Vision is one of the most important of the five senses that we possess, it is the way we experience our surroundings and the way we perceive beauty. Often, we are faced with the challenge that vision is not always what we see in front of us, it can be represented by a feeling, desire, dream, or a possibility that doesn’t exist yet. Incredible humans like Helen Keller, Ray Charles, and Louis Braille proved that to us with their amazing talents as individuals without eyesight.

The beauty industry is absolute proof of this, as creatives we can visualize a transformation before a single tool is used or product applied. In the salon and spa environment, we know how impactful it is to have a vision for the future of the company and a team that is enrolled in the vision as well. Having a clear direction and purpose for your company and team creates unity and trust.

As owners or stylists in this industry most of us had a mental picture of what we wanted our careers to look like, we dreamt of the environment, the look, the smell, the products we would use and the team we would work alongside. You had a vision! When you tap into your vision, it creates a clear and compelling mental image that embraces goals, values, desires and aspirations of what you hope to achieve for your career, company and team. Enrolling your team in the vision involves painting a picture so clearly and so compelling that the people that encounter the vision come along for the ride because it aligns with their values and dreams. There is a feeling of why and a purpose behind it, it creates a feeling, an emotion, and a connection.

In the town of Walla Walla, Washington, there is a team of over 35 women that embrace the
vision and culture that is Misbehaven Spa & Salon. Located in a beautifully renovated historic three-story building that served as a livestock livery through the Spanish American war as well as a feed and sale stable through the early 1900’s, the history makes the building esthetically beautiful, but Misbehaven’s team environment makes the historic building feel like coming home. Walking in the doors you will find a family that is living out their creative dreams, from hair stylists, nail techs, estheticians, massage therapists and makeup artists.

“Our vision at Misbehaven is to create a vibrant community where women grow and support each other. We are dedicated to providing an excellent guest experience filled with empowerment and fun!”

To live out the Misbehaven vision and enroll our team into the fun, we try to keep things light and forward focused. Some of the fun ways we live out our company vision is through our infamous branded logo swag such as jackets, hats, bags and team jerseys! Our team has dubbed Thursdays team jersey days and it creates such a fun team bond to see everyone dressed in the jersey with the number 05 on the back representing the year Misbehaven opened. “On Wednesdays we wear pink” was started for fun by one
of our stylists and it carries on weekly and we even have guests that have started to participate. These are just some of visual ways that our team promotes empowerment and fun.

What we know is a vision isn’t always what you can see, but is often represented by a feeling or a dream. The Misbehaven team volunteer endless hours in the community from cancer benefit runway shows, fundraisers, youth events and giving back to our community through volunteer services to different organizations. The feeling of belonging, giving back, empowering and growing others whether it’s through beauty services or giving time is how we embrace our vision as a team.

As an ownership team we decided that we wanted to do something bigger, something that signified the magnitude of how important our team and our community are to us, and the legacy we hope to leave. We came up with the Misbehaven Vision Award in 2024, this award is given quarterly to a team member that represents and lives out the Misbehaven vision within our team and in the community. This award encompasses our vision as well as our core values as a company which are Family, Integrity, Growth,
Support and Excellence. The recipient of the award from the prior quarter is tasked with the gift of uncovering the next Misbehaven Vision award recipient and passes on the torch.

Having a vision for your company is like the lighthouse to the ship coming into port, it’s a beacon and guiding light. It is vitally important for your salon company to create a sense of community, especially in the team environment. Having a clear vision creates a positive, fun work environment, helps your team align with goals, share a purpose, boost team morale, create a warm and welcoming environment for guests, increase guest loyalty, increase staff retention, help with recruitment strategies and promote a supportive culture where teams and guests can thrive.