Three Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20’s: Lorraine Dahlinger

I think most of y’all are going to be intrigued by Lorraine Dahlinger’s company, From the Lab. It is the only place where you can access high-end beauty products before anyone else, at an affordable price. Really, who wants to pay $300 for a little tube of cream?! Well, you don’t have to anymore.

So how does it work? You request a membership invitation here. Then, you have access to the Member Store, where you can buy products that are limited lab runs of the latest innovations in beauty.

For example, the May release was an Illuminating Under Eye Treatment and Hydrating Lip Palmer. These two exclusive primers contain raspberry stem cells, super peptides, and a potent dose of good-for-you vitamins, which represent the newest advances in “under makeup” skin prep and help fight the first signs of aging. It is estimated that they will retail for $95+, but on From the Lab, they are only $14.95. You can’t beat that!

Now that Lorraine has a successful business up and running, these are the “3 Things” she wishes she could tell her 20 year old self:

1) Be generous.

You’re pursuing what you love, you’ve achieved some early success, and you’re headed in the right direction.  Please, take off your career blinders.  Don’t take anyone, yourself included, for granted.  You’re young and still figuring out who you are, and that’s okay. But in order to be generous to yourself and others, you need to realize that your time is valuable.  You’re going to have to learn to say no sometimes, and that’s okay, too.

Focus on what’s meaningful, a cause that resonates or speaks to you.  Learn where best to share your time, energy, donations, and skillsets to help others with their own passions, causes, and dreams.  Make time for your friends and your family, and leave plenty of time to nurture yourself and stay energized.  It will help you learn who you are and what you want out of life.

2)  The only person that should manage your money is you.

Educate yourself.  Take that basic accounting class.  Take full advantage of every retirement benefit, savings plan, and investment opportunity that comes your way.  Learn to budget, and develop a spend/save/give mindset.  I know you’re living month to month right now, but whatever you can do, the sooner you embrace this philosophy, the better.  You’re working way too hard to waste your money (or your time).

3) No matter your age, never underestimate the power of your dreams. 

At 14, I knew with absolute certainty that I was going to be a graphic designer.  I was so confident, my parents supported my decision to leave high school and our home in Bermuda so that I could move to the states by myself and pursue a special enrollment dispensation at Savannah College of Art and Design.  It was terrifying, and naturally, I wasn’t always sure I could do it.  That’s when my dad passed on these words of wisdom to my not-yet-20 year old self:  “If you are lucky enough to already have an idea about what you love, dream it big, work really hard at it, learn to be very patient, and the joy and successes you find might just surprise you.  Pumpkin, never underestimate the power of your dreams.”