Lessons Learned
Posted on April 23, 2010 by SalonBiz
We asked a few top salon owners “What do you know now that you wished you had known when you first opened your business?…” HEATH SMITH Jackson Ruiz Salon “I would say that the one thing I wish I had known prior to opening my business was how vital leadership training was to being a [...]
We asked a few top salon owners
“What do you know now that you wished you had known when you first opened your business?…”
HEATH SMITH
Jackson Ruiz Salon
“I would say that the one thing I wish I had known prior to opening my business was how vital leadership training was to being a business owner. Being inherently good at a skill and then actually opening the business is quite simple….the tough part is managing and leading people….this is the place that stretches me daily. To create growth we have to be good at growing and sustaining a team of great people. Spending more time there would have made a huge impact on our speed of growth.”
-Heath
MARILYN IHLOFF
Ihloff Salons and Spas
“A funny thought on lessons learned- I often have this conversation with other salon owners. The truth is, if I knew all I know now, I probably never would have taken the risk and opened at all and that would have made my life very different. I suspect my life would not have been nearly as fulfilling as this very special journey has been. Most of my salon owner friends agree that our love of this industry, our team, and our guests took us to create the systems and culture that sustain our businesses. I do wish I had learned to read and understand a financial statement a little earlier, though!”
-Marilyn
INEZ GRAY
Habitude
“I wish that I would have been more connected to the energy and personality types of people who worked for me and with me. Over the years I have learned a lot about what makes people tick. Early on, I was so driven and focused that I would just plow forward at full speed, not really listening or being very tuned in to those around me. As a result, I think I lost a lot of great people that could have been long time Habitude employees.
As I have matured as a leader, I have learned to listen, to collaborate and to let others “win” much more often. The exciting thing about this management style is that now I don’t have to create, manage and control everything that we as a company are doing and I often get to just “show up” and see what we as a collective are becoming. It’s exciting to watch the company evolve in amazing directions as we collaborate and grow. I have learned that true power comes not in your ability to control but to connect, inspire and coach.”
- Inez
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Filed Under: Grow your Business
I opened The Refinery Salon 3 short years ago in the small but beautiful town of Southern Pines NC and wish I would have known how difficult it would be to find like minded stylists to work with, I always knew it would be a challenge but I did not know to what extent. I did take a Front Desk Training class with Heath Smith it was the best thing I have ever done for my business. If anyone is going to start a business of any kind you should attend a class like Front Desk. Write handbooks and be particular about the person you bring into your salon. Learn to run your business from people that know. I am so grateful for Heath Smith’s class although it has been 2 1/2 years since I have taken Front Desk I still to this day go back to my notes that I made.