Sharing Your Knowledge!

The Blunt Bob with Candy Shaw: Sharing Your Knowledge​

1. Join Something Special & Considerate
I have over 100 educators globally who have come through this program, and they don't just love teaching balayage and hand painting. They love being a part of something special. Something bright, cheerful, loving, giving, considerate - all those things we sometimes forget to prioritize are the backbone that keeps you moving forward. If you focus on those qualities when choosing a company to work with, the dynamic between you and your employer will be beneficial to your career.
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2. Pay It Forward
You are no one if you don't pay your gifts forwards. Hairstylists in the '70s & '80s were secretive. They didn't want to share their tips and risk other people doing it better. There was a close-knit group of people who were open with each other; otherwise, it was every hairstylist for themselves. The internet has blown the doors open, and nothing is secret; subsequently, it is more important than ever to be open-minded and proactive with teaching others.

3. Share Your Gifts
My father always taught me to share my gifts. I never felt like I was one to hoard what I knew or be unwilling to show someone a better way. You're only as good as your weakest link. If you are a salon owner and have a weak team member, then you are as strong as that weakest link. Take the time to bring them up to speed and help them grow. You have to be willing to prune from the top and grow from the bottom; otherwise, you will get stale and stagnant.

4. Limited Availability is a Powerful Motivator
I often say that I love to ride my salon at a tipping point. I don't open the year with "Candy on the floor" and let people fill in their spots. I try to create limited availability, so it becomes a more coveted thing - like a concert ticket! Create urgency with your scheduling, so people are careful to book a spot.

5. Keep Your Schedule Fresh
I would probably die as a hairdresser if I knew in January what I was doing in December. To me that isn't riding your business on a tipping point of surprise and perception of availability - the goal is always to keep an aura of allure, so people trust your abilities more which then creates a tremendous amount of loyalty later on.

As a stylist, keeping your schedule changeable, availability also allows you to fire a client who isn't meshing with you. There are always clients that will be difficult to work with, and keeping your book open allows you to reevaluate how you spend your time on which clients. When you have the license to touch, and someone doesn't appreciate what you do, and they don't buy into your culture, it can be a taxing, hard job. If you don't ride on that tipping point of a changeable calendar, you have a ball and chain client attached to your ankle, strapped to a chair with no leverage to schedule them off your book.

6. Invest in Your Emotional Bank Account
Empower yourself to improve and make sure that the people you're surrounding yourself enhance your emotional bank account. Creativity doesn't breed in a negative environment.
Do the things you want to do. Don't focus on the things you think you have to do just to be seen as a more influential/talented stylist. It took me a long time to know that you don't have to be all things to all people to be seen as a person of authority.

7. Stay the Course
I stayed the course, and I just took what I felt like was the right road to my success. I stayed on that road, and it's hard to keep on that road. There's a lot of things that will pull you in different directions or onto a detour that isn't beneficial. My best advice to you is that you should find a mentor, a coach, a teacher, a culture, or educator you believe in and stick it out. Find your lane, stick with it, and don't compare your path with others!

Watch the full video below!
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