I meet with Kim every 2 weeks and this has been going on for over 18 years. She keeps me intact with nails, pedicures, facials, you name it.
Kim has been doing this work for 26 years. Actually, longer since even as a child she had the ‘Barbie’ head and styled her hair. She’s a pro.
Recently I talked with Kim about her years in business and what she has learned over the years.
• Education: When she first started she thought she knew everything. She got to work on her first day and realized she knew nothing. She learned the most from on-the-job training and mentors in her profession.
• Hours: Thought the cool place to work was in a mall salon and then realized the hours were atrocious. Moved to a private salon quickly.
• Business: School taught the skills not the business side.
• Planning: As she would work with a client she was planning ahead to have them schedule their next appointment.
• Referrals: Had a referral program by giving client’s her business card and the referral got $5 off a cut and so did the client.
• Get Noticed: Got in front of large groups by having a trade show booth and giving out coupons for their 1st visit.
• Paycheck: Kim was willing to work as she had to live on her paycheck. She started making money her fist year. Many of the other stylists kept repeating their 1st year 10 times over.
• Reality: She had to learn she is a beautician; not a magician!
• Clients: She took her client’s issues home at night. She learned from her dad, a police officer, you leave the issues at work.
• Listen: Listen more than you speak. Clients want someone to listen.
• Continued Learning: She came out of school with certain skills but then kept going to trainings to learn more. She didn’t want to stand on her feet all day and just do hair. She wanted variety. This also meant she could work with the same client in many different ways.
• Economy: In 2009 the bad economy hit and clients starting cutting back on services. If Kim had at that time only one service she offered she would have been sunk.
• Variety: When she does nails she doesn’t even have to think about it. When she does hair color it’s different every time. She likes having some services that take no thinking and some services that take more thought.
• Passion: Loves going to work every day. It’s not a job; it’s a career.
• Personality: She’s a people person at work and a hermit at home.
Biggest Lessons Kim Learned:
1. Be kind to everyone.
2. Do not judge a book by its cover.
3. Listen more than you speak.
4. Be open to new ways of doing things.
5. Listen to the client’s goal but then decide if what they want is realistic. If not; don’t do it.
Your turn!:
1. How can you apply the lessons Kim learned to your business today?
2. What new service could you put together and offer to your past and current clients?
3. Is it time for you to talk less and listen more with prospects and clients?
4. Are you honest with your clients about the work you can do with them?
5. Is it time to realize you may not know everything about running a business and ask for help?
I would love to know the answers to these questions! Please post below!