Straight Talk

By Jon Gonzales

Hello my name is Jon Gonzales President and founder of Hairdresser career development Systems.

Thank you for visiting to my new education only web site.

I want to share my 43 years as the former owner of 4 of the top salons in southern California and 10 years as an educator, business consultant and mentor to young talent who have chosen hairdressing as a career, and yes it is a career.

As I travel throughout the U. S. and Canada presenting my business management and Personal Development presentations at major hair shows, throughout the U.S. and Canada has allowed me  to  speak to thousands of hairdressers, salon owners, educators about the changes , challenges and yes solutions we are facing today in a changing and competitive business climate.

Sadly salon owners, hairdressers, and beauty professionals who work daily in the trenches are struggling to make a better living for themselves and their families.

I think most of you will agree owning a hair salon or building a hairdressing career is getting more and more challenging.

I can tell you what you want to hear by offering  glitter and hype,of course we all know that  motivation will only last a couple of weeks; or I can tell you what you need to hear by offering you tough love solutions, yes I will step on a few toes including my own.

Nobody ever said building a hairdressing career or a successful and profitable salon would be easy.

We have all make made mistakes along the way, don’t take this criticism personally.

Before we can find solutions to our challenges, we need to address the dark side of our profession and ask the question why are many salons failing or struggling?Why is it so difficult to find people who are excited to want to work? Why is turnover such a challenge? Why is our educational curriculum not meeting job market demands? Why don’t have an apprenticeship program? the list of challenges are goes on and on.

The purpose of this message is to separate glitter and hype from reality.

Because I am retired and beholden to no special interest groups, I can provide straight talk opinions and focus on the educational needs of salon owners, hairdressers and beauty professionals trying to make a better living for themselves and their families.

After 43 years as a salon owner I was able to retire financially independent debt free. I am not saying this to brag, I have no ego, I am  saying if I can do it so can you. We can agree to disagree by offering different opinions.

Most of you are smarter than me.

I started my business with no money, acquiring a S.B.A loan, when everyone told me it could not be done, well I did it by going to the library and learning how to write a business plan.

I received most of my artistic training in Europe.

I’m sharing this information to give you hope and make your journey easier than mine.

Learning by trial and error in today’s competitive and changing business climate is just too costly,especially with the growing cost of living.

When I owned my salons, like you I worked long hours behind the chair and was forced to combat the growing challenges of owning a successful and profitable business.

After I retired, I had the time to explore all these challenges and find solutions; in fact I wrote 4 books on business and a book on personal growth and development. My newest Book A Woman’s Guide to Success and Happiness is now available.
I invite all of you to visit my new web site that will help you meet and overcome these challenges.
Check it out!