An Aggravating Assumption

So the girl who owns the hair studio across the hall from me has finally found a couple of stylists who both want to work part-time and share the second station. That's great, because I know the owner wants to rent the other station and has been wanting to find someone to work with her.

I met the first stylist a few weeks ago. Today, Stylist #1 brought in Stylist #2 to meet me.

What made me furrow my brow was that Stylist #1 told me that Stylist #2 apparently "also does nails." Which, in and of itself, doesn't bother me. But while Stylist #1 was introducing us she mentioned that she had heard that I had been planning on expanding into the neighboring suite and thought that maybe Stylist #2 would be able to also rent part-time from me for doing nails.

(insert sound of screeching tires and brakes locking up here)

Seriously? You think that just because I might add another 200 feet to my space I will be

a) looking for another nail tech?

b) willing to rent a station to the first warm body that wants it?

c) willing to rent a station to the first warm body that wants it?; and

d) willing to rent a station to the first warm body that wants it?

Oh my — how far I have come from those days!

No. If I do expand, it will be primarily to allow me the extra space to build a really nice pedicure platform and have some storage space and a break area to hide in during my downtime.

If I decide to hire an assistant — that's what I'll do: Hire an assistant.

When I moved into this building I had originally planned on having two stations in the space and was hoping to rent the second station to another nail tech who shared my professional philosophy and work ethic — and believe me, I expected to scrutinize potential associates diligently as well as charge premium rent. I never intended to give a key to my salon to just anybody.

Once I got the place up and running, it took exactly three seconds to realize that adding a second station to this space was not going to result in the environment I wanted for my salon.

Since I've been contemplating an expansion — and have been keeping so busy — I have thought that maybe, eventually, I might decide to find an assistant I can train and mentor.

I am not interested in handing over a key to my empire to just anyone who walks in my door and says they do nails.

It's not that it's so outrageous that someone would think I'd be looking for another tech, but I am accustomed to being asked if that's the case before having my extra space offered out by someone I barely know.