Celebrating Two Years In Los Angeles...

2 years ago on December 2nd, 2023, I moved to Los Angeles to align with my dreams and passion of being a full time artist. As I reflect on the last 2 years, I am proud that I took the leap of faith and I am so grateful for my close friends who  encouraged me to do so when I had my doubts. Being an entrepreneur has challenged me in ways no one warned me about and things have not gone exactly how I imagined. However, the beauty of my journey so far has been its unpredictability and I wanted to share these 5 lessons that have helped me navigate the unknown in hopes of helping someone else on their path. 

SHOW UP EVERYDAY- This is non-negotiable. Having worked in a corporate 8-5pm setting for over a decade, I created a framework that would allow me to be as productive working for myself as I did in my past jobs. I treat myself with the same respect as I treated all my previous companies. In my new normal, that looks like getting adequate sleep, good hydration and nutrition because when I am not painting, I am teaching hot yoga full time. Being a full time fitness instructor has made me set healthy boundaries for myself that keeps me on track to my goals. I have a never ending to-do-list and everyday I do something on that list as mundane as fixing the bed, taking out the trash, or physically taxing as teaching 3 hot yoga classes, or painting for 3 hours. Showing up everyday is non-negotiable. 

FACE TO FACE IS KING- I learned early on in my journey here in Los Angeles that the art world is an inside-out world and it’s very challenging to solicit your way in. I spent my first couple months using my sales skills to prospect and reach out via email to many galleries to no avail. I then decided to attend a new gallery opening every week during my first year to network, support other artists and meet curators. When the emails weren’t being answered, I didn’t sit at home waiting. I took initiative and attended shows where I could meet the right people in person, get to know them and allow them to get to know me. This landed me in a group show in November 2024, and confirmed something I already knew: face to face is still king. Create your own opportunities by showing up in person.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO PIVOT AND KEEP AN OPEN MIND- Although the group show was a great intro to the art scene, I didn’t sell any art at that show and haven’t quite found my target buyers yet. Instead of mulling over lack of art sales, I chose to engage with another passion that could provide me immediate revenue to pay the bills: hot yoga. Prior to moving to LA, I had been practicing hot yoga since 2018 and got certified in 2022 in San Jose, California. The studio there was eager to have me teach after being certified, but I wasn’t ready yet. Fast forward to the evening of December 8, 2023, on my way to go workout when I stumbled across a “Now Hiring” sign on the window of the Hot 8 Yoga studio in Woodland Hills, CA and I knew then I was ready. My life circumstances had changed, I didn’t have a steady income, I had a flexible schedule, I needed to make some money doing something I love to do-that was and still is important, I wanted to meet likeminded people who believe in investing in their health and wellness, and I believed I could help make those people better with my skillsets and knowledge. I started teaching in March 2024 and 21 months later, I am selling out hot yoga classes across 3 studios in LA with a cult following of Hollywood A Listers, elite athletes, business moguls and more. I could have never imagined the success I am having given that I didn’t move to LA to be a hot yoga instructor. However, teaching hot yoga is an art form in the way that I build my sequences for my classes, create my playlists, and curate memorable experience in each class. It may not be the art I thought I’d be doing but it’s the art form that is bringing me the most success at the moment. I believe this is art form that will open doors for my other art form and more. 

SAY YES TO BEING UNCOMFORTABLE- Comfort is the enemy of growth. In order to build the following I have across the 3 yoga studios I mainly teach at, I have subbed hundreds of classes all over town, opening 6am classes, closing 8:30pm classes, many times teaching multiple classes a day. I was a new teacher in town and for people to know who I was, I had to get in front of them as much as possible and show them what I could  do. My goal was to say yes to everything that made me feel uncomfortable and made me grow. That mindset still applies today.

BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOURSELF- Choosing to resign from my former job that no longer sustained me was the first step. Although I tried to resist leaving because I was comfortable there. I knew everyone in the organization. I was making decent money. I thought I would spent the rest of my career. So, the thought of starting over was scary. However, what was scarier was unreached potential and an unfulfilled life because of fears of not believing my dreams were worth betting on. By moving to LA, being intentional about doing the things that set my soul on fire, I am meeting the most amazing people and building a solid community based on mutual respect. The possibilities of where this journey could go are endless and so I’ve released expectations and I’ve chosen to live in the present and show up everyday. Let’s see what year enfolds. Stay tuned.