Thien Huong Vuong is the founder and lead stylist of Lotus Artistry Studio in Madison. The studio provides a variety of salon services ranging from hair styling and coloring to brow, lash and makeup application and more. Learn about Thien Huong Vuong…
Follow at: @LotusArtistryStudio
Hometown: Madison, WI
First job: Bagger/checker at Woodman’s food market
Favorite ways to spend your free time in WI: Catching the local seasonal events with my friends and family, and taking a hike at a park somewhere between the trees. I also like to paint the sunsets that I took pictures of! I’ve grown very fond and thankful for the nature that surrounds us in Wisconsin.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: My biggest accomplishment would definitely be my business! Lotus Artistry has become a home from my heart, and no matter where I go in life, it will always be with me. I have never pushed so hard to reach something I once thought could only be a dream. The lessons that I have learned have helped shape me into an improved version of who I was yesterday.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Decision-making has never been my strongest suit, especially when I do not feel confident about the decisions that I make. Lotus Artistry has taught me to overcome my self-doubt most of the time. Most of the time because I am human, and feeling doubtful is definitely a human thing to feel. Feeling confident does not mean that you are right all the time; it just means that you trust yourself enough to feel secure about your choice. No matter how hard, I will do it to the best of my abilities.
Someone who inspires you and why: The person who inspired me the most is my mother. Although my mother and I do not see eye to eye at times, she has always taught me true resilience. That is a trait that you need in entrepreneurship. Growing up in Vietnam, I always thought that we had everything. That was because my mother did everything she could to ensure my sister and I were fed and clothed with a roof over our heads. Raising two daughters alone in a city like Saigon is not an easy thing to do. Coming to America was a culture shock for all of us. Now as I reflect, it must have been most intense for my mom. She had to move away from a place she had called home for more than 40 years, leaving behind her family and friends. Although my dad was with us and our family was whole again, my mom still held on to the hustle mindset. She worked very hard for her savings until she could buy a property we could call home for as long as we wanted. My mom is a provider, even though she is thousands of miles away, she still helps and cares for her relatives back home. I hope to provide some peace of mind for my mother. I know that if I keep my focus and resilience, someday my hustle will pay off so that my mother no longer has to.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: The artist is as important as the art. Don’t forget to stop and breathe to recharge and take care of what is most important. You. It is quite easy to lose sight of your true passion and creativity in the midst of this busy life. Taking time for yourself away from your career will help your mind refresh, and open you up to a new perspective in your daily life. The second thing is to never stop learning and take your time. Your skills can never be too perfect, and your knowledge can never be too much. You can always learn something new, and the biggest lesson could always come from someone who you least expected.
Favorite quote: “Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim,” which means, “have effort to grind the metal, someday, it will become a needle.”
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: In conversation, people usually ask me if I had learned English prior to coming to America at 10 years old. They would then be surprised that in fact, I did not know a lick of English prior to coming, mostly because I can speak the language very well.
What makes someone fabulous: What makes someone fabulous is their heart. It does not matter what you look like or the kind of wealth that you have, what matters most is how you show your heart through your actions toward others.