“…I focus on being capable.”

I’m sure you can relate to a concerned person with both hands on your shoulders asking you, “Are you ready?” Even better, to the timing of the question – just before your piano solo, start of the race, or along side a packed car loaded for college. This question has been tied to emotion from the moment we first heard it and it remains that way to this day. No wonder it makes us question ourselves and causes such anxiety.   

If I waited until I was completely ready to do anything, I would have accomplished nothing. Ready is subjective and therefore a concept I'd prefer not to invest in. Instead I focus on being capable.  

Take a solid form for instance, we may cut the line perfectly, view it as completely balanced and still another stylist sees the line as crooked. Unfortunately, that stylist may have the authority to promote us with a very different opinion about what “ready” looks like.  

It has been my experience that opinions prevail in lieu of standards and the inconsistency makes it difficult for new stylists to grow.  As a leader in the Army I was focused heavily on readiness but measured it with strict standards. In our industry, standards vary greatly from salon to salon making it crucial for new stylist to focus on developing good solid techniques. Only then will we be identified as “capable” thus leaving the uncertain and highly subjective concept of “ready” behind.

"...a say in my professional development."

When it comes to assisting, I don't like the idea of paying dues. To me the concept supports the notion that I haven't earned a say in my professional development. Granted, any recent graduate has much to learn, but that doesn't mean we should surrender to the notion that our abilities are directly related to the past experiences of others.

Instead, my attitude is that I'm capable and willing to earn opportunities. If your goal is a chair of your own, say that in the beginning and ask the important question, "What must I accomplish to earn my own chair?" If the answer includes any reference to paying dues, consider it a red flag and listen carefully to everything that follows.  Particularly if your future employer rambles on about the blood, sweat, and tears they spent paying dues.

The idea behind the question is to ensure your abilities are evaluated by standards rather than time or tasks. All to often salons promise more training than they are capable of delivering and an easy way to keep a young stylist from having a say in their professional development is to imply that they haven't earned one.

Let everyone know you are willing and eager to learn and back it up with your actions. Sweep the floor, fold towels, shampoo guests, and do other tasks to support the salon and the stylist you're assisting, not because it's what THEY had to do, but because it creates opportunities for YOU to learn. With the right attitude you will learn fast and have both the skill and confidence necessary to manage your own chair.

"...the last impression is the first recalled."

It's amazing to me how much time we spend preparing ourselves to join an organization and how little thought we give to leaving one. For me the first impression is lasting but the last impression is the first recalled. Many forget how important an exit can be. Our reputation is built on the accumulation of our actions over time. Like a GPA, bad choices carry weight, negatively effecting our reputation long after we’ve grown and learned from them. 

We need only read a resume to see how important choices are in career progression. A resume is like a roadmap through our professional journey leading the reader step by step to our current location. It tells the story of where we’ve been, choices we’ve made, and potentially relationships we’ve sustained or ended along the way. Ever want to leave a step out?  If so, it’s most likely due to the circumstances under which you left.

That being said, here are some things to consider when planning a career move.  Your clients come first. If you always remember this you will inevitably prevail. Decide how they will best be served and plan accordingly, even if that means recommending a stylist at your previous salon to serve them. Include your current employer in your plan, Keep them informed, and don’t drag it out. Communication is the key to success. Be honest and keep your intentions clear to everyone in the organization so there is little doubt or room for gossip.

Every situation is different and there will be matters out of our control, however we always have the ability to make better choices. We cannot control what others think of us; we can only modify our behavior and hope they respond positively to it. You may find yourself in a situation that has already resulted in behavior you regret or wish you could change but it’s never to late to salvage a professional relationship or at least leave it on a note you can live with.

Look, things happen, aspirations change or we simply evolve and want more than what the current environment can provide. Regardless of the reason, we must remember to be professional. It may seem like you should plan and scheme or feel like you have to manipulate the situation but if that is true, once you’ve gone, I urge you to consider what led you to your ultimate decision and learn from your mistakes. It is the nature of career progression and development that we leave one organization for another so prepare for it and become good at it. Your reputation depends on it. 

"...and confidence will result in new clients."

Let's face it, marketing and self-promotion can be difficult for even a seasoned stylist but for many industry freshmen its down right terrifying and if not soon mastered can end a career before it even begins.

If we break it down we're basically talking about a fear of rejection. Complicate matters with inexperience, lack of confidence and financial pressure and you have an increased likelihood of failure. The best way to combat fear and set ourselves up for success is to plan, prepare, and execute our own marketing strategy.

Plan: Have a business card with your basic information including available days and hours. If you can, create a brochure with some pictures of your work and a picture of yourself. Scout places near your salon that present opportunities to interact with potential clients like a coffee shop or bookstore. Have something to do that allows you to be non-threatening and relaxed. For example, I'm usually writing on my iPad or reading a fashion magazine. Writing stimulates an internal dialog that can easily be transferred to a potential client and fashion magazines both inspire and give me ideas when scouting people to approach.

Prepare: You will attract what you project so before you head out to market yourself get into the right frame of mind by looking at work or listening to music that inspires you and don't forget to dress the part. Find what motivates you and add those things to your preparation. The goal is to set yourself up for success and remain positive and focused on your task. Most importantly, set an achievable goal. It can be a target number of contacts made or a period of time that you will commit to building your business. Better yet, a combination of the two. Preparation will build confidence and confidence will result in new clients.

Execute: Actually, I'm marketing right now at a Barnes & Nobel just 2 blocks from my salon. My goal is to speak directly to 10 people before I leave and I've committed to staying for 60 minutes. It's an achievable goal and one I strive to accomplish daily.

In the first few minutes of my arrival I opened the door for two women that entered slightly behind me; made eye contact with everyone who would glance at me; spoke to a woman about an open seat; noticed a girl wearing an Iowa sweatshirt (I'm from there); joked with a guy in the Starbucks line; and remained pleasant, approachable, and opportunistic at all times.

You may be thinking this all sounds a bit contrived but I assure you, being prepared for any opportunity is key to success. Speaking of opportunity, the cashier from Starbucks just came to clear and wipe off part of the group table I'm sitting at. She smiled and thanked me as I lifted all of my belonging to assist her. When she finished, the table was still wet so I politely asked; "Excuse me Susan, may I have a towel or some napkins to dry this off?"  "Certainly", she replied with a smile and headed to the counter.

When Susan returned; I thanked her, introduced myself, and commented on her hair to which she immediately replied; "Ugh, these bangs are driving me crazy!". I learned a lot from the brief conversation that followed, most importantly that she is a student and only has Tuesdays off. I reached into my bag for my "card", which is a two-sided, colored postcard with my photo and contact information on one side and six photo examples of my work and basic menu prices on the other. I handed it to Susan and informed her that my salon is just around the corner and that I'd be happy to reshape those bangs and refresh her layers next Tuesday on her day off. One down, nine more to go! Now, where's that girl in the Iowa sweatshirt?

"...expectations of repeat business are seldom met."

Before web-based coupons I was a firm believer in the idea that you got what you paid for. There was comfort in the notion that I could make a conscious decision to select a product or service at a lower cost but still perceive value based on its affordability. 

Now however, when you buy a web-based coupon you get what you pay for and a whole lot more. Or do you? In the short term perhaps but in the long run businesses will find a way to cover their costs and as a result, quality may suffer.

My father believed in creating value and sales opportunities through innovation and controlling costs. That works well in manufacturing where you can control the cost of goods but in the beauty industry, a minute still equals a minute and the last I checked even the most seasoned hairdressers cannot manipulate time, they can only modify the activities in it to control their margin of profit.

In the current scenario, the website encourages the over inflation of the service ensuring them a guaranteed, immediate profit; the hairdresser works hard and long to accomodate the deal for a percent of the remaining insufficient funds; the purchaser receives gratification from the dollars saved not the services received; and the salon owner's expectations of repeat business are seldom met.  

As a result, web-based coupons have devalued our services and created a new breed of shopper that measures value mainly on the deal rather than quality of service and overall experience. Look, times are tough and we cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results, however I'm afraid that marketing through these discounted sites encourages the practice of over-promising and under-delivering. 

If you need to adjust prices for services to reflect current economic conditions, do so on your own terms without sacrificing quality and your professional integrity.  If you feel you must use these sites make sure you're creating opportunity and not just activity because they have VERY different affects on your bottom line.

"...I feel most creative when I’m sharing my experiences."

This may sound funny but I feel most creative when I’m sharing my experiences.  It’s when I reflect that I truly feel the value of my work.  I think we are inundated with stimulation throughout the day and either consciously or subconsciously that stimulus manifests itself in our work. 

I’m still at the beginning of this new career, a generalist perhaps, and not yet having chosen to specialize in either styling or color therefore I think I’m open to all stimuli.  I reflected on this question and tried to reference the brilliant colors of an Arizona desert sunset or the sharp, jagged texture of Phoenix’s South Mountain, but sadly I couldn’t relate the images to my work.  I thought of music, paintings, and pictures in magazines but still I could not draw a correlation. 

While pondering this thought, the phone rang and like countless nights before, found myself sharing my day with my daughter. As I described the events of the day I could feel my voice getting louder and my pulse quicken.  I could feel the smile on my face and actually see the entire day play out in my mind as I shared what I had done and what I’d do differently tomorrow. 

 

After hanging up I began to write about what I was feeling and it all came together.  I don’t always know why I do things, can’t always make correlations between things and actions, I just know that when I remain open to my environment and share my experiences, the creativity flows.

"...make a positive impact on the lives of others..."

Returning to school was an enlightening experience.  I thought going in that being a hairdresser simply meant that I could be creative, connect with people, have my own hours, and make a good living.  A few weeks into school I entered the Professional Beauty Associations (PBA), Beacon competition and won.
 

Just a few months later I was in Las Vegas attending the PBA’s Symposium listening to industry professionals and icons like Geno Stampora, Christopher Benson, Eric Fisher, and Vivienne Mackinder open my eyes to an industry that extends well beyond a hydraulic chair.  Then it hit me, this career change although challenging, isn’t a change at all – it’s an evolution. 

 

Beauty is a business and I am acquiring a new set of skills to enhance my current abilities.  This industry is exciting, challenging, and full of endless possibilities to make a positive impact on the lives of others and that is what being a hairdresser means to me.  So whether I’m styling a single client preparing for a job interview in Phoenix, teaching a seminar in New York, or directing the global launch of a product line in London, I will be positively affecting the lives of my clients and inspiring them every time they look in the mirror.