Rejection Made Her RICH — The BILLIONAIRE Mindset You Need to Hear

Anastasia Soare, founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills, shares her journey from communist Romania to building a billion-dollar beauty empire, emphasizing resilience, mastery of craft, and the power of inner belief.

• Resilience and inner fortitude are forged through hardship and observing strong role models.

• Mastering your craft and offering exceptional customer service are paramount to long-term success.

• Believe in your vision and don't let external skepticism deter you from pursuing your dreams, regardless of age.

Anastasia Soare recounts her difficult upbringing in communist Romania, which instilled in her a profound appreciation for freedom and resilience. She highlights the importance of observing mentors and working diligently, eventually identifying the overlooked potential of eyebrow shaping as a unique business opportunity. Her story underscores that success comes from unwavering conviction, mastering one's craft, and continuously adapting to new challenges, regardless of age or external skepticism.

Early Life & Freedom

• 00:00:39 Anastasia Soare grew up in communist Romania during the late 70s and early 80s, a period marked by extreme restrictions, food shortages, lack of electricity, and constant fear. This challenging environment deeply informed her understanding and value of freedom. Watching her grandfather, who himself was an immigrant and lost everything to the communist regime, taught her that one's 'mind, heart and spirit are your fortress,' providing an invaluable lesson in resilience and inner strength.

Immigrant Journey to America

• 00:09:09 Leaving Romania for America was a deeply traumatic experience, as Anastasia knew no English and left behind her entire family and community. Her dream of America was initially formed by bootleg movies like 'Pretty Woman,' picturing Rodeo Drive. She found comfort and a sense of home watching 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' unknowingly recognizing Oprah's voice from 'The Color Purple,' a film she watched repeatedly in Romania. This early connection eventually led to a full-circle moment when she did Oprah's eyebrows on the show years later.

The Birth of the Eyebrow Empire

• 00:18:40 Working in a salon, Anastasia noticed her own 'over-tweezed' eyebrows made her look surprised in photos, which, combined with her art teacher's lessons on facial proportions and the golden ratio, sparked her realization about the importance of eyebrows. After her salon bosses rejected her idea of specializing in eyebrows due to financial non-viability, she decided to open her own business. Despite her husband's initial skepticism and the lack of funds, her strong conviction in her scientific-yet-beautiful approach to eyebrow shaping pushed her to 'take no as an answer' from no one but herself.

Scaling & Enduring Success

• 00:24:51 A pivotal moment occurred after five years of renting a room in a salon, when an encounter with an older colleague, Yolanda, who had been renting there for 20 years, made Anastasia realize she needed to 'step up.' This led her to open her own flagship salon in Beverly Hills. The launch of her product line, inspired by a client's need to maintain her eyebrow shape while filming, and later the explosive growth through Instagram, allowed her to go global without traditional marketing. Eventually, she took on private investment to scale, learning her company was valued at an astounding three billion dollars, a testament to her dedication to mastering her craft and unwavering work ethic.