
A Partner in Business and in Life
At Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair and Beauty, Director of Operations Natasha McMillen helps bring her wife Janet St. Paul's vision to life, elevating every system from education to operations.
The great Noel DiCaprio is often credited as the mother of the day spa movement. As the business she founded—The Noëlle Spa for Beauty and Wellness in Stamford, Connecticut—celebrates 50 years, her husband Peter remembers 50 valuable lessons he learned in life and in business with Noel.

Peter DiCaprio
ONE ON ONE
with
Peter DiCaprio
The great Noel DiCaprio
is often credited as the
mother of the day spa
movement. As the business she
founded-The Noëlle Spa for
Beauty and Wellness in Stamford,
Connecticut-celebrates 50 years,
her husband Peter remembers 50
valuable lessons he learned in life
and in business with Noel.
1. Always assume … positively.
2. Always eat breakfast.
3. Always sing in your own voice.
4. Be a gentle person.
5. Be quiet-listen 10 times
more than you talk.
6. Be scrutable.
7. Be thankful.
8. Consult with people outside
your industry.
9. Cook.
10. Cell phones are mostly
unimportant.
11. Creativity comes in many
guises.
12. Dance by yourself.
13. Dance with others.
14. Details are where you win.
15. Details are where you lose.
16. Discover the truth.
17. Do it yourself.
18. Don't do it for money-the
payoff is never enough.
19. Dress codes are flexible.
20. Each day is new-treat it
that way.
21. Eleven times, and then
you've got it.
22. Fake it 'til you make it-
Noel's favorite line.
23. First, be honest.
24. Heart is the bonus, use it
wisely.
25. Know your language.
26. Know your numbers.
27. Know your weaknesses, and
use that knowledge to your
advantage.
28. Laugh if you are given the
chance to.
29. Learn to write.
30. Make business decisions with
your head.
31. Move things around-it will
look like a new place.
32. Never take anything for
granted.
33. Never look like you are in a
hurry.
34. Never deny your passions.
35. Never lose an opportunity to
talk about your business.
36. Overheard is never
trustworthy.
37. Play an instrument.
38. Read.
39. Take great notes on
everything.
40. To be in the game, you need
to love it.
41. To stay in the game, you
need to make a profit.
42. To succeed in the game, you
need goals.
43. Technology is imperative for
moving forward.
44. There is wisdom to be
gained through age.
45. Training never ends.
46. Value education.
47. Value your supporters.
48. Value your detractors.
49. You can't know UP if you've
never seen DOWN.
50. Your business is your home.
Listen In!
Editor in Chief Stacey Soble recently
spoke with Peter about Noëlle's ups
and downs through its 50-year history,
from a devastating walkout and fi re
to pioneering some of the concepts
that are the foundation of our industry
today. Catch a podcast of the interview
at salontoday.com/podcast.

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