That sounds like it was a great retreat, Jill. I know that our retreat really helped our salon recharge and regroup for this year. We got a head start on planning fun events for the salon and we got to participate in some great activities designed to help us work better together as a team. It is also very inspiring to hear how much you have been able to accomplish in the time you have been a nail tech. Only 18 years in the industry and to have done so much and helped to educate so many salons and technicians is a real testimonial to your dedication to the world of nails.

Jill has a very valid point about how we continue our education and stay current. I know that I often hear from technicians when I teach classes that people wish there were more available to take and yet there are always a few who signed up to take the class and then do not show up for it. I also hear complaints from techs that they just can’t do it. In this age of nearly instant access, we can find education everywhere. Jill mentions several ways to find education for any topic you could want to learn about, many of them little to no cost to you.

 It does take commitment on your part to actually practice the techniques you learn. Just watching or listening and never actually using it really doesn’t help you grow. If it is a nail skill, then I recommend that you set aside an hour at least once a week (this could be 20 minutes a day three times a week) to practice that skill. Practice on tips or on a friend that you trust to give you feedback. If it is a business skill make it a goal to use it every day at least once until you fully understand and make it your own. Once you make that commitment then you have really begun to learn.

It can be easy to let life get in the way, however, and get off track. Find ways to make it work for you and your salon. One way I continually keep the education flowing for my own growth is to pick one thing a month, whether it is a how-to video, a coaching podcast, an online class, a tutorial in a magazine, or a hands-on class to learn. I work on it for that month, then if I really understand the material I will move on to the next skill I want to learn or improve upon. For me as an educator, it is always very exciting to get to see my fellow educators at our trainings and learn something new from them, as well as from our fellow international educators. I am constantly inspired and motivated by the talent I get to see from them. It serves to keep me on the edge of the new techniques and trends coming in the nail industry.

Making the commitment to further your education is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your business.

— Sandy