Shannon King, owner of Lemur Beauty and Wellness, shared her journey from a healthcare administrator to a Med Spa owner. Initially compromising her values, she transitioned to nursing and later to esthetics, driven by her passion for patient care. Shannon highlighted the lack of diversity in the medical esthetics industry, noting only 4% of U.S. healthcare providers are Black. She emphasized the importance of subtle, tasteful treatments tailored to diverse ethnicities. Shannon also discussed her efforts to promote inclusivity, including participating in Allergan’s diversity campaign and advocating for better representation in marketing and education.

Transcript

This is medical millionaire the podcast, helping your Med Spa increase in status, visibility and profitability. Join your host as he dispels myths, shares trends and gives you actionable steps today that will take your medical practice to the next level. Here’s your host, expert marketer and founder of growth 99 Cameron Hemphill,
Hey, everybody. Cameron Hemphill, here your host for medical millionaire. Hey, first off, thank you so much for taking the time to tune into our podcast. Our goal is to give an incredible value and insight into the medical spa market, and today we have a very exciting episode for you. In fact, we have Shannon king with lemur beauty and wellness with us, and I’m going to turn the time over to Serena and have Serena go ahead and conduct a formal interview so we can learn about Shannon, learn about her career and how she’s gotten where she is today. So Serena, I’ll turn the time over to you.
Shannon, thank you so much for joining us on medical millionaire, obviously you and I have had a couple of conversations about the industry and how you got your start and your history and your all of the things that you’ve done to be where you are. But I don’t know that our listeners know that story. So if that’s something that you kind of want to start us out with and share, I’m sure other people would love to hear that too.
Of course, I’d love to my name is Shannon King, and I am the owner of lemon year beauty and wellness, a upscale Med Spa located in Norco, California. We offer all things beauty, all things wellness and esthetics. And with regard to how I got started, I actually got started in healthcare in 2006 I spent the first 10 years or more of my career as a healthcare administrator working on the operations side and administration. I actually work for a large managed healthcare organization in the United States. And my career there was, you know, I was, it was ascending. I set a goal to achieve by age 35 and, you know, I acquired that goal. And so I felt like, wow, this is it. I’ve made it. You know, I was making really good money. I had a very prestigious title, and I found myself really compromised. I found myself really compromised, compromising my morals, compromising my my values, as not just an employee, but also as a mother, as a wife, as a friend, I was just super consumed with working at this organization. And you know, it’s one of those organizations that they want you to sift the Kool Aid, right? And, you know, believe that everything is you know, what you know, the way they want you to believe it is, you know, flowers and candies and all that kind of stuff. But it wasn’t so I was faced with a challenge, because this was a goal that I had worked for, you know, I wanted to make, you know, these six figures and have this title, and I’d gone to school to become a healthcare administrator, so I had a bachelor’s degree that I worked my butt off for while I was in management, and then I found myself no longer in love or passionate about it, and what I was really passionate about was actually caring for my patients. So I am a mom and a wife. So my husband and I talked about it, and with my husband and six kids in tow, I returned to school to actually do something that I was more passionate about, which was actually providing care for patients. So I went back to nursing school, and about just before COVID, about a year before COVID, I started looking into esthetics, because I would circulate at plastic surgery centers as a nurse, and I just loved it. I was so excited about it. I couldn’t wait for the patients to wake up and to see the results, like, yeah, so excited about it. And so I took that same energy and, you know, determined what I could do as a registered nurse. Obviously, I can’t do surgery. I can’t do, you know, lipo, or all those kind. Things where people would wake up and be so excited, but I could contribute to their wellness and their own peace of mind and security by offering some of these esthetic services. So I started learning about esthetics. I went to every class possible that I can get my hands on, and then COVID hit. After COVID hit, I was still doing the same thing. As far as you know, it kind of just solidified my desire to not work in the hospital setting. I have a kid that has asthma, and on a regular basis, I was stripping in the garage, like everyone else you know, and running straight up to the shower. It was just a really stressful time to be a healthcare provider or to be a first responder. So I made sure that I had plans in place to, like I said, move into a different direction. I am a predominantly a labor and delivery nurse, so it’s kind of my thing happy nursing. And so esthetics was right in align with that happy nursing as well. So yeah, I started looking for jobs, and that became not just because I didn’t have the two years of experience that most employers were looking for, but I started running up against the challenge of being told, you know, I wasn’t quite right, or you know They weren’t sure if their patients would trust me. Although I was extremely polished and, you know, had a stellar resume, they just weren’t sure if I would be the right person to deliver these types of services. Wow. So with that frustration in mind, I decided to, like I told you before, you know, they wouldn’t give me a seat at the table, so I decided to make my own Yeah, and so here I am, a year later. We, you know, again, my husband, my life partner, my you know, couldn’t do this thing without him. We decided to establish a practice, and I was able to get the support of, I’ve actually had two medical directors thus far, and both of them have been
African American. And so it was just, it was just the way the moon’s aligned and it’s it’s been so far a really great run that’s remarkable. Thank you for sharing that for everyone to hear. Obviously, it wasn’t the path that you were hoping for, but it’s a path that took you to another level, right, like, to reach the additional goal that you had made after already, like, shattering the goal that you had by the time you were 35 which is incredible.
Yeah. Thank you so much. That was, yeah. I mean, you know, sometimes you know you have to change up. You know, you have to switch and, um, you have to be, you know, nimble enough to be able to know when you need to make moves and real enough to acknowledge when
you know it’s not working for you, right? Yeah. What do you think? What do you think your reasons are for being a little bit of a divide in that, or there not being the diversity that may be in other industries, versus what the diversity level is in medical esthetic space.
Well, first of all, I think we need to acknowledge that there’s a lack of diversity in medicine in general, with the percentage of minorities as healthcare providers being I believe the last time I looked it was around 4% Of all healthcare providers in the United States were black, wow. So when you start there, and then you break us up into specialties, then that number is going to dwindle, you know, even further. And so when you look at that. It doesn’t make for a wide path for those that are traveling down that road, so to speak. So I think where this, you know, the lack of diversity, if we talk about going back to basic. Is that, in general, the services were not created with people of color, in mind, fillers, Botox, things of that nature. They were created and established for
wealthy white women, and so that’s who could afford them, and that’s who they the major manufacturers contribute, you know, they they cater to, with regard to their marketing, branding, things of that nature, right? Yeah, I have, you know, in terms of, I guess it started with hair, right? And I am mixed race, and so in my experiences, it has been people want you to choose, are you black? Are you white? Like, there’s no, I’m both, right? And so yes, with Yes, the hair type, it is, like pink, the pink lotion doesn’t necessarily work for me the same way that may work for somebody else. And so I think that in terms of just my personal experience, that would be just as a child, like people don’t know what really what to do with your hair, as as having a white mom and a black dad, like they’re gonna do it differently. And so then that evolves into, as you get older, people want you to make that choice, or in terms of like, where you are in medical esthetics, I wouldn’t have known, had I not gotten involved in in those services or treatments myself, that there is a little bit of a disconnect in where those are designed for a specific race or skin color,
and how that may affect people of color. Yes, yes, I apologize, Serena, as we’re doing this podcast, I’m at home, and the gardeners came in, and so my dog was back there.
It’s real life, right? It’s what.
Yes, this is real life. So I apologize for that, but yes, I completely agree. It definitely starts with and I think that is probably more indicative of people of color. We spend more money on esthetics than any other culture, but it is by way of hair, which is a big, big deal, that’s a whole podcast in itself, right? Um, not embracing our natural dresses, our texture. Um, you know, making ourselves believe that what was God given is not enough. So, like I said, that’s a whole nother podcast. But yes, there were not necessarily, I know, when I was growing up, there was very limited products available for girls with curly hair. And so, yes, my texture of hair is very similar to your own. And so when you have the the, you know, finer, curlier hair, then you know, every product doesn’t work, and you’re kind of stuck in the middle where, you know, the products that are designed for the kinkier hair are a little too heavy, and then the products that are designed for very fine, straight hair are not enough. And that’s kind of where we were with esthetics, as far as you know, that’s where you get the botched looks, right? Because, although we have full lips, they may be a little asymmetric, and you might just want to add a little to, you know, add some symmetry, or add a little bit of volume. That doesn’t mean you have to blow them all up as if you had no lips at all, you know. Or the same thing with Botox, you know, we’ve come a long way. The industry has come a long way in itself. You know, the fake frozen look is no longer you know what people go for, targeting, but finding your space, if you don’t know, if you don’t see your reflection, then you can’t be inspired. And so I think that is, um, you know, why I stand on this soapbox today, is just to allow others to see their reflection in me and hopefully inspire more, inspire other nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, people of color in general, to get into the industry. Don’t be afraid of it, and make it one of our own, even though it was not necessarily created with us in mind. I Yes, I completely understand that. I. I think that representation is incredibly important, whether it’s for younger generations or our own or older. I know that for me in particular, I have a daughter, and she has known for years. She’s 10. She’s known for years she wants to be a physician. She wants to be a veterinarian.
But obviously, you know, there are few of color, and it actually was one. It’s one of my favorite stories with growth 99 the way that things have progressed in that when I first started working with Cameron, I worked with Audrey rose, and it was a story that I was telling my husband, and I’m like, you know, she’s a provider, she’s awesome, she’s fierce, she’s a woman of color, and my daughter hears and she latches on to that, right? You know, she sees me, but I’m just mommy, right? I’m, you know, I’m a business woman, but I’m Mommy. And then I meet you, and then I bring home one Shannon King on an am spa magazine. And I’m like, Harper, look at this. And she’s just so encouraged by seeing someone that looks like her, people who look like her in the capacity that you’re in. And I think that I know it’s pretty cool. I think that that’s just very inspiring. And so my question to you is, how have you embraced other people of color in the medical esthetic space, also to piggyback on that, how have you been embraced by people who are who don’t look like you, just in terms of bringing that awareness to the forefront of
people’s minds. Well, to answer the first portion of it, how have I embraced others? I think it’s just so
it’s almost like a natural.
It’s almost instinctive that when I attend a medical show or an event where you know perhaps one of the product producers are putting on, you know, education. It’s almost like we’re just kind of naturally drawn to one another, because there’s so few of us in the crowd. So, you know, you come into, like any other event, you know, you come into a room, you scan, I mean, you scan the room, and you see, am I the only one? Or, you know, is there someone else that looks like me? And if there is, you’re like, oh, okay, well, that’s nice. And of course, you know, I always make an effort to go over and speak and introduce myself, and, you know, hopefully make a connection by way of social media, or, you know, text messaging, or what have you so. And then I always try to be supportive to the next person. Because although my business is one year young, I am a year ahead of someone else, you know, that may have just started. And again, my business is one year young, but I spent many years as a healthcare administrator, so I do know the ins and outs of Operation very well as far as healthcare organizations go. And when you think about a med spa, it’s really a little mini healthcare organization that you’re establishing. So I always try and connect and, you know, make sure that I make some kind of impression. I’ve been received very well. I’m in several I’ve been received, you know, by other women of color very well, and other people of color met several private Instagram groups, and, you know, things like that, targeting one another and supporting one another and trying to offer each other solutions. Because, you know, it’s almost like the secret society that happens, you know, and right, yes, yes, yeah, yeah, you know. It’s like, if no one tells you you don’t know, you know. So one of the people that have embraced me that’s been in the game for a while, I just recently met Audrey rose, and she was really sweet. I met her at the esthetic next in Dallas. Yeah, she’s lovely. Yeah, she’s really sweet. So, you know, I look forward to working with her, and, you know, doing some training and just staying in communication with her. That was amazing. Another person that I’ve, you know, made acquaintances with, and we, you know, contact each other on the regular kind of trying to support is Janelle MP. She’s here in Beverly Hills, and she’s done an amazing job of establishing herself in the industry. She’s actually has an office in Beverly Hills, and so, yeah, it’s, I mean, the support is definitely in existence. We acknowledge the need to stay in communication and, you know, share with one another. You know, the things that we come across, because if you don’t share it, then you probably, you know, the other person may not be aware of it, right? So that’s been amazing. And as far as you know, other non black or non people of color, I mean, for the most part, now that I’m in my space people you know are welcoming. I do where my office is located is, I mean, I’m in Southern California, so we’re a melting pot of culture, but it is, if I dare say, a predominantly white city, and my clients are mixed, you know, as far as mixed meaning of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders, and I’m so grateful to that I’ve been received very well from the community thus far. And I couldn’t be more happy about that. I’ve not had any problems, so to speak. Other people in the industry have also been welcoming for the most part. I think there is a presumptuous kind of position that people non non African Americans or even non minorities, you know, take a position that, oh, well, let’s just do this, or we’ll just do that. You know, I talk about, you know, improving business, and, you know, oh, we’ll just go get a loan. Go, just do this. Go, just do that. And it’s, it’s not as equally offered to, I would, you know, yes, people of color and to women, yes, you know. So it’s not, I don’t know. I think it’s an ignorance, not a purposeful intent of malice, but there is an ignorance to that. Statistics will tell you that people of color and women of color are not as likely to be able to acquire business loans and some of the other resources that other people are able to acquire. I would agree. I think that that education lacks just in terms of being directed toward women or people of color. I think that there is a lot of room to grow in that regard. And I think that there are people in the industry who work specifically with medical esthetics that of color, who have done a good job of helping to educate or be a resource for people
to obtain that have a little bit more of like financial intelligence in that regard. But yes, I think that there is a lot of room for growth.
Thank you for listening to medical millionaire. I wanted to take just a few short moments and tell you all about growth 99 University. Naturally, if you’re listening to medical millionaire, the success of your Med Spa is extremely important to you, and as it should be. And if you’re listening to medical millionaire, you are obviously looking for the best, most effective ways to take your Med Spa to the next level in both profit and customer success, enter growth 99 University ranging from online education courses all the way to the full suite of marketing and web services. Growth 99 has your Med Spa covered. No matter the challenges that you’re facing, we are ready and able to help you achieve your next level in business, profit and freedom to inquire about all of our support services and products, please visit growth 90 nine.com and while you’re there, click the university link and check out the companion course to This very podcast. Back to the show.
I agree. I agree.
Like I said, I still am
educating myself and working with others, and that too. Serena, I think is a I think we should be transparent. This is not a cheap. Industry, right? And so I paid a lot of money out of pocket, out of my own pocket, again, because, you know, some of the loans and things are not as easy to acquire, and then just not having someone to walk you through that path. You know, if you’re the first person in your family that is,
you know that has become an entrepreneur,
you gotta kind of figure things out, yeah, you know, as you go along, so and like I said, that’s fine. You are going to make some mistakes along the way, but that’s why it’s important to share those mistakes and communicate and coach others. As you develop and you learn and you become successful and you successfully get over an obstacle, then you can, you know, share and teach others to do the same thing. I would agree, but yeah, but yeah, I look forward to, as far as you know, sharing with others. I don’t think that most of the time it is with, you know, any ill will or intention that people say things or do things. I just think that they don’t recognize it and that they don’t, you know, know that it’s an issue. I agree. I think it’s a matter of you don’t know what you don’t know. And I think, yes, where awareness is important, and speaking on things exactly like this is important so that people are like, Oh, I didn’t think of it that way. And then they become more aware of how they approach specific situations, or how they can be more inclusive. Absolutely, that’s actually what ended up happening and how I connected with and spa. I did attend the Med Spa show last year, and when I attended the Med Spa show last year, there was a diversity talk, and the diversity talk had all of the best intentions, but it just didn’t come off well with some of The attendees. And so I noticed Alex in the hallway thereafter, and I I approached him, and like I said, he had one of those looks on his face, like, want to get away, yes, but he was shrinking, you know? And so I approached him, and I just said, you know, so you know, how are you, you know? And he was like, Okay, can I ask you? Was that weird, you know, have you? And so we kind of just talked from there, and my willingness to discuss with him in an educated fashion. Why Some may have been concerned with that talk led to us having our own podcast conversation as well, because he did want to get more insight, and admittedly said these are not things that he thinks about as a white man, right? You know, like that’s, that’s not something that he thinks about and that it was insightful for him, you know. And so I shared with him, you know, some of the things that I observed during the conference. One of my big soapbox things is, you keep hearing in our industry, community over competition, that’s a theme that runs throughout this esthetic world, as people are sharing information back and forth. And so I just want everyone to be mindful of what that community looks like. That community doesn’t just look like blonde hair and blue eyes, that community looks like, all hair, all colors of eyes, all genders, you know, all ethnicities, all races. Community is just that, right? And so that should be reflective throughout all of the conferences, all of the media, all of the, you know, communications, because we’re all here. I mean, there’s so many LGBTQ, I A plus providers in the industry, that why not have a representation, you know, why not be able to say that?
You know they deserve a stand on a flat platform as well. My job as an esthetic provider is to make people feel more beautiful, and who else needs it more than. Let’s say a transgender transitioning from a male to a female, wanting to soften her features so that she is more readily accepted in her skin and comfortable. Yeah, yeah. I think that comes from a place of love, too. I think that and passion in what you’re doing, right? And I think just kind of to touch on Alex really quickly, like growth, for sure, comes from being uncomfortable, and I’m imagine that moment to be uncomfortable for him, but how big of him in that to take the opportunity to learn and want to understand? Okay? Why? Why was this uncomfortable, or why was this awkward? And then how can we as an entity, do better? I think that that’s that’s kudos to you, Alex, that’s great. But I also find just in your example of someone who is in their transition, how do you educate your patients of color. How is that different? Whether that be their color, their orientation, do you go about it differently, or is it is now this continuity of care? Yeah, I just I care for my patients holistically. And so what that means for me is, you know, involving
their mind and their spirit as well as their physical body. So most of my clients are probably 80% women that come in. And so most of my clients are women that just need to be given permission to do something for themselves and to not worry about what someone else is thinking and to invest tangibly, financially and time, because that’s not something that we as women of any color are given permission to do by society so many expectations of, you know, motherhood, a career and the or are you going to be a business woman, or, you know a mom? Or are you going to have a career? Or are you going to raise your children, you know? So that’s what, like I said, I spend most of my time doing. And then there is an extra educational piece when it comes to women of color, to say, you know, I’m not gonna have you walking around looking like you just stepped off a botch, right? You know my you know my Asian population, they’re very, very happy with very subtle results and just those small improvements to, let’s say, the bridge of the nose, adding a little height to it, but not trying to change the way that they look is so exciting, you know, for that population. Or, you know, just smoothing out the lips and adding a little bit of filler, but not blowing their lips up to where, you know, they walk in the room and someone’s going to ask them, what did they have done? The same thing for black women, we tend to have a lot of hollowing under the eye as we age in the temple area and explaining to them that you do not have to end up looking like the worst version of Little Kim, you know, right, your face, you know, overly filled. And so I think that’s also one of the challenges, is that, you know, we have people that have just excessively overdone it and left a bad taste in in our mouths as a culture, and we don’t necessarily look at people look at Beyonce, and they believe that she’s done nothing, right? Shannon, tell me, has she Yes, oh, absolutely. You can look at some of the and, I mean, I’m, don’t give I’m a I’m a beehive, don’t get me wrong. But you can look at some of her photos, you know, after she’s had her babies, and that’s the ones that really kind of help, because, you know, we don’t do esthetic services while you’re pregnant, you know. So you can look at some of those pictures and see that definitely she gets, you know, Botox or Dysport, you know, because immediately after, there’s a lot more motion going on in her face, or even during her pregnancy versus, you know, when she’s on tour. You know, like I said, some of that, that hollowing around the temples that was also evident, and so, and these are all the normal. The paths of aging that none of us are exempt to. But when they’re done tastefully, you never know, right? Yes, and people always no one believes next month I will be 46 years old that would, I wouldn’t ever believe that. No, no one believes that I would that I’m almost 46 years old, and I’ve had procedures done. I’ve done things to my face as well, but they’ve all been tastefully done so that I don’t look overdone, right? To give that natural enhancement rather than just like you said, overdone, I think that’s that’s it great. And I use myself as an example, because people are always like, Oh my gosh, you you know, you look great, and I’m really grateful and flattered by it, but I let them know, like, yes, good genetics does play a part. Let’s not pretend like that’s not the case. I will not discount that.
However, I’ve had a little help along the way, and I’m okay with that, yeah, and I think that’s encouraging too, to be able to say I have had help, but I feel great, you know, like, and I’m okay to say that to other people. I think that’s yeah, awesome. Yes, yes, absolutely. And so when I my clients in the chair, and they’re like, Well, what have you done? And I go into everything that I’ve done, and and they’re like, oh, okay, yeah. And then the biggest thing is like, Okay, well, does it hurt? Yes, exactly. And I think it helps remove that stigma of the whole quote, unquote, I had work done, because when you look like you haven’t, then why wouldn’t you want to? You know, absolutely, yeah, absolutely. I think that that’s great.
I have a couple two more questions for you. Shannon,
how do you plan on
helping the industry be more inclusive?
Well, I am knocking at every door that will have me with regard to, you know, large being able to be impactful strategically with large audiences. So I did recently attend a round table for Allergan, where they have started a new campaign of inclusion. And, you know, I was able to, yes, it’s amazing. I apologize right now, Allergan, I cannot think of the name of it, which is terrible, but
the Allergan campaign is
dream the dream campaign, they are making efforts to be more inclusive as far as images and marketing and things of that nature. And so that was a great round table to attend. I believe they’re doing a couple of them across the United States, to be able to speak to people, not just of color, but you know, anyone that is in in interested in trying To even out the playing field, if you will. So, yeah, I attended that Allergan round table, and then, you know, Gal Derma has their game tour, and they have done a great job of enlisting various providers of color. But I’m also going to be speaking next year during that same conversation, that diversity conversation that made Alex kind of shrivel up. We have a great panel coming up for the Med Spa show in February. I did see that I’m looking forward to that. That’s something that I definitely want to listen to. Yes, yes, I’m excited about that. And then, like I said, you know, I’ve been reaching out to all companies, all of my reps, letting them know that I am interested in, you know, making any efforts, speaking to any and everyone that will hear me about educating people on it’s okay to have these conversations, and if we don’t have them, they’ll continue to be the elephant in the room. The more that we have them, the easier they will flow, the more we will grow as an industry. So you know, I, you know, am looking forward to working with all of the manufacturers. Like I said, I’m constantly banging on doors, sending emails, talking to as many people as I can, to just let people know, because some of us are not as willing to express our. Concerns, and I am, I’m willing to express the concerns and be the voice of representation for any and everyone that needs to be included. I’m glad you are.
It was, it was a joy to talk to you in Dallas and meet you. And one of the things that I think has helped us, just as a company too, is the conversation about making sure that we have images of people of different ethnicities. Yes, I think that that is, as you said, it is something that you know, many of the images that we that we have that are not directly provided by our clients are people who are not in like, are not, you know, are not of color. Yes, trying to find the right way to say that. And so I think being more mindful of how, in terms of marketing, we represent all colors, all orientations, that we represent all is very important, and I think that that has been a conversation that we’ve had more internally. So thank you for that, too.
Thank you for the platform and listening like I said, anyone that that wants to listen. I’m definitely here to talk to him about it. I love it. Um, my last question, what would Shannon today say to let’s say 10 year old Shannon,
oh, wow, that’s a big one. Right?
An existential question, right?
Buckle up tight.
Yeah? I just, you know,
I go back and forth because, like I said, I’m almost 46, years old, and a part of me is honestly frustrated, or I get frustrated with myself saying I should have done this, you know, 10 years ago, um, or I should have done this, you know, here, there or whenever. But then I also sit back and reflect that, um, had I not had those experiences, and it would not have prepared me for the mission that I’m on today. So again, I would just tell her, girl, Hey, hang on. Be just strapped in your seat belt, because we’re gonna go through some things, but hopefully we’re gonna, it’ll be worth it all in the end. And you know, I’m, I’m very grateful to God for the position that I’m in today. And it’s not easy, you know, I’m still trying to build clientele. Anyone that’s in a business knows that after, you know, I feel like, right now, the honeymoon phase is over, and it’s time to get to work even more. Like I said, I’m in the second year of business. Our first year was July 31 and so now it’s time to grind, and it’s not easy, and I still get frustrated with, you know, a lot of things in the business, but I think all the things that I’ve gone through before and that I’m going through are helping to prepare me and put me in the position that I need to be in to be successful. Yeah, yeah. So you tell that little veterinarian at the house to keep going. Another thing we have in common, I do have a 22 year old college student, and she’s going to school to be a veterinarian. I love that. Oh, I’ll have to share that with my girl. She will, she’ll be so happy. That’s amazing. Yes, Miss Harper, you keep going at it. And you know, even my 22 year old has had her ups and downs. You know, she is a college athlete and going through COVID and, you know, having to come home from school and just all a red tape around that has set her graduation date back, I think, by like, a year. But, you know, just keep on, keeping on, keep pressing. She’s a student athlete, so it’s not an easy, you know, tasked to juggle, yeah, athletics in school. But she’s keeping at it so hard for you, keep at it as well, and you will be that veterinarian that we need to see in the world. I love that. And hats off to your girl.
Um, six, six kids, right?
Yes, yes, I have one. My oldest child is my bonus daughter. She came with my husband at a year old, and she’s now 26 and then I have a 22 year old, and I have 15, 14, 12 and 11. Wow. And you and you do it all. You don’t have to choose. Yes, you do it all. I don’t have a choice, right? They don’t at all. You don’t have a choice. You know, it’s no secret, raising these kiddos is not free, so you have to, you know, do something to contribute and make a living. And why not do something that is not going to kill you in doing so, and I don’t mean physically, as in, you know, the danger of it. I mean kill your spirit, you know. And so that’s been the, probably the biggest, I think that’s what I would tell 10 year old Shannon, is that just keep your spirit alive. Don’t let anything kill you, and it’s okay to change. It’s okay to make moves. I originally wanted to be a veterinarian, and I made that change due to some other life decisions and choices, but it was okay, yeah, you know. So here I am. I’m not a veterinarian, but I am a nurse, and I’m I’m in school now to become a nurse practitioner. So Fathom You are amazing. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. It’s like I said. I shared with you, I’m in a challenging space in my life right now. So I appreciate all encouragement and support, and I know that this too shall pass. Yes and thank you for sharing all of that with me.
I think, what better space and what better job to do than bring other people joy no matter what they’re experiencing, even though you are dealing with some things just in your personal life. So I think that that would mean that means a lot to me. I think it would mean a lot to your patients and and colleagues. So thank you for joining me today. I’m I’m I’ve loved talking to you every time I do, I feel like I learned something new, and I look forward to future conversations and just continuing to have the conversation that is sometimes uncomfortable but forces people kind of out of their comfort zones and and to grow as well. Yes, it’s always a pleasure as well. Serena, I look forward to our next conversation and our next meeting as well. Awesome. Thanks. Shannon, thank you. You.