re - NEW YEAR - 2013

Re-NEW Year.  Do you see what I did there?  2013 is THE year to renew! Back to basics. I know, I know, you're thinking resolutions, shmesolutions.  Reality is, most people don't even make New Year resolutions anymore. And so what? It's not about a resolve, it's more about reflection! Take a look at yourself, your work, your style, your business, your health, your family. Every day. Not just because it's January. A friend of mine said it perfectly when she asked, "Doesn't every day deserve the same excitement as New Year's Day?" ABSOLUTELY!

That's what this first blog of 2013 is designed to do! Jump start that renewal process! 
We are in the business of Beauty. Every day there is something new and exciting to discover & explore. Technology advances at lightning speed, products and techniques are developed, discovered, diluted and discarded within a matter of minutes. But the basics are what holds true. The foundations that were proven to sustain are what we sometimes fail to focus on and then we wonder why we fall off track.

I think GOAL SETTING  is a GREAT place to start!  When you have a plan put in place that makes sense you will have little trouble reaching your goals. And if you fall off track, at least you'll know exactly where to pick up where you left off. Without goal setting, you're basically just winging it. And I don't know about you, but I've got a bit of a control freak streak! I like to know exactly when I'll be able to purchase my next pair of ridiculously expensive, impractical, yet superbly stylish pair of stilletto's that I'll never actually wear. And without a plan I'm just leaving that up to chance!
Allow me to assist you in achieving your dreams! Follow these simple rules to get your Goals in place. Then watch as the magic unfolds!

BE SMART! S-M-A-R-T  / S-M-A-R-T-E-R  These mneumonic terms first appeared in the early 1980's in business management and have withstood the test of time. It's a popular arrangement of strategies used in goal-setting, as described below.

s - Specific. BE SPECIFIC. This in not the time to be vague! Instead of saying "My goal is to  be a better Hair Colorist in 2013", which is quite vague, be more clear by saying "My goal is to attend 5 Master Colorist Classes this year to become a Certified Master Colorist" See the specifics there? Define your specific by asking if the goal answers the questions that begin with the letter "W"  Who, What, Where, When, Why, Which.

M - Measurable. How will you measure your progress? If a method to determine if you are moving toward your goal is not in place, you may very well end up giving up just moments before attaining your goal! Very common mistake! So if your Goal, specifically, is to Attend 5 Master Colorist Classes to become a Certified Master Colorist, then you know that when you are at class number 4 that you only have one more to complete before your goal is achieved! That's measurable!

*Did you know that goal achievement INCREASES our Self-Esteem? Setting goals not ONLY moves you forward but it gives you confidence! A goal oriented, confident stylist is a SUCCESSFUL Stylist! *

A - Attainable. In order for a goal to be achieved, it must be attainable and realistic.  Ask yourself  "How can this goal be accomplished?"  Can 5 Master Colorist Classes get you Certified? Or will certification require even more training? An attainable goal might make you consider previously overlooked opportunities to bring you closer to the achievement of your goals. Be open to those possibilities! And remember when you set a goal, you are likely going to stretch yourself to achieve it. If it were simple to achieve, setting the goal wouldn't be necessary in the first place, right? So don't expect a walk in the park!

R - Relevant. Choose goals that matter!  A goal that supports or is in alignment with other goals would be considered a relevant goal. If you are working to improve your professional business,setting a goal such as making 50 Nutella & Banana sandwiches by noon, is definitely NOT a relevant goal even though it is Specific, Measurable & Attainable.

T -Time sensitive! Ground your goal by giving it a time frame or target date. When you commit to a time period it allows you to stay on track when life happens! Rarely is a path to goal reaching paved with pansies! There's bound to be some poison oak along the way, something that throws you for a loop and sets you off course. Knowing that time is of the essence with give you that urgency to re-group and re-commit.

* Why stop at SMART when you can be SMARTER! READ ON!

E - Evaluate. How's your plan working for you? Are you on track? How did you overcome your obstacles? How much further do you have to go?

R - Re-evaluate. Are you ahead of the game or have you fallen behind? Do you have any unexpected events that you need to prepare for? Should you reach out for help to achieve your goals? Do you need some extra support as you navigate through reaching your goal?

S - SUCCESS! There it is! You set a goal, charted your course, survived the storms and reached your destination of BLISS and doesn't it feel good!!!! There it is! That increased self-esteem and it comes with a bonus called confidence, which inevitably convinces you that this goal-setting thing is easy once you get the ball rolling. So, before you know it you're on to your NEXT goal and you are achieving the success you so very much deserve for all your hard work!

Stay tuned for next week's topic! The focus will continue on with getting back to basics for 2013 in the business of Beauty!

Till then! ~ Celina   HAPPY NEW YEAR!