Or at least mine was until recently..

We all know this story, that you think things are one way because you can’t see beyond the horizon. But recently I have seen things differently, I have had a brand new perspective on things and it has changed everything. Let me start at the beginning.

I don’t’ need to tell you how lonely and isolating this industry is, we are working alone in our business worried about competition, finances and how to make things better for our future (Well I am, not sure about you).

But we carry on working on our business being the perfect nail tech for our clients and hoping we can make it through the next month (Well I do anyway).

During this pandemic, all of the above is compounded, we suddenly realise we are more alone and worry even more about our businesses. In March I talked a lot about pivoting and Ethan and I made a lot of changes to the business. We offered virtual one to ones and group classes even a coffee morning which still continues because we all love it so much. We brought in a new collaborative course called 30 Nails in 30 Days and thought only of making it easier for the nail pro, you, to survive this lockdown and the next and I am sure it there will be a third in the new year.

I have always been very protective of my business and wary of sharing my how and what with others. I am also very keen to not divide the profit between others because like you, I have a mortgage to pay for. Hell, we are all businesswomen.

So when I came together with 5 other nail educators and we worked in collaboration to bring a course, shared the profits and built something quite special I realised 3 things.

1. To stop being so selfish
   
2. That working together you are strong.
   
3. The third and even more important realisation….. I could help.
   

During lockdown 1.0 I saw a lot of educators trying to deliver their courses and classes online. This went well until the savvy nail tech realised they wanted more, and that there are options. But for a nail educator who’s job is to educate nails they don’t have access to the websites, delivery and marketing to offer professional courses and online academies.

BUT I DO. My job is not creating courses, that changed in 2015 when I started building my first website and went on my first marketing course. I realised my job was providing a service to help nail techs and educators provide the level of education online they do face to face.

So my world went from flat to round in a blink of an eye. Suddenly I knew that I could no longer protect what was mine without sharing it. I could no longer hide behind what I had to offer, but show the industry at large what they could get.

Not just from me, but from professionals all around the world willing to share their skills and knowledge with you.

Suddenly my world went from flat, to see beyond the horizon, to see the potential of students and educators and how my website and online academy can change and influence their lives.

The best part is, from offering just nail art before lockdown, we can now offer nail technology, we are bringing on beauty courses and in the future art and crafting courses.

You see I realised I was the difference between a flat world and a round one. In my flat world, I offered the courses and that was all, but in my round one what I have to offer is my experience and skills delivering, building and marketing online courses for the past 6 years. Instead of sharing my skills I now can share my space. Opening up my website to other nail pro’s and eds like me to give their courses a home.

So what does this little lesson of mine mean to you?

What is your world looking like right now? How far is your horizon and can you honestly say it is round? Too often when we hold things close to us, when we have fear about what we have to offer we don’t allow our business to be well rounded (See segue there).

Let me know in the comments what you consider your business to be, flat or round? And if you want help, contact me here…..