Never Say Never

April 5, 2012Nina KovnerGROW

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it!   Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

 Howard Thurman

 

Justin Bieber “came alive” on YouTube, the ultimate video platform to share and engage (and engage he did!).  We are blown away by his historic rise to fame – and the important role that YouTube and Twitter played in making “Bieber Fever” part of pop music history.

The documentary  “Never Say Never” is a powerful lesson in the power of the social web with a huge serving of inspiration on top.  Gordon has seen it once and Nina seven times (are you laughing right about now?)   Is it because we are big Bieber fans?  Maybe…well Nina is for sure, but more importantly we are fans of YouTube which has forever changed the way we consume and share video.

Second only to Google in number of daily searches, here’s a few stats that show the power of this social platform:
· Over 4 billion videos are viewed a day
· Over 800 million unique users visit YouTube each month
· Over 3 billion hours of video are watched each month on YouTube
· More video is uploaded to YouTube in one month than the 3 major US networks created in 60 years
· 500 years of YouTube video are watched every day on Facebook, and over 700 YouTube videos are shared on Twitter each minute
· 100 million people take a social action on YouTube (likes, shares, comments, etc) every week

In 2008, Justin Bieber was discovered by Scooter Braun, who found him on YouTube.  As of today, Justin Bieber has over 2.3 BILLION views and over 1.3 MILLION subscribers on YouTube alone.

Now that you understand our love of Justin Bieber, we hope you will watch Never Say Never.  We highly recommend it as an inspiring social web lesson we can all learn from.

Most importantly, we believe in the creativity of our community – and view YouTube as the new PLATFORM from which artists can share, engage and empower with a 24/7 audience of fellow professionals and consumers.  Ask what makes you come alive, go do it, and remember, never say never.

 

IT GETS BETTER…The Power of Hope

April 3, 2012Nina KovnerGIVE BACK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skPnJOZYdA

Beginning with one inspiring video, Dan Savage used the web to create the It Gets Better Project–a movement that has generated thousands of uplifting videos that give hope to teens.

We  LOVE this video first because of the message it has of hope to the untold numbers of young people it has and continues to inspire to overcome the burden of bullies and negativity they face every day in being who they are.

We also LOVE this video as another example of the power of the social web to engage, inspire and empower (!!) us personally and professionally.

The social web is changing how we communicate, share and learn – and is leveling the business playing field between individuals, small companies and the mega brands.  For sure, “it gets better” is a message of hope for us all.

THE ONE AND ONLY…Steve Jobs on Life

April 2, 2012Nina KovnerHEROES

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma- which is living with the results of other peoples thinking. Don’t let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Steve Jobs

Why Give?

March 29, 2012Nina KovnerGIVE BACK

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are, as our friend David Wagner of Juut Salons would say, “daymakers”.

You touch people through your work in meaningful (and sometimes profound) ways; and in your ‘spare time’ your giving has collectively moved mountains to make the world a better place.

Each year, salons, spas and beauty companies donate tens of millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours in support of a long list of amazing charitable causes.

Your giving makes better lives. We’re so proud to be a part of your world.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

In the spirit of sharing, here’s a short list of important charities we love.

Click on the links to learn more.

Born This Way Foundation
www.bornthiswayfoundation.org

City of Hope
www.cityofhope.org

Donors Choose
www.donorschoose.org

Feeding America
www.feedingamerica.org

Futures Without Violence
www.futureswithoutviolence.org

Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.org

It Gets Better Project
www.itgetsbetter.org

Look Good…Feel Better 
www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org

One
www.one.org

The Trevor Project
www.thetrevorproject.org

Water.org
www.water.org

 

 

 

Why Heroes?

March 28, 2012Nina KovnerHEROES

he-ro (n)
a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for brave deeds and noble qualities.

Today perhaps more than ever, heroes matter. They help us to find our way in a complicated and sometimes confusing personal and professional world.

They offer up context to help us know how we fit in and serve as examples to show us the possibilities of the path we have chosen.

Our list of heroes is thankfully long and varied and likely somewhat different than yours; but if we were to guess just one name we likely share with most, we’d guess it would belong to the guy in the photo below – the first of many we look forward to sharing.

 

 

 

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

Vidal Sassoon

Vidal Sassoon is the hairdressers’ hairdresser’; the artists’ artist; our industry icons’ icon. Sassoon worked his way to success from 1940’s “shampoo boy” to a household name by the late 1960’s.

He went on to define the salon in its most modern incarnation. He brought incredible cred to the art and craft of hairdressing. He helped to create a revolution in how hair was understood and done – by professionals and for the women who depend on and adore them.

He believed – in the power of hairdressers to change the lives of clients in transformative ways and, in doing so, change themselves for the better.

Since “retiring” following the sale of his namesake salons, academies and products in the 1980’s, he has continued to serve as a role model for professionals around the world.

Today, Vidal uses his position in the public eye and considerable wealth to do good as a humanitarian and unofficial goodwill ambassador for the salon industry to the world.

Some 70 years after walking into his first salon, no name is more synonymous worldwide with the art and business of hair than that of Vidal Sassoon.

We heart Vidal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(photos from Phase 4 Films , Vidal Sassoon The Movie)