VBP International, a business coaching venture spearheaded by celeb nail tech Naja Rickette and Valentino Beauty Pure president David Anthony, teamed up with three industry all-stars to offer a day-long technique and business building workshop earlier this week. “All of us have our own individual thing, but we are able to come together to offer education,” says Rickette.

The Dream Team class was held at Advance Beauty College in Garden Grove, Calif., and hosted more than 60 nail techs from all over Southern California, Houston, Chicago, and even British Columbia, Canada. Here are the biggest takeaways we learned while on location at the hands-on class:

1. Trends come and go but customer service and referrals are what make you a profitable business person.

Rickette and Anthony are successful at marketing themselves and empowering others. During their business-focused lecture, the VBP founders revealed they are dedicated to ending the “starving artist” stigma. You can’t do nails and make a profit if no one sits on your chair.

2. You can create trendy designs with minimal tools.

While demonstrating the best way to execute cheetah print nail art, celeb nail tech Kandi Banks (@kandiyamz) said she mastered her bold and colorful signature style using nail polish brushes and striping polishes. Work with what you have and make it work for you.

3. Intricate nail art can be achieved when you break down the design into shapes.

Everyone knows nail tech Robert Nguyen (@nailguytv) can easily paint a masterpiece on a nail. During his portrait-paint-along lecture, he recommended nail techs to see objects or subjects as standard shapes like squares, circles, triangles, etc. Start the base design with the basic shapes and add highlights and lowlights afterward for detail that makes the art come to life.

4. You have the power to develop a brand-new technique if you just experiment.

From creating a weapon-like nail enhancement for Jada Pinkett Smith to sculpting a Russian Cathedral-inspired set for the May 2015 cover of NAILS, celeb nail tech Lexi Martone (@leximartone) stands out from the rest for her innovative sculpting techniques. While showing those in attendance how to execute her signature sculpted ornament nail, she encouraged the crowd to get crafty, find your own muse, and develop your own application process.

For more information on the Dream Team class, click here.