Instead of giving you my resolutions for the new year, the song from “The Sound of Music” brings to mind an idea to talk about what’s great about the nail industry instead of what needs improvement. And since it’s all my opinion, here are a few of my personal favorite things about this industry.

I can file and polish my nails at work. How many other professions (besides yours) let you do that?

I haven’t bought a bottle of nail polish in more than 10 years. Nail polish manufacturers provide samples of their products to editors when they send press kits. We get to try all the new polishes, neat files, hand lotions, cuticle treatment ... you name it.

Hair care products at salon discount. Maybe I shouldn’t reveal this, but since I go to the big beauty shows, I buy my personal beauty products at the show, for the professional discount. A hundred dollars buys me enough supplies to last a year!

I’ve seen parts of the world for the first time as a representative of NAILS Magazine. I’ve had a chance to travel throughout the United States, as well as the far ends of the earth, and in that travel, I always get to visit salons, meet nail techs, and try out local trends. Besides enriching my own experience for the magazine, it’s allowed me to fill up personal scrapbooks with memories I could have only made in the nail biz.

Talking shop with nail technicians. I’ve always liked getting my nails done, well before I managed this magazine, but I like it even more now since I understand exactly what’s going on. I know the products, I know the techniques, and, uh, I know when something isn’t being done right.

I love my magazine team. I work with a great bunch of people, all talented and thoughtful individuals. They are hard working, creative, and completely unafraid of telling me when my ideas stink (which they do either by booing or actually holding their noses).

YOU! I love nail techs. I like to say that the “average” nail tech is very much like me: somewhere between 30 and 45, female, usually a mom, often a single mom (like me), and we all struggle with similar issues, both on the job and off: how to get our work done, manage a home, keep our kids and mates happy and find time in it all to get our own nails done!

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