One super long and slightly vulnerable introduction to the 'blog by Ruby'

2010 Ruby is shaking in her boots right now, a BLOG! A blog!! For a long time I have felt I have so much to say and so much to share but have been lacking the ability (or the time) to edit videos and share via Tiktok or Instagram. It is simply too much work. Also talking into a camera is awkward. I am simply not confident or technologically savvy enough for video content. Blog it is! 

I have been thinking a lot lately about the growth of my business and what I want to do with my life as of late. I got married March this year and leading up to the wedding I was able to push down any existential thoughts with ease- I had a wEdDiNg to plan, no time to think about the future or literally anything else. I really didn't think that planning a wedding would be so thought consuming but I was so, so wrong. Well it's over now! We did it, it's done, it was great. Enter the existential dread. 

What. Am. I. Doing. 

I own a facial studio in Phoenix, Arizona. It has been very successful, I am very grateful! I have the most lovely clients in the world and a waitlist full of perspective clients who want to get in. Since day one my plan has been to expand, open the best spa in Phoenix, train a team of girls to perform stellar facials, and have the chic-ish most gorgeous retail space with the most effective and well researched products, and essentially just girl boss myself to the top. And I still want that! Kinda. Something isn't right. Something doesn't feeel right. I don't really know how to describe it, my obsession with growing my business no longer resonates the way it used to. And just like that, I came back to work after my wedding and my entire identity and all I ever wanted began to crumble. 

For the past two years I have been in the motion of opening a multi room facial studio. Like, I was fr fr doing it. I had been working with architects and interior designers and hiring lawyers to look at leases, I had invested in over $15,000 worth of work on the project. It was really happening!! ...But something wasn't right. It was kinda like I was on autopilot for the entire past year, just pure tunnel vision, but the moment I was able to take a step away and really think about how an expansion of this size would impact my life I knew I needed to do something. The amount of work it would require, the financial commitment, the constant need to train and hire and manager and delegate and and and.... the list goes on. Don't get it twisted, I truly believe this project would have been successful, I would have made sure of it- but at what cost!!!!! It was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make but I did it, I decided to call it off.  

I *love* what I do, but I no longer crave domination (ha) or taking on the responsibility of caring for a team. Both are an insane amount of responsibility and I really don't think it's selfish to say but tbh I just want to take care of me! I want to snowboard! I want to have dinner parties! I want to travel! I want freedom! The skincare world is a fast paced industry, full of insanely passionate and inspirational people. There is no ceiling on how far you can go, the possibilities and directions you can take are literally unlimited. Honestly it's so fuckin cool. 10/10, if you have a passion for skincare and enjoy speaking to people, the esthetics industry is the space for you. All this is to say, I thought I knew what wanted, but I changed my mind. I had a bit of an ego death after the wedding (in more ways than I can get into on this blog, too personal sry), and I realized that I don't need to prove anything to anyone. Skin by Ruby is successful, my clients are happy, I am happy. This is enough. 

JK on that last part lol. 

I'm so full of shit, I'm totally going to keep growing and expanding the business, and eventually I will find a new gorgeous home. I'm an ambitious girl who just had some time to think and decided to spice up her life plan. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do but in the meantime while I'm figuring it out?? I'm gunna bloggggggg baby BLOG 

Prepare for a lot of education, a lot of opinions, and a photo series that I'm realllly excited to get started on. I don't expect too many people to keep up with the blog but I'm really excited to use it as a creative outlet and rant. If you've made it this far thank you I luv you and talk to you soon xx Ruby