁓ same thing. I'm a baker. I'm this I'm that and same thing It's like let's talk about it Why why am I the only one talking about it? So I I want to have different people on and continue to talk about topics that I feel like we can all learn from and like whether you're in a career or not, maybe just at home you're like Demanding a little bit more respect from your partner or like, you know like

Have the voice after hearing a couple of different stories, like have the voice to speak up for yourself.

Kindra Morse (50:41)
You have to because like you've said several times, if you don't, no one else will.

Nicole Farsalas (50:48)
Yeah, and the people that someone told me like open mouths get fed. And that's the way it is in life. I don't I don't know what's going on in your mind. No one does. So you have to say what's going on.

Kindra Morse (51:01)
Well, I really admire you for being such a strong-willed woman and for being a person that represents change and possibility for so many women around you in your local area as well as now all over the world. So before we hop off, where can people in your local area come into your salon?

Nicole Farsalas (51:23)
Yeah, so we are across from Oakbrook Mall, 1600 16th Street in Oakbrook. We have a storefront. We offer spray tans, bridal hair and makeup event, and makeup, waxing, facials, and full service hair. So you can see us here and then we're on location as well.

Kindra Morse (51:41)
And then what are your handles on Instagram?

Nicole Farsalas (51:47)
We are glow up Chicago. So G L O U P Chicago. And then my personal I don't know, it's like a it's the glow boss with a couple underscores. So we'll have to tag that one.

Kindra Morse (52:00)
I

have the same on my podcast page. It's so hard to say the underscores. Well, I'm so thankful to have spent the day with you. I look forward to tuning into your podcast. cannot wait to see the launch and just thank you for sharing your heart with us. Have an awesome day.

Nicole Farsalas (52:07)
Yes.

Thank you.

Kindra Morse (52:19)
Thanks.