I recently attended an educational event at my favorite beauty salon, 843 Beauty Collective. I’ve know the owner of the salon for years. This young lady, Justine, is very much a business role model for me, as is her entire team at the salon. In fact, Justine and her crew are great role models all around. So, being with these ladies at their “Sip and Style” educational event got me thinking about the life lessons that they were also teaching that night in addition to the education about hair products, styling, and skin care.  Let me explain what I took away that night in addition to the beauty secrets!

Be a nerd at what you do.

 

 

The ladies at 843 Beauty Collective introduced themselves as hair, haircolor, skin, and nail nerds.  Ok, so nobody really wants to be the nerd, but as they talked it became clear that nerdy was actually a synonym for passion. These ladies love what they do so much that they are consumed by it in the way an intellectual nerdy type loves learning. Their passion is contagious! They teach and share their knowledge with all their clients and don’t keep their knowledge to themselves. Their love of what they do overflows and makes the salon experience extra special.  Do you love learning? Are you passionate about what you do? Is your enthusiasm contagious? Find your passion. Pour your enthusiasm out on others around you!

Bridge the gaps.

The people attending that event ranged in age from 25 to 55. The stylist themselves are pretty much all millennials….. but not in the bad stereotypical way. From the oldest to the youngest, we were all loved on and made to feel special to each one of them. They had no preconceived notions about the “old fogeys” in the group……and they didn’t judge us by our bad, over-the-counter hair and facial products. Do you accept people without trying to stereotype them? Don’t label people. Bridge the gap and be accepting. Don’t look at a person’s exterior. We’re all just people. Make everyone you come in contact with feel loved and accepted.

Be a good tool.

   While I was learning to put cool beachy waves in my hair with a flat iron, it was brought to my attention that the round brush I was trying to style my hair with had seen better days! My brush was 10 years old! It was worn down to nothing, but I was still hanging onto it. Laura, my stylist for the evening, put a brand new brush in my hand and I couldn’t believe the immediate difference it made. It gripped. It rolled through my hair easily. It styled well. I was totally using a worn out, no good tool.  Are you a good tool? Do you do a halfway acceptable job or do your strive to always do the best? Do you try new things to improve yourself or insist on your own, worn out ways?Don’t get complacent. Be a good tool!

 Keep products that are good for you in your reach.

     At this fun event, we were taught to watch out for counterfeit name brand products. The authentic products are made based on scientific principles that I can’t even begin to understand. Now, other people on the gray/black market sneak around and make imitations of the real deal in order to take advantage of consumers who are not aware. These fake products do not do what they are supposed to do. They aren’t what they say they are. They are watered down or may be something else entirely. Do you have fake products in your life? People who aren’t what they seem? People that want you to be miserable or be pulled into unhealthy habits such as gossip or even ungratefulness? Are you a genuine product yourself? Do you build up your friends? Do you share truth with them rather than butter them up in order to manipulate them?Make sure that you are a genuine product and surround yourself with others who are the real deal!

Here is your challenge for this week…in list form, of course….

1. Find something to be passionate about. (if it’s not your job, find your hobby…you need something in your life that makes you happy.)
2. Approach someone who is nothing like you and start up a conversation be open-minded.
3. Try to learn at least one new thing that will make you better at your job, hobby, or friendships.
4. Make sure that you aren’t a “fake product.” Strive to be genuine in all of your interactions with people.

I hope this wasn’t too serious or “heavy” for anyone. If so, just lather, rinse, and repeat then go be an awesome  nerd!

Listfully yours,

Vicki