Today we’d like to introduce you to Mai Trabue.
Mai, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started at my last corporate job, my boss saw potential in me that I was not even sure I had. After contributing a couple of years and being promoted to Purchasing manager, the experience gave me the confidence to take on the next chapter which I made my own and for that, I’m forever grateful.
There were several factors as to why I left: distracting interoffice drama, my extensive daily operations responsibilities, on top of my actual job title duties- it was all really stressful and took a toll on my health. I certainly would not be the woman I am now today if had I not gone through those obstacles.
Contemplating my next move, I knew I wanted to pursue a career path that would be more rewarding and fulfilling. The hunt to find a new job was on and it wasn’t easy… I even started doubting myself. My work ethic or ability to learn was never a question- I doubted being able to find something as gratifying as I’d conjured up for post-corporate life. My boyfriend Jordan (now husband), a big dreamer who’s also highly experienced in startups, suggested I try thinking outside of the box, he actually proposed the idea of me trying to start something on my own… what?! Start something on your own? Never in my life did I ever consider doing something of my own. At the time, I thought it was just the most absurd idea but my curiosity ran wild and then I told myself, why not?
Ideas started to turn in my head, I knew I wanted to combine my strengths and passions. I loved taking pictures (from my cell phone that is, lol) and I loved interacting with people. At first, I considered becoming a photographer but then I thought about the pressure of having to capture picture-perfect shots, that idea was no longer appealing. My mind was still stuck on some form of photography, I wanted to be fun, fast pace with the opportunity to have a different experience every time. Thus, the birth of my own, interactive business- Pikcher Booth!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome? Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
Definitely not! I think the biggest struggle for me was wanting to see immediate results. There were a considerable amount of new skills I had to learn before I could even start- tons of trial and error- more than I’d like to admit sometimes. Financial stability was another big struggle to cope with. Every dime I made went back into bettering the business. Initially, I had to take on several part-time jobs just to keep the money flowing and take care of the living expenses. It’s all mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting but to be able to say that “I created my own path and I built this business” is the most satisfying feeling ever.
My advice to other women would be, if you have a vision and you’re ready to take the plunge, don’t allow your excuses to tell you why you can’t do A or B. Be consistent, even on your days off. If you do need to take a rest day, do something small like check your emails or interact on your social media platform. Your journey is your dream and it should be a part of your daily life whether you’re doing it as a side gig or full time like myself.
What should we know about Pikcher Booth? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My name is Mai and I am the owner of Pikcher Booth. Because I enjoy the work so much, you’ll find me actually running one of the booths a lot of the time. I wear many hats in the company from marketing the business to designing the templates, it is super important to me that every event is handled with care. As a brand, we ensure only the best quality in product and most importantly customer service. We take the photo booth experience to the next level. Our motto is “We do loud. We do fun. We do awesomeness”! Pikcher Booth is currently serving the DFW area and OKC.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well-positioned for?
As Michelle Obama once said, “there is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish”. Reading recent articles about 16-year-old Greta Thunberg at the UN Climate Summit, I feel we are on the right path of inspiring and empowering each other; our opportunities are infinite! You just wait and see.
Contact Info:
- Website: pikcherbooth.com
- Email: hello@pikcherbooth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikcherbooth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pikcherbooth/
Image Credit:
Stephanie Rodriguez
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