Salon Success Secrets

Beyond Burnout: How to Build a Business That Doesn't Break You

• Lindsay Lowe & Jen Booth

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We explore why what salon owners often call "burnout" is actually disconnection from purpose—and how to reignite your passion with practical strategies that transform leadership challenges.

• Burnout definition: physical or emotional exhaustion resulting from long-term stress, like engines that overheated and shut down
• The distinction between true burnout and purposelessness is crucial for salon owners seeking solutions
• Common salon owner challenges: identity overload, decision fatigue, misaligned metrics, isolation, perfectionism
• The "driven vs. drifter" concept: you can work 50+ hours weekly but still be drifting without direction
• Five-step reset framework: clarify core why, delegate or delete, design rhythms not balance, recharge regularly, audit your drift
• Use "hook, story, offer" on yourself daily: what excites you, what memory reminds you why you do this, what you'll deliver today
• When team members say they're burnt out, get curious not defensive—it's usually code for "I don't feel supported" or "I'm not aligned"
• Don't offer temporary relief (like self-care); offer breakthroughs that help team members reconnect to purpose

Salon owners, you don't need to quit or escape. You just need to reconnect to your people, your vision, and most importantly, your purpose. Share this with another salon owner who might be feeling the same or who could use these tools with their team. You're not alone and burnout doesn't get the final say.


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Speaker 1:

You know, today we're diving into something we hear salon owners say all the time, and it's these words I think I'm just burnt out. But what if? What if what you're calling burnt out burnout actually isn't you know? What if it's something deeper, deeper. So today we're going to kick it off by first defining what burnout actually is.

Speaker 2:

Yes, because burnout is a physical or emotional exhaustion, especially as a result of long-term stress or dissipation. So let's break that down even more, because the word burnout comes from burn and out, and originally it was used in the 1940s to describe engines that overheated and shut down. So later in the 1970s, a psychologist named Herbert Freudenberger say that about 10 times fast began using it to describe people, so especially volunteers or, you know, helping professionals, who felt emotionally depleted, detached and drained. So so think about that Just like a machine burns out when energy is misused or overworked, people burn out when their purpose gets misaligned or when the pressure never stops and there's no relief in sight.

Speaker 1:

So good. So that brings me to like a recent coaching conversation that we had with a salon owner, and she started the call by saying you know what, I'm just burnt out, like. She kept saying it over and I'm just burnt out, you know. And I remember pausing, and I asked her, I said well, tell me what burnout feels for you, what it feels like for you. Um, and she said you know what, jen, I'm tired all the time. I feel numb, you know, keep going through all the motions, but I don't feel excited. Excited, you know, like I used to. You know, and as I, as we talked about this, I realized that this wasn't burnout in the classic sense, you know, it wasn't exhaustion from too many hours or lack of sleep, it was disconnection. She had lost touch with the very thing that made her want to lead in the very first place, which was actually developing people.

Speaker 2:

Hmm, yeah and truly you know what happened was she got stuck in the very first place which was actually developing people. Yeah and truly you know what happened was she got stuck in the weeds of, like payroll reports and and really broken processes, you know, and she forgot what her true passion was, which was coaching her team and helping them grow, you know. So, I think you know what was really cool is, once you cleared the word burnout and got really crystal clear about what she was actually feeling, everything changed. You know, she didn't need a nap, she needed a realignment with her purpose. You know, and that's the first key we want to offer you today is that burnout isn't always about energy. It's about clarity or lack of it, you know. So let's talk about a few reasons. Salon owners feel burnt out, or at least think they do.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So this one, I think, really resonates with a lot of people. It's the identity overload. So when you think about this, like you're wearing so or so many hats, like all the hats, you're the stylist, you're the owner, you're the trainer, you're the social social media manager, you're the accountant, you're the therapist, you're the leader. I'm sure we could keep going on and on and on. Right Cause, that level of role switching. Did you hear that role switching is mentally exhausting.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I agree, you know. I think the second one that I can think of is the chronic decision fatigue. You know, because every day you're answering, you know what time should we post? Should we reorder that product line? Who's covering the front desk? It never ends and your brain never rests.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you know that's like going home and like, don't ask me to make any more decisions, I don't want to know what we want to eat today. So that would be like chronic decision. You might be in chronic decision fatigue if you, if you carry that on at home. So, um, another reason salon owners feel burnt out is the misaligned metrics. So you think about this in this moment like you're chasing goals that don't actually matter to you. You know, maybe you're trying to keep up with other salons online instead of focusing on what success looks like for you.

Speaker 2:

Oh, I love that one, jen, you know, I think another one that creeps up is isolation. You know, and this is, you know, truly being the boss can feel lonely, you know, because you, you can't always talk to your team. You know about a lot of things and sometimes it feels like no one really understands the pressure that you carry.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so good. I've heard that a lot. You know being the boss can feel lonely, and so when we move on to the next one, something that comes to mind for me is perfectionism. You know you're trying to make every team meeting expiring. You know your every service flawless and every marketing post polished and honestly, sometimes, at the end of the day, it's just not realistic. So here's the truth that mental and emotional load isn't sustainable and if you don't manage it with intention, it'll rob you of the joy you once had.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you know. Uh, this actually reminds me of a powerful concept from Napoleon Hill, where he talks about the difference between being driven and being a drifter. And you know, a driven person knows where they're going, they're intentional, focused and they're operating with purpose, you know. But a drifter lets life happen to them. You know they're busy, they're reactive, they're not really sure of their direction and the scary part is is you can drift and still be working 50 hours a week. You know you can be exhausted and still not be moving in the right direction, you know. So if you're feeling like you're burning out, ask yourself this am I drifting or driving?

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So now that we covered that, let's kind of dive into how to move forward, like how to reignite your purpose If you feel like the flame has gone out and, Lindsay, I can't remember. Do you remember where the word purpose came from, where it originated? The word itself?

Speaker 2:

I think it's a Latin word, you know that came from. The intention or aim or goal was like where the root it was prosper to put forth.

Speaker 1:

So yeah, thank you, I knew, I knew you would have the answer yeah To put forth. So you're like what? What even is purpose? It's like you know it's having intention, it's it's knowing your goal, what you're aiming for, and so like to move forward. Like a lot of times you've got to reignite your purpose, and so here is like a five-step reset framework that works for for us and for salon owners that we coach.

Speaker 1:

And the very first important one is you want to clarify your core. Why. So, like, go back to the beginning, like have some time with yourself. Why did you open your salon, you know? Why did you want to lead? You know, write it down and keep it visible, because when the why is clear, the how gets easier. And I saw this with my grandmother. I feel like towards the end, you know she had lost her why, and I could see that in her she was just ready to be done with it Right, and I could just imagine, like if I would have been able to have the tools and the conversations like hey, let's get grounded back to why you even started this, it probably would have kept her going just a little bit longer. And so I think it's really important to um to know like let's get this why clear, and when we do that, the how gets easier.

Speaker 2:

I love that so much. You know, I've got I keep my why right here, uh, near me, in in my view so that I can remember, and so I love that. You said that, jen. You know, I think another part of this five-step reset framework is step two, which is delegate or delete. You know, because there the truth is, there are things you're doing that someone else on your team could thrive doing, you know, and there are other things that just don't even need to be done at all. So really, you know, we invite you to use the mindset of who, not how. You know. So stop asking how can I do this and start asking who can do this better than me. Man, that is such a powerful book If you haven't read it yet, go grab a copy. Who, not how. It will really shift the way that you see things in doing your business today.

Speaker 1:

It does. I remember Lindsay too, like his new book the Science of Scaling, because you know, we had the opportunity to meet Dr Ben Hardy and he says it's now a super who. It's not just any who, but that super who. Like, if you can really find that super who who can do this better than you, man, that is so freeing. So I love that. Another opportunity is to design rhythm, not balance. So balance is a myth. Like, instead, create rhythms that, like, work for your energy. They work for your priorities. You know, maybe your Mondays are for creativity. Like, maybe your Fridays are for numbers. You know, put your people focus, work where you feel most alive.

Speaker 2:

I love that. Put your people focused, work where you feel most alive. Jen, that's brilliant, you know. Step four, then, is to recharge regularly. You know you need daily rituals to fill your cup, you know, even if it's just five minutes of silence or stretching before the salon opens, you know. And you need bigger breaks too, like quarterly retreats or a day off. You know, and you need bigger breaks to like quarterly retreats or a day off. You know, maybe if it's you're behind the chair, from behind the chair just to vision cast, you know, if we're not prioritizing that portion because self-care is, you know, like Jen mentioned earlier, with the decision fatigue being able to still decide like, hey, what's a? A wonderful nutritious meal that I can make at the end of the day, instead of being like, oh, I'm so exhausted I just don't even know so. So really recharging regularly is going to be the key here.

Speaker 1:

Love that. And another opportunity is to audit your drift. So what we mean by that is like each week, you know, just checking in with yourself. You know ask yourself, hey, am I being driven by my goals or drifting through my to-do list? You know that one question you guys can bring such massive clarity and actually clarity comes from the root word clear so it can bring so much clearness to you. So imagine you don't have that fucking brain anymore. Everything becomes clear. And so that one question can really clear the mind.

Speaker 2:

I love that you know. And and one last thing that we want to leave you with. This comes from Russell Brunson, a good friend and mentor of ours. You know who's a marketing guru, but I think it applies here so well. You know we often use like hook story offer and marketing right.

Speaker 2:

But what if you used it on yourself? You know? So imagine at the the, the start of the day, like your hook could be what excites you today, what's pulling you forward? So get crystal clear on that. And then the story part is what moment or memory reminds you of why you do what you do? You know, maybe you just got a five-star review that you want to celebrate. Maybe you know somebody on your team just got to buy a new vehicle, or whatever that might be. What's that story or moment that reminds you of why you do what you do? And then that offer portion is like what do you want to deliver to your team or your guests today? You know what's your promise. Because when you become crystal clear on that hook story offer and you do that daily, you stop drifting and you start showing up on purpose what did you say?

Speaker 1:

You stop drifting and you start showing up on purpose. Now, that's a writer downer, I love that one. So you're like, okay, this is cool, jen and Lindsay, but like I don't feel like I'm burned out, but I hear it from my team. So let's move this, focus on and talk about your team. So what do you do when a team member says you know what?

Speaker 1:

I think I'm burnt out and the first thing you can do is, honestly, just don't dismiss it. You know, even don't start giving them strategies right away. Like, even if you suspect it's not actual burnout, like take it seriously. Like saying you know, like maybe I'm burnout is usually code that you know as a salon owner. When they're saying that, it's usually code for like hey, I don't feel supported, I don't feel valued or I'm not aligned. So here's how we recommend handling this. The first thing you want to do is really get curious, not defensive. Let me say that again get curious and not defensive. And this is where you'll begin to ask open-ended questions like hey, tell me more about how you're feeling. Or hey, what's been weighing you down lately? Or you know, just remember, like your goal isn't to fix, it's to understand, and like that's let me say that again Cause it's so good your goal isn't to fix, it's to understand.

Speaker 2:

I love that you know. And then I think, um, once you've gotten curious and not defensive, then you can step in and clarify that language. You know, clarify their language. So, just like with the salon owner that Jen mentioned coaching, you know, clarify their language. So, just like with the salon owner that Jen mentioned coaching, you know, try to help your team member define what they mean by burnout, because is it emotional, physical, creative, or is it actually a need for more structure? Or, you know, maybe more growth or more connection? You know really getting crystal clear on what it is. You know where this term burnout is coming from.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. And then you know, also get them reconnected to their purpose. You know, and ask questions such as hey, what part of your work feels most meaningful to you right now? You know, and sometimes, that they struggle to answer. You know it could be a red flag and a clue that they may be disconnected from their why. But that's the greatest opportunity you can give them is help them get reconnected to that purpose.

Speaker 2:

You know and Jen, I think you mentioned this earlier when we were talking about you know, recording this like purpose can be a confusing thing when you ask people what is your purpose. So we probably wouldn't recommend saying what is your purpose but isn't that a great question that Jen just asked? Because then sometimes people get wild ideas like, oh well, I think my purpose is to go, you know, save the honeybees in Africa, and hey, if that's truly what you want to do, that's amazing. You know, but they got into this field for a reason. So it's important to ask them what part of your work feels most meaningful to you right now, because that's their purpose in this work. You know, they, they chose this for a reason.

Speaker 2:

So don't say what's your purpose. Ask them what part of your work feels meaningful to you right now. So, and then the next part is then to really look at what's on their plate. You know, because burnout can also come from role confusion, you know, and and sometimes you know, I've noticed over the years like the most stable thing in people's lives is actually usually what they blame first.

Speaker 2:

And so you know, if you're listening to this or if you know you, you're a lot of our our clients that we work with, a lot of our salon owners that we work with. We know listen to the podcast. A lot of people who aren't yet with salon business school that are, you know, checking things out, have wonderful teams as well. But when they have that role confusion, a lot of times they'll say like, hey, this is the most stable environment. I'm going to try to create chaos here, you know, but really what they're trying to tell you is hey, there's like role confusion, what's on their plate? Really, there could be a lack of clear systems or unclear expectations, but you know you, all you can do is control this environment. So make sure your expectations are realistic and also well communicated.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so good. And then the other thing is, guys, don't offer, offer a bubble bath like offer a breakthrough. Actually, we used to have someone that used to work here no longer does and that's what her recommendation. She would coach some and she would just say, offer them self-care, self-care. I was like, oh gosh, I don't know if that's going to work. You know it's not working.

Speaker 1:

So, yeah, because what was happening is she was never just giving them the place for transformation, right, and so they were living in that safe space. Yeah, they might've went and done some self-care for an hour and felt a little bit better, but then their reality came back to them. And so, yes, rest is important, but true rejuvenation comes from progress. You know, help them see a future vision that excites them, and sometimes the most energizing thing is like feeling seen, feeling heard and giving a path forward. So, you know, if you're feeling burnt out today, you know, you know, maybe, or if they're feeling burnt out, you can pause and ask them. You know, hey, what's the most important thing we can accomplish today together? And just, you know, understanding where they're coming from and listening to them really creates an amazing environment.

Speaker 2:

I love that. Yes, salon owners, this one is for you. You don't need to quit, you don't need to escape. You just need to reconnect to your people, your vision and, most importantly, your purpose. And if this resonated with you, share it with another salon owner who might be feeling the same or who could use those amazing tools with their team as well, because you're not alone and burnout doesn't get the final say. We look forward to seeing you next time.