My Favorite Genoisms

     I have known Geno over twenty years. From the first time I sat in one of his classes I knew he would have a huge impact on my world. I had no way of knowing back then just how much of an impact he would actually make but to say I am a different person than I would have been had I not met him would not be an understatement. Sure I may have eventually found other personal development mentors, but the fact that Geno was one of us, in the beauty industry, made him a whole lot easier to relate to. He knew our world, spoke our language and shared our same struggles. I couldn’t help but think if he can, then I can too. He was also from a familiar mindset, or maybe generation where you had to do more than just show up and not everyone got a trophy. I was intrigued by his brain and made sure to get myself to his classes whenever I could. Each time was fresh, invigorating and I always learned something new. So here are a few of my favorite take-aways.

     If it’s to be it’s up to me. This one just cuts to the chase for me. It is no one else’s job, or responsibility to get you where you need to be in life. Sure you can blame your parents, your family, your bosses, your friends or lack of friends but the bottom line is you are responsible for you. Is it always fair? Heck no. Is it easy? Let me tell you a secret, No one, not one person has a cake walk. Just because you may not have seen their struggles, they are there. Either in their past or their future.  Life is a series of challenges. So put your glitter pants on and get to it!

Notes from one of Geno's early classes

      You are going to have to continue to practice and study. In one of Geno's classes several years back he asked the question how many people want to be a millionaire? Well of course the entire room raises their hands. Next question, How many of you are reading a good book on how to become a millionaire? One maybe two or three hands go up. Who are you reading? Following? Studying? Geno often shares a story about Martin Parsons, a brilliant hair artist, that he has seen him backstage at a show working on a mannequin. Study and practice, even at the top.

     Invest in yourself. This kind of goes with the previous take-away but it sets rules. I remember hearing Geno say in a class years ago that you need to take educational classes or webinars or retreats. And you need to spend at least 10% of your annual income on them. What better money spent then investing in yourself. I speak of this often, the return on the investment is exponential.

He introduced me to Jim Rohn, well not in person. I asked him at one point who his mentors are and one was Mr. Rohn. So many of my life principles have been sharpened by listening to this mans’  CDs. I appreciate they are also rooted firmly in scripture.  Through listening to his tapes as well as others I got down in my soul the importance of personal development.

     Geno is a master at making people feel important. And it is authentic because he believes everyone truly is important and has come across your path for a reason. He values others and commits to valuing their time. I remember he shared with me once he never takes calls or reads emails right before he is scheduled to teach. Why, he says, would I take myself away from what I am there for, to be any less than what they deserve. So many of these principles can and should be applied to our businesses and our lives. I could go on and on I have learned so much from this man over the years. Being able to see him get his NAHA Leadership award was priceless and I am forever thankful to call him my friend. 

Geno and I at the NAHA awards

ISSE Midwest 2012

     One of the biggest stories of the show has got to be Bloom.com . This new social beauty website is kind of like Pinterest, but for just beauty enthusiasts. I spoke with Carrie Chambers as a coincidence at another booth and she shared all the up to the minute news about this brand new marketing vehicle. It is right up my alley. Professionals can sign up with a free Bloom beauty pro account to display your contact info, services and social media links. You can add your head shot or logo, create your online portfolio by uploading photos of your work and organizing them in virtual "Look Books".  You can tag trends and products you've used and get featured on their Be Inspired pages.

 Just like Google the more your photos get rated, the more exposure your photos gain. Share your work instantly with your own credit and direct links with your photos, no worries about someone else taking credit for your work. Go viral on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Blooms new Iphone app connects consumers with local beauty pros. Every time a user clicks  'looks good' on your photos it increases their popularity on their Be Inspired page and moves them up in the Beauty Pro Directory. Users can even click on your phone number and book appointments from the Bloom Beauty Trends App. With over two hundred thousand beauty enthusiasts and growing this looks to be a huge advantage for your marketing efforts. Check them out at www.Bloom.com. I'm looking to have the founder Julie Mahloch on Nail Talk Radio some time in the future. I did an interview for them as well and look forward to sharing that soon.

     I caught up with longtime friend Lynn Long at the Seche booth raving about the new Seche Fast Dry One Coat polish. This high intensity polish is rich,  long lasting, and can cover even glitter in one coat. With high durability and high shine, mine is still shiney without even a topcoat and with the quick dry time, it's sure to be another winner from the Seche family. Check it out here Fast Dry One Coat

 

 

     Had the opportunity to spend time with one of my mentors Geno Stampora. He spoke with some future professionals and shared his valuable life coaching wisdom. I always get re-motivated myself spending time with this amazing man.

     CND released their new Holiday additives with all new glitter and shine. They were kind enough to donate free samples for my nail art Fabulous finishes hands on work shop and we loved the effects. I also got to play with the LCN Nail Candy packaged in easy to use application bottles for easy breezy caviar effects.

   I also received free samples from LCN, Soft Landings, Dashing Diva, Dazzle Dry and Bella Finito so a big shout out to them for adding such value to the class.
   I also held two classes on Social Media and Blogging that were awesome and I did record both. So hopefully I will have some dvd's available soon so be on the lookout for those. One of my nail traveling buddies Gina Malson took Simmy's efile certification class and really enjoyed all the knowledge Simmy packs into her training classes. Spent some time at the Nail Pro competition area catching up with friends. Anna Maria Paty has joined the judging team and was joined by Rachel Mouritsen and guest judge Pauline Lina Feinauer. Anna Maria shared with me how impressed she is with the way the competitions are run and the attention to every last detail to make sure they get things right. Looks like they are really putting together a winning team behind the scenes. Make sure to check out our NTR page for the winners. All in all, the show was a bit smaller than the norm but packed full of amazing classes and vendors. Everyone commented about the quality of the show. Hopefully it continues to grow and gain the loyal following it deserves.

A Letter to Future Professionals

September 2011

 

     Hello future professionals. I am so honored to have this opportunity to speak with you. It really doesn’t seem that long ago I was on the other side of this screen, right where you are, with the world of beauty unfolding before me. I remember I couldn’t wait to be finished with school and classes, get my license and get on with my career. I attended a show as a student and I was hooked, immediately to this world of beauty and knew someday I would be the one on those stages teaching the classes.

 

Dallas International Congress of Aesthetics 2009

 

      Once I graduated I took a job with a large day spa, one of the first in the country and it would end up being a terrific first job in the business. It’s very important to land in the right place, so do your research and hold out for the best fit. This spa allowed me the opportunity to learn not just hair but make-up and nails to fill my beauty skills and service opportunity. It gave me more to offer my client and more value as an employee. I worked diligently at keeping up with each field by taking as many classes as I could and reading trade magazines. You my young friends have a wonderful thing called the internet with the answer to any question at the tip of your mouse. Take advantage of as many learning opportunities, you probably wont get fired for knowing too much.                                 

     As the years flew by I continued working hard perfecting my skill levels. I took a job as a manufacturers educator and that’s when the truly amazing things started to happen. These higher level trainings put me in a whole new pool of talent and afforded me amazing people to work with. I began talking to my mentors and having lunch with my heroes.

 

Geno Stampora and I circa 1994

 

      A very good friend and mentor to me (Geno) suggested to just go up to whomever you want to meet and introduce yourself and ask if you can include them in your network, worked every time. I met the most talented and giving professionals just waiting to mentor the next generation. I began writing for some of the trade publications, the same publications I poured over and read cover to cover not so many years before.

 

NailPro Show 2009

 

         I have been a salon owner, a manufacturers educator, a speaker, an author, a patent holder, regional education manager and most recently I just got back from New York fashion week where I worked with the Dashing Diva nail team. I am also producer and marketing segment director of  Nail Talk Radio. Who knew 30 plus years ago all this would have unfolded for me, just a kid with a couple of dreams from Cleveland Ohio. So my words of wisdom? Figure out what your passion in this business is and pursue it with relentless determination.  

1.  Keep learning, growing and stretching yourself and amazing things happen. Play nice, it is a small beauty world.
2.  Don’t burn any bridges unless you know how to fly.
3. Run your own race, don’t be quick to be a follower, take your time to be a leader.
4. Don’t be discouraged by the naysayers, we all begin at the same line. How hard we work determines where we end up.

      So for the same person that was told at one of my first jobs that I should really pick something else, maybe this is not for me, to have just finished Mercedes Benz New York fashion week and am right now as you watch this just getting back from London fashion week.

     I guess I'm pretty happy I stuck with it. Beauty has been such a wonderful, fulfilling career for me and I know, if you persevere, it will be even more wonderful for you.