Meet Ms. Brooke Parker Higgins | Founder, Creative Director and CEO of Ladies’ Life Guide.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ms. Brooke Parker Higgins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ms. Brooke Parker, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I came to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the industry as a film and television actress and voice-over artist. The industry is known for not only being one of the most difficult industries in the world to get paid work but to have consistent paid work to make an actual living. Over the years, the film and television has changed drastically that even that 3% of those who have gotten worked in the past, they too were having trouble finding consistent (well) paid work.

I woke up one day and realized that I had to take life into my own hands; I had to use my other talents as an artist and decided to pursue them to make a living. I was tired of working different “day jobs” and sometimes even more than 2 at a time while pursuing this career. Most times having more than one passion and talent is not looked highly at those starving actors, (especially for women) unless you have officially “made it big” to the other side with success. Growing up and in my early years living in LA, I never publicly share my other talents and passion as a photographer and a writer. I chose to work on them and craft them both, privately. As social media expanded over the last 15 years, I knew I in my heart that I wanted to share my thoughts in my articles or in a blog, along my photographs. My personal Instagram (and Facebook) account gave me this platform to not be private anymore. I gained more and more confidence and felt in my heart that this is something I should continue doing as I loved both of these creative outlets.

I thus began my search for a job and a professional writer and photographer. Locally in LA and even searching remotely nationally. It was slim pickings; they either wanted you to work for free or if you got hired the pay was so low that I began to feel frustrated that I was embarking in yet another road as a “starving artist”. I made the decision to self-publish my own book called “Where will your next road take you?” and created my own photography website, www.brookeparkerhigginsphotography.com showcasing both of my writing and photography skills in the hopes of attracting a better job opportunity and a legitimate book deal with a well know publishing house. Still a no go on both.

So, then my idea expanded, and this is where my life changed. I decided to work for myself in the pursuit as a professional writer. I didn’t need someone who was going to undervalue and underpay me for my work. I would have my own platform, my website with my own BLOG to share articles about things that I wanted to share to empower other women. I took charge of my own creative destiny. Thus, Ladies’ Life Guide was born; www.ladieslifeguide.com
I knew I wanted to help others with universal life lessons and share my own experiences through articles but most importantly I wanted to empower women. The older I got the more I looked back at the things I went through and realized I wish someone had told me about certain trials in life or encouraged and empowered me when I needed it most about navigating my personal and professional life in LA. When LLG’s website went live with my first article, it was so exciting. It was like giving birth to my own “child”, proud and excited to watch it grow and hopefully flourish beautifully.

As I continued to post on social media, positive quotes and inspirational affirmations from my articles, I had another idea early on to expand this platform into an official business, by having a merchandise line featuring my self-empowering quotes and mottos taken from my articles. I also included in the line universal positive affirmations. Seeing my designs come to life in the BOUTIQUE section of my website was such a fulfilling creative process. As I kept writing and posting my new articles, I knew that someday I wanted to write a LLG book series and host an (LLG) podcast series discussing topics to help empower other women while navigating their own life. While the published book(s) and podcast series have not happened yet, I have been busy promoting my platform’s merchandise line. While this entire journey has been a ton of hard work solo, it’s been an amazing creative process. I’m so grateful to have pursued my creative passions and I am so proud of myself that I have taken this chance and bet on myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The art I created on my merchandise line are my actual written words in my articles, that’s what sets me apart. You can see all kinds of cool designs and or patterns on clothes and accessories, but mine features my empowering quotes and features even some of my own photography. This comes from the heart, my heart. While I have huge admiration for designers to come up with original merchandise items, I feel like I am putting my own fingerprint all over my merchandise. This makes me so proud and so excited to share it with others to give them encouragement and support.

I am so excited to have my company’s positive messages continue expanding nationally and globally. It’s so exciting to see in person or on social media when people wear LLG items featuring one of my quotes or a positive affirmation. That has been an amazing feeling to have seen that so far. My hope is that my company’s logo, the COMPASS will become huge! My goal is it to be known and to be worn around the world with pride, to remind yourself that are navigating your own inner compass in your life.

I got here today by thousands of hours of hard work, huge dedication, massive self-belief and perseverance. It was not easy, but it has been worth it and will become even more worth it as my brand expands with success.

My challenges were to keep on pursuing opportunities with others to have successful online collaborations. In the world today where, certain generations think that success and money happen overnight, but it takes longer than one may think. In my days of frustration, I kept reminding myself that I know this will be inspirational for others, and to always remember the WHY – to empower and inspire other women (and men), telling them they can make their own life whatever they wish and more.

I learned that from what I am paying forward, that I am so much stronger than I ever thought before. I have trusted my own instincts and artistic inspirations. I learned that patience is hard, and timing is everything as everyone will get there turn. I am excited for those reading this and inspired by my articles and merchandise line will support me and my business and will pay it forward too.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to the ICONIC L.A. sights.
Shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
Go to Beverly Hills and Bel Air area to see the amazing and iconic homes.
The famous feet prints and stars on Hollywood Blvd.
Drive up and down the famous Sunset strip from Hollywood to Malibu. (Stop along the way to see UCLA campus)
Griffith Observatory to see the best view of LA. and hike up there, too.
The Academy Musuem on Fairfax,
Malibu and PCH to see all its magic at sunset. Zuma Beach for sure, then drive through Pepperdine University on way back.
Attend a cool concert at The Hollywood Bowl.
Go to the Getty Museum, both of them. (West LA and Malibu)
Lunch at the Culver City Hotel in Culver City.
Eat dinner at some fun hot spots: Craig’s, Catch, The Pendry Hotel, Funke, Petit Trois.
Eat dinners and or drinks at The Sunset Tower Hotel, The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Bel Air Hotel, Very Old HOLLYWOOD vibe. You will definitely will have a celebrity sighting or two, especially during the week.
Go to the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena.
Attend a LA Dodgers Game or an Angeles’s game in OC at night.
See a movie premiere or a sneak peek industry screening at The Directors Guild on Sunset Blvd.
Summer movie screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Go a “Studio Tour” of Warner Brothers Studio in the Valley or ay Paramount Studio in Hollywood if you want to stay on the Westside.
Drive through all of the famous canyons, Laurel Canyon, Benedict Canyon, etc. and Mullholland Drive.
Go to the Ritz Carlton restaurant at the top of the JW Marriott hotel in DTLA to see the downtown skyline and LA. Maybe catch a basketball game, hockey game or concert next door at Staples Center.
Eat at In and Out Burger by LAX before leaving LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would have to thank my parents first and foremost. While my mother didn’t live to see the creation of my company, she did encourage me to pursue all of my creative talents as an artist. I am definitely my mother’s daughter as she was an actress during her college years performing on stage. She led by example to encourage other women to go after what passions they had in life, including me. I think she would have loved my platform, especially the messages to empower women. My mom is the strongest women I have ever met and how she led her extraordinary life both personally and professionally is a huge part of why I founded Ladies’ Life Guide.

My Dad has been my biggest cheerleader throughout my entire life, and he’s always been behind my decision to pursue an artist’s life, no matter what creative outlet I was working on. He introduced me to his love of photography, by giving me my first camera at the age of five. He’s been a huge supporter and mentor for me as an actress, voice-over artist, writer, photographer, designer and businesswoman. His encouragement has kept me going in my days of struggle. I am so happy that he’s alive to have seen this entire journey and looking forward to sharing the fruits of my labor with him.

Both of my parents not only told me that I could accomplish anything I wanted, but they both showed me by example, both separately and together. I have both of my parent’s extreme work ethic and the pursuit of excellence. I am so grateful for both of their endless love and unwavering support in everything I do. I am one blessed daughter.

I must thank my dear friends who have been so supportive to me, not only with going after a career in the industry but for supporting my company, by buying merchandise and for always giving me input about my articles and designs. True friends are hard to come by and I love mine. You know who you are, both here in L.A. and back on the East coast.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone’s support, encouragement and love.

Website: https://www.ladieslifeguide.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladieslifeguide/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-parker-higgins-4021591a/

Twitter: https://x.com/MsBPH

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladieslifeguide

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB-y1DJRvu-guLcRN03B0Vw?view_as=subscriber

Other: Personal Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/brookeparkerhiggins/

TIKTOK

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeparkerhiggins?lang=en

Image Credits
My headshot by Dana Patrick Photography.