Ok let's get one thing straight right away, I'm an honest person. Sometimes maybe too honest and that sometimes scares people away but I'm a firm believer in you get what you see. There are no surprises here. Sometimes I open Instagram and I genuinely feel sad. There are so many local beauty pros who have been in business for so long that are constantly having promos to get people to book or have many available appointments. They could really benefit from some guidance, whether it be from a course or mentorship.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The worst thing you can do for yourself and your business is have the mentality that the one or two courses you took are sufficient and there is nothing more to learn. It doesn't matter if you are a newer artist or have been in business for years and years. You need to spend money to make money. You need to reinvest in you and your business. I want to spread awareness on ways you can reinvest your profits into your business and how it can help you grow.
Online courses are great because they are often lower in cost and are accessible at any time of day. Are you a night owl? Great! You can pay for and start my online courses at any hour of the day, as an example. They are also great because they are self-paced. You can take as long as you want to finish them and some will even issue your certificate right on the learning platform. Most educators who offer online courses will also grant you lifetime access with updates. If you're like me, you like having information at your finger tips. You might come across a situation where you think to yourself, "I know I've read this before." You like to have the ability to go back to your course and hit CTRL S and quickly find the info you need. No need to skim through each page of your manual, trying to find the right answer.
In-person courses are great because they are interactive and you can ask your questions in real time. There are usually live demos and its easier for the educator to share tips or tricks. They are often higher in cost because you are paying for the educators time, travel and usually other things like kits/workbooks/practice sheets that are included.
I love and recommend attending conferences because you get perspectives from people all over the world. That's the beauty of this industry. There is no right or wrong way to do something. Question everything! Conferences often include a mix of practical training/demos as well as many business focused seminars as well. You get to pick the brains of many types of entrepreneurs who work in salons, franchises, are solo artists who are home-based, to name a few. There are often trade shows where you can buy products at a discounted rate and you'll also likely receive a free swag bag.
Another way to grow your business is to invest in mentorship, either 1:1 or group. Mentorship is a great way to get customized guidance on how to take your business to the next level. Many mentors have different programs or guides that have specific focuses depending on what you're looking to achieve or need help with. Some examples include shifting your focus to education, growing your business, becoming fully booked, styling, fan making, etc. They are usually for a set period of time and can be extended.
I personally don't know anyone who invested in some form of continuing education and didn't learn something new or benefit from it in some capacity. Do research on the educator, course or conference and if you're able, talk to people who have attended. You'll get real, raw testimonials and advice on what to do and what not to do and just how worth it it was.
Its time for you to level up and invest in yourself. See where this line of work can take you!