Meet Marie Bodog | Mbodied Studio Founder

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

Hi Marie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
To me, there is no successful business without risk. Risk means exposing someone or something of value to danger, harm or loss. Starting a business is exposing yourself to something that can be of loss. It’s the biggest risk you can take, however it’s a risk where you’re betting on yourself, realizing there are odds against you and still persevering because you believe in the business. Risks are the reason I even have a business today.

In 2018 I started Mbodied Studio, I started with only offering body contouring services. Back then, no one even knew what body contouring was. So the biggest risk was attempting to start a business in a field that no one even knew existed. I took a $2000 risk flying from Washington, DC to Atlanta, GA , to take a body contouring class in hopes that it will pay off. I took another risk by signing for an office suite that I had to pay $500 a month but had no clients. I signed the lease for the suite before I even took the class! I had that much faith in myself , that my business was going to be successful. People thought I was crazy! Risks can come off as insanity to some but to me it correlates as hope. Taking risks is having hope that what you’re deciding to do is going to work. I continued to take risks by upgrading to a store front location and now by opening a second location in Houston, Texas. My risks have allowed me to open this business that has expanded into other fields like post op care, facials and yoni steams and be able to teach women how to do this themselves.

A business advisor or an accountant maybe would have said that I wasn’t ready to take those big steps but that’s exactly why they are considered risks. Not every risk I’ve taken in my entrepreneurship journey created a positive outcome, some took time to recover from but thats where you remain hopeful. Every risk I have taken has either guided me to a better direction, taught me a new lesson or prepared me to be ready for everything God has planned for me. Some say risk, I say faith and hope that what you are trying to create will come into fruition.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mbodied Studio was derived from the word Embodied. Embodied means to bring together as a whole. Mbodied was created to help people become whole. Whatever insecurity you’re facing, problems you want to fix, self-care needs that you have Mbodied Studio will be able to help you with your journey. We offer a multitude of services from body contouring, post-op care, facials, yoni steams, and much much more. I got to where I am today through consistency, faith, and perseverance. Consistent with my work ethic, providing great results and customer service. Having faith that my business will be successful. Regardless of the times, I had no bookings, no social media followers, none of that was going to deter me away from my goals. Perseverance that I have to keep going even in slow times, the pandemic, or even problems in personal life.

In this generation of social media. Being an entrepreneur is looked at as a lavish luxury lifestyle. Where you’re able to afford the best life can give you because people assume you’re in control of your money. In reality, you have no control over the situation. Unlike a regular job with a steady paycheck, you have to work extra hard to create a steady income for yourself. You could be trying your hardest and still not make money. People don’t talk about what occurs on the road to that lifestyle. Or how there’s a significant difference between hustle/entrepreneurship and establishing a business. As a business owner, more variables matter more than just getting people to purchase your product or book your service. You’re creating something that has to work without you.

Entrepreneurship, hustling, or even being a business owner is not easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Betting on yourself and deciding you are going to win is one of the hardest choices you can make. My mindset was I’m going to invest in body contouring, introduce it to my area and become a millionaire immediately. Some said delusional I said hopeful, but it was clearly delusions that it would happen that fast. Nothing happens overnight, and if it does it will not last.

I want the world to know anything you put your mind to can come to life. The power of speaking things into existence works if everything you’re doing is in the alignment of what you’re trying to achieve. My business is not perfect, a lot of tears, hard work, consistency, risk, support, faith, love for what I do and God is the reason it even made it where it is today. It’s nowhere near its destination. I want people to read my story and believe that this can be you. You have one life to live, things won’t always go how you expect it but you can gain all life has to offer if you stop making excuses for why you can’t chase your dreams.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am new to Houston, I grew up in Silver Spring, MD so I do not know where to go , whats fun or anything like that out here but I do know I love the restaurant Taste. Such amazing food, and there’s a bunch of new places I want to try.

Maryland does not have this many options of quality restaurants. I even noticed that Houston has Margaritas To-Go, I was so amazed. I’m excited to explore this city and find out all it has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m only 25, so when people hear my age they’re always confused on how I was able to accomplish any of these things so young. None of this would have even been slightly possible without my family. Especially my mom and my sister. When you have a child at 20 people try to tell you your life is predestined for failure by just making that choice alone. My mom has helped me with my child so I could graduate from college and chase after my dreams to create this business to take care of my family for generations to come. My sister Adele has been my number 1 supporter, best friend, therapist through this journey. People do not talk about the depression you face as a business owner. When business is slow and you have employees, people that have kids, you have your own kid, it’s so easy to give up. Having the right people in your corner reminding you not to give up, encouraging you to keep going is important. My sister was that times 10. My business advisor Jimmy and my Financial Advisor/Friend Kierra have really changed my entire mindset when it comes to business. They also helped me understand the difference between hustle and business. That just because you’re good at a service does not mean you need to start an actual business in it. My team, Zulma, Brittany, and Juran. They say the key to a successful business is having the right people around you. I’m so happy I have that because they are truly amazing in their own separate ways. My friends built out my first store location with me, been models for classes, booked services, promoted me I love you guys so much. Lastly, my clients, I have clients that have been with me since I was in a suite, they are the reason my business even exists. Your support and trust mean the world to me. I am so thankful that you chose Mbodied Studio, my team, and myself to service you.

Website: www.mbodiedstudio.com

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