The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
by Stacey Soble
What's Your Credo?
Everyone needs a credo—a philosophy, words to live by. What are yours? Salon Owner and Blogger Karie Bennett shares hers.
January 2, 2012
Karie Bennett, stylist, writer and owner of Atelier SalonSpa and Atelier Studio in San Jose, California
2 min to read
Everyone needs a credo. Otherwise known as a belief or a philosophy. The phrase that pays. Words to live by. The tape that plays in our heads when we need to make a decision. The little angel (or devil) on our shoulder.
I'll share my credo with you. Especially if you're a business owner, because you'll need one, and this one hasn't failed me yet. I suggest you print it out and tape it up on your bathroom mirror, where you will see it every day. Here it is:
"SOMETHING IS GOING TO GO WRONG TODAY."
Simple, right? I know, but that's the beauty of it. If it does, you'll be proven right. And, if it doesn't, it's a lucky day, and you might want to go buy a lottery ticket. Seems funny, but if you think about how many people you come into contact with on a daily basis, how many decisions you have to make—both easy and tough—and how many people are affected by what you do, this credo makes sense.
As a business owner, your decisions matter to many people, not just yourself. And, if you're prepared for the less-successful outcome, if you're ready for things to zig when you're planning to zag, or if you ask yourself, "What would the Magic 8-ball say?" you'll have a better chance of being prepared for whatever curveball gets pitched at you
Stay on your toes. Peek around the corner. Plan for A but keep the Plan B loaded, just in case. Never let them see you sweat, or catch you with your pants down. Yep, something's not going to go the way you think it will, but it you had one great idea, you'll probably have another, so act fast, be ready and above all, be flexible.
It's one of the most important qualities a business owner can possess.
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