KIRSTIE STAFFORD
BLOG SPOT.
THE YIN AND YANG OF LIFE Some days I can shock myself with the smart things I can say and do and other days I try to get out of the car with my seat belt on. Some days I’m firing on every cylinder possible and others, well, I wear PJ’s all day and binge on trash tv. The yin and yang of life. I have been a salon owner for 23 years and in that time I haven’t always done the same job. I have done many different jobs and roles in my organisation. I call it that… not a salon.. as that is what it is, an organisation. Any time there is more than 1 employee it takes just that. Organising. The first 3 years of salon life I wanted to be a colourist, I had to do every client in the salon I wanted control and perfection. So, I spent time focusing on colouring and making my skills so good that I was in demand. Next, I slotted in a child, he is now 19 and a mostly fully functioning adult. I spent the next 2 or 3 years learning all the joys of motherhood and owning a business. I really learnt my discipline from that point, 25 years old, so worldly and now a mother. On reflection I think when you’re younger, the best thing is, you don’t have is fear. You’re gung-ho going hard at life the best way you know how. These can be where the most fun is but also the hardest lessons. When Number 1 started school, I then decided I loved to cut hair, amazing shapes, beautiful clean lines and wanted to educate hairdressers about hair and how wonderful a great hair cut was. I spent a few years chasing Fashion Week and stage work, having been very lucky to work alongside Anthony Mascolo and the TIGI Brand. But it was a goal and I achieved it. Next, I wanted to win the competitions that I had seen all of my Australian Hairdressing idols, Sandy Chong, Oscar Oscar, Togninis entering. I wanted that Hair Expo marketing award. To me, it was the money award. It showed what a serious business we 86
Hair Biz Year 12 Issue 3
had, and I wanted to win it. Queue a few rounds of IVF and another 2 children in the mix. When we were announced finalist for Hair Expo Awards, I had a 3 month old and was breast feeding. Not how I had imagined turning 40, but guess what? We ended up winning the award I had wanted so badly. Up against one of my hair hero’s TONI & GUY on their 50th birthday celebration. Speechless is the only word I have and if you know me that’s a miracle in itself. I guess where I’m going with all of this is, if you are a salon owner, you are in charge of your own destiny. If you want to take time off the floor to work on your business, do it. Invest in yourself. If you want to cut your hours or your days or take time for a school thing for your children, do it. Owning a business should be filling your life full of your dreams, and those dreams or goals are allowed to change and move. In fact, they should. If you decide you want to enter competitions go for it. I am just like you, I have a salon in the suburbs, tucked away, but we do amazing hair and we give even better customer service. We deserved to win. If you decide that apprentice with the bitchy attitude and the nasty mum isn’t your people, you need to coach her up into your team and your values, or you coach her so she is out door. Do not settle for anything less. Be brave and make the big decisions. Do what makes your heart sing and never get too busy making a living to forget to make a life. Your life, your rules. And remember to laugh and be kind to yourself on the days you forget to take your seat belt off.