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.