Staying Motivated

Hi! Has anyone ever gone through a time when they started to feel discourage and wondered why they decided on this career? For me, this was a total career change, and I'm almost 3 years into it, and still not doing it full time, as it's hard to work on a strictly commission only basis, when you need a paycheck. I have a nice little regular clientele built up, along with the ones who come to see what it's all about, or once a year, etc. But I still don't have enough to make a full time paycheck. I'm out there marketing myself with my facebook page, talking about it to everyone I meet, handing out cards, etc. I'm an employee, so I'm limited in what I can do, the skin care line we use, discounts to offer, etc. None of that is up to me. I'm just starting to get frustrated. I would love to find a little place I could open on my own terms, but I'm not financially stable enough to give up my full time job to do that. Just need some advice and encouragement. I'm not ready to give up, but it crosses my mind alot lately.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Devyn M. on December 10, 2012 at 10:26pm

I've been there and I haven't even been doing it as long as you. I come on here a lot when I need some motivation or new ideas or whatever it is to get my mind in a better place. It's hard when you don't have all the control either. Are you allowed to make suggestions for promotions, etc? If you are, that might help your business and your positivity.

Also, have you started a blog? It's a great way to get information out there and your name at the same time. The more you're on the internet, the more your name comes up. Try to blog often and connect it to your FB page, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. Yelp is another way to get more clients. I get about 80% of my clients from Yelp/internet. My salon is not in an area that gets walk-ins for skin so I have to work really hard to generate my own business. Encourage your clients to "like" your FB page so you are constantly on their minds. Do you have an email list? That is another way to put yourself in front of your clients (so to speak). I just had a new client come in the other day and she said she has been receiving my emails (newsletters) for awhile now (she joined my email list through our grand opening) and kept telling herself that she needed to come in and see me. It took her 6 months to finally make an appointment but she did and took a bunch of business cards with her b/c she was so happy. The point is, you just have to keep pushing and trying and working b/c you never know who is reading/watching and getting ready to book with you.

This is a tough business to start but don't give up! If this is really what you want, and it sounds like it is, then keep going and it will happen. Hope this helps at least a little! :)