The question you should ask yourself to find success in the nail industry

Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, explores the question ‘what is your why?’…

Have you ever considered what your why is? Your ‘why’ is the reason or motivation behind your decisions. There is a why behind everything you do, so what is yours?

This is something I talk about a lot with business owners, nail techs and students. I recently had an enquiry from a potential student, who wanted to train in gel polish and nail art. I asked if she was qualified in manicure and pedicure, which she was not, so I explained that she would have to learn this first, as it is a prerequisite. She replied that she didn’t want to learn how to do a manicure; she just wanted to learn how to apply gel polish and paint nail art. That’s when I asked her what her why is. The response? She wanted a certificate so she could charge clients a lot of money to get their nails done. I’ll be honest, I was insulted and fuming in equal measures, as this makes a mockery of our industry. I told her I was not the training school for her.

People need to earn a decent living, but you should also want to provide a first class experience. Clients are spending their hard-earned money, perhaps for a special occasion, as a gift or because they’ve been ill and need a boost. Whatever their reason, they deserve a great service and memorable experience.

I have a task for you: I want you to take some time to write down your why. Make a list, if there is more than one, and put them in order of importance. Display this as your constant reminder of why you get up each morning.

You may have a long-term why and a short-term why, and your why/s may change as time passes. Below are some examples, but there are many more that will be personal to you.

Short-term whys:

• To build technical knowledge.
• To perfect your client experience.
• To gain industry experience.

Long-term whys:

• To build a loyal client base.
• To open your own salon or chain of salons.
• To become an educator or open a training academy.
• To develop your own product brand.
• To be seen as the place to go for exceptional nail art.

Remember, your why needs to be sustainable, because in years to come, you need the same drive and motivation to get up and do your best work.

My motivation has never been money, and never will be. What motivates me is the privilege of listening to and treating clients so they leave with smiles on their faces. I read a quote many years ago by Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” For me, that has always been my why.

Enjoy discovering your why!

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