Whatโs the difference between mega-successful people and people who are struggling to get to where they want to be?
I believe everybody was born on this planet for greatness, but why is it such a small portion of us actually achieve what weโre destined for?
The factors that make a difference between success as a business owner, whether youโre a salon owner or a stylist, have nothing to do with writing great Facebook posts, money, or your background. All of that is secondary, or even tertiary, to what it really takes to succeed.
Letโs dive into the real, hardcore business advice on the shifts you need to make that will help you be mega successful.
Tip #1: Dig deep and find your flaws
Most of us want to focus on the things weโre doing right. And, if things donโt go the way we plan, we blame the circumstances.
Instead of making excuses, dig deep and find your flaws. What are you doing or not doing thatโs preventing you from moving forward?
Itโs difficult to introspectively and honestly look at yourself, but be open to critique and solutions. Donโt make excuses because we learn so much more from our mistakes then we do from our victories. Always be looking for new ways to evolve and get better.
Tip #2: Surround yourself with trusted peers who support you professionally
They say โyou are in the right room if youโre the dumbest person in the room.โ Thatโs why when I want to talk business, I strive to be the dumbest person in every single room. I donโt want to talk to people who think they know what theyโre doing or want to offer me unsolicited advice.
Find someone outside of your salon and social circle who has your best professional advancement at heart. Having someone in your professional corner that you can meet with to talk business without judgment is a game changer.
If your family or partner doesnโt support you, find someone who does. It can be overwhelming and lonely when youโre working your butt off to build a clientele or open a salon if you donโt know anyone who has done it successfully. Surround yourself with people that you can call, text, or meet regularly with to talk business if you want to be successful.
Tip #3: Donโt be afraid to let it all go if it means a better future is waiting for you
We waste a lot of time thinking about what we should logically do. Many of us think the path weโre supposed to follow is cosmetology school, stylist, then salon owner or graduate to becoming an educator.
But that leads to a lot of miserable salon owners and even stylists, who stay too long because we worry about what other people are going to think or the fear of change overcomes us.
When your gut tells you the salon is holding you back, listen. If you have faith and youโre willing to put in the hard work, maybe youโre ready to leave the salon youโve been at for ten years. You canโt hold onto the past when youโre looking to the future. This world is ever evolving and you have to evolve with it.
Tip #4: Not everybody is meant to be a mega-star or a leader
Our industry is filled with this idea that we should rise to fame and glory, to be at the head of something amazing, to be successful.
Real talk: that race for fame and glory is very empty. And some people should never be a leader and in charge of other peopleโs lives.
When you become a salon owner or an educator, you donโt do it for the money. You do it because you know in your heart that itโs your calling. You want to change the direction of the industry or teach other stylists the skills you were not given the opportunity to learn.
If you just want to be a stylist who makes a ton of money and lives a beautifully balanced life, you should do that. You donโt have to be the superstar to be totally happy. Be happy with the life that makes you happy and donโt take on more because you think youโre supposed to.
Tip #5: If you think youโve made it, itโs time to level up your business
Once you feel like youโve got your business all figured out, time to step it up. You have to be constantly leveling up if you want to stay at the head of the game.
If youโre a salon owner and you havenโt done a decent size remodel in the last three to five years, itโs time. And I donโt mean tearing down walls; maybe just a new coat of paint, new photos, new throw pillows. Stylists, shift your social media strategy and your level of service. Be constantly evolving.
Sound exhausting? Success isnโt for the weak. If you want to be successful in business, it takes some effort, but man itโs fun.
Tip #6: Look to yourself for answers but ask for help
Itโs not about finding someone to tell you exactly what to do; itโs about finding your own path. What anyone else can tell you about your path will be empty. Their journey is not yours. You need to figure out your own.
If youโre looking for a mentor or coach, donโt pick someone whoโs the jackpot of answers. Find someone who will inspire you to introspectively look at yourself to discover what you actually need to be doing.
Tip #7: Donโt try to do it all yourself
Most stylists are running an entire business by themselves. Weโre the talent, the marketers, the photographers, the branding team, inventory and supply management, and the accountant.
The more you can spend time being the talent or the leader, the more successful you can be. Otherwise, youโre wasting time, energy, and effort. I know thereโs hesitation to spend money on a bookkeeper or an online bookkeeping system, but hereโs the reality: is that $50 a month for bookkeeping, worth the hours of your life youโll get back? Absolutely!
If youโre trying to do it all yourself and are feeling overwhelmed, get some outside help. Youโre doing too much. If you want to level up, you have to bring in the support you need to make it happen.
I hope this gives you a different perspective on success and how to be successful. At the end of the day, it comes down to belief, support, confidence in yourself and direction in how you are running your business that will either make you or break you.