“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
Marcel Proust
Here is the audio version of this post. Snoring compliments of Zen Louis Kovner. Thank you so much for listening. I am grateful.
In this month of giving thanks, many of us get inspired to focus on gratitude which is awesome. What is even more awesome is when we learn to bring gratitude into our every day lives. I know I write often about this topic, because it literally saved my life, so yes, I’m a little passionate about it.
Just like any habit or practice, we first have to really want it and see value in it. For me, the incentive was to live. For you, it may be different. No matter the reason, I can tell you that gratitude can be the best medicine.
So how can we incorporate gratitude 365 days a year? My solution is a gratitude list. A simple mental or physical exercise that allows my mind to focus on all the gifts that I have. Whether you make a mental list or keep a journal, try to make one list a day. Try it for a week, then a few weeks, then a month, then 2 months, next thing you know you are in the habit of finding something to be grateful for, even in the darkest of days.
Here are some of my favorite quotes on gratitude. The last one, by Melody Beattie, is tattooed on my left arm, which gives me a daily reminder of why I chose life.
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
Epicurus
“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
Meister Eckhart
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”
John F. Kennedy
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”
Thornton Wilder
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
William Arthur Ward
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”
Jean Baptiste Massieu
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie
Let’s celebrate giving thanks this month, but come December, how about we keep that gratitude going, next thing you know, it will become a way of life. A life worth living and seeing in a whole new way. What are some of your favorite ways to get into gratitude? You can share in the comments below. I’m listening.
Here is the audio recording of this weeks post. Thank you for listening.
In the world of beauty, we strive to help make people feel and look beautiful both inside and out. But how much time and attention are we putting towards our own brand image online?
In today’s social + digital world, we have an opportunity to extend our offline experience into the online world, and that includes how we look in the eyes of current and future clients. As they say, we only have once chance to make a great first impression. What impression is your online presence making?
Here is a list of ways you can create awesome in your online image…
1. Your Website
Logo
Always be sure your logo is clear, sized right and prominent.
Font
Choose a font family, or ask a designer for their suggestions, make a decision and stick with it.
Images
Be sure images are hi-resolution and sized correctly, a designer can help.
Favicons
One of the most overlooked things on a website but it’s the little things. What is a favicon? It’s the little image in the left hand side of the browser tab. A web designer can help, or if you are using a self-serve template, there are places where the favicon can be added. This is what it looks like…
Color Scheme
Pick a color scheme for your brand and stick with it. Both online and off. Try to keep it clean and easy to look at. By all means get creative, but once you decide, consistency is key.
2. Your Social Pages
Logo
Place your logo where the profile picture is if you have a business page. Unless of course, you are the business. Most all social platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. use the same sizing for profile pics. Ask a designer to make one for you. I mean, it’s your logo for goodness sakes. It matters.
Cover Image
Invest the time, money and energy in creating an awesome cover image that fits. Again, a designer can help.
Images
Be sure you are posting quality images on your pages. Most phones these days capture amazing images. If you are finding images on Google or such, just be sure they look awesome before posting and are sized right.
3. Your E-Newsletter/Confirmation E-Mails
Logo
Need I say more?
Color Scheme
Enough said.
Font
Do your best to use your brand font family. If the email platform you use does not have your font, either choose one that is super close to yours or invest in a designer to design artwork for your newsletters.
Images
Enough said. Again.
4. Your E-Newsletter Sign Up Forms
Logo
OK, I know, but so often overlooked. Keep it awesome Passionistas.
Color Scheme
Consistency again is the name of the game. Try signing up for your own newsletter, what do you see? Is it awesome and consistent, cool, if not, change it.
Font
Yep, again, if you can be consistent, awesome, if your font is not available, choose one closest to your own.
5. Mobile
The world is going mobile. If you have a mobile or responsive site (responsive means the site knows which device it’s being accessed from and acts accordingly) or mobile app, be sure to visit your site from your devices from time to time to see what the experience looks and feels like. If you have not yet gone mobile, it’s still an awesome idea to see what your platforms and pages look like via mobile devices.
Can your image make or break your business? Maybe. Of course, there is also living up to that image, you know, your promise, purpose, why and delivering a kick ass experience, every single time.
Here is the audio version of this post. Thanks so much for listening. Enjoy.
Actions speak louder than words. Something we can all agree on, yes? There is a big difference between saying we care and showing we care.
After reading The Thank You Economy by my biz hero Gary Vee, I was convinced more than ever that caring is not only a critical part of having a successful biz, but can also be a competitive advantage. As lame as that sounds, because it’s easier than ever to show we care, and sadly, there are just so many businesses who don’t.
With the rise of the social + digital web and the tools available to us, we can show we care in so many ways. Listening, engaging, responding, replying, paying attention, saying thank you and even wishing our clients a Happy Birthday.
Here are some of the awesome Birthday wishes I received in my inbox on my special day. Did I notice which brands remembered? Absolutely.
1. American Apparel
A great image and a special savings. A call to action. Simple and effective. And yes, I did take advantage of the offer.
2. Sephora
A beautiful image and note. An offer I did not take advantage of but would have if I needed the gift. An invitation and call to action to get my makeup done for my special day was icing on the cake, pun intended. 3. the Hair Loft ltd
A beautiful image and message from my friends at the Hair Loft ltd. A special offer and a call to action. Perfect on all levels. Only reason I did not make a reservation is because they are in Chicago. But I would have if it came from my salon in Los Angeles.
With the technology & platforms we have available to us today, no matter the size of our businesses, we all have an opportunity to show we care. But the platforms can’t do it for us, we have to care first, then use the technology to engage. We actually have to care. For reals.
How do you show clients you care? What do your birthday greetings look and feel like? I would love to hear and see what you are doing to show you care. It matters. You matter. And I’m listening.
“you can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.”
Stephen King
Here is the audio version of this post. Snoring compliments of Zen Louis Kovner. Thank you so much for listening.
The beginning of creating awesome or anything really worthwhile is scary, in life and in business. But it can also be empowering and thrilling.
What is the real difference between someone who is living their passion and one who is not? The first one simply got started. Can it really be that simple? Yes. Is it easy? No.
Turn Your Fears Into Fuel
The main reason many never get started is fear. Fear of failure. Fear of uncertainty. Fear of money. Fear of judgement. As one who lives with anxiety on a daily basis, I can tell you this, the fears in our head are far less powerful than the passion in our heart. We just have to make a decision to turn our fears into fuel. Empowerment and awesomeness come when we kick fears in the face. Each step we take towards living our passion fuels the fire within. But we must take the all important first step and get started.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you are waiting for the stars to align and there to be no chaos in your life to get started you never will. You see, life is not designed for perfection. Life is perfectly imperfect, and so are each of us. Life is beautifully messy. There is so much freedom and empowerment that comes we accept this fact.
My buddies Randy & Gerard at Hairbrained did not wait. Neither did my beautiful girls Erin & Carrie of The Hair Nerds. Matt Beck did not wait to create Gratitude Education. Douglas McCoy did not wait to create the incredible House of POp. The beautiful Suzy Tryall did not wait to create Systems of Sage. So I ask, what are you waiting for?
Today is the best day to get started. Yesterday was even better. Tomorrow is third best, but never guaranteed.
“Stop pointing fingers and placing blame on others. Your life can only change to the degree that you accept responsibility for it.”
Steve Maraboli
(image via Google)
Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening. Enjoy.
Many of us are guilty at one time or another of pointing the finger. I know I have.
The same energy that goes into blaming the world for our problems can also be used to take responsibility, make different choices and make a difference. Yes, I know, it seems a little tough love ish and it is.
As the awesome Jim Rohn famously said, “If you don’t like how things are, change it. You are not a tree.”
When we blame others, we give up our power. When we take responsibility & action, we become empowered.
If you do not have the clients you wish you had, instead of blaming the owner, the location, the manager, or the economy, use that energy to learn, build and grow.
If you are not happy with the performance of your team; educate them, inspire them, coach them, love them or remove them.
If you are not as profitable as you want to be, take the time to look at your P & L, your biz model, your marketing plan and your culture. Blaming the salon down the street, or even worse, the industry as a whole, is a waste of time and energy.
Blaming an industry, a company or a generation for your problems is not going to get you any closer to your dreams. Just as blaming your boss for your unhappiness or lack of clients is not going to bring you more clients or make you happier.
As the dreamy Don Draper (of Mad Men) said, “If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.” Life becomes so much more awesome when we realize that we have the power to choose our realities.
We can choose to point the finger or create awesome. The best news of all, it’s a choice.
