Monday, September 23, 2013

Changes


  



Changes happen in every business, people leave, it's strictly business, not personal.  In my industry, it happens very often.  For a person who isn't a fan of changes, this is hard.  For a person who doesn't enjoy conflict, this is difficult.  For a sensitive person, it's painful.  Some are harder than others.  But with time anything get's easier.  

What I do know is the past is behind you, learn from it.  The future is ahead, prepare for it.  The present is here, live it.  Bijou, just like always will focus on the guests that we serve and the team that we have.  We are, and have always been committed to the team and family of Bijou.

 The little bump in the road that happened last week....Courtney is no longer working at Bijou.  This has not been easy for anyone, but everything happens for a reason.  It will all be fine for everyone, in no time!

 Below is the letter we sent out.    


Hello,

As some of you may already have been informed, Courtney started her own business and announced  on September 13 to all the Bijou girls during our monthly meeting, that she had signed a lease in Auburn and was resigning. Past the surprise, we ultimately supported her decision and she offered, if we needed to, to help till her shop was actually opened some time in November. However after a week, her heart and mind being understandably no longer with the Bijou family, we decided that it was best for our team to focus on Bijou and its customers and decline her offer. Consequently, her last day was this past Saturday, which should give her more time to focus on her business.

Over the years, we have invested a lot of time and efforts to help her grow and get a somehow steady clientele which will need to be accommodated in the future. Our policy at Bijou has always been to make customers comfortable enough that they can switch from stylist to stylist, to find the best suited one, or just for a change of style, as each stylist puts their own personality in their work. Ultimately, we know that no clients belong to Bijou or any stylist in particular.

While we would love to continue to accommodate customers who have been served by Courtney in the past, we understand some of you will want to follow her in Auburn, and we thank you for the time you shared with us. We hope it has been pleasant and please know the door will always be opened, if you decide to come back, even just occasionally. As for the ones who would decide to remain our clients, we have a growing
dedicated and professional team who stays current with the new trends and techniques. Please, do not hesitate to contact me so we can discuss your needs and I can make a recommendation for a stylist who will best suit you.
Thank you,

Kim and the Bijou family

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

On the horizon....







So it started with finishing the Salon Today top 200 application.  Last year we were not able to finish it.  That bugged me all year!!  I hate to make excuses, so I was glad my better half pushed me to complete it and helped me to get my words on paper, we are a great team!  Doing something you put off, inspires you.  It lights a fire under your butt or it just gives you confirmation that you could get through it  and gets you thinking...what else you could do! 

I FELT AWESOME!!

Feeling inspired, I started ordering some literary tools to get me more inspired and focused.  I had read a review for a book called the 'A list salon', so I ordered that and couldn't help myself, ordered 6 more books.  They all arrived and I started reading. I know I don't know it all, and I could use all the help I could get, reading is perfect!

I FELT INSPIRED!!

Then a little bump in the road has happened, I felt like I was falling or that life had punched me in the gut, but only for a moment. Changes sometimes happen, and in my field...This happens often!

Nothing we can't handle and actually rebirth always happens! I was once told by a medium that I have tons of guardian angels around me, I believe this to be true implicitly.  The little bump was softened by someone looking out for me, because they felt I was a nice person and did not deserve this, I'm grateful for not being blind-sided and thankful that I have people watching out for me.  Also, since I was already getting geared up for a rebirth - collecting all my books on business, (I didn't know why I went book crazy, but now I understand...) It made for a quicker return to my balance. I love when things like that happen. 

I FELT DEFEATED!! BUT ONLY FOR A MOMENT...

I believe everything happens for a reason, yes this is sometimes a coping mechanism for what I cannot control.  But in the end, my Karma in check....Great women by my side, I've got this! 

This was sent to me by one of my girls, she thought it should be our new Bijou Mantra!


You see, quotes help me get through the toughest times, (this is why I have quotes on all the stations:) other peoples perspectives always help me.  Here are some I've been reading and re-reading!

 “You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.”
Friedrich Nietzsche

"All great things are preceded by chaos."
- Deepak Chopra

"In the midst of Chaos, there is always opportunity."
-Sun Tzu

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself."
-Henry Ford

So, once I regained composure....I was thrilled to get an email from American Salon, asking if we would like to be featured in their magazine.  I don't believe in coincidences and I always take signs that clearly state we are on the right path!

In the end of it all....

I FELT SUPPORTED, GRATEFUL, HUMBLED, SECURE, STRONG AND EXCITED!!

Cheers to my second blog written:)


Monday, September 9, 2013

A long hiatus






I've loved blogging since I first became aware of it.  I've always promised myself to enjoy it, not think a lot about the content, but to let it just be my voice as if I were speaking.  I've made sure not to make it a chore and always knew when I needed a break, I would just take it. 

DID you see when the last time I blogged?  April 10, 2012!!  I had just found out I was pregnant with the little tadpole!  I took a break ~ a little hiatus.  So long of a break that I have to familiarize myself with all the new changes from Blogger.  Interesting and another little challenge!

I made a commitment to blog once a week till the end of the year.  It's a small commitment, I'll renew it with my New Year's resolution, that will give me a little boost since I know I'll be able to do it, to make perhaps bigger commitments...(Like the dreaded exercise one that I seem unable to commit solely to;)  There may be some loopholes that I can finagle,  like Bijou girl "guest posts"...I like that idea!  Nonetheless, I know I can do it.  Sometimes it just takes saying I know I can do it, to achieve something.  So simple yet so hard!

I set my calendar for every Monday at 10am to do my blog, it's nap time for the tadpole so it's perfect!  You'll notice (hence the above quote "speaking" to me) that it's almost 9pm.  It's really good to be flexible with commitments, the mood that I was in had left me, but I forged on and here I am!

I have a little list of possible posts, any suggestions from you?