Meet Chiquita Barnett | PureSculpt Specialist

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

Hi Chiquita, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I decided to start my own business due to my own life experience. I started having health issues in my late twenties to early thirties after child birth that effected my physical mobility. I was working in the Financial Industry in a Corporate setting while still trying to manage my health, new child, and marriage. After years of trying to hold it all together, I realized some of my health problems came about because I stopped taking care of myself like I needed. This also lead to more stress on my body. I had to make a decision and chose me and my health. While looking for a new job, I was also trying to figure out what I could do to help others and build on the things that I have learned to manage my own health. It came to me to open a Spa. I gave myself a year to learn about the spa industry and next thing I know, I was enrolling in a program to obtain my Aesthetic license and encouraging others to practice more self care. I have started services with Natural Body Contouring using Ice and Wood Therapy. I also sell professional skin care and body products for at home care.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Retreat Day Spa by Fancy Habit offers Body Conturing treatments using PureSculpt tools and products developed with Wood Therapy and Organic Ice to shape and contour the body. The treatments help achieve body goals for physical and/or health reasons. We also sell professional skincare products for at home use. By the end of 2022, we will add more skincare treatments such as facials, waxing, and other advanced treatments.

What sets me apart from others is that
I have to live what I preach on a daily in order for me to stay healthy and I’m able to share my life experiences as a testament.

I’m excited that I get to help people improve their lives. I have learned over the years that your Physical and Mental all work together. In America, we lost sight of taking care of our bodies and I want to be one of the people to help others.

It was not easy for me. I grew up in a very small town in Alabama. My goal as a child was to go off to college, work in Corporate America, and start my own business.

Once I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business Manage in 2009, we were in a Recession and the job market was saturated. I was competing in the job market with people who had 20yrs of experience. Once reality set in, I started applying for jobs with the ability to grow and offered many career advancement opportunities. I landed a job as a Bank Teller and went back to school to get my Master’s Degree. Over the course of 12 years I worked my way up the Corporate ladder specifically working in Finance with Business clients from small business to large Public and Private Businesses across the United States.

It was challenging during this process because my health starting declining after childbirth. I was always on the go, willing to help on projects, and learning new things. Once my health declined, I was no longer able to complete even basic task because my mobility was declining at the age of 30. I was very active and couldn’t understand why it was happening because I was pretty healthy and exercised. I found a team of doctors that was able to get my health back on track.

I overcame my health challenges by never giving up. I just kept going and made a plan associated with my current situation to make it to the next step. Even if I had one goal for the day to complete 1 task, that is what I did.

Once my health got back on track, my mindset also changed. I realized I had to make some drastic lifestyle changes. I thought about all the years and hard work I put in working in Finance, I wanted to figure out how I could bridge my past and my present life. That is how I decided I wanted to get back on the path of Entrepreneurship and focus a Self-care lifestyle.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?
– I have learned to be open to feedback, rather it’s good or bad.
– There is more than one way to achieve the same results.
– Be open to lean new things.
– Always take care of yourself first in order to have the ability to take care of others.

I want the community to know that I’m here for them to help achieve their Self-Care goals. Body Contouring is not just about beauty. It also has health benefits that includes detoxing the body by removing waste and toxins through the lymphatic system. It also helps tone and tightens the skin, reduces the appearance of cellulite, and relaxes muscles.

Know that I’m right here with my clients managing my own personal health with self-care treatments and that I am always learning and growing.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a hard one because there are so many activities to do around the Atlanta Metro area.

– I would start in my area at the Downtown Marietta Square. They usually have live bands playing, you can eat, enjoy drinks, and walk around shopping.
– I love the Live, Work, & Play areas around the Metro area so the next stop would be Ponce City Market and Bar Vegan.
– Take a break from and get into nature at the Waterfall in Roswell, GA or visit the park by the Chattahoochee River.
-Shopping at Little Five Points one and walk the belt line.
– Visit Buckhead Village to eat at one of the restaurants and more shopping.
– End the night with music and dancing at one of the lounges.
– Last would be Sunday Brunch at one of the many brunch spots around the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My biggest supporters have been my Mom (Yvette Smith) and close friends Ayla McCants and Lamonique Missouri. They were the first people I talked to about my ideas and they make sure I stay on track by holding me accountable and encourage me.

I also have a group of people that has either shared knowledge or supports me that I now call my “Tribe”. They include Iesha Baker, Yvonne Briggs, Kristal Kirkland, Jacquiese Reed, & Ashley Carlton, Jernerrail Nicole Payne, clients and many more.

I would also like to thank the PureSculpt team and Industry Partners for their support and development.

Even though I had to make a career change, working in the financial industry for 12 years assisting other business owners also contributed to my success and wealth of knowledge.

Website: www.fancyhabit.com

Instagram: @TheFancyHabit

Facebook: @Fancyhabit

Image Credits
Photographer Ayla Wells at JadeAnthoni.com