Sunday, November 26, 2006

Amateur or Master

Sisterlocks is one of those things that takes time to mature. Just as your hair matures over time so does a consultants skill. It doesn't matter if you are a trainee or a certified. You don't sit down at a locking session and get up with the locks that you will have 2 years later.

Looking back, I can see my skill has matured. I didn't have the skill that I do now. I used to schedule 2 days for a locking session. At the end of both days, I felt like I had been beat with an ugly stick. My arms would be tired, my back hurt, I was mentally tired from planning each section. Re-tightenings would sometimes take 6 hours. It doesn't seem like a lot until you figure that most of the time I would do a re-tightening everyday after work and a locking session on the weekend. Not to mention starting it all over again. Week after week. It wasn't economical for the client or me to take 2 days to do a head full of locks or 6 hour re-tightenings when some of my clients travel from as far away as Pennsylvania.


To date, I have done a locking session and 2 re-tightenings' in one day. That was my personal best and was achieved just a few weeks ago. I am not sure if I would ever do that again. But, Archie (my husband) asked me to re-tighened his hair before the last meet and greet. My day started at 7:00 and ended about 11:30. It wasn't so bad. There is also the difference in my time since I am no longer working my 'full time corporate dream job'.


I spoke to a consultant from New York that really understood how much my skill had grown. I told her several things about my business. She also told me that I had moved from what she called an amateur consultant to a master consultant. Imagine. Me a master. I had not even thought of my skill at that level.

I believe that everyone needs a mentor in this business. To mentor is good. To be mentored is better. For the measure you give is the measure you get back. I am a big believer in mentoring but that is a subject for another post.

5 comments:

C & C said...

It is always interesting when I compare my beginning to my current status. When I do it allows me to set or reset goals towards self-actualization and reaffirm the things that are important to me. I enjoy your blog b/c oftentimes you sound like myself when you say "imagine me....." lol. You still pushed on now look atcha...a Master of what you do :-) My email address is ciahill@gmail.com. Thank you for your interest. Peace

MissyT said...

And you are the best mentor ever. Paulette, I don't know what I would have done w/o all of you time and advice. Yes I do, I would still be telling myself that I will be ready to do a full head maybe next year. You are a great encourager and your business will be blessed, because of how you give of yourself. so for all of the mentee, I say that you Mentor.

Paulette said...

Locizm,
Self-actualization. That sounds like something I should be doing. Let me know when you get back from training.

Atoya,
You spent the time to learn the craft called Sisterlocks. Spending those extra hours watching me and asking questions and even taking notes really paid off for you. When I saw your pictures, I thought I had done the work. It was beautiful. You should have no problem getting certified or getting new clients.

Paulette

Anonymous said...

Reading your blog is so interesting, since you're a SL hairdresser and I'm a SL wearer.

I'm a big believer in having and being a mentor too. COngrats on your Master status!

Paulette said...

Thanks Brunsli, I am glad that you find my blog interesting. You have such a following in the Sisterlock world.