How to Make it Grande: Part One of Three

Peter Rosas Peter Rosas, inventor of the bilingual iPhone/Android appSalon Client Data,whichmanages your salon business, suggests you never be afraid to assist in a salon because, he offers, “The benefit is working and learning with talented people that help you to push the envelope is key at the beginning. Never stop learning.“

 Two: Find a Great Mentor. All responses underscored education, and the way to keep continuously learning is to find a mentor. No solo a great hairdresser, but también someone who is willing to share what he/she knows. When you find this persona, sweep up their cabello, grab their comida, get café for their clients, and constantly walk the walk of someone who really wants to learn.

  Paul Vega Paul Vega, owner of Salon 343 in Long Beach CA, who also educates, styles and creates the image for Color Charm North America, says, “Most important for me was never losing that hunger for education, finding mentors and following them and their work. Also, pushing myself past my fears.”

 Three:  Constantly Share What You Learn. In order to speed up your learning curve, teach and share todo you learn. Esto may sound outrageous to those who feel they know muy poco, but reviewing and repeating what you know is the mejor way to get it down. So, even if you have to go to your casa and teach your familia a new cut, do it.

Robert Curiel Robert Curiel, educator and ambassador for Clairol, and owner of a salon in San Diego, CA attributes his success to this same love of teaching, “I think my passion for the art of hair, and my enthusiasm to share my knowledge, in English and Spanish, has inspired me through this 45-year journey,” he states.

 Four: Honor Your Salon Culture. My Tia Blanca says people eventually start looking like their perro. By that rule, it would be fabulous if people in a salon began looking fashionably cool. If you were going to work in a banco, I would not advise you go Goth, and, likewise, don’t look like a banquero in a salon. But, we are not just addressing dress code. We are talking about attitude and being a good team player. Why? Because a salon is comprised of a grupo of people who share just about todo, with this comes peer pressure. One of the best success tips was to always be “on the good side of the salon’s peer pressure.” Otherwise, the gravy train may never make a pit stop at your station.Look and act the parte. Buena suerte.

Coming next: What is the one thing you would do different in your career?

Feel free to share your tips, ideas and comments.

Hasta pronto,

Carlos

Carlos Valenzuela is president of Carlos Valenzuela Resources, LLC, is a consultant on Latino marketing, a licensed instructor, author, and motivational speaker. Contact Carlos at www.getcarlos.com