Salon Success Secrets

Why You’re Working Harder Than Ever… and Still Stuck

• Lindsay Lowe & Jen Booth

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We explore Dr. Ben Hardy's "Science of Scaling" framework to help salon owners shift from incremental to exponential growth through a powerful three-part system: Frame, Floor, and Focus.

• Frame: Set an audacious goal that forces you to completely rethink how you operate
• Floor: Raise your minimum standards by determining what you will no longer tolerate
• Focus: Identify the vital few priorities that actually move the needle toward your goal
• Small growth doesn't demand creativity, but exponential growth does
• Scaling isn't about doing more—it's about doing the right things on purpose
• You scale by cutting what no longer belongs
• Growth doesn't feel safe, but always opens doors to something better
• The more you scale, the less you can afford to be scattered
• Salon owners who scale aren't just lucky—they're clear, focused, and lead differently

Text "SCALING" to 469-283-5590 to receive your free copy of "The Science of Scaling" before it hits shelves.


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Speaker 1:

Welcome back to another episode of the Salon Success Secrets Podcast. Today, we're diving deep into something that's going to completely shift the way you think about growth. So grab a pen, a fresh cup of coffee or even your favorite salon drink, because this one's packed with strategy and perspective shifts.

Speaker 2:

Oh so good. You might notice. Hey, we are in a little bit of a different environment. Jen and I are together in Mexico and we have a question for you. Have you ever felt like you're working harder than ever but your growth feels stuck, like it's like you're running on a treadmill that's permanently set at 10 and you're not even sure if you're getting anywhere? Well, we've felt that way too. But here's the thing what if the real problem isn't that you're not working hard enough, it's that you're not thinking big enough, you know. So today we're going to dive into something every salon owner needs to hear. It's the difference between incremental growth and exponential growth. Because, let's be honest, most of us were taught to grow by 10% a year, maybe 20% if we're really focused, you know. But what if you could grow 10 times in three years? You know, that's not a fantasy. It's the core message of Dr Ben Hardy's new book, the science of scaling.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and so, uh, we had the opportunity to spend some time with Dr Ben Hardy recently um, the other day, actually yesterday in a class and with some of the most brilliant minds were in that room. And you know, if you're familiar with Dr Ben Hardy, he's also written the book 10 X is easier than two X. This new one takes things even further. It's called the science of scaling. So it's grow your business bigger and faster than you think possible. And you know, as Lindsay and I were sitting in there, our minds were spinning in the best way.

Speaker 1:

You know, what we realize is like this isn't just a hype book and, ps, this book isn't available for you yet, but we got a copy of it, so we're so glad to even share it with you. But so it's not just a hype book. We know we read it. It's actually a framework and we got a copy of it, so we're so glad to even share it with you. But so it's not just a hype book. We know we read it, it's actually a framework, and we got to listen to him teach it yesterday. It's a system, something we could immediately see applying to salons just like yours. And here's the simple, powerful structure that Ben teaches in this book. It's frame, floor and focus.

Speaker 2:

It is so good you guys frame floor focus. You know that step one, which is frame, this is all about setting an audacious, seemingly impossible goal. So not a slightly bigger number, something so bold. It forces you to completely rethink how you operate, you know, because small growth doesn't demand creativity, but exponent exponential growth does, you know. It makes you rethink your schedule, your team, your leadership, your sales process, literally everything. Okay.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and the next is the floor. So we have the frame, we're moving on to the floor, and this is about raising your minimum standards. What will you no longer tolerate? That one had to sit deep with me, so let me say that one again for you too. What will you no longer tolerate? What processes, habits or even people are slowing you down, like you don't scale by trying to do everything and pleasing everyone. You scale by cutting what no longer belongs.

Speaker 2:

I love that. You scale by cutting what no longer belongs. That's brilliant, jen. You know that step three after you've done the frame and the floor, is now focus. So, finally, this is where you narrow in on the vital view. It's that handful of priorities that actually move the needle, because the more you scale, the less you can afford to be scattered. The more you scale, the less you can afford to be scattered. You know, focus becomes your superpower. You know and it reminds us of something we've shared on this podcast before, like when Sonic had that guarantee, you know, if we didn't offer you an upgrade, your next treat is on us. You know, they've built a system that holds the team accountable to an elevated experience. You know, and that's exactly what this book does. It helps you create this in your salon, you know. So it's systems that drive excellence automatically. You know, systems that create scale without burnout.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So if you think about that, let's be real. Like, as salon owners, we know the feeling of survival mode, right? You know worrying about, like how are we going to cover rent this month, or how am I going to keep my team engaged, or like how not to fall apart under the pressure of doing 17 things in one single day fall apart under the pressure of doing 17 things in one single day. And this book, it offered a bit of a shift. It's like from surviving to scaling, from being everything to everyone to being that lasered, focused on what actually grows the business, because when you start thinking in terms of scale, your decisions change, you stop and this is big, you stop tolerating average Like, you truly start building systems that support a bigger vision, one that doesn't require you to be in every chair, every conversation or every problem.

Speaker 2:

Just sounds amazing, you know. So when we decided to 10 X our own business, you know we didn't start with a map. We started with a belief. You know, we knew we were playing smaller than we wanted to. And, yes, you know it was scary to make big investments in coaching and team training, marketing systems. But, as Dr Hardy says, if you're not uncomfortable, you're not scaling. And that is so true because growth doesn't feel safe, but it always opens the door to something better than where you've been, you know. So if you're a salon owner and you're listening to this and wondering what does this look like for me, here's how we start applying it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So let's kick it off with the frame. So when you think about the frame, it's like what's the audacious goal, the big goal that you're aiming for? Like is it more locations? Is it a million dollars in annual revenue? Is it being booked out with a wait list across the board? Like at this stage during the frame process, we're going to want to write it down and like this should be a goal that kind of scares you. It's like oh gosh, I'm getting a little nervous thinking about it. But that word audacious goal that you're aiming for, like it's time to quit playing small. Like oh, I just want to grow by 10%, you know? Like hey, no, I want to be $5 million in revenue in three years. So we really got to put a frame around what it is that we want to create and what we're aiming for.

Speaker 2:

I love that. You know that audacious. It's like building that, that frame, that picture, you know. So then, once you have what that frame is like Jen just went over the next step is to really go to that floor. You know so, this is the new floor that you are creating inside of your business, and you know so the the first thing that you want to get clear on here is what will you no longer accept? You know, is it inconsistent service? Is it incomplete consultations? You know, maybe it's under trained or untrained service providers or beauty pros, you know so, decide right away what no longer aligns.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you know, and it got me thinking like, um, with our teams, we do color analysis with our teams, like the floor would be if you have somebody on your team that's like not me, I'm not doing a color analysis Like that person needs to go, because that is truly is keeping you from scaling. That's the floor. It's like living low on the floor. Below the floor it's going to keep you from raising or elevating to the next level. And so, once we have our frame, we have our floor, then we have our focus.

Speaker 1:

So it's like, what are the one to three things that you could do this month that would create the big shift? So like, if it's recruitment, maybe it's education, maybe it's automation, maybe it's a sales strategy, like not the busy work, but the one thing that help you could get you closer to this big, audacious goal that you want to set. And we didn't say goals, we said goal. So we just want to make sure that we didn't say goals. We said goal, so we just want to make sure that it's just a tool. This is a tool that we're setting, so it's just the one thing that you want to focus on.

Speaker 2:

I love that. You said it's just a tool. You know, cause like it's a tool to get you in the direction where you want to go. You know, and if a voice in your head just said, yeah, but I don't even know where to start, you know that's exactly why this book is so powerful, because it doesn't just motivate, it guides. You know, it turns your chaos into clarity, your ambition into actual structure. You know, because scaling isn't about doing more, it's about doing the right things on purpose. So here is the exciting part you know, because we believe so strongly in the message of this book and how it can change the way that you lead, that we are going to give away copies for free. You guys, these are early. We're giving away these for free.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, because, just like Lindsay was saying, this book is not even available to purchase yet. I think it even says on the book on sale date July 29th 2025. But we've got copies directly from the publisher and we want to get them in your hands so that you can become ready to scale. So here's how to get it Just text the word scaling to let me spell that out, just in case my Southern came out in that S-C-A-L-I-N-G to 469-283-5590. That's it no gimmicks, no strings. We'll send you a free copy before it even hits the shelves.

Speaker 2:

Mm. So good, you guys text scaling right away. You know, because here's what we know Salon owners who scale aren't just lucky. They're clear, they're focused and they're willing to lead differently. You know, the science of scaling will challenge you, stretch you and give you a plan for growing in ways that are sustainable and exciting. So if you're ready to stop running in circles and start building something that scales, this is your next step.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's it for today, you guys, but we'll be back next week with more strategies, stories to help you grow your salon and your leadership. One of my favorite parts was the story he tells about the attorney who was doing. What was it? $2.5 million and in less than 16 months he's already at 15 million.

Speaker 1:

Yep 15 million, can you imagine that? And you're like, oh cool, jen Lindsay, I'm not even at 2.5 million, but like, this will work, no matter what size your business is. So, um, get your hands on this book. So text the word scaling C, s excuse me, s C A L I-L-I-N-G to 469-283-5590 and claim your free early copy of the science of scaling.

Speaker 2:

Awesome. You're going to love where this takes you. We can't wait to see you soon.