You want me to sign a WHAT to work for YOU?

I have been so busy doing so many "things" to get ready for Salon M Spa to open its doors. There are things that I didn't even consider having to do when I decided to become a salon owner. I KNEW what I was getting myself into, no doubt, but I didn't think about writing policies and procedures as much as I thought about just having a GREAT place for people to come and for people to work.

When it comes to non compete contracts, we all know that I have a bad taste in my mouth about them. I didn't as much one year ago, but I do now and I probably always will going forward. I feel that if someone doesn't want to work for me, I should wish them the best and hope that in some way, shape or form I helped mold their career. I would never feel right standing in the way of someone being able to follow their dreams. I feel that as long as I am creating a great work environment, valuing my employees as they should be valued then people will want to continue working for me. As an owner of a business, we do not own the guests or even employees that come to our business. The only way to do that would be to make the guest sign a contract as well as the stylist, massage therapist/technician, etc. Who would do that? Can you imagine signing a contract at the grocery store that it would be the only store that you would ever shop at? No. Again, if you are good at what you do and you treat people properly then you should not have to be worried or threatened. Competition is very healthy, in my opinion.

Yesterday (May 25th), I read a thread about non-competes on the facebook page of BehindTheChair.com. It was really interesting to read what people from all over the place thought about these types of contracts. Most people have never and would never sign them or work for someone who has them and a few people believe that they are actually a good idea.

Here are some of the posts from Facebook:

• I as a salon owner won't use one. I was an employee who had one years ago and left was taken to court and won. The judge said the contract was not a non complete it was an enslavement contract and that it was not enforceable. If someone isn't happy let them go. I am confident in my skills and in my business. I encourage my staff to build their clientele and teach them how to cultivate and retain them. That's part of being a good owner. Why then should I worry if they move on. I could be the hinderer of their dreams or a stepping stone who helped build their dream. Mentors are important in this business too.
  
• It's unacceptable for this industry to be called a profession when that's going on. If your really that worried about competition make sure you take care of the stylists you have and make sure they are the best so they don't leave.
  
• As a salon owner, these are ridiculous! If a stylist is unhappy I don't want them working for me and spreading negativity!
  
• If a salon owner isn't confident enough to keep you happy as a stylist working at their salon nor confident that it's their salon that keeps the client not the stylist perhaps you should just save yourself the time, don't sign and just go work for someone else.
  
• It's CRAP and not enforceable. YOU are the reason they keep coming back. I went through that crap and it almost ruined my career. I found out a couple years later that it doesn't even stand up in court in Florida, it's a scare tactic. If you sign it, you're seriously an idiot. That's the first red flag of being OWNED and stuck in a micromanaging environment. Be good to your employees and they won't want to take off with their clients.  
  
• I think it's selfish and a force of contract! Taking advantage of someone new in the hair business is how I see it! If you have to force a stylist to sign this, how secure are you as an owner???

Check out the rest here:
 https://www.facebook.com/behindthechair 
 

She Let Herself Go

Today, I was able to really FEEL that I chose the right career.

I have known for a long time that I have wanted to be a hairdresser. I have told the story many times that in elementary school (2nd grade...I think?) our teachers asked us to make tshirts for MLK Day about what we wanted to be. I wanted to be a cosmetologist, but I didn't know how to spell that long word. I really wish I would have kept that shirt with the stick person sitting in the hydraulic salon chair getting their haircut by another stick person. ;)

As a kid, I remember my friends coming over and I always wanted to do their hair. I didn't ever want to go outside to play, really. I remember being 7 or 8 and having my curling iron all fired up and then my little cousin grabbing it with her hands and getting a sweet blister. I got in a little trouble over that ordeal. My friend's parents would say "Maybe a little less hairspray this time, Amanda." ;)

Today, I had a client who I haven't seen in awhile. I know that she has been through a lot over the last several months. Actually, more than a lot. More than anyone should go through in a lifetime. I could tell that she really needed me. She was nervous because I had never done her hair before, but she hadn't had her hair cut or colored in months so she knew she needed a change. She had about four inches of very grey outgrowth when she arrived. We talked about what we would do and how it was time for something new and fresh. She told me that she looked online before she came at "old lady" hairstyles and it made her sick at what the styles were for her age. I remember going into her business while I was in beauty school and she always had her nails polished. When she arrived, she did not have her nails done. I could just tell that she had stopped taking care of herself over the last few months. I colored her hair and then cut it. I then cut her bangs like we talked about. She said "My bangs are too short." (Hairdresser heart attack....) I asked her to just wait until we were all done and then we would take a look at everything. I finished up styling and teaching her how to style her new cut, asked her to put on her glasses and then handed her the mirror. She looked at it and said "Oh my...I LOVE IT!!!" She smiled SO big and then she began to cry. She finally felt good...and she looked so beautiful.

My passion is not about playing with hair all day. That is not what drives me. My passion is about taking people away from the things that they worry about all day just for an hour or maybe it's only a half hour. I love to learn about people and the way that they tick. I love to know EVERYTHING about people.  I love making people feel special because everyone is.