Approximately every ten minutes, someone in the United States dies from blood cancer.
This is more than just a statistic. Every person who dies from blood cancer is a parent, a child, a friend, a co-worker, or a relative. What would you do if it was someone you lost? How would you cope? How would your life be different?
Today, I am honored to introduce you to Nicole Narvaez Manns. A few months ago, I left a networking event with one of her business cards, not from her, but from someone else who couldn’t stop raving about her innovative beauty solution, Nikki’s Magic Wand. Ever since, I have been following this woman and her success on social media and always admire her determination. Reaching where normal applicators can’t, Nikki’s Magic Wand allows savvy glamour girls to finally get that pesky last 15-20% of the make-up that usually ends up being thrown away since you can never get it out of the tube. She’s started both a business and a beauty revolution from scratch. Let’s face it, looking beautiful can be expensive, so any trick to save money, like actually being able to use every last bit of product, helps!
Upon sending Nikki a Facebook invite to my Red Shoe Gala for LLS that took place last weekend, I discovered she had lost her mother to Leukemia. Nikki is a brilliant entrepreneur who truly defines the meaning of #StrengthAndStyle and I hope you all find her story and success as inspiring as I do!
[divider] [/divider]Allyn Lewis: How old were you when you lost your mother?
Nicole Narvaez Manns: I was 10 years old and she was 33 years old. This was in 1982.
AL: How did the loss affect you both in the short and long term?
NNM: In the short term, I had to move out of the home that I shared with my mother and step-father, across the city to live with my grandmother. I had to attend a new school and make new friends. In the long term, I discovered later in life what a void it was not to have my mother to discuss relationship issues, child rearing issues, etc.
AL: Do you have any advice for someone who loses a parent, especially at such a young age?
NNM: When I was growing up, it occurred to me that I really didn’t know much about my mother’s personality so I set about finding out. I made a 70+ question questionnaire and gave it to certain people who had been in my mother’s life, so that I could learn about her. I think it helped me deal with the loss because it brought parts of her to me that I would have never known. I’d advise a child to lean on their family, siblings. Losing a parent young becomes a part of your childhood story so focus on the good parts, when you had your parent, write down your thoughts and always honor their memory.
AL: What kind of impact did your mother have on your life?
NNM: That’s hard to say. I can’t be 100% sure but I’d say that I knew her to be a focused, hard working woman (like all of the women in my family) and I have adopted that as well. You must work for every single thing you have, there are no freebees. One thing that I am very mindful of these days, and this is directly related to her, is to live life to the fullest. My mother only got to live 33 years, so it’s important to me to do something impactful with my life. There is no wasting it. I have to make a difference.
“My mother only got to live 33 years, so it’s important to me to do something impactful with my life.”
AL: Can you tell us about your business, Nikki’s Magic Wand?
NNM: Nikki’s Magic Wand came to me out of necessity and as a complete surprise. I needed this cosmetic tool because I was fed up with throwing away product and money and there wasn’t anything on the market that I could buy to help me. Before this idea, I really had no interest in being an entrepreneur so the idea was honestly God given and I knew I couldn’t fail to act on it. The Nikki’s Magic Wand journey so far has been an amazing one and being the glass half full person that I am, I only expect the very best from it in the future.
(Even Adrienne Bailon thinks the Wand is genius!)
AL: Are there any particular skills or traits your mother taught you that you have carried into your business?
NNM: As I mentioned in #4, my mother, as well as her mother and sisters taught me the power and satisfaction of hard work. Currently I work a 9 to 5 Corporate America job but if I need to fill Wand orders at 5 am or midnight, I am happy to do so. My mother was a direct person and while I am pretty diplomatic and tend to filter harsh messages, when it comes to my business, I do not acquiesce. I say what I need and want and what’s acceptable and not acceptable. Men, in business, do not apologize for being direct. I will not either. Thankfully, I have found a way to do so and still maintain my softer personality.
AL: How were you able to cope with such a devastating experience as a child and develop into the strong businesswoman you are today?
NNM: I can only speak for myself here, but in my case, I think it may have been just a little easier because I was so young. Let me clarify. When a parent passes after you’ve shared BIG events with them, like puberty, prom, college, weddings, babies, you have all of those memories to focus upon and not having that person there, as they have been, is extremely sad. When this happens before any of those milestones can happen, the death sort of becomes a part of your childhood. Please don’t get me wrong. I mourned my mother for a long time but I also had a strong family who swooped in and took care of me. My mother’s mother, who raised me, was very loving and my father and step-father were there as well. I always felt love and support. As far as being a strong businesswoman (Thank you 🙂 ) that is directly tied to my dad’s expectation of excellence (grades/career) from me and my grandmother’s expectations regarding being kind and an upstanding citizen. That combo, high standards set in both achievement and personality, helped me very much.
AL: Why is it so important that we raise awareness for blood cancers and finding a cure?
NNM: Look what has happened since 1982, when my mother died! There were no bone marrow transplants or anything like that back then. Look what research has done and how many lives are being saved! The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has made so many wonderful strides and we need to raise awareness of the work they are doing and the need to do more.
AL: How do you live your life with #StrengthAndStyle?
NNM: I draw strength from other people, who are overcoming more than I am. I look toward them and say, “If they can do it, so can I!” I am still enhancing my style! I’m a Plain Jane who really wants to step it up a notch. I just saw the movie, “The Other Woman” and Cameron Diaz’ wardrobe was to-die-for! Patricia Field (famed stylist from Sex and the City who I was fortunate to meet at NY Fashion Week last year) did the clothes and I am bowing down to her!
AL: Is there anything else that you personally wish to share about your story and experience?
NNM: Yes, my mother died when I was 10 and that was a complete life changer. I have no idea how things would have been different for me. However, I will say, that I am one of those people who believes that things happen for a reason, even when they are devastating, and if I was somehow supposed to show people that you can push past an early blow and work hard and achieve your goals and chase your dreams, then I’m happy to do so.
For more on Nikki and her business adventure, be sure to check out her blog here. You can also find Nikki’s Magic Wand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
[divider] [/divider]About the #StrengthAndStyle blog series:
