5 Simple Strategies to Scale Back Your Time in the Salon

 
 

A lot of stylists and salon owners today are working too much for one simple reason:

They think it’s the only way to be successful.

That’s a huge misconception. (There. We said it). So many industry professionals today think the only way to make more money is to work more, take more clients, and work longer hours. 

But chances are that doesn’t sound like the career you craved when you joined the industry, right?

Listen, it is fully possible to build a business and clientele you love all the while having a holistically wealthy life full of love, time, money, and health…and not being in the salon 24/7.

Let’s dig into five simple strategies to scale back your time in the salon while making more money! 

If you want to dig deep into how to build your best schedule, join us at Thrivers Live 2022 to hear the one and only Hal Elrod of The Miracle Morning break it down! 

Know how you work best

How do you feel when you put on your favorite shirt? Or spend a little extra time getting ready in the morning? It’s like you can tackle the world singlehandedly, right? 

Figuring out how you work best is like setting yourself up to feel that way every single day.

Know your time. Some people thrive in the morning, some love afternoons, and some do their best work in the evenings. If your schedule is flexible and/or you can set your own hours, adjust your schedule to the time that works best for you. 

Not able to shift your schedule? Try organizing your bookings to what suits you best. Love doing an in-depth color first thing and an easy cut later in the day? Make changes in your booking system to support you. 

Have snacks. Yes, it might sound ridiculous, but being properly full and hydrated can have a huge effect on your mentality (and it supports your health wealth!). Bring a big water bottle to refill throughout the day and have some healthy snacks on hand in case you get hungry. (We love almonds and granola bars!)

Identify what you need. Whether you’re a commission stylist, booth renter, studio suite owner, or salon owner, you need different things to work your best. 

Write everything down you need to work best. It doesn’t have to be realistic or even something you can implement right away. Maybe it’s a longer lunch break, to stop double booking, or comfy shoes.

Next, prioritize your list in order of importance, then decide on a plan to make those top priorities happen.

Stick to your schedule

Have you ever started a new workout program and noticed that one or two days a week, either rest or light stretching is scheduled? That’s because it’s important for the body to rest and reset after all your hard workouts.

Same thing for your career. 

If you keep working and working and bending yourself around every single client’s whim, you will become exhausted, disillusioned, and burned out.

The best way to protect yourself from that state? Stick to your schedule. If a client asks if they can come in late or early, the answer is a (kind) no. Your rest, reset, and time are important, so don’t be afraid to protect them. 

If the idea of telling clients you aren’t available at that time makes you nervous, create a script and practice, practice, practice. Having some verbiage on hand to respond to guest questions or pushback can help you stay strong in protecting your time. 

Stay true to your North Star

If you joined us in Wealthiest Year Yet, you know the North Star by heart. If not, here’s the basics: Your North Star is your ultimate goal and helps guide you towards it as you make choices in your life and career. When you have set your North Star, it’s easy to stay focused on what’s important. 

Think about your North Star. Is your current schedule currently supporting your journey to this goal? If not, what changes can you make? Maybe it’s a scheduled shift, talking with your salon owner to ask for support, or upleveling your guest experience. 

Know your budget 

Do you know how much you need to earn to make ends meet? How much you need to make so you can work less in the salon? 

If you don’t know these numbers, put time on your calendar right now to sit down and get more familiar with your budget.

The incredible part about knowing these numbers means you know exactly how much you need to make every single day you’re behind the chair to sustain the freedom lifestyle you crave. If you want help starting out, check out this episode of the Thriving Stylist Podcast

P.S. Financial expert  Anthony O’Neal is joining us on the stage at Thrivers Live to break down how to align your North Star and finances for ultimate success! Thrivers, grab your tickets here. If you aren’t a Thriver yet, enroll right now to get access to tickets! 

Build the right systems

Round here, we’re big fans of systems for one simple reason: they make life easier. 

Think about it. Instead of scrambling to welcome each new guest and send up an appointment packet, you can have a system in place that does that. Your finances can be automatically distributed among your accounts, your social media can be scheduled ahead of time, and your day-to-day operations managed so you spend the least amount of time in the salon as possible.

Make a list of areas in your work life that take a lot of time, then think about how you can simplify it. Maybe you save ideas for your monthly newsletter on OneNote. Or every existing client gets a happy birthday greeting from you on their special day. 

Yes, systems take a while to set up, but once they’re in play, life becomes easier…and your time in the salon even less. 

You don’t have to work 24/7 in the salon to be a success! Once you get these strategies into play, you can work less, earn more, and live the freedom lifestyle you crave. 

Want to dig deeper? Head to thriverslive.com to grab one of the last tickets to Thrivers Live so you can learn how to optimize strategies and systems, remove success barriers, and create the catalyst for change.

How to Step Out of Survival Mode & Achieve Mega Success

 
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If somebody asks, “What are you doing right now to level up your guest experience?”, are you like A) “I’ve totally got this,” or B) “Upgrade my guest experience? I’m just trying to get through the day.” 

That feeling is so real, especially after a brutal year like 2020. It feels hard enough to pick up the pieces and move on, but thinking about creating client goodie bags for your clients when maybe you’re just trying to pay your bills? Not so much.

But let’s be honest: living in survival mode like that? It isn’t good for you or your business. 

But how do you mentally move forward when you’re still dealing with the curveballs (like ahem, imposter syndrome, ahem) that come with survival mode? 

Today, we’re going to dig into how to stop “just surviving” and get your business and your mindset back on track. 

Tip #1 Recognize where your mindset is right now 

If you’ve been hanging around with us for a while, you know your mindset is a crucial piece of building a gorgeous business, right? But survival mode can (and usually does) totally shift that. 

Ask yourself “Where’s my head at in this moment? Am I playing full out or am I allowing something to let me half ass it?” It’s a tricky question, but the more honest you are, the faster you’ll recognize and move out of survival mode. 

Why? Let’s take one of the most important parts of your business, guest experience, for example. If you’re saying, “Well, my guest experience would be better, except...COVID, [shrug]” you’re not playing full out.

Plenty of stylists and salon owners are offering stellar guest experiences despite the fact we’re in a global pandemic. And if you’ve been anchoring your business in basic guest experience (think wine and cookies), your mindset is keeping you from stepping it up. 

What’s amazing is that while the pandemic is out of your control, how you react to it is. You’ve got to get your head in the game and push through to step out on the other side of survival mode. 

Step one? Pay attention to your mindset. Notice how you talk about your business, its tasks, even the work you do. Every time you catch yourself half-assing it, recognize that and challenge yourself to step it up. 

Tip #2 Accept that every frustration is temporary

If you’re dragged down when your co-stylist makes fun of you for posting on Instagram, when you feel like you don’t have the money to take that phenomenal new class, or when your clientele feels like it’ll never grow, know all of those things are temporary. 

And when we say temporary, we mean two things: not permanent and you can change them at any time. (Remember what we said earlier about how you react is fully within your control? This goes hand-in-hand.) 

Weird or hard stuff will come. That’s how life works. Don’t be afraid to honor the season you’re in, but don’t let it deter you from showing up on Instagram or working on your website, even if it’s just for 20 minutes a day instead of an hour. 

If you stay in the mindset of, “This is temporary. This is just a season. I can push forward,” and prepare yourself (and your business) that way, you are better off already. Remembering that every frustration, no matter how overwhelming, is only temporary will help you move out of survival mode. 

Want to dig deeper into how your mindset affects your business? Check out this podcast episode to identify the 4 Rs that are holding you back and how to push through to massive success!

Tip #3 List everything you need to do to level up your business 

Our industry rivals the tech industry when it comes to evolution. Think about it: the beauty industry looks nothing like it did 10, five, or even two years ago. And if you’re not evolving with it, you’re missing it. 

But here’s the thing about survival mode: it puts evolution on the back burner and you focus on just getting by. You hope that your clients will understand you have good intentions and cross your fingers that’s enough.

It isn’t. 

What your clients actually see is your reality. You can’t just say, “Well, I’m doing my best,” because if your best isn’t holding up to the new industry standard, your clients are going to look elsewhere. 

To move out of survival mode, start thinking about what you need to level up in your business. What have you been putting off? Updating your website? Reevaluating your guest experience? 

You don’t need to revolutionize everything overnight, but if you want to get out of this state of survival, you need to ask yourself what you can do to level up. Because all consumers—even your most loyal clients—have a wandering eye. And it’s not their job to stay loyal to you; it’s your job to keep them loyal. The best way? Always be leveling up in your business. 

Tip #4 Practice gratitude

If you feel like everything’s going wrong, the fastest way to get out of that funk is to focus on the one thing that’s going right. 

Maybe it’s something as small as being thankful for that thermos that’s keeping your coffee warm through your morning clients or the compliment your fellow stylist gave you when you walked in. No matter how small, practicing gratitude can change your day. 

If negativity or self-doubt start to spread in your mind or in your salon (because it can be just as contagious as gratitude), try the ‘kill them with kindness’ method. It’s way more fun and easier to shift into the gratitude mentality from survival mode that way. 

Try building a small gratitude practice at first. Maybe it’s writing down the big three things you’re thankful for every morning. Maybe it’s signing up for a service that texts you positive affirmations every hour. Whatever it is, it’s crazy how clear your mind becomes (and your business grows!) when you let yourself shift from a “I will survive” mindset to one of gratitude. 

Tip #5 Beat imposter syndrome.

Ahh, imposter syndrome. The horrible little gremlin who makes you feel like you’re never quite good enough and always shows up when you’re trying to keep it all together in survival mode. 

Harvard Business Review defines imposter syndrome as “doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments.”  

For example, you’ll scroll on Instagram and see a post from somebody you look up to. Instead of feeling inspired, you say, “Oh, that looks amazing. I’ll never be able to do that.” 

Sound familiar? That’s imposter syndrome. But how do you finally kick this lasting symptom of survival mode to the curb once and for all?

Make sure you’re following the right people on social media. Simple way to tell if somebody isn’t right for your social media feed? If their post hits your feed and you feel bad about yourself, they’re not right for you and you need to unfollow them. Because when you put yourself around energy like that, it makes you feel small and less than, right? You have to eliminate that as much as possible.

Next, try working with blinders on. Don’t worry about the stylist next door or if you should serve kombucha to your clients too because you saw it on TikTok. Focus on what’s important in your business and cut out anything you don’t need.

Finally, build a community around yourself where there’s no divas and everybody at every stage of their journey is welcome to the table. Your community should make you think that you’ve chosen the most amazing career on the planet.

We’ll be real with you: this time next year, we’ll be playing a much different, much more highly competitive game...meaning now’s the time to hang up your survival mode hat and get in the game. But once you kick imposter syndrome to the curb, adjust your mindset, and start working to truly level up your business, you’ll have the mentality you need to kick it into high gear and walk into your dream business and life.


Want more inspiration like this? Sign up for the free Thriving Stylist Insiders Facebook group now for more!

Thrivers Team Edition: How to Stay Refreshed & Focused in 2021

 
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Goal trackers are made, progress trackers are live...and you’re probably feeling like you have to do all the things at once to achieve your goals right now. 

Anybody else? Bueller?

We’re gonna be 100 with you: that’s a recipe for burnout.

You have more than 350 days to make magic and those big 2021 goals come true. So instead of slamming your foot down on the gas to go full speed, make sure you have time in your calendar to refill your inspiration cup, relax, unwind, and find some white space. 

Not sure where to start? To help you get ideas brewing, the Thrivers team is pulling back the curtain and sharing our top ways to stay focused, productive, and rested! Plus, an inside peek at our favorite moments from 2020 to help you reflect on all the magic you made in 2020! 

Welcome, everybody! Let’s start off with a fun one! Share your favorite moment from Thrivers Society in 2020:

  • Entering the venue for the first time at Thrivers Live! After spending nearly a year planning the event, it was so surreal and beautiful to see it all come together so perfectly. - Jess

  • This is a tough one. I would say that Thrivers Society Live was definitely one of my favorite moments. It was an amazing experience all the way around, from getting time to spend with my team to finally being able to put a face to so many of the names that hit our inbox. The vibe, community, and energy was something I am so grateful to have experienced. 

    Second I would say that the teamwork I experienced when the pandemic hit was incredible. It was pretty amazing to see the team completely pivot what we were doing in order to serve our community the best that we can. - JV

  • Without a doubt, Thrivers Society Live! Seeing the whole event come together and being able to be a part of such an amazingly special event was such a rewarding experience that I will never forget! - Jenna

  • Coming together as a team and putting together Bulletproof: How to Thrive through the Unexpected to help Thrivers during such a time of uncertainty. - Lauren

  • I love seeing all the Thriver wins in the Facebook groups and emails we receive! It is such a great feeling to know how Thrivers Society is changing lives and making an impact on so many stylists! - Jessi

You guys, all the feels right now! Okay, share your biggest lesson learned in 2020: 

  • A reminder that mental health is just as important as physical. - RC

  • Take a step back and enjoy the ride. With starting a new role at FSBD, buying a home, and planning a wedding, I have found myself pretty overwhelmed at times, but I'm learning to look at the big picture and see that all of these things are huge steps forward in my life and career and to breathe the moments in while I can. - Hayley

  • We can do hard things. - CT

  • The biggest lesson I learned was to appreciate the extra time together with my husband and daughter that 2020 brought me. Juggling my husband and I working from home with our 3 year old daughter is challenging, but also such a blessing to be together. - Franchesca

  • My biggest lesson learned in 2020 is to learn to slow down, have patience, and have grace. 2020 has been a difficult year for us all and I've found that it has been a year of looking within one’s self and be present with our loved ones. - Jenn

  • Rather than worrying, complaining about the things you can't control, choose to live in gratitude and look for the opportunity. This yields peace, joy, and understanding in life. - Vanessa 

Let’s dig into the good stuff: what’s your top productivity tip or habit that you just have to share?

  • I am ALL about consistency, so sticking to a schedule is key for me. - RC

  • Designate a space to work and stick to it. It's easier said than done, but I'm way more productive at my desk than I am working on the couch. - Jess

  • Plan out as much as you can in advance! Our brain power can only sustain so much decision-making ability in a day before we start suffering from "decision fatigue." The more you plan out, the easier it is to stay on track and make smart decisions. (Psychology grad student geeking out with this answer, lol) - Hayley

  • Speak up about what you need and when you need it. If you have a family at home, express to your partner when you need time for you to just crank out some work. - JV 

  • Plan out a weekly schedule. Take a look at your upcoming week, both professionally and personally, and plan out each day so you have an outline of what to work off of and can then shift wherever needed - Jenna

  • I like to work late at night, early morning, or on the weekend when no one else is working. No questions or distractions. - Lauren

  • On the weekend, I like to meal plan for the week ahead on Saturday and order our groceries for pickup on Sunday. - Franchesca

  • I have a to do list for the day that helps me stay focused on what needs to be done for the day. - Jenn

  • For working on the computer, I love the pomodoro method. Work for 25 minutes, then take a five minute break. Repeat 3 times, and on the fourth time, take a 15 minute break. Also, batching my tasks together saves so much time!  - Ellen

  • Time block everything you need to accomplish and write out daily to do's. - Vanessa

Amazing! Do you listen to music or do you like silence for increased inspiration and productivity? 

  • Whenever I just need to get in the zone, I definitely will play some tunes. My song choice FOR SURE differs depending on my mood in that moment, ranging from rap to acoustic. Sometimes I just want to jam out and sometimes I just want to have all the feels. - RC

  • Yes, but only if I'm doing chores around the house. Current favorites are The 1975, LANY, and The Band Camino. - Jess

  • I don't because I get way too into music so it ends up distracting me. I prefer to have a TV show that I've seen a million times on in the background. Silence is distracting to me so I prefer some kind of sound, but nothing that grabs my attention. - Hayley

  • Calm vibes on Spotify for productivity! - JV 

  • Yes! Spotify has a lot of amazing playlists like "chill hits," "mood booster," "relax & unwind" - Jenna

  • Trap music. - Lauren

  • I like to listen to classical instrumental versions of pop songs to get in the zone. - Jenn

  • YouTube ambiance videos (especially the Harry Potter ones. I know. I'm a nerd) - Ellen

  • Yes! A medley of 90's hip hop, alternative, and down south rap with a mix of twerk music. - Vanessa

Well, we all just loaded up your playlists with new inspiration! Let’s shift from talking about being productive to unwinding. What are you reading right now to unwind?

  • Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller. He's been one of my all-time favorite authors since way before he became the StoryBrand guy. Next up is How to Be Here by Rob Bell. - Jess 

  • I'm re-reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck (for the 7th time). It's my favorite book of all time and I love older classic literature. But don't get me wrong, I also love a good dramatic mystery book too. - Hayley

  • Currently nothing, I am much more of an audio book person. Child development books are what is currently on my playlist. - JV

  • Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly - Jenna

  • Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo - CT

  • Unfortunately, nothing. Need to carve some time. Well, lots of Amelia Bedilia and Addy with my daughter! - Lauren

  • You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero - Jenn

  • Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Jessi

  • Well Met by Jen DeLuca - Ellen

  • Blue Ocean Strategy by Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim - Vanessa 

What about TV shows? Are there any that help you wind down after the workday or get ready for the weekend? 

  • Any show that makes me laugh. I have way too many favorites to list, but if it makes me laugh, I'm here for it. - RC 

  • This is always changing. But I just recently watched season 4 of The Good Place. I'm also really into all the cooking shows (like seriously, all of them). - Jess 

  • I'm currently watching "Ratched" on Netflix, but my guilty pleasure is mindless reality TV (Siesta Key, the Bachelorette/Bachelor, Real Housewives). I will also never get tired of re-watching episodes of Schitt's Creek, New Girl, or The Office. - Hayley

  • The Office! I feel like I literally always have this on in the background and it totally helps to set a sense of calm at home. Not to mention my son is pretty good at his version of the theme song now, which is always a great laugh.- JV

  • Any home renovation show on HGTV. Currently: Good Bones - Jenna

  • I am very basic so anything on Bravo or a true crime documentary. - CT

  • Living Single. I watch it every single day. I Love Lucy & Everybody Loves Raymond - Lauren

  • Schitt's Creek - Jenn

  • A good Netflix series - Sweet Magnolias, Dead to Me, Virgin River. Reality TV - 90 Day Fiance. Comedy - Impractical Jokers, The Office, Parks and Rec, Schitt's Creek - Jessi

  • The Great British Baking Show is my Friday night go-to! And I’m always in for  a good true crime documentary - Ellen

  • Law and Order: SVU and MTV's The Challenge - Vanessa 

So many good shows! The Office is definitely popular with the Thrivers team! So now that you’ve wound down and relaxed, how do you find white space and refill your inspiration cup? 

  • Lying in bed, watching Netflix, snuggling with our cats. - RC

  • I'm honestly pretty easily inspired, so I prioritize making time to try new things often. I'm a weirdo that craves new experiences more than almost anything else! If I get into too much of a repetitive routine, that's actually when I start to go crazy and get too in my head. 

  • Since the shutdown first started here in California, I've made a point to cook and/or bake a new recipe at least 1 - 2 times per week. I've also made polymer clay jewelry, read and reread tons of books, started sketching, played lots of guitar, tried my hand at cookie decorating, and even went back to school recently. Breaking up my routine with pockets of creativity and learning new things is key for me to keep my cup full. - Jess

  • Morning walks with my dog Piper! I like to get up while the sun is first coming up and take her out before the world is stirring. - Hayley 

  • Go outside and disconnect from my phone and all electronics. I absolutely love to find a space with my son that we can either sit on the grass or ground. It definitely helps me to re-center and feel grounded. - JV

  • Take my pup, Maisie, for a walk. - Jenna

  • With working from home, I have found how easy it is to not leave or get much movement in throughout the day. I just found a new place to hike that is walking distance from my house and have made it a point to put on a podcast (if it isn't not true crime, it's usually Lori Harder's "Earn Your Happy") and go for a walk at least 4 times a week. I always feel so much better after getting out for an hour and just taking that mental break. - CT

  • Hot shower or relaxing bath - Lauren

  • I often find my white space through meditation. - Jenn

  • Long walks with my dog around the neighborhood. It's like magic...if I have a problem I'm working on, it'll almost always sort itself out while I walk. - Ellen

  • I plan it! Attending conferences and taking leisure weekend trips. - Vanessa

Let’s end with a fun one! What’s your desert island hair product or routine?

  • Honestly, just a scrunchie because this girl is going to be rocking a messy bun/ponytail every day. - RC

  • Outside of shampoo and conditioner, the only other hair product I really use on a regular basis is the Davines All-in-One Milk leave-in conditioning spray. Skincare would be a different story, though! - Jess

  • A scrunchie! LOL, not really hair care, but I have super long hair and basically always have it in a bun or pony. - Hayley

  • I don't know if you consider it a product, but there is absolutely no way I could go without a hair brush. My hair is frizzy and so easily tangled that I would lose my mind not being able to comb it out. - JV

  • Dry shampoo! - Jenna

  • I am now OBSESSED with everything Eufora. The Elevate Hairspray is my new favorite smell of all time. - CT

  • Mane Choice Exotic Cool Laid Sweet Papaya & Pineapple Infinite Conditioner | Pre-Poo, Rinse Out, Leave-In, Co-Wash, Detangler. It's everything all in one. I use other stuff but I could make this one work on an island. - Lauren

  • Shampoo - Franchesca

  • I would want to have my dry shampoo with me if I'm stranded on a desert island. - Jenn

  • Innersense’s daily conditioner. It's made my crazy hair actually look GOOD - Ellen

  • Moroccan oil treatment! - Vanessa 

Amazing! Thank you so much, Thrivers team! 

We’re gonna be real with you: it’s super important to stay on track with your goals, but it’s even more important to find balance and time to unwind too.