My year of blogging is coming to an end for NAILS Magazine; however, I feel my story is just beginning. I didn't realize how good I had it in Florida, in a large salon with diverse clientele in a high-traffic area in an established community. Coming to North Carolina — where communities are smaller, businesses are mostly less than five years old, and the population is much more conservative — threw me in a bit of culture shock at first. But after settling in and getting all systems in place, my business has begun to flourish.

The greatest lesson I learned with Heather is: it doesn't matter where you are or how long you’ve been in the business, it all comes down to the numbers. Most importantly, when working with a successful system, you cannot pick and choose what parts you want to do and what you are not comfortable doing. Inspiring Champions’ system is designed to function like a well-oiled machine, and if you are missing a part, it doesn't run! When I started in this business, a colleague told me it takes two years to build a clientele no matter how good you may be, and the same goes for starting over in a new area. There are good weeks and slow weeks, but I believe each place I have worked has been for a bigger purpose. Whether others learned from me or I learned how I did or did not want to run my business, I wouldn’t change those experiences in any way. 

As I continue to grow as a nail professional, I look to learn everything I can, care for all of my clients with integrity, and expand my circle of influence. I am very grateful to Heather and the editors at NAILS who have blessed me with the opportunity to share this journey with so many others.

—Adrienne, nail tech