The phone rings.
Di’s in the middle of onboarding an employee. There’s no one else in the salon, so she picks up.
The man on the line recently received a wig from the Wig Boutique. He wishes it looked more natural. Can Diane help?
She can. But since she’d been in the middle of training, she first has to switch her brain into stylist mode. Meanwhile, her new girl has to sit and listen to half of a long, deep conversation she doesn’t yet understand.
It’s a common challenge, especially for a small business owner. So much to do. Lots of interruptions. A feeling you’re not bringing your best.
But Di knew she didn’t want to repeat this moment. It wasn’t fair to her employee, the gentleman, or herself. So she made a promise:
This is the last season that she’ll be everywhere at all times, being pulled in all directions. By this time next year all her team will know their interests and strengths and be so confident in who they are as professionals they can take on various pieces of the salon. There will be better coverage, so if Di is the one scheduled to do wigs, she won’t also be onboarding someone at the same time.
To keep her promise, she’s creating clear goals, along with specific methods to reach them.
If you’ve been in Thanx recently, you’ve probably noticed that Diane has moved to a chair further away from the front desk. That deliberate physical shift represents the shifting she’s doing in her role. It helps Di and her team change their mindset, and prompts conversations with clients. For a long time, she talked about the shift but wasn’t actually making changes. She needed support from her team, and she needed to show everyone–and herself–that she’s changing direction.
This new direction means that Di is slowing down on her day job of styling hair so she can really dive deep in her dream job. That dream job is to be an entrepreneur and business owner that leads, coaches, and encourages others to bring out their fullest potential.
She has two goals which will help her achieve this.
First is to grow her young team to the fullest of their potential and help them chart a clear career path. They all have great earnings potential. She will coach them on how to cultivate habits that will help them achieve those earnings.
Second is to help her team feel loved and supported on their way. This means connecting with them, holding them accountable, and loving on them in creative ways. That might mean leaving them handwritten notes or sending thought-provoking texts. It also includes occasional team getaways where Di takes them out of the salon so they can experience something different together.
Both these goals require uninterrupted time. It doesn’t have to be long–a fifteen minute conversation can be very impactful if they have her complete attention. But when those conversations are interrupted–like during the recent wig call–the magic is lost. In order to make one on one connections, Di has to create a culture and atmosphere that doesn’t bow to interruptions. Sometimes that means pulling the phones off the hook, letting calls go to voicemail and getting back to someone afterwards.
Change can be hard, but it’s easier when you have a clear vision.
What don’t you want to do again in 2025? As we approach another year, now’s the time to set those goals to get where you want to be. If we don’t voice what we don’t want, we’ll just keep following the same patterns, and the outcome will remain the same.
If you’re not sure how to begin, think about everything on your plate and ask yourself:
What feels like gold?
What feels like lead?
Is there any way you can not repeat those things that feel like lead?
How can you do more of what feels like gold?
Another fun exercise is to think, “Wouldn’t it be cool if …” and write 50 answers. Yep, 50. As you keep piling up those answers, it proves that you do have ideas. You can dream. It broadens your brain and breaks you out of your routine thinking. Once you’ve hit 50, read through the list. Circle a few and then make them happen!
Di would love to hear about your goals and what you don't want to do again in 2025. Come by Thanx to see the culture she’s cultivating and let her know if it’s working. Be sure to take a little time for yourself this holiday season. Maybe squeeze in an extra mani or pedi or try something different with your hair. We also have gift certificates, so you can give the gift of a Thanx experience to someone you love! Or add them to your own Christmas list!
__
This post was written by Amy Miller, freelance writer and Thanx superfan. You can find out more about her writing services and her personal journey at her blog: A Novelist’s Guide to Rewriting Your Life.