During our careers as beauty professionals, we experience an unequal share of fits and starts, detours, endings and new beginnings. Not every step along the way will amount to progress or success, but in trying to better ourselves, we recognize the need for improvement.
“The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.” – Thomas Carlyle
In circumstances most would describe as a “best-case” scenario, we exercise control over our professional choices: evaluating our needs and interests, exploring our options, making informed decisions and preparing in advance. Conversely, when change happens to us, especially when unwelcome and unexpected, we’re denied the luxuries of independence. Feeling powerless dims our expectations because we want to believe in our capacity to improve on our own terms and at our own pace.
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” – Winston Churchill
Nobody’s perfect, and I blame only myself for that. As someone who enjoys autonomy, structure and predictability, I can sense when things need to change. Feeling anxious or agitated may be a normal human response, but I have low tolerance for stress that can be attributed to myself. I want to take action before negative emotions interfere with my daily routine, resulting in a lack of productivity or sleep. When I dream about trying, and failing, to complete unfinished tasks from my “waking” life, that’s the clearest signal that I must realign my efforts with my priorities. Not everything, or everyone, deserves my attention.
“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.” – David Allen
When using my power to effect change, I spend time to plan and execute those plans decisively even when they might not be popular. Doing my best to care for myself and my clients (in that order), I recently applied this strategy to three consequential decisions: eliminating tips in my business, facing the prospect of hiring new employees and renewing my lease. First, I prefer transparent pricing without the expectation or reliance on optional compensation. Clients received notice months in advance of increased prices and the elimination of tips. Second, after the departure of my last employee, I committed to working alone. (An exceptional and beloved employee cannot be easily replaced!) Thirdly, instead of renewing my lease, I moved to a smaller, nearby location to accommodate this stage in my career. All three decisions have proven very strategic.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: To make room for other voices and perspectives, this was my final weekly article published by Beauty Cast Network. Over the course of this year-long commitment, I addressed every monthly topic multiple times only to return to the topic of “conscientiousness” again. What more can I say except that it was both a pleasure and challenge. Thank you for the time you’ve spent reading my articles as I look forward to the next opportunity to interact with you in our respective journeys within the beauty industry.
An earlier version was published by Beauty Cast Network.