Doing the Impossible.

Schedule'em Online Appointment Book.

My heart is prayerful this morning for a dear client who texted me to cancel her appointment today because her husband has been in surgery all night after a stroke.  Its hard to know of the tough times my clients are going through and how to try to be there for them. 

I have often been reminded how important a great hairstylist is in the life of  my customers.  Our relationships with clients expand far into their every day lives, even when they are not in our chair.  Every important event, every compliment, and even every bad hair day brings our clients to think of the time and money they spend with me.

I would even be willing to bet that some of my clients see me more than they see some of their family.  I also know that for a couple of them I was the last person to touch them on the shoulder.  It goes way beyond the short visit in my shop today...

Relationships with my repeat customers is a big reason why I like this job.  It has sustained me when I am lonely, taught me why my problems are not as big as I just thought they were, and made me more grateful than ever for the man I fell in love with and share my life.

May today be the best day of the week for you!

Next stop...

Ta-da!
I have arrived.  Well, its not exactly what I thought arriving would look like but in a quiet moment as I reflect on what my career has taught me, brought to my table, and sculpted out of nearly nothing but desire,  I made it to this great place. 

I should give many people more credit than this little note could ever possibly share.  But my thirty seconds with a microphone could not encompass everything that the examples in my life and in my chair have brought to me.

Good and bad, I will continue to grow and learn and live.

I loved this article about why we go into business for ourselves. Especially the very first note because, frankly I accept that happiness could not be bought.


"1. Make Materialism Irrelevant

Fancy cars and houses are all well and good, but many foolishly focus on the byproducts of success,

rather than concentrating on building sustainable success in the first place. Establish a bare minimum for your material needs, and then you can enjoy the benefits of success, debt- and stress-free."

Read more: http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/8-things-really-successful-people-do.html?nav=pop#ixzz2UEtWXdN1



Schedule'em Online Scheduling Software

As we continue down the tracks of business development,

are we enjoying each destination for the hard work and

accomplishment we have worked for or merely speeding forward to get to the end?

Is a business coach right for you?

If you are booth renter, new in the industry, or starting out on your own you have probably heard the phrase:  Work “On” your business, not just "In" the business. This means at some point you are analyzing how your financial bottom line is affected by your talent behind the chair and how you can improve your income.

Schedule'em software is written with a simple report for your daily totals, but a more in depth look analyzing your personal clientele and the work you are doing for them will help you map out your next growing steps.

You might be asking yourself, “Now what?  What do I do?”

I'm not a professional Coach, but I  invested in one as a young stylist, and the tools I was taught have supported me through many years of change and growth.    If you are going to burn your way into a long career as a small business person I highly recommend it!  Ask your Salon Reps how they can help you or who they recommend for a good start. 

Here is a sample of coaching worksheets  from Milady's Salon Coaching that reflect what a coach would tell you.  It is probably too overwhelming at first glance, but break it down into small pieces that you can use and follow through, and then put it on your schedule!  Time devoted here will really help you grow your clientele.  I really enjoy the scripts they have included here, and the way they build from the customer experience out.  You can never lose sight of those great customers.  By including these worksheets into your practice, you will continue to impress them.

Schedule'em Online Appointment Calender

As a small business person you need to stay focused: Your Business is Your Most Important Client! 

Plan each day with a Time Block on your schedule that includes business planning Time Blocks as well as breaks and a lunch. HONOR YOUR SCHEDULE!

Each day, on your ‘time block’ devote time where you will be looking specifically at one area of your business such as  Business Emails, Talent Development (learn something new using and online resource on a topic that interests you),  or reviewing the sample worksheet and following and learning the new information there.

Dedicate regular time to each new task.

Practice what your have learned TODAY to make this investment of time valuable.

It takes more than talent behind the chair to grow your business.  Take the time you need and get organized.  Your business to grow and it will improve at a pace you wouldn’t have thought possible! 

Its all part of being more Amazing today than yesterday. 

You Can DO It!

If plan A fails...

If plan A fails then remember there are 25 more letters.

...Today I saw one of my favorite clients.  It is her last visit.  Maybe ever. Today is the first day of the rest of her life in a whole 'nother state.  That is something, isn't it?  To go from baby's first haircut to watching her grow up from my visits with her as she gets her hair cut.  Watching someone grow up as you see her every few months.


There is a good chance we will see each other again some day, but as I listen to her excited plans, it took me back to where I was at her age.  Although I haven't ventured far from the nest I grew up in, my life as it is today is very different from what I had planned way back then.  In fact, had I been able to see into the future and know the path I was to take, with all the ups, downs, and crazy turns there is a good chance I would have run away screaming...  :)

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There is also a good chance that had you let me cherry pick some of the choice experiences I have had in this career that I would have allowed some of the chaos to slip in.  Having those hard things that shaped my own path has helped me be better at my job and understanding who I am working for and with.

I write each blog with that in mind.  Hoping that you are having good experiences and learning as you go.  My experiences help me coach and mentor other capable business owners.  May my ramblings help you identify that your problems are not unsolvable.

What are you facing today that you can reach out for help and advice?
Who in your life is willing to be your mentor?
Have you ever been so flattered to have someone copy your work?

As a kid my dad would send us off  to school or whatever with this wise line:  "Make it a good day." So to each of you today I salute your hard work and continue to dream right along with you of everything that will make it bigger and better tomorrow.

Make it a beautiful day.

Use Facebook to grow your clientele

Now that you know how www.Schedule'em.com automatically runs a Referral Program for you, lets discuss a more hands on way to promote yourself online using Facebook.

When you finish your work, and our client looks amazing, ask them if you can take pictures of them for your portfolio.  Keep a camera close by or use your phone.  Here are a few things to keep in mind to take great photos:

Make sure what is in the background of your picture is uncluttered.
When possible, use a mirror to showcase the back of the hairstyle too.
Most people look better with their chin lifted slightly.  Especially if they are older or heavy.
Take more than one shot and angle so you have a variety to choose from. 
Be eager to make them look good.  You want them to show everyone their picture!

If you haven't been around cameras very much or you don't now how to take good photos, invest a little time in learning from the pros that share tips on the web.

Use your Schedule'em Online Appointment book to build your portfolio

Here are some tips for better photos from your phone.  Learn how to make everyone in your chair look their best in a photo and create looks and photos that they will LOVE to share.

Make sure you get their permission to use the photo on your Facebook page and encourage them to put it on their page too. 

 

Keep your photos with your resume. 

 A picture is worth a thousand words.

Get to know and use our Instant Referral Program

Not everyone has break through success by simply opening the doors.  What does it take to actually thrive and build your shop every week?

Let me teach you a tried and true method.  Be warned:  you have heard this before.  If your not doing it, it is for the same reason many professionals choose not to do it.  It shifts your time away from the client in your chair.  Its difficult to keep the creative juices flowing when you shift gears from Be Amazing to Be in Business and back to Be Amazing again. 

Shouldn't your talent speak for itself?
 
But it doesn't.  You will have to start some shouting of your own if you want to have a healthy business and money coming out your ears.


www.scheduleem.com Online Sheduling software.

The Secret you already know?  The best way to build your business is to make a customer happy and then ASK them to send their family and friends in to see you. 

Remembering to ASK! 

 

For me, that is the hard part.  I watch them strut happily out my door and then think, "I wish I had more clients like that one ...  Oh no!  Do they even have my card?  Will I ever see them again?"

It is so simple!  But it has to be included in your routine and daily interactions with your clients.

I asked our programmers to include a tried and true method of ASKING for referrals for all our subscribers to use.  

All you have to do is include their email on the client file.  

That is it!  We do all the rest!  1.) An automatic email will be generated for each new appointment made for them which contains a reminder to send their family and friends to YOU!  2.) Before their appointment they receive another email reminding them of the appointment they have made. This has another note in this email ASKING them to send friends  3.) When you check them out, yet another time the email they receive will  ask for referrals!

It automatically does the ASKING part for you so you can focus on your client and then the next one and actually work and stay focused on your creative skills.

Don't over think it.  You should of course a few signs around your station, on the back of your business card, run a contest...   but you will find that this simple thing added to your emails will make a world of difference!

You are surrounded by successful people

that will show you the way to build business. 

Go Be Amazing.  

Rocks

Today I was reading from Milady's Education Center.  I was captured by this article written there and wanted to share it with you all. 

Priorities are often well intended but sometimes I feel so busy getting things done that things that need to get started never even arrive at the start point.  I find myself accomplishing good things, but I need to take on some of the PROJECTS that will build and improve my future.

If only my projects would
sprout feet and move
themselves like this little rock...


Schedule'em Salon Software

 

Take a look at the article.  I have use the whole thing here because I loved the way it was written.  Hopefully it will inspire you to put one postponed priority on your must do list.

"Build From Your Big Rocks!

Stephen Covey, author of the Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, teaches that in order to accomplish more in life you have to put your Big Rocks first!

What does that mean?

It means that we spend most of our time putting the little rocks into our schedule and then have no time for the Big Rocks.

Little rocks are tasks you would do on any given day: work with clients, payroll, and inventory, pay the bills, return emails, etc. They have to be done in order to keep your business operating.

Don't get me wrong, they are important.

However, they will keep the business and your checkbook exactly in the same place.

It’s like Groundhog Day!

So what is the solution? When you create your schedule, schedule your Big Rocks first.

Your Big Rocks are those projects you keep putting off; a remodel, learning finance or accounting, creating a marketing plan, developing an assistant training program, etc.

Imagine what you could accomplish if you took the time to schedule your Big Rocks first and then filled in the rest of your schedule with little rocks?

Whatever is left over you can delegate to others. This gives other people an opportunity to grow. They help you and they help the culture. You have more time to think ahead and create a stable future for your business.

Put your Big Rocks first!"

I have a Big Rocks list.  Actually when I list it out this way, I have a pretty fun list.  Where will I start?