Inspiring the Industry: 7 Strategies for Success

by Ghada Abuhakmeh

First things first! Let's knock on some wood, people! We don’t want to jinx anything here. My puppies need their kibbles, and I would like to keep this business running for another seven years, so let’s make sure we're not tempting fate. 

Welcome to my first-ever contribution to DERMASCOPE Magazine! If you’ve never heard of me, my name is Ghada. I am the CEO and Creator of MYSKINBUDDY, a multi-benefit facial device I initially created for personal use and launched after to be used in treatment by professionals and for resale for at-home use. Being an entrepreneur is far from glamorous and not for the faint of heart. But I've managed to stick it out for this long, and I will share with you seven strategies that have helped me stay afloat. 

SUCCESSFUL SEVEN

Firstly, “Don’t find customers for your products; find products for your customers.” –Seth Godin. Before starting my business, I was fortunate to have experienced many positions in the industry, and the one that I felt gave me the most advantage was being a sales representative in the field. I went door-to-door, worked open-house events, and attended tradeshows. I listened, learned, and delivered a product I knew they would benefit from. 

Secondly, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” –Simon Sinek. My business concept and mission were to make my clients richer with little to no investment and the least stress – no minimums and high-profit margin. Dropshipping since day one and a happiness guarantee, I will work, and they shall profit. It’s a win-win situation. Scratch (or treat) their backs, and they’ll scratch yours.

Thirdly, “Don't just satisfy your customers; delight them.” –Warren Buffet. Make your clients experience the difference when they work with you. I am all about making my packages pretty. Call me Martha Stewart! I order the prettiest faux flowers and tissue paper and even print personalized messages so that they feel loved and special. Who said business couldn't be romantic? 

Fourthly, “If you want to grow, you have to do something different from the majority of people.” –Lakshmi Mittal. Instead of following the crowd, I gambled and created marketing magic instead. I didn't want to promote a product; I wanted to build a brand, a culture, and a movement. I collaborated with skin care companies, distributors, top beauty coaches, and educators. I put my clients first and made them the faces and rockstars while I put in the hours behind the scenes. You can expect to meet some of the coolest and kindest kids on the block when you join our community! Because who wouldn’t want to be surrounded and inspired by pros of this caliber? 

Fifthly, “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” –Steve Jobs. 

I used to wear every hat and lacked trust in others doing it as well as I would. But, I learned that to scale and grow, I had to let go and delegate tasks to save time and energy and direct it to focus on innovation and networking. I hired an accountant and bookkeeper, a social media manager, a graphic and web designer, and an assistant. 

Sixthly, “The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.” –Zig Ziglar. Trust is vital to maintaining business longevity. When it comes to my business or personal life, I live by doing the right and fair thing. Our customers can count on us to always have their best interest and put them first. I do not discount and will never undercut them in pricing. Every customer, representative, or distributor is never taken for granted because my company wouldn’t be here without them. 

Lastly, “Without hustle, talent will only carry you so far.”–Gary Vaynerchuk. To stay in business, you must remain in motion. Work hard, continue to grow and change, and most importantly, set habits and be disciplined. Celebrate every success, no matter how small. 

In the words of Howard Schultz, “Success is best when its shared.” I love inspiring my industry friends to step into the uncomfortable and watch them fly. I hope this inspires you to do something different and leads you to your unique magic. Let us all spread more love and success! 

Love, Ghada.