We had the good fortune of connecting with Larissa Ucles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Larissa, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
For several years I was an employee in the hospitality industry, and I felt inside me that it was time for a change. I knew that if I didn’t leave my comfort zone I wouldn’t see any changes; this not only applied to my professional life, but all parts of life. A perfect example of this is from my younger years, when I battled with being overweight and some bad habits. I was able to overcome all that with a lot of discipline, and I began to take more interest in esthetics of the body and skin because I felt great. I became very happy and proud.

I have always been very creative, and I felt confident that I was ready! I knew I was capable of working for myself, so I decided to take the risk and become an entrepreneur. You have to believe in yourself and your ability of becoming successful no matter what, to set goals and make them happen, to start making those decisions and turn your vision into reality.

I think discipline and perseverance have played an important role in my success. Something I learned in this country is the importance of being very disciplined, and since I see positive results in all aspects of my life, I get that motivation to continue to push harder. I love the power and freedom of managing my schedule, I love the pressure of coming up with new ideas, and since it is my own business I have to love it like my baby! It’s a daily challenge being creative—especially with the competitive world we live in.

My interest in the esthetics world has grown stronger over the years. As time passed, I realized I spent more time reading and researching more about this subject, so I nurtured my interest and decided to enroll in an aesthetics school and get my license.

I have to admit that being a Latina and bilingual has opened doors in this industry. My social skills and my big smile have helped a lot! (Always smile, ladies!) I owe a lot of my business growth to my discipline and dedication of taking care of my customers with passion and love.

I get lots of referrals and some clients even travel from out of state just to meet me and receive my services. I try hard to give them a feeling of trust and care—every client deserves it. I love my work and enjoy the feeling I get helping others look and feel better about themselves, and of knowing a little more about them and their lives. I also love when people tell me that they get inspired by my story; it makes me feel that my own journey has all been worthwhile.

We only have one body, so let’s try to take care of it physically, mentally, and spiritually! It’s all about finding our perfect balance. A lot of how we feel has to do with our personal image, how we present ourselves to the world, and that includes taking care of all aspects of our life. I love playing a pivotal role as a licensed esthetician in people’s lives. This allows me to help people take care of their skin and encourage them to feel better and confident.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m the owner of a spa called BeautyLab by Larissa, in Aurora, Colorado. I was born in Honduras and as an immigrant one of my biggest challenges was relocating to a new country with a diverse culture and different language. I have always felt drawn to the esthetics industry, even though in my past I worked in fields related to business administration and hospitality. I wanted a new change that was completely different, so I decided to start my esthetics education in Colorado. It wasn’t easy, there were lots of challenges, but with effort I finally obtained my license as an esthetician. God gave me this opportunity, and seizing it was the best decision I’ve made. The time had come, and after many years of saving money, and with the opportunities this country offers, it was time to take action and start my new career, to start my dream, my spa.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I still consider myself new to Colorado, and I’m still exploring new places because there’s always a new and exciting place to see. Since this would be her first time seeing snow, I would take her to a ski resort. We’d enjoy some winter sports and incredible views from our mountains. While in the mountains, I’d like to show her the Glenwood Springs hot spring pool. She also loves animals, so I’d definitely take her to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, and while we’re there I’d also take her to the beautiful and enchanting Broadmoor Hotel to relax after an exhausting day. Of course, I’d have to take her out for some good food, so I’d take her to The Fort restaurant in Morrison, and I’d introduce her to its “frontier Colorado style cuisine” and cozy atmosphere. Castle Rock is my home town, so we would spend a lot of time shopping at the Outlets, having great beer at Great Divide Brewery, and we’d get in some exercise hiking up our famous landmark rock. Colorado has so many nice activities to enjoy, delicious food, and cool places; a week wouldn’t be enough!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mom is a licensed esthetician, cosmetologist, and nurse. She inspired me to get into the esthetics industry, and she runs her own spa and has lots of passion for her work. My husband constantly reminds me to believe in myself and to push harder every day in order to achieve my professional and personal goals, and I’m so grateful for the amount of time he puts into my spa. He’s my graphic designer, my contractor, my handyman, and sometimes my male model! I had great, talented teachers and classmates from Lash & Co Education where I learned so much. They inspired me to put love into everything I do, and I learned from them to have lots of patience and dedication. I’ve had so much support from family—my granny specifically, friends, and customers who encourage me with positivity about my person and my career. I also must thank my father who worked so hard for so many years to provide me with an outstanding bilingual education in the best schools and universities in Honduras. Without his sacrifices I would not be where I am today. Thank you all!

Instagram: beautylab_by_larissa

Facebook: BeautyLab by Larissa

Image Credits
Roed Studio in photos ROED 10 JPG ROED 14 JPG ROED 17 JPG ROED 18 JPG

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.