I don't mind mentoring other nail techs. In fact, I love it. I love meeting other techs and I love meeting new techs who are enthusiastic not just about starting their new careers, but about starting them right. Eager to do it right and be great.

So when someone contacts me to talk shop, I'm down. I mean, as long as I have time to talk and remember to return phone calls ... really, e-mail is the best way to pick my brain.

You can ask me what products I use and why — or why not. You can ask me how I feel about gels vs. acrylics and where I get most of my glitter. I'll go on for hours about different people I've worked with and give my best recommendations for dealing with different personality types; whether it's working with them, working for them, or having them work for you.

What I don't love? Is being asked for the answers.

There just aren't any. It's not that simple. I can't tell you which product is "best," because "best" is subjective. It's not a math test; you can't simply copy my answers.

Eventually there's got to be a point where you expect your mentors to tell it like it is, right? How long does one expect to be doing nails without building a clientele, without earning a living, without knowing the difference between traditional gel and gel polish, before the people you turn to for advice just flat out tell you that you don't have what it takes?

My inspiration for today's post leaves me under the impression that, after several years of giving advice and direction as best I can via e-mail and through third party communication, someone needs to point out to this tech that her heart isn't in it. She just doesn't seem to be taking any initiative on her own part to advance her skills or even her knowledge base. It's been six or seven years that I've known this tech through mutual contacts and she still doesn't know the names of the major product manufacturers.

At this point, I have thrown up my hands. I'm no longer willing to believe the claims that she "really wants" to improve her skills and "be good at nails." She just wants someone to give her the answers.