Coffee With ChrissyInspiring Stories
The Science of Self-Esteem
Self-confessed 'science nerd' and skin care educator Terri Vinson made a life-changing decision at the age of 43. Finally At 40 finds out how she discovered that the best solutions are always the simple ones...
As founder of skin clinic Skinformation, Terri Vinson is often found catching up with her clients over a tea, or holding seminars on self-esteem issues. However, with her background in science and immunology, you would imagine her to be more at home in a white coat, or hunched over slides.
"I'm actually an absolute nerd!" she admits. "I read scientific things all the time, like books and journals, and my kids get a laugh out of that." Topping her year in her science course as an undergraduate, Terri soon realised that she didn't want to be stuck in front of a microscope all her life. "I have a love of people, and I really enjoy engaging with women and understanding their needs."
Following this innate desire, Terri worked in as account executive for marketing with Colgate-Palmolive for seven years. It was there that she learnt the ropes of business management and marketing, as well as strategic planning. After marrying and starting to raise a family, Terri moved on to the medical arena, working alongside cosmetic and plastic surgeons to help them market their business. "I was working for these amazing men who did all kinds of skincare and treatments, but knew I really should be doing it for myself," she states. "And who better to understand than a woman in her 40s, with a medical background?"
Confident in her belief that she could make a difference in some way, Terri opened Skinformation in Camberwell, a skin care and anti-ageing clinic. This was made possible with the use of covert funds she calls her 'runaway money'. "I had actually been saving this money since before I was married. I hadn't told anyone about it, but I think every woman should have their running away money, because you never know when you'll need it. My husband laughs, because now I can't run away!"
After such beginnings, it would be too obvious to say that Skinformation has been a 'runaway success'. However after only a year in business, Terri has found the response has been overwhelming. As the first point of contact for a client, the first thing Terri does is put a mirror in their hand and ask what concerns them. "When asking a client how they are feeling, it's about what THEY need." She points out that this is completely different from woman to woman, and how important it is never to assume what someone is thinking.
"It might be the simplest little thing like taking away the hair on their upper lip. If that makes a huge difference to a woman's confidence and self-esteem, then I've done my job. It's not actually about the procedure, it's how they feel about the end result," she says.
Terri also runs seminars at schools for adolescents and acne sufferers. Addressing the thorny issue of teenage self-esteem, she provides information and a variety of skin treatments such as microdermabrasion and natural products.
"I think my approach is unique, because I take a more personal approach to their needs. And women come away feeling like they've had a positive experience with the clinic." Speaking strongly about her passion for her job, Terri's favourite part is seeing someone blossom in front of her eyes. "A woman will come in with her shoulders slumped, not feeling great. After only a few weeks she'll be this amazing swan. I love that. A lot of women spend all these years nurturing their families and looking after their husbands and putting food on the table. So many times I get a client who comes in and says 'what about me? It's time to do something for me!'"
As to her life-changing experience of opening a business at 43, Terri feels she wouldn't have done it at any other age. "Honestly I wouldn't have had the confidence to do this in my thirties. I think that in our twenties we're worried what everybody else thinks of us, in our thirties we're worried about our families and our kids, but our forties we're finally confident and comfortable with who we are. That's also a big reason why women in their forties are amazing at starting a business."
Terri hopes that a few straightforward treatments can make a world of difference in making her clients feel gorgeous again. "Women of our age still want to change and tweak themselves a bit, but inside I think we've got more faith in ourselves when we feel good." After a year working in Skinformation, Terri has seen herself how women in their 40s can succeed in anything if they feel strongly enough about it.
"I have to say also that it's a great feeling to get up in the morning and look forward to my work, and know that every day has a positive outcome."
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