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So many salon owners spend their time looking sideways instead of forward. They watch what everyone else is doing, copy systems, pricing, commission structures, and branding, and hope that if it worked for someone else, it will magically work for them, too.

In this episode, we talk about why copying is one of the most dangerous habits in business. Not because learning from others is wrong, but because blindly copying skips the most important part: understanding your numbers, your values, your clients, and your vision.

We break down why templates, playbooks, and “just follow this person” advice often fail, how copying becomes a shortcut for thinking, and why running someone else’s business will never build confidence or long-term stability. We also talk about pricing, commission models, culture, AI, education, and why learning principles matter more than memorizing answers.

If you want a salon that feels aligned, sustainable, and truly yours, this episode will challenge you to stop copying and start building.

Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.
Borrow the principles. Build your own systems.

Key Takeaways

• Copying is often a shortcut for thinking.
• Templates don’t replace understanding your own business.
• Blindly following others skips responsibility and learning.
• Pricing without knowing your numbers is dangerous.
• Being great technically doesn’t mean you’re ready to run a business.
• Borrow principles, not full systems.
• Culture becomes shallow when it isn’t built on your own values.
• Copying guarantees you’ll always be second best.
• Confidence comes from building something you understand.
• Small, intentional changes beat massive overhauls.

Time Stamps

00:00 – Welcome + why people copy
01:00 – Jen’s opening take: have the conversation
05:00 – Todd’s opening take: AI, tools, and base knowledge
10:00 – Why copying feels safer than deciding
13:00 – Pricing without knowing numbers is dangerous
15:00 – Technician skill ≠ business skill
17:00 – Why copying avoids responsibility
20:00 – Facebook advice vs real problem solving
22:00 – Copying skips learning
25:00 – Dunning-Kruger effect in business
28:00 – Borrow principles, not templates
30:00 – Cooking analogy: recipes vs techniques
32:00 – Discounts don’t fix broken systems
35:00 – Copying creates a shallow culture
37:00 – You can only be second best when you copy
39:00 – What to ask instead of “what should I charge?”
42:00 – Build the business you want to work in
44:00 – Small changes > total overhauls
46:00 – Final thoughts: build your own path

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