Successful people do all the things that unsuccessful people choose not to do.
Ever since I can remember, my father, has been a frequent reciter of this quote. It’s something that I carry in the back of head in nearly everything that I do. It starts for me every morning when I think to snooze the alarm instead of getting up to get a jump start on my day. The thought continues to be by my side all the way through my day right up until I lay my head back on the pillow telling myself to go to bed at a decent hour, because I’ll need my rest to do it again tomorrow. I feel adamantly that this perfectly captures the destiny that we all must walk closely to our full potential having to decide with conviction when and how we choose to interact with it.
At the heart of this issue is defining what success is, at least to me. Success is different to everyone. One thing, however, with which all people can identify is the satisfaction of a heavy head on a pillow, made that way by hard, dedicated, and industrious work. We all know that feeling, even if we don’t feel it every night. Every day for me is the ambition to live up to my Father’s lesson. That in each choice, choose the harder more rewarding option. That there is no need to be a dead poet screaming carpe diem from the tops of desks, nothing so grandiose. No, that we will make small decisions to run a little farther, work a little longer, show up a little earlier will do quite nicely. I think we have trouble digesting how to be successful because of how big and far away it seems but in the words of my mother “a hippopotamus is best eaten one bite at a time”.
What is an article about success doing on a beauty distributor’s blog? Glad you asked. It is our emphatic belief that the salon professional has such an incredible opportunity to chase down their creative dreams while at the same time being extremely well paid. More so than that, we are deeply committed to the education of those professionals, in the pursuit of that dream. Creating a space for the salon professional to excel in their chosen career path is at the core of our DNA.
For us, the choice to be successful stems from three key commitments from the salon professional. First a commitment to consistency. That if I choose to do something the right way, I will endeavor to always do it that way. Second, that success is a team effort. That it is paramount to surround yourself with people that want similar things because together you are far more likely to realize those shared goals. Finally, that what I know today is not as much as I will know tomorrow. Always be learning, growing, and educating yourself to master your craft. Let’s unpack this.
Our first commitment, is all about being consistent. Being successful at anything is hours and hours of similar practice until made perfect. We believe that consistency given enough time will make a person perfect at what they were intentioned to accomplish. That said, a friend of mine, a terrific violinist, would practice in front of a sign that said ‘Practice quickly, learn slowly. Practice slowly, learn quickly’. This walks hand in hand with the idea that poor practice makes your perfect in doing something poorly. My caution to you is to always practice with purpose and accuracy. What was hard today will be easier tomorrow, so you may as well get the hard part over with and do it the right way.
Sometimes the going gets tough. Some days, it may just not feel worth it to get out of bed. Our second commitment is aimed to circumvent this struggle. Surround yourself with like-minded people with whom you can be open and honest. That way when it is hard for you they can help you stay on track, and you can do the same for them. When I think of this, it reminds me of the critically acclaimed movie Remember the Titans. I think of Denzel Washington being reminded by his players that individually they aren’t perfect, but that as a team they were so cohesive that the team was regarded as perfect. Create this atmosphere in your salon. Be the change that you want to see and ask for the help of those who occupy the nearby stations.
The final commitment to success to me is that always and often seek out ways to continue your growth as a professional through education. Already a terrific cutter? Attend a color technique class. You know the bob backwards and forwards? How are you with men’s cuts? Feel pretty well rounded? Seek out business education, learn your industry and maximize your potential. After all that, if you are assured of your mastery, become an educator. They are always needed, even if it is only in the salon where you work. I assure you from experience that I never knew how well I knew something until I had the honor of teaching it to someone else. I used to instruct martial arts and if I had a nickel for every time I was asked “well, why do you hold your hand like that?” or “how come your feet go here?” and my answer was “I don’t know, I just do.” I could retire. The experience of education is the opportunity to have your mastery laid bare for others to question. If you don’t learn more about yourself and your material than the class learns from you, color me surprised.
I believe with every fiber of my being that if you take the time to commit to these three tenets of success that you will, in every opportunity, be able to make the choice to do those things which unsuccessful people choose not to do. I hope that you too are now able to hear my dad in the back of your head when you are confronted with a difficult choice. I’d wish you good luck, but I don’t believe in it. I believe in conviction and discipline. Now, go out and get ‘em.
– Adin Katz
Director of Culture and Communication
Beautyscope LLC