Money…

Seems to be a heated conversation.

Why?

I am not sure, but I am certain it makes many people very uncomfortable.

I was talking to one of my good friends yesterday (who is also an industry educator) and he brought to my attention that someone mentioned to him that I talk about money too much. He thought I should educate more on heartfelt treatment room skills.

Hmmm… I had to think about this one because I know he supports my success and his message was intended to help me grow my mentoring business.

I hung up the phone confused with what to do with the information, so I thought I would share with you some of my thoughts on how money shows up in my world.

I wear two different hats and have two different approaches to biz:

1. I am Lori the esthetician and spa owner. I have a deeply rooted passion for my clients, their well-being, their results, the energy I share with them when they are in my treatment room, and the time and energy I devote to expanding my knowledge and expertise so I can provide them with an experience full of value.

I go to the spa almost every week and I work really hard while I am there. Really hard work feels beautiful because I am blessed to have a job I love.

Money very rarely enters my mind while I am at the spa. Why? I am not sure… I just love everything about what I have created in my biz.

I have laughed with my clients when they tell me stories about how they took the wrong car home from the valet the night before. I have cried with my clients when they have lost a family pet. I have been angry at their husbands with them when they are in a fight. I have driven to their homes when they are so sick during chemo treatments that they couldn’t drive to the spa. I give in a heartfelt way to everyone who enters my treatment room.

I am blessed and grateful to be in a business where one gets to give from the heart so very often.

It doesn’t feel money driven… it feels very purpose driven. I am sure many of you relate to this part of whom I am.

Now here’s the part of me that not everyone likes, “gets”, or understands, but I can assure you (100%), that it is also heartfelt and purpose driven.

2. I am a business coach. My goal is to help those who are ready and willing to do the hard work to grow their biz.

I have devoted much time and energy to coaching programs to help me succeed and this is a very important part of what makes me feel fulfilled.

I also love sharing what I learn with others and this is why I started The Esthetician Mentor coaching biz.

And, as uncomfortable as it might be, growing your business and becoming more successful involves money talk. Period.

I have watched many of my fellow estheticians claim success and it’s a beautiful thing because it involves so much more than money… it involves watching another human gain confidence, shine with pride, and also start to live a purpose driven life doing something they love… and occasionally beam with excitement because they got to do something with the extra money they have started earning. That makes them feel really good.

So you see, not only does the passion exist in my esthetician and spa world, but…

I also have a deeply rooted passion for the success of my fellow beauty business practitioners.

I want us to be taken as serious businesswomen and men, and this does not mean that we can’t or shouldn’t be kind and pampering to our clients.

I want the average yearly income of $28,000 a year to increase. We are in a 20 billion dollar industry… we shouldn’t have to heavily discount or struggle to build something we are proud of.

I want estheticians to have the confidence to show up at work and be booked solid and excited to share their “look and feel good” gifts.

It took me a long time to be ok with my thoughts surrounding money, so I would like to share how I changed my perspective in hopes that it will help you if you’re one of the 99% of the human race who has money issues of your own.

Here’s the deal with money (just my opinion here)…

M – Mindset. You need to learn to appreciate money. It does not make you a bad person. Change your perspective and think of all the people you can help with money. Think about how incredible you would feel writing a check to your favorite charity. Think about how you can up-level the results you offer your clients if you have the means to invest more in education, amazing product lines and shiny new equipment.

O – Opportunity. Money creates a space so you can provide opportunities for others to enrich their lives.

Example: Money allows you to hire an assistant… let’s just say a college student. If you can support someone who is working hard to receive a college education then that is something you should be proud of.

N – Need. Bottom line is we need it to survive so why not create a nice relationship with it? Appreciate it. Teach it where to go. Let it help you create the life you desire.

E – Energy. I have heard the saying, “money is only an exchange of energy”. I love looking at it this way… seems to take some of the icky feelings away from it.

Y – You. This is your journey so you decide what money means to you. I do recommend creating a positive, welcoming energy around it and to use it to give back whenever you can.

Don’t use money to judge others… that is not going to benefit anyone in any way.

Wish others well, give when you can, do what you love and I bet abundance flows into your life.