Have You Built a Business,
    or Created a Job?

Many Salon owners fall into the trap of building a business that would not work if they were not involved.

Lesson 1 - Do NOT build your business around yourself.  - It makes it near impossible to step away from it or to sell it.

Building a business
is different than creating a job for yourself.

Think about it... 
    What's the sole purpose of your business?

Is it to give you more life, financial security, passion, freedom to persue your dreams???

Unless your business is built to serve your sole purpose, it will consume you and will be very difficult for you to step away from or even sell.  I believe that EVERY business should be built "as-if" you are going to sell it.

 - OK, where do you start?
You are working hard, doing it, doing it, every day.  Hoping one day to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  (Please dont misunderstand me, to build your salon into your business vision will require a lot of hard work).

You need to step back and create a Vision for your salon.

Truly, this is probably the single most important business tool available to you.  A real vision of what you want your business to be like.   Grab a blank piece of paper, and start dreaming. 

About YOU FIRST – Not about your Salon.  Your business is very important – But it is NOT your life - Not in the long term.

First step is to define your life. 

• How do you want to be remembered?

• What do you value most in life?

• What do you want to do with your life? 

• What kind of lifestyle do you want? 

• How much money do you want to make?

• How do you want to earn this money
   (Passive income or Active income)

• What do you want your life to look like now and in the future?

• Your life is “Yours”, how do you want it to be?

These (and many more) are the questions you must first answer – Before you even start with the Vision you have for your Salon.  Your business must be built to serve your “Life Plan” – Not your life serving your business plan.

Then, and only then, can you start to create the vision for your salon.  Because then you

can design your business to support and enrich your “life plan”.

I am not talking about a “Business Plan” here (that comes later). I am talking about creating a “picture” of you ideal business.  What will your Salon be like, when you have finished creating it as a business that will support your “life plan”.

So what does your perfect Salon Business look like? 
The questions are similar:

• How do you want your salon to be perceived by your clients, potential clients, the community, your peers and your suppliers?

• What is most important to you about your Salon?

• What do you want to do day to day with in your Business?

• How much money do you need to make to serve your life plan?

• What is the image of your Salon?

• How will your Salon work as a profitable business?

A question I continually ask myself
– What will my business look like all “packaged up” for sale?  This I find works well in keeping your mind on the “big picture”.

What will your Salon look like “all packaged up to sell”? 
   That really is what your Salon’s Vision should be.

Copyright Ken Hobson
 

Please enjoy (and forward to any of your friends).
Cheers - Ken Hobson
  PS: Email me ken@salonbiz.com.au with any article suggestions.