Learn Through Fresh Eyes…
Every year, I like to embark on a training exercise that teaches me something new as I believe there are so many benefits to challenging yourself professionally and personally. This year, I enrolled on a hair braiding course at the Nicci Welsh Academy in Copenhagen. I always feel out of my comfort zone in situations like this, but the experience really gave me a new perspective on how others educate and how to improve my own teaching skills. In all honesty, I think you need to be uncomfortable in order to learn something new.
Work in Other Countries…
I’ve been fortunate enough to live and work in many different countries, and this has definitely pushed me way outside of my comfort zone (but the lessons have always been immense!). Every country has such a different aesthetic, and this has really made me appreciate that not everyone likes hair in the same way we do in the UK. Understanding different cultures and age groups is a learning curve, and you have to learn to adapt your skills. During my time working in the Middle East, for example, I learnt that I needed to be the best of the best. It was tough and demanding, but it made me a much better hairdresser and also helped me develop my customer service skills to a whole new level.
Drop Any Ego…
I looked after the Royal Family in Abu Dhabi, and that experience pushed me the most out of my professional comfort zone that I’d ever been. I would get picked up and taken to the palace, before being told what I had to create and how long I had to create it. It was often unrealistic, and the pressure was severe, but there was no option of not delivering. The experience was scary, but interesting and intriguing at the same time. I learnt to adapt, speed up and drop any ego I had. Ultimately, I was hired help; it didn’t matter what I had achieved in my career, I just had to do exactly as they asked and get it right.
Avoid the Shortcuts…
After my stint in Abu Dhabi, I felt like I could handle anything. So, I opened a studio in Madrid – specifically in an area where there were lots of expats crying out for hairdressers that suited them. I had to network extensively and set a business up in a new country from nothing, but it was busy and successful. I learnt that if you want to create something from nothing, there are no shortcuts; you have to work hard and get yourself out there, even when you’d rather not. I also learnt a lot about the importance of fitting into the community, so I learnt Spanish and built a business too!
Expect the Unexpected…
My final overseas experience was in Cyprus, where I worked as a guest artist in a salon. This experience tested my skills in ways that I wasn’t expecting, namely because a lot of my Cypriot clients had thick, stubborn, grey hair that they wanted covering. This was a valuable lesson in colouring, and I really honed my colour skills. Whilst this was technically very challenging, it was a valuable experience as I know I will never feel out of my depth colouring any hair type again. I like to step out of my comfort zone as I believe you need to get uncomfortable in order to learn something new. If I don’t push myself to be in that space, how can I expect others to take knowledge from me? My advice to someone who wants to embark on something new is simple: do it. Take the risk and embrace the challenge, you never know where you will end up.
