While traveling in Auckland, I had the pleasure of meeting a unique individual by the name of Maxim Titter. She has a beautiful view of the industry and her hopes for it align with my own.

One of the topics we lingered on in our discussion was the negativity that seems to flow so freely throughout our industry on social media. People feel free to attack companies, educators, salons, and each other. So many in the industry sit back baffled as to why we are not taken seriously, why we are not respected by potential salon guests. Part of the answer to this is staring at us from the mobile device we favor. How many nail professionals find themselves shying away from social medial for fear of being attacked, or simply to escape the negative energy it seems to be contaminated with?

What can we possibly do about it? For one, you can refuse to feed the drama. If someone decides to post a rant that includes attacks of others, there is no need for anyone to comment with further attacks, atta boy/girl accolades, or recriminations. If these type of posts received no commentary, they would dry up and force the poster to review the decision to air something best left to private messaging or an in-person chat with trusted friends.

When did disagreeing with someone else’s point of view, style of work, or choices as a business person entitle anyone else to spew her own opposing opinion wrapped in “being the right way” while condemning the other person? Is it really that difficult for us to find positive ways to interact? While we may all do nails, our lives are not necessarily similar. That old saying of “until you walk a mile in another’s shoes” still rings true. Therefore, unless you are walking in someone else’s shoes, you should not be posting criticism or commentary on what or how they do things.

Can we change the atmosphere on social media into a positive place where nail professionals support each other? Of course we can. The trick is to mind YOURSELF — not to let other people know what they need to change. Instead, the clichéd “man in the mirror” mentality would be ideal. If each of us, as individuals, simply choose uplifting and empowering the industry as our goal, we just may find that eventually it will uplift the industry as a whole.

I hope I have done our conversation justice, and dream that we can all work together as a cohesive whole to empower each other.