October 07, 2022 6 min read
Lashpreneurs! can’t seem to get your pre-lockdown productivity mojo back?
Let’s be real. There are so many ups to owning your own beauty business, but the downs can really get you down.
If you're a lash technician who owns a salon business, then you know how hard it can be to stay motivated. And it never stops.
It’s not just about having amazing lashing skills and great customer rapport - it’s making sure your business plans and marketing plans are always on track.
You’re constantly thinking about maintenance, growth, the administrative side of things, the management aspects – and even maintenance. And let's not forget about marketing. Aaaah!
But even though owning your own beauty business can be super stressful at times, here are some ways that you can help you stay focused throughout the process.
Take a deep breath - you’ve got this!
You & Beyonce May Have the Same 24 Hours…But Do You Share the Same Team?
Being your own lash boss is a great accomplishment - but that doesn’t mean you can never ask for help. There’s a lot of pressure when you’re comparing yourself to other ‘girl bosses’ who seem to be doing great effortlessly. But remember, not only is comparison the thief of joy…you never know what really goes on behind the scenes.
💪If you’ve built a great team around you, leverage it! Having frequent brainstorming discussions and goal tracking conversations will help you get different perspectives, figure out what parts of the business you need more support with, what’s lacking business-wise and when it comes to voicing what you need help with be as clear and specific as possible. With the right moves together, so much more can be achieved in a much shorter time.
Still hustling on your own? Let your solopreneur support system get to work. It never hurts to reach out for support and get an outsider’s perspective from your personal network like friends and family now and then. Your loved ones would no doubt love to help and feel appreciated that they support is valued - they just need to know how to help you.
Begin With The End in Mind
👀 You can’t get what you want if you don’t know what you want. 👀
The first step to staying motivated is always keeping your goals in sight. It's so easy to get distracted when you're working on something that doesn't have a clear outcome, AND especially if you’re grinding away living lash to lash.
But if you keep your eyes (fully lashed or not!) on the prize and focus on where you can go with your business and what you want out of it (whether it's financial or creative fulfilment), it will become much easier for you to be clear on what you need to do and stick with tasks until it's done.
👀 There are plenty of little ways lash salon owners can stay motivated everyday:
Apply for awards and recognition
You know your stuff, so what do you have to show for it?🏅The most self-motivating thing to do besides goal-setting is reminding yourself of your achievements. For example, the Australian Beauty Industry Awards offers a variety of annual awards to beauty businesses nationwide. It’s a great way to measure how far you have come in your business and skills!
Plus, gathering up as much credibility and proof will lends itself to your marketing as well (flex that across your website and socials!), attract clients and provide that stamp of reassurance that your customers are in safe beauty hands.
Internally, you can also give your team informal awards such as “Best Lash Extension Technician of the Month” or “Most Consistent Customer Service Provider of the Year”, “Best Lash Advice Giver” down to “Most Creative Reel Creator of the Month” - these little things will help keep you motivated as well as encourage others around you!
Do Something Everyday for Future You
🔮 If you care about your future, don’t leave problems only future you can solve!
Consistency is most definitely key to a profitable eyelash extension business. We all know that the smallest things we do everyday can really add up - even if it may not be clear at first! Mapping out your big goals and reverse engineering the steps to get there can really help you gain clarity on what needs to be done. Here’s how:
Celebrate the Little Things
You really have to celebrate the little things. Whether it’s a new client referral, a new certification or even when someone improves their lashing skill levels - it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forgetting small wins.In fact, it’s critical that you celebrate every success—no matter how small—because each one represents a step toward your larger goal of building a successful business (and life).
If you have other entrepreneurs in your life who are going through challenges right now, take time out of each day for coffee or lunch together so you can share victories and commiserate over losses together.
Remember Why You Chose To Be a Lashpreneur
You KNOW you’re more than just someone who sticks extra hairs on eyelids. You’re a therapist, a healer, a soul soother, a sanctuary and so much more!
No doubt - it feels like lashpreneurs have to be their own motivators, because no one else is going to do it for them.
Displaying or journaling your list of WHY you chose this profession is always a good thing to reflect on and remind yourself of during the tough times. It also helps keep you grounded when things are going well and gives you something to celebrate when things go really well!
Always keeping an eye on changing beauty trends through pop culture, history and media as well can be a fun way to reinvigorate that fire in you - after all, besides income, it’s the creativity, artistry and the joy you bring to every job that keeps people coming back.
You are your own boss and you should reward yourself accordingly.
If you feel guilty about taking yourself off the hook for a little bit, remember that your own self-care is crucial part of staying motivated. You are responsible for yourself, and if you don’t take care of yourself first, it will be hard to do so on behalf of others.
Take time out of your day (or week) to enjoy some leisurely activities that make you feel good about yourself. Take a relaxing bath or go for a walk in the park with your favorite furry friend—whatever makes you happy!
Sometimes stepping away for a bit can help bring inspiration from the most unsuspecting places!
Conclusion
We hope these tips have inspired you! After all, running your own beauty business is not for the fainthearted. Sustainable success takes some hard work, dedication and consistency (phew!). The most important thing to remember is that you are in charge of your own destiny and the only person who can make things happen for yourself is YOU!