"You Just Might Make It"

This last month has been a game changer for my career. It has made my drive and ambition even stronger than what is was before. At the first of the month, I was on the road for 9 days straight. I started in LA for 4 days for training with Pureology. While I was there I stayed with my dear friend Andi. I always enjoy the insight and advice she has for me. This training was very different than any other training we have had in the 3 years I have been with the company. Most trainings work on our technical skills by teaching us new haircut and styling techniques, but this training was all about our facilitation skills. It wasn't what I was expecting at all but it was something I definitely needed. I have never had trouble getting up in front of people. I have always enjoyed speaking in front of people and sharing my knowledge. What I have struggled with though is feeling like I'm good enough or deserving enough to share what I know. I know in the back of my mind I have more education and training than 80% of hairstylists. I know that I have a passion for my craft. I know that I am good at what I do. What holds me back is that I don't feel like I have enough success to back it up. I don't feel like I am where I should be after almost 9 years of doing hair. I know a lot of that is my fault for bouncing around salons. I know sometimes I get wrapped up in myself instead of my client. I know I have made mistakes. I know from this point forward I want to forgive myself for those mistakes and keep my eye on the goal. That goal is to be a Platform Artist for Pureology. To inspire and motivate other stylists to grow their career.

The next 4 days of my trip I spent in Omaha, NE. Originally, I was suppose to work wardrobe for the models but after I arrived they informed me that they had brought someone in from the corporate office to do it and that I would now be doing hair. I instantly feel excited but nervous at the same time because our Lead Artist for the weekend is The Artistic Director for Pureology. I've never worked a show with her so I had no idea what that was going to be like or what her expectations would be. The first night after we picked out our models for the weekend, Wendy (Artistic Director) told me she was going to bring me on stage. I kinda laughed to myself because I assumed she meant to hand her bobby pins and hairspray. The next day we prepped our models and had rehearsal and she said "And this is when I'll bring Shea and Beavs (yes she called me by a nickname all weekend) on stage with me." My stomached dropped and I said to her, "You know I'm just a level 1 Artist, right?" Which means I'm not suppose to go on stage yet. And she says to me, "Can you do it?" I freak... "YES I CAN!" We didn't get to practice the look we showed on stage til 11:30 that night, didn't go to bed til 1 then got up at 3:30 to start prepping models at 5 and get on stage at 8:30. Great, my first time on stage ever and I've had 2 1/2 hrs of sleep. I still got on stage and did the look flawlessly. (Although I thought my knees would surely break from knocking together) I still can't believe how perfect the weekend went. I went on stage 4 different times, each time better than the last. I received lots of compliments on my skills from Wendy and really bonded with the Artists. It was exactly what I needed.

Something that kinda stuck out to me during those 9 days is how many times I was asked if I intended on getting married or having a family. It is a known fact about the job of a Platform Artist that being one and having a relationship and a family is a very difficult balance. In fact, after being asked if I wanted those things by my roommate in Omaha and me replying no, she said, "Well you just might make it."

Not a "might", I will. Because I want it so bad. More than anything else.