When a hairdresser walks into my class for the first time, I want them to feel relaxed. I want them to feel at home. I want them to feel safe.
Sometimes people walk in expecting me to be a certain way. Sometimes they're intimidated. They think, "He's done all these things and been all these places, so he must be a jerk, or he must be really mean." That's not who I am, especially in a classroom.
Why that matters to me
I've worked with hairdressers who treated people terribly. I've had people throw things at me. I've had people call me names. I've had people tell me I wasn't good enough, and then later tell everyone they were the ones who trained me once I started winning.
I want people to know I'm the opposite of that. I'm the person who wants to help you. If someone needs something, I'm extremely reliable and trustworthy, and extremely loyal.
I'm loyal to the hairdressers who are building careers, not to the people making money off them.
I want you to understand that I'm one of you, and you're me. Together we can create change and create something positive. We're always open.
Our no-BS policy
We have a strict no-BS policy in the classroom. I don't lie to anybody about anything I see. If I don't like something, I'll tell you. If I think something is great, I'll tell you. If it makes sense, great. If it doesn't, we'll tell you that too.
We have to be transparent. One of the biggest things in any relationship is communication, and we make sure ours is clear and accurate. That's how you actually improve.
What to do when you get back to your salon
The first thing I want you to do differently: take something from two hours to ten minutes.
That's not just a technique. It's a whole business model in one cut. A hairdresser who can do that bob in ten minutes can see more clients in a day. That's real money, not theory.
Ready to see it for yourself? Find a Kaizen class, or read about the philosophy behind Kaizen.