What's Your 20 Mile March?

 

     This past week I watched a DVD of a leadership summit with Jim Collins as a featured speaker. You know, the guy who wrote Good to Great and Great by choice. There were many parallels in his talk about why some people and companies are successful and others are not. It made me think of Ashley Craig, the $100,000.00 winner of Nail’d it.  She shared many of the disciplines Collins shares in his book.  What are they? 

     First off you must have what he calls level 5 leadership behaviors, whether you are leading yourself, or a team. The x factor of great leaders is humility combined with will. Given you already have great leadership qualities what are these other factors that separate the good from the great?

   Fanatic Discipline- Collins calls this the 20 mile march.  This 20 mile march came from a story he shared about two teams on an expedition to reach the South Pole.  One team was successful, the other, perished. Dutch explorer Amundsen successfully led his team 20 miles every day, day in and day out. Not 25 on a good day and 5 on a bad day. 20 miles, day in and day out. Consistent forward progress, every day. It’s also just as important to know to not overdo, and leave yourself vulnerable to unforeseen situations. Managing yourself and your team in good times so you’re strong for bad times. When Ashley spoke of creating a home for herself and her daughter she knew she would have to build a career so she enrolled in Nail school. From her interviews it’s clear she was persistent , attending day in and day out, inching toward her goal.  What is your 20 mile march? What do you need to do today to set the conditions to hit your mark, consistently, whatever that mark may be? 

    Empirical Creativity – Discipline is not enough, we must create new things, take risks on new creative ideas to improve our work. How are you innovating differently than those around you? The key to this is in empirical. Creativity must be based on testing and experience. Placing the big bets, the big risks better be based on something you know is going to work. Collins recommends the bullets to cannonball theory. Fire small bullets at the target until you have a line of site before you load the big cannon.  Have a direction, some success before you go all in. You must blend creativity and discipline, when we do this it amplifies our creativity rather than destroys it. Ashley already had a string of wins before she entered this competition, a line of site, a proven winning formula she amplified with discipline.

 

     Productive Paranoia The only mistakes you can learn from are the ones you survive. Yes you have to be optimistic, but also be aware things can get hairy. You may look at the glass as full but are keenly aware it may shatter at any moment. Successful people have reserves from the time they are small, it is not a luxury just for the bigger companies. Most success is due to this conservative start that they fiercely maintain as they grow. Take that paranoia and translate it into buffers, built in reserves in case disaster strikes. It is what you do before difficult times come, the discipline you have in good times that make the biggest difference in your success, so you can be strong when people need you.   Collins uses the analogy SMaC. Specific, Methodical and Consistent. The greatest danger is not failure; it is being successful without understanding why you are successful in the first place. Ashley was consistently aware that there were talented competitors on her tail. Yet she dug deep into her talent reserves and delivered great work. This is such a great big topic and there was so much more I could share, so I hope I have stirred your interest to learn more about it. Read more about Jim Collins research. Find your 20 mile march and follow it!            

  

     

Hang on Tight!

 

     This week a Facebook post resonated with quite a few of my followers. “Hang on tight to your dreams, you just never know when they might come true!!!” Some of you know I have been working on a certain project for about 7 years. I am so very thankful for hanging onto this dream, it’s getting so close to coming true. I’m so thankful for all the people that helped and encouraged me over these years to not give up.

     So you have a dream? Not sure how to accomplish this dream? Does it take skills you don’t have? Learn them. I had never done what was required to achieve my dream but I didn’t let that small fact stop me. I studied, took classes and paid people to help me. But you have to get started, and there is no better time than right now.  The time will pass anyways, pass it working on your dream.

     Are you investing in you? If you ever expect anyone else to invest in you, well you have to invest in yourself. I paid consultants to help me along the way, all along the way, from start to when I thought I was finished and then paid again to make sure it was perfect. I worked on it, broke it down, reworked it and broke it down again till I was ready to give up. Many a time I thought, who do I think I am, trying to do this, But I pressed on. There are many people in the business world that are those few steps ahead of you, where you need to be. Completing a project must go beyond friends and mentors. It takes professionals. If you are not willing to pay for the knowledge to get your project where it needs to be don’t expect anyone else to invest. 

 

       Does  your dream keep you up at night and drive your thoughts and actions throughout the day? Your dream must be top of mind, back of mind, always on your mind. Are you taking actions every day, every week, every month to push through? Doubts will overtake you if you let them. So make sure you have good people around you believing in you when you run out of belief in yourself.

     Get rid of negative Nancy’s. Surround yourself with your cheer group, prayer warriors and balcony people. I am so very thankful for so many that have prayed for me, believed in me and encouraged me along the way. Sometimes it was just a simple word of encouragement that kept me going. I know for certain I could not have survived the challenge without them. A big dream is downright scary. Make sure you have positive people and their energy surrounding you and your project. And be that support for someone else in your world.

     Reach out to everyone you can think of. A key person in the development of my project was a guy I dated over 30 years ago. We got back in touch through Facebook and he came up with the connection that made the difference between my project getting lost in the crowd and being put front and center. You never know what each connection in your life can someday offer you. Imagine if I had burned that bridge so many years ago. Hopefully soon I will be able to share the project publically, But until then believe me when I tell you truly anything is possible. To have my dream come as far as it has to this point is an accomplishment in itself. So believe, never stop, even if it takes years.

 

Are You Making a Living or Making a Difference?

     In this ever competitive world with a salon on just about every corner, only the strong survive. So what is it you are doing to be strong? To survive and not only that, thrive? I had a young girl come into the salon Saturday and I thought I recognized her but I was heading to the back room. I had finished early for the day and was helping with towels before I left. I heard the owner say Oh, you’re with Millie? I came back out and recognized the young girl was one of my clients daughters home from school and she claimed her mom had made an appointment with me. I double checked my schedule, she could have made one online but my phone usually alerts me. Just as she pulled out her phone to check with her mom I said, no biggie, I have time and stayed to cut her hair. She is a young college student and I drew her into conversation about school, her classes, her dorm , her world. I spent extra time drying and beach waving her hair, something I know she would not take the time to do herself and she loved it. I thanked her and wished her luck at school and safe travels. After I called her mom and asked if she had maybe had an old card with an old number and we figured out she had called the old number and asked if anyone had time to cut her. She was booked at my old salon.  The point of my story is the girl drove to me, I am her hairdresser.  She automatically assumed her mom made the appointment with me. What are you doing to be the only beauty professional in your clients mind. How are you different? How are you providing service no one else can or will? This incident really got me thinking. Why do my clients come to me? Yes I have been a professional over 30 years and have many skills, many more I try and keep up with. But is that it? A few of my recommendations on StyleSeat are as follows.

"Millie is skilled and efficient. It is reassuring to know that your nail technician is a true professional trained to do nails. "

My first appointment with Millie was awesome - what an awesome experience! It was relaxing and a lot of fun - I look forward to seeing her again soon for my next appointment! I can't wait to try out all the artistic and unique nail designs Millie can offer! A true artist! =)"

But this one really got me.

Millie is a fist class professional women with great ethics. She is a wonderful human being!!!! "

To be the difference you have to make a difference in your clients lives. I was reading something the other day that talked about not separating our spiritual life from our work life. Many of you know I truly consider my work a ministry and one of my gifts connecting with people. I thought about this long and hard and decided to pray for my clients. I know some people may be offended by this and that’s ok. If you don’t pray, send good Karma, surround them in light, whatever your spiritual being guides you to do. I have the business and the clients I have for a reason. They are in my life for a reason and I know I am in theirs for one. A client shared with me her son was in an accident a few months ago but what I didn’t realize  and she just recently shared was that he was incarcerated for the accident. There is a ministry at my church for families who have a loved one in jail. I shared this with her, even looked up the number, called her with it and offered to accompany her if she was uncomfortable going alone.  Was that coincidence? I think not. So for me, its not just about the money, or cranking as many clients a week out I can. It’s about sharing our gifts, beauty is only one of them.

Marketing Confidence

       One of the most important elements of marketing is confidence. Confidence in your brand. I know we all struggle at times with confidence, I am no exception.  Unfortunately we look around too much, compare ourselves to others and their success. Ignoring we all have our own unique voice, our own unique talents, and our own unique journey. We see some people that appear to have the greatest confidence that never waivers. But that confidence came at a price. And I’m quite sure if you asked them, they would tell you even they have their doubts. The difference is they don’t let doubt win. They forge battle with it every day.  So if you struggle with confidence know that you can win too. If you struggle with confidence know that there is an answer. It is education, knowledge and the persistent work towards mastery. 

      Are you struggling with service techniques? There is so much education available some at no cost to you but time and a connection to the internet. So many companies have YouTube videos that give step by step tutorials from the simplest to the most detailed techniques. Nail Art, sculpting acrylic or gels, pedicure techniques, massage steps.  Start with the companies whose products you work with and master these techniques. Dedicate at least one hour of the day to watch and learn. Then dedicate a few hours a week to actual hands on practice, whether you use a practice hand or a willing live model. 

 

     Are you struggling with communication? Communication is one of the biggest factors in building the clientele you want. Read books on communication. Study people and their temperaments.  I am in the process of reading a book about the difference between introverts and extroverts. Did you know they each use a completely different part of their brain in the thought process? It is much easier to communicate with likeminded people, but the challenge is, our clients are all different. Learning great communication techniques can build trust with a client and trust builds loyalty. Clients stick with service providers that they feel a connection with, so build better connections.

     Are you struggling with your finances? Hundreds of books have been written about business finances. Meet with a financial expert and ask for some recommendations to get started understanding the basics. You should know what your cost of doing business is and where your profitability stands. I’m not saying you have to become an accountant, but you do need to get a grasp on the numbers. Working with a budget and understanding your cash flow will give you more confidence in your business and life. 

      Are you struggling with marketing? Don’t know what’s working and what’s not? Take some time and dig into your client base. Learn how they found you and expand your base with those techniques. Again there are a ton of resources on marketing, I can recommend a few great books, mine for one. Ha-ha. But seriously, next time you are at a show don’t just take the classes for technique; sit in on a marketing or business building class. One idea can change your whole world. Work with a coach if needed, take a webinar. But don’t let your lack of understanding marketing lead to a lack of self-confidence. 

 

     Confidence comes from great skills and great skills come from education. Take a look at this list and pick one or two things you will commit to master. There is no better marketing tip than carrying yourself with confidence, even if you have to fake it till you make it. Confidence is key and building your confidence is smart marketing.

You Are the Company You Keep

     If you’re going to market yourself as an expert you’d better have a good team of people around you.  You will become the sum of the top 5 people you surround yourself with. Choose wisely. I came across an article on Entrepreneur.com called 5 attributes to look for in High-Performing Employees. If you are hiring a staff these elements are critical. I know first-hand how costly hiring the wrong person can be. But these attributes are not just for staffing. Looking for these attributes in friends, mentors, significant others and the like will serve you well in your pursuit of life’s goals. So what should you look for?

     Intelligence.  This key attribute trumps experience every time. Plus you may be hiring the experience of poor performance and a bad attitude. Smart people can learn quicker and often times end up doing the job better and more effectively. Look for people that catch on to new ideas, are innovative and relentless in pursuing new information.

Ownership and pride. Looking to make others proud of you is nowhere near as important of being proud of yourself. No matter where people are in chasing their dreams look for those fully engaged and focused on how they are performing the job they are currently in. David Wagner, owner Day maker at Juut salonspa started as a valet for Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda, at his Minneapolis salon. Horst took a liking to him when he saw his incredible work ethic and passion for excellence. The rest is history.  Have pride in yourself, what you are doing and the people you do it with for the best team experience.

    Work ethic.  It takes more than intelligence and talent. Look for people willing to go the extra mile. People that are solution oriented not problem focused.  Willingness to contribute and a desire to lead will become vital in the success of any project, relationship or goal. People who want to accomplish the goal for that pride that only comes from being engaged as a part of the process.  The ones that text you two hours after the initial conversation with a fresh idea or solution.  People with a great work ethic don’t shut down when the work day does. Their passion is to look for ways to contribute the most.

     

    Integrity.  This one is much harder to flesh out especially in an interview scenario. I often came up with work situations and ask how they would handle them. Especially things like handling a controversial situation with another staff member or conflict with another manager.  Ask about real world ethical dilemmas or difficult decisions they have had to make. Past behavior predicts future behavior. Questions like what would you do if another team member took credit for a project or idea you came up with, or tell me about a conflict you had with a superior and how you resolved it? 

 

     Teamwork. Put quite simply, don’t hire jerks. You can train a lot, but you can’t teach nice, it’s either there or not. Look for people who put the team first, who don’t look for every opportunity to make things about them.  Teamwork and collaboration are what moves things forward, in work and in life.  So whether you are hiring a staff, looking to partner with a life mate or seeking out new colleagues do some due diligence creating your team.  Smart, engaged, hardworking people thrive in the environment of others with these same attributes. As Jim Rohn said if you take an idiot and motivate him all you have is a motivated idiot. So build a great team, because that’s smart marketing.

Push Past Your Limits

 

     Are you struggling to reach your goals? My daughter gave me a birthday card this year with the perfect message.  Dreams come a size too big so that we can grow into them.  So if your dreams are feeling larger than life, looks like you’ve got some growing to do. It can be anything from fear, to doubt, maybe even lack of skill set. How can you push past the limitations in your world? The natural tendency is to give up when things get too challenging, but this is the precise time to push harder, change things up to break past getting stuck in a rut. Take action and put a plan in place.  

Recruit someone or something to help push you. Top achievers work with coaches and mentors. Find an accountability partner to flush out the negativity surrounding you. An encourager can be anyone that gives you much needed support and positive feedback. A compliment on your nail art, an encouraging word when you’re down. Reach out to people in your network that are positive role models for a boost when you need it. Subscribe to positive feeds on social media and turn off the negative news feeds. Find a cornerstone, something that you can have around you to remind you of the goal. A vision board, beautiful photos, thank you cards. Surround yourself with good vibes to ward off bad mojo.

 

   Take on something larger than your current skill set.  Enter an online contest, pick up a new art technique. Decide to master your numbers and your budget. Doing what you’ve always done is a sure fire way to staying exactly where you are.  Stuck in the confines of what you believe you can or can’t do. Stretch your limits and grow into them along the way.

Find something that truly inspires you. Get inspired by watching videos, reading inspirational books, or even just a great quote taped to your mirror. Inspiration is great for motivation. I have a ton of motivational quotes and a vision board on my fridge. Every time I walk past I am drawn to what motivates me.  What I’m dreaming of doing and becoming.

Push yourself to exhaustion. To truly break past barriers you have to be driven. Work on something that challenges you, and stick with it till you get your breakthrough. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating, all growth comes from outside your comfort zone. What is it you need to move forward? New tools? A class? A better video camera to work on tutorials? Research what it is you need to improve and take the leap. With much encouragement from my positive role models, Braden, I have taken the plunge and invested in recording equipment to start recording my content. Yes very soon you will be able to get my content in audio format.  I too was stuck in the grips of my limitations. I didn’t have the right equipment, would anyone purchase it? I struggle with the same fears and doubts just like anyone else, but I move past the fear by believing  my encouragers, my positive inner circle that says, yes you can. 

 

Cut off the negative naysayers, the ones that are stuck themselves. Break out of your limits and grow into your dreams. You will get farther than you ever imagined, just like this hometown girl, that is on the radio. If I had let fear win, you wouldn’t have Millie’s marketing segment. You too have great things to offer the world, now get to it!