Lack of time is a constant challenge facing salon owners. We all also know the keys to owning a successful and profitable business and still have a family life requires a lot of time and hard work. In today’s challenging economy time management will play a major role in your efforts in developing powerful business management skills and grow a successful and profitable business. Learning to work smarter,not harder will be a good start.

The question I am asked over and over by salon owners is how do I find time to develop my business skills and still work behind the chair 10-12 hours a day.

Unfortunately most salon owners must wear many hats. Everything from marketing and promoting their salons, training and educating their team, hiring the right people, combating staff turnover and the list goes on and on.

The following tips will help you in combating time restraints:

Organization and Structure – The easiest way to find more time is to get yourself and your salon organized.  Manage your business instead of your business managing you.  Make sure you develop a business plan of action so you can monitor the progress of your salon. My book Creating Your Salon will be extremely helpful. Click here

Time management — take some classes in time management. As they say time is money. Focus your attention on important tasks such as training your team, recruiting and training young talent etc.

Seek Out Help— seek out education from people that offer educational programs, especially from successful people who have a great amount of real world experiences. Help is available,learning by trial and error is just too costly.

Delegate — don’t try to do everything yourself.  Develop your salon coordinator who will be your right arm. A salon coordinator can be invaluable in helping you save time. Have one of your stylists serve as your director of education. You might want to add a graphic artist, copywriter, or a social media consultant that can manage your social media program. My book Growing Your Business has a chapter on how to select your salon coordinator.

Employee Handbook — how can you expect your staff to perform if they don’t know your expectations and how they will be measured? An employee hand book will help eliminate many of your time wasting efforts in managing people.

Resources — seek out educational resources that will help you find solutions to many of the challenges of salon ownership. There are plenty of resources available to help you run a successful business.

In these challenging times, you must learn to save time and use it wisely. I do hope these tips will help ease the heavy duties and responsibilities of owning a success and profitable business. Help is available; my educational programs will save you time and money. It took me 45 years to figure this all out, you may want to take the easy way out and make your journey easier than mine. Click Here

It is a proven fact that the income and standard of living of hairdresser’s is not keeping pace  with other professions. Most hairdresser’s have no pensions, medical insurance, paid vacations and other perks compared to other professions. Far too many of our colleagues work pay check to pay check and just get by.

As I view many of the chat rooms, there is hardly a mention about achieving financial independence and financial planning. Most of the conversations are about products and irrelevant topics that will not help you when it comes to earning a good living especially in today’s difficult economic economy. It is said that most hairdresser’s have an artistic mind set and little regard to the business and money making aspect of their development.

I want to make it perfectly clear that I do not measure wealth by money alone. I measure wealth by family, good health and many other factors. But we also deserve to raise our standard of living and reward our self for our hard work and sacrifices.

Sadly when hairdresser’s and salon owners visit trade shows, the emphasis is always about glitter, hype, product sales, and avant garde hairstyles the average consumer will never wear.

As a profession we have totally ignored the average consumer who not only wants to look good but also wants an easy to manage hairstyle between salon visits. Far too many hairdresser’s, salon owners, nail techs, attend hair shows just to party, buy supplies ( you probably can buy these supplies cheaper at Wal Mart) and have a good time.

Sadly many will not take the time to attend the many educational and business classes of guest speakers that offer their vast experience and knowledge.

Of course we need to keep up with the latest trends and keep developing our artistic skills, but we also owe it to ourselves and our families to work hard and strive for a higher standard of living.

It is my wish that these tips about making money will draw your attention on planning for your financial security. It is not how much you earn; it is what you do with your money that will determine your financial security.

Although our educational system is product biased, we as professionals have the ability to control our own destiny. The beauty profession  can be a short cut to financial security.

This is one of the few professions where you literally can get all the overtime you want once  you create value in your skills, and create a demand for your services. The sky’s the limit.

Please follow these tips with an open mind:

Create a Demand – work hard to build an upscale clientele and ask for references. Be the best. Maximize your full learning and earning potential. The road to self-improvement is exciting, and can be financially rewarding once you gain experience and create a demand for your services.

Invest in Yourself — develop additional skills that will set you apart from the competition by excelling at customer service. Develop your people and communication skills by taking classes in developing your public speaking skills. Toastmaster’s International .org will be a good start.

Keep Learning— the door to education is never closed. The more you learn, the more you earn. As you learn more, opportunities will appear that you never dreamed possible. Always seek out self improvement and continually challenge yourself every day by setting high standards for yourself

Save Your Money — get in the habit of saving your money where it will draw interest. You work hard for your money; make sure your money works hard for you. Learn about money management.  You can start out with saving a little from your tips as a starter. Learn to  save,save,save and carefully monitor your spending.

Money Management and Financial Planning — take classes or read  books on money management and financial planning. Suze Orman is an excellent mentor on financial planning and money management. I urge all of you to set up your own Simplified IRA account or Roth IRA.

Stay out of Debt — especially credit card debt. Be careful how  you spend your money. Was that alcoholic drink really worth $7.00? Or could I have saved it for something more worth valuable like buying an educational book. Get rid of all your credit cards and just keep one or two.

Cultivate Your Mind — learn to work smarter, not harder. Read books about entrepreneurship and self improvement, knowledge is power.

Toot Your Horn — develop a marketing mind set. Learn how to promote and market your skills to the consumer.

Take advantage of all the  marketing possibilities  social media offers.

Film your own commercial on you tube showcasing your talent or introducing yourself to the local community. Make sure you have a link to your face book business fan page.

It is my hope that these few tips will get you started about not only making money and raising your standard of living, but also get started planning for your own financial security. Let us all work together to upgrade our image and income earning potential.

I urge you to attend my Hairdresser’s Guide to Making Money seminar on Tuesday evening September  27 at the Palm Springs Hilton Hotel in Palm Springs California. For more information and a flyer call 1-800-390-4237

Tips to growing your business

Salon owners face many challenges in today’s competitive and difficult business environment. Rising business costs, rising competition, price wars, and the list goes on and on.

Finding answers to these challenges by trial and error is just too costly”

The key to owning a successful and profitable business will depend on many factors.

One of the key factors to growing your business and owning and growing a successful business will depend on your ability to create a demand for your salon’s services.

The following tips will help you grow your business:

Hire the Right People – the higher your standards in selecting and growing your team, the higher your client retention rate and improved profits. No business can expect to grow with a constant hit and miss approach to customer loss. Negative word of mouth will hinder all your advertising and marketing efforts.

Educate Your Team – as leader of your team, you must take full responsibility for improving staff performance and productivity.

Developing powerful quality control standards will be critical to the growth and stability of your business. As owners I urge you to invest in your salon’s greatest profit potential — educate your team. Let Hairdresser Career Development Systems help you develop your team. Click here

Promote Your Business Cost Effectively – develop strong marketing and advertising skills. Take classes on how to promote your business cost effectively. Make sure you monitor your results by  stating how did you hear about us.

Social Media – learn all about the power of social media. Hire a consultant or just a high school student to help you take advantage of all the resources social media offers.

Go to the tutorials sections of all your social media sites.

Get Help – don’t try to find solutions by trial and error. Make sure you learn from consultants that have a vast amount of experience.

Hairdresser Career development systems offers a wide array of help and educational resources, click here.

I do hope that these few tips will help you grow your business,my next upcoming business seminar will be click here for complete information.

Are you making the right decision on job change?

” Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.”

Far too many hairdressers change jobs without thinking of the long term ramifications of your decision. In today’s tough and uncertain economy, changing jobs can be risky especially with today,s high unemployment rate. We should be thankful we have a job.

How can we raise prices with a constant merry go round of staff turnover?

I do hope that these few tips will help you think clearly before you make your decision.

How Were You Recruited – If you were sent a flyer,brochure,letter etc. by another salon owner, in the hopes that you bring a following, be careful, what their really telling you is that they are depending on you to bring a clientele to help make their business a success. This is clearly unethical and a sign of dishonesty.

Why do You Want to Change Jobs? – Clearly define why you are unhappy. Is it because you’re not busy enough? Not earning enough income? Is the new owner offering higher commissions or booth rental options? If so it is a sign of desperation. Is your perception that you’re a victim of poor management? Is there a negative salon environment?  Do you allow yourself to be drawn into salon gossip and pettiness? Do you feel there is a lack of communication between you and the owner? Have you asked your boss how you can improve? Perhaps your expectations are unrealistic. I suggest you seek a private meeting with the owner and try to resolve your concerns before you make your decision.

Will Your Customers Follow You? Some will, but keep in mind many astute salon owners have resources to keep your client’s loyal to their salon, by offering incentives and rewards. Keep in mind your customer’s have many resources and price ranges to choose from as well. When you leave you will lose customers. Sometimes we over value our skills.

Honesty and a Code of Ethics – your coworkers are affected whenever turnover occurs in the salon. When you leave you are now a competitor. How can we raise prices with a constant merry go round of staff turnover? Your actions affect the livelihoods of your team mates and our profession.

Conspiring to Leave in the Back Room – collecting addresses and phone numbers is just unethical. If you feel your new job is a step forward, I’m sure your new boss will help you build a new clientele. If you owned a salon would you want your staff do the same to you. Honesty and a code of ethics is the only way to grow your career or business.

Don’t Burn the Bridges Behind you – If you leave on good terms, your owner probably will welcome you back if your new job does not measure up to your expectations. You may need job references.

Look in the Mirror – perhaps you’re just not doing good work. You may want to measure your customer return rate. If you’re truly outstanding, you will be busy regardless of your circumstances. Sometimes we fail to take full responsibility for our own success or failure.

Before you make your decision on changing jobs, communicate with your owner and try to work out a solution to your unhappiness. I have yet to meet a salon owner that wants to see any of his staff members fail

You may not feel you have the perfect boss at times, but then you may not be the perfect employee at times.

As we continue to self-destruct the franchise industry will benefit and keep lowering the prices of our services that affect our livelihoods.

Yes I will admit there will be instances where job change will be warranted, many salon owners will not take the time to learn how to lead and improve staff performance. Excellence does start at the top. If you still feel you want to leave, leave on good terms and make sure your new job will make you happy.  I urge you to attend my Hairdresser’s Guide to Excellence  seminar when possible.

As hairdressers and salon owners we tend to invest most of our time  developing our artistic skills, we seldom think of planning for our financial future.

In today’s tough economy, the cost of living will continue to escalate as evidenced by rising gas prices as an example. It’s not how much you earn that will determine your financial future; It’s what you do with your money that will determine your financial future.

I’ve listed a few important guidelines that will help you in the area of financial planning and financial independence:

• Invest in Creating Value in Your Skills — if you want to stand above the crowd and gain that competitive edge. Develop your communication and people skills, look and act like a professional, and develop your competitive spirit. Challenge yourself every day towards self improvement.
• Don’t Rely on Others — for your financial needs and development. Don’t put all your trust on your boy friend or husband for your financial security; you never know when you may have to go it alone. Work hard to invest in your skills and self confidence to create a demand for your services.

• Invest in Education — the more you learn, the more you earn. A top professional will never be out of a job.
• Set Financial Goals — clearly define your goals, then work hard to reach your goals and make it a reality. Opening a Roth Ira account is a good start.
• Stay out of Debt — don’t spend money just to make you feel good. Make sure you stay out of credit card debt.
• Learn about money — you work hard for your money, make your money work hard for you, and learn the power of compounding. Learn how to invest your money, take classes on money management, and financial planning. www.vanguard .com has an excellent retirement and money management program. Susie Orman also has valuable information as well.

• Learn to Budget —monitor your spending habits, do you really need to spend that $7.00 for a glass of wine? Learn to save your money. Before you spend your money place a value on what you’re buying. You may want to start at saving some of your tip money as a start.

We as hairdressers spend much of our time developing our artistic skills, I urge all women who are in the beauty profession to get out of the box and focus some of your time on planning for your financial future. Learn to be a true entrepreneur.

I have great respect for women who want a better life for themselves and family. Although this article is about money, don’t neglect your family and loved ones. Your challenge is to find that balance between working and family values

Sadly, as hairdressers, many of us have no pensions, medical insurance or other benefits such as other professions. Until changes are made, we must take full responsibility for our own financial future.

Anything is possible if you believe

Over the years I’ve made it a point to observe why some people make it big while others just get by. What personal characteristics set them above the crowd? I finally figured it out; they all seemed to have true grit, that fierce determination to succeed.

I want to share some of my findings, so you too can  display the same passion to succeed.  This is part one of my pyramid to success of key personal growth characteristics that will help you stand above the crowd and gain that all important competitive edge.

If you want to maximize your full learning and earning potential.  I urge you to follow these guidelines with an open mind.

• Goals — a goal casually set will usually be abandoned at the first obstacle. Clearly define what will make you happy, then go for it.  A ship without a rudder will simply drift around and around. Develop your own goals and plan of action that will help you lead a happy and successful life. Make sure you divide your goals personally, professionally and financially.  Once you achieve your goals, then make new goals.

• Passion and Desire — success comes from your desire to want a better life for yourself and your family.  To be the best will require you to develop a passion for wanting to reach higher levels of excellence in maximizing your full potential. Without passion and desire you will follow the crowd of mediocrity, make it part of your daily life.

• On Going Education — there is no speed limit to learning. The more you learn, the more you earn. On-going self improvement will help you create value in your self and in your skills. As you continue to learn and gain valuable experience you will dramatically improve your self confidence and experience opportunities that you never expected.  Knowledge is power only when it is turned on. Learn something new everyday, your road to success will always be under construction.

• Powerful People and Communication Skills — lack of communication skill is one of the biggest causes of customer loss.  By developing powerful people and communication skills, you will dramatically improve your client retention efforts.   I urge you to develop and enhance your public speaking skills; Toastmasters International would be a good start.

• Perseverance — instead of saying you can’t, use the word ‘can’ in your vocabulary.  Use adversity as an opportunity to get better, learn from your mistakes and move on.   When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Never give up on yourself no matter how high the challenge.

• Positive Attitude — always look for the good in people, your job, your boss and in your personal life.  If you look real hard you won’t see too many of the negatives.  A winning attitude is a prerequisite for achieving success and happiness.

• Competitive Spirit — work hard to bring out the best in yourself.  You will be competing with many other professionals.   Work hard every day to challenge yourself to keep getting better.

These are just a few of my Pyramids to Success (part one).  I will add additional guidelines on how to climb the  ladder of success.   My book A Hairdresser’s Guide to Success – personally, professionally, and financially -  will help you maximize your full learning and earning potential.  Click Here for information on my book.

Yours truly,

Jon

“It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” – George Elliot

Sadly, far too many hairdressers struggle to make a good living and never reach their full learning and earning potential because it requires hard work, continuing education, extra effort, sacrifices, and a lot of perseverance.

Building a successful hairdressing career is a journey that requires patience and a quest for self improvement and knowledge.

Good is not enough anymore in today’s tough economy; especially if you want to stand above the crowd and gain that all important competitive edge.

You and you alone hold the keys to your own success or failure.

Are you willing to take full responsibility for your own success or failure or will you join the crowd of people who are always looking for excuses to fail?

Let my book a “Hairdresser’s Guide to Success—Personally, Professionally, and Financially’’ and my audio CD – “A Hairdresser’s Journey to Excellence” serve as your road map in helping you make your goals and dreams a reality.

Anything is possible if you believe!

• Invest in yourself through ongoing education — Keep learning. The more you learn the more you earn.
• Work smarter, not harder— Learn the business aspect of your development. Become more business minded.
• Don’t follow the crowd — Dare to be different.  The beauty industry has changed dramatically. Surround yourself with successful and positive people.
• Cultivate your mind — Tomorrow’s successful professional  will  have to know more than how to cut and style hair if they want to stand above the crowd.
• Develop a marketing mentality— Learn to toot your own horn. Learn all the endless possibilities of social media and marketing your skills.
• Avoid Gossip and Negativity— Don’t allow yourself to be drawn into salon gossip and pettiness, instead contribute to a positive and professional salon environment.
• Take Personal Responsibility — Sometimes we have to look in our own mirror,  if we are not as successful as we want to be. Your customer return rate will be your score card.
• Stay Focused — Avoid distractions, so you can focus on maximizing your full learning and earning potential

For a more detailed plan of action, check out A Hairdresser’s Guide to Success.

What’s your key to success?

As we prepare to enter a new year, let us renew our passion and fighting spirit to succeed. Your attitude towards adversity will determine your own success or failure. Don’t follow the doom and gloom crowd always looking for excuses to fail.  Look at adversity as a fantastic opportunity to move forward in reaching your goals and aspirations.

The following steps will help you through these challenging times:

• Set Goals — you must clarify what will make you happy (personally, professionally, and financially.) Clearly define your goals, write them down, make sure your goals are realistic and reachable, and then work hard to make them a reality. Once you’ve achieved a set of goals, be sure to set new ones.
• Be Thankful — Never allow worry and stress get you down. Be thankful that you have good health, a family who cares, the opportunity that you live in the best country in the world where you have the freedom to grow your dreams, and  have the potential to be anything you want to be provided you’re willing to work hard in achieving your dreams and goals. Anything is possible if you believe.
• Laugh a Little — it’s just one of those days. Getting upset will never solve your problems, define your problem, then deal with it and move on. Many people have bigger problems such as poor health , job loss, family tragedies;  be thankful for your blessings, tomorrow is just another day. Live life and every moment to the fullest, enjoy the moment you may not be here tomorrow. Develop a positive attitude and a fierce determination to succeed despite obstacles along the way.
• Address Your Problem Immediately— don’t let it fester into a larger problem. The longer you wait, the bigger your challenge. If your problem involves a staff member who refuses to be part of your team,  your challenge is to find a mutual solution. You may want to evaluate yourself as a leader of your team as well.
• Clearly Define Your Problem — what is keeping you up at night or causing you stress and anxiety.  Clearly define your challenge and then prioritize as most important, address it, then move to conquer the next problem.
• Renew Your Passion — you must develop your competitive spirit and regain your passion to succeed if you want to move forward to a higher level.  Far too many people allow for complacency to rob them of success and happiness.
• Seek out Education— Learn from people that have overcme the many challenges of salon ownership. Knowledge is power only when it is turned on. Help is available, use it. Many people will say education is expensive, try ignorance. Hairdresser Career Development systems is your partner in helping you reach your goals and full learning and earning potential. Start the new year as a new beginning with fantastic opportunities   for yourself and your families. I see 2010 as a great opportunity for those well informed.
• Stay Focused — You will encounter many well meaning people and distractions for your valuable time. Sometimes it is difficult to divide yourself from family, social activities when trying to run a successful business, your challenge will be in trying to balance business and your personal life.

It is my sincere wish that you and your families have a great 2010.