Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda Collins.
Hi Miranda, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have two businesses. I’m kind of a serial entrepreneur lol. I have an aquatics business called I AM Ready Swim. I started it at 18 once I graduated high school. I got into the industry at 15 lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons for my first job and it grew from there. I started out teaching at one pool and it grew from 1 to 18 pools in the past four years with over 60 employees. We are all over the Austin area we teach swim lessons and provide pool monitors and lifeguards to HOA community pools. We also have pool maintenance as well in which my husband runs.
When I was a senior in high school my mom had passed away and it affected me in ways I could not imagine. I had scholarships to go to college but, I couldn’t wrap my mind around leaving Austin or being away from family. Things had happened after my graduation, So I moved out on my own and started going to beauty school to make money. My mom owned a salon and I have been in the industry my whole life, so doing hair was like second nature to me. It really made me feel close to my mom and then being able to work with amazing people and make my clients feel beautiful while building relationships, makes doing hair that much more rewarding. I opened my Own salon two years ago called Beautied by Mimi.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not, been an easy ride along the way. Right before graduating from beauty school, I had to take some time off school because my dad had a brain aneurysm, so I left to be with him for a couple of months. Then with covid, I had some slow months with everything being shut down and as a business owner that was one of the scariest moments, but you always learn how to pivot.
Being in the Aquatics business for a while being so young and being a women in a male dominant industry. It was tough getting people to take me seriously but I did not let that stop me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I AM READY SWIM – is an Aquatics Business. We Run HOA pools all over the Austin Area with pool monitors, lifeguards and swim lessons. We also offer pool maintenance. We do events and private parties as well. We also offer CPR and First aid training to people and businesses.
Beautied By MIMI – is a hair salon. I offer Extensions, Hair Color, Hair Cutting, Blow-dry styling and more. I specialize in balayage and taking someone with super dark hair to a total blonde babe!
How do you think about luck?
I wouldn’t really say luck but more so blessed. I have been blessed with these opportunities and I never take it for granted. Sometimes I can be so overwhelmed with work but, I take a step back and realize how much it has brought me and given me the time and freedom I have always wanted.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iamreadyswim.com
- Instagram: iamreadyswim, beautiedbymimi
