Salon Success Secrets

Why Change Doesn't Work (And What Actually Transforms You)

• Lindsay Lowe & Jen Booth

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We draw a hard line between change and transformation, then walk through six practical steps salon owners can use to lead from the inside out. The staircase moves from awareness to celebration, supported by resolve and belief, and grounded in systems that turn habits into culture.

• change vs transformation in the salon context
• step 1 awareness turning on the inner light
• step 2 intention aiming at a clear target
• step 3 decision cutting off other options
• step 4 discipline practice over perfection
• step 5 recognition gratitude that multiplies momentum
• step 6 celebration cementing identity and progress
• resolve and belief as the foundation
• be–do–have roots trunk fruit model
• reflection prompts to locate your current step

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SPEAKER_00:

What if I told you that most people don't actually transform, they just change. And in the salon industry, we're surrounded by change every single day. You know, new trends, new stylists, new formulas, new seasons. But transformation that's different. Change is external. It happens to you. Transformation is internal. It happens in you. So change can either alter how things look, but transformation alters how you see. So change is temporary, but transformation is permanent. So today we want to walk you through the six steps to transformation, a framework that doesn't just help you grow as a salon owner, it helps you lead and transform your team. And before we dive in, let's start, let's start with this thought. You can't transform your team until you've been transformed yourself.

SPEAKER_01:

So good. Reminds me of a butterfly, Lindsay. You know, it starts as that caterpillar and transitions into a cocoon, and then the big, beautiful butterfly is released. And you know, that's truly a transformation because once that caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, it can no longer become a caterpillar again. So I love the idea of transformation. So let's start with the first step of transformation, which is actually awareness. And awareness is you notice what's happening inside of you. So it always starts there. It's like when you finally slow down long enough to notice what's happening, not around you, but actually inside of you. You know, think about this in the salon world, it's so easy to focus, you know, on the outside, you know, the numbers, the marketing, the new stylist who's struggling, the product order that didn't show up. So, like true awareness isn't about fixing everything out there. It's about asking, you know, what's actually happening in here, inside yourself. Because your outer world is always reflecting your inner world. Let me say that again because it's so good. Your outer world is always reflecting your inner world. And so if your team feels chaotic, maybe there's chaos inside of you. It's a huge opportunity to become aware of. And if you feel like no one's listening, maybe you've stopped listening to yourself. And so awareness is simply turning the light on. So think of it, walk into a dark room, you turn the light on, that creates that awareness. And you cannot change what you will not look at. You know, when you're aware, like when you're truly aware, you move from reaction to reflection. And that's the foundation of leadership, leadership transformation.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I love that. When you're aware, you move from reaction to reflection. Um, I think that's so good. And and it's and it puts us into that stage two of you know, the stages of transformation, which is intention, you know. So you have already created that awareness, you see what's happening, maybe what needs to transform in your life, but now you've set an intention. So once you're aware, the next step is intention. And the word intention comes from the Latin entender, meaning to stretch outward, or to, I'm sorry, to stretch toward. So I like to think of it like this. Imagine you're pulling back a bow and you're aiming an arrow at the target. That stretch that you feel, that tension is in tension. You know, you're pulling back on what you know now so that you can aim towards something better. In your salon, intention might sound like this. This quarter, I want to build more trust with my team. I want to raise our guest experience. I want to spend more time coaching instead of correcting. You know, intention gives your awareness a target. Because if awareness is seeing where you are, intention is aiming at where you're going. Without intention, awareness can lead to overwhelm. But with it, you're stretching toward your future.

SPEAKER_01:

So good. So I think of this like a staircase. We're aware of now, of something that we were not aware of before, the lights on. Now we're setting that attention, like Lindsay was saying. And the third step is actually where you make a decision. And this is where you're cutting away everything else. Um, the word decision actually comes from the um from the Latin sidere, which actually means to cut off. So listen, that's so powerful if you think about it, because when you decide, you're not choosing one path, you're cutting off every other one. You know, if you think about it, a choice keeps the door open. Like you can actually change a choice that you make, but a decision closes that door and locks it behind you. And so in business, in the salon business, a decision might look like this. Hey, we're no longer discounting services, or maybe, hey, we're committing to team meetings or team celebrations no matter what. Or, hey, we're shifting from chaos to clarity and we're doing it now. And listen, you guys, the moment you decide this, something shifts because nothing else can come in the get in the way. Because truly energy follows decision. And when you cut off all other options, like your brain and your team stop negotiating and they start executing. And that's the point where transformation starts to move from theory to reality.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, so good. So as we continue this journey up the staircase, you've done step one, which is awareness. Step two, which is drawing back and setting that intention, step three, which is you've made that decision, like Jen mentioned, which literally means to cut off all other options. And now you go into step four on the staircase, which is discipline, you know, and this is where you start following the system. Because once you decide, discipline keeps the decision alive. So the word discipline comes from the same root actually as disciple, and it means to be a learner. Let that sink in. You know, discipline isn't punishment, it's practice. Discipline is the bridge between decision and transformation. And in your salon, discipline looks like showing up to the system, even on the days that you don't feel like it. It's having the morning huddle, it's role-playing the consultation script, it's holding the coaching session when it would be easier to cancel. Discipline isn't about perfection, it's about pattern. It's doing the reps that turn your system into second nature. You know, so that's why inside of Million Dollar Beauty Pro, we talk about following the system long enough for the system to start leading you. Because the truth is systems create safety, and safety creates consistency, and consistency creates trust.

SPEAKER_01:

So good. All right, so let's move on to step five. So after we are disciplined, I love what you said, Lindsay, that disciple actually means to be a learner. I love that. Like a disciple for life, to be a learner for life. Um, once you've made that uh decision, now you're disciplined, then you want to recognize. And then this is where you want to acknowledge and reconnect. You know, recognition literally means to know again, to reno, to become acquainted once more. And this is where you pause to look back and see, hey, what's been happening? Not just what's still missing. You know, it's a lot owners, I think sometimes are quick to notice what's wrong, but slow to recognize what's right. You know, recognition means you say, hey, wow, six months ago our pre-book rate was 45%, now it's 70%. That's growth, that's recognition. Or, hey, you know, she handled that guest situation so much better this time than she did last time. Our recognition could be like, hey, I didn't react this time. Give myself a pat on the back. I actually responded. So when you think about it, recognition is actually rewiring your brain for gratitude. And gratitude, you guys, multiplies momentum. You know, it's how you keep your team energized instead of exhausted.

SPEAKER_00:

How you keep your team energized instead of exhausted. I love that. That really, you know, once you've gone through that recognizing that it's happening, you get to that last step on the staircase, which is celebrate, you know, and this is where you honor the progress, you know. So you're finally like, yay, we get to celebrate, we made it. And you know, celebrate comes from the Latin celebrere, meaning to honor. Whew, that feels good. So this isn't about throwing a party for every small win. It's about honoring what it took to get here. It's saying, we showed up, we practiced, we grew. Celebration cements transformation. It's the moment your nervous system says, this is who we are now. You know, and celebration isn't selfish, it's sacred. Because when you celebrate, you're agreeing with the progress you've made and inviting more of it. So, yes, celebrate your beauty pros, your service providers, celebrate your guests, celebrate yourself because when you celebrate growth, you multiply it. Yes, so good.

SPEAKER_01:

And you know, what's the foundation of all this too? Because what we do know is that it's easy to quit at any of these steps. Like you can be at an at intention and be like, throw my hands up, I'm done, or you can be at discipline, be like, I don't have time for that, I'm done. Right. And so this only works if this is built on one foundation, which is called resolve. And so actually, resolve comes from uh the root word meaning to loosen or to release again. And so resolve isn't about gritting your teeth and pushing harder, you know, it's about releasing doubt and recommitting to the vision. You know, it's that that inner voice that says, Hey, I don't quit when it gets hard. I remember why I started. You know, once upon a time we did um an ice bucket challenge with our teams. It's real fun. You could just get like a little bucket of ice and um it really fit into the theme we were theme we were doing, but like cold ice, and like you could do this yourself too, and set a mimic um a timer for like start with one minute and you can always go up to three minutes, but put your hand in that bucket of ice, and the second your hand hits that ice, like your instinct is gonna be to pull away, like, oh my gosh, my hand's gonna get frosted by, or I can remember some of the things that have been said before, or like, oh, this is not possible. I was not designed for this, but truly at the end of the day, the ones who last, the ones who all hold on to that, they actually build strength. And so resolve is the same thing in leadership. It's what separates those who talk about transformation from those who actually live it.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. And you know, truly, under all of that transformation is it's really rooted in belief. Belief that a favorable outcome is possible. Because here's the truth: you won't stay disciplined without belief, you won't recognize growth without belief, you won't celebrate what you secretly don't think will last. You know, belief is the soil transformation grows in. And when belief and resolve work together, transformation becomes inevitable.

SPEAKER_01:

So good. You know, one of our mentors teaches uh thinking of transformation like a tree. And I love this because he says the roots represent who you're becoming, that's your bee. So if you've ever heard of the analogy of bee, do you have? This is a beautiful way to think about this analogy and think of it like a tree. So the roots represent who you're becoming, that's your beingness, right? That's your bee. Your trunk, which is your shoots, represents your action. So that's your doing. And then the roots represent your results, that's what you're having. And so most people focus on the fruit, the having this. Like, how do I get more revenue? How do I get more clients? How do I get my team to buy in? But the fruit is just evidence of what's happening in the roots. If you want different results, you guys, you have to nurture different roots, and you get to become the kind of leader whose habits match the harvest they want to see. Because transformation doesn't start with what you do, it starts with who you are.

SPEAKER_00:

I love that. So here's a great reflection for today. Where are you in the six steps of transformation? Whatever it is that you're currently trying to transform, are you in awareness, you know, starting to notice what's happening inside? Are you in intention? You know, you're stretching towards something new. Are you at decision? Did you decide to cut off all the old ways? Maybe you're in discipline, you're learning and practicing the system, you're being a disciple, a learner. Or are you in recognition? You know, you're taking in the progress that you've made. Or are you ready to celebrate and honor the leader you've become? Because no matter where you are, remember this transformation is never a one-time event, it's a cycle. And every time you complete it, you come back stronger, wiser, and more aligned. Because true transformation isn't about changing what you do, it's about becoming who you were meant to be.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And in today's episode, Spark Something Inside of You. This is a great episode to share with your leadership team. Share it with another salon owner who wants to do amazing things. Um, you know, watch it together, re-re-listen to it together, talk about the six steps together and identify where each of you are and how you can support one another in the process.

SPEAKER_00:

And if you're ready to scale your transformation into systems that grow your people and your profits, join us inside Million Dollar Beauty Pro because that's where we teach the frameworks that help you build discipline, belief, and systems that multiply transformation. So please text the word pro to 469-283-5590. We'll send over more information because transformation isn't about information, it's about application. And when you apply these six steps, you don't just lead a salon, you truly lead a movement. Thanks for tuning in. We'll see you soon.