Barre3 + 3 Business Epiphanies

I’ve been taking Barre3 classes since April of this year. While my mind is constantly running rampant until it isn’t most days. Today’s class brought a special new lens that put in perspective so many gems. Barre3 is not only conditioning me physically, but also mentally and emotionally to withstand the rollercoaster of being a small business owner.

YOU NEED COMMUNITY

When I moved, Barre3 Frankfort in Louisville, KY was such a saving grace for me. To meet such friendly people who invited me to events, shared their favorite places and supported me in class with a “great job” was so good for my mental health.

You can not move the needle in your business without being around like- minded people. You want clients, podcast subscribers or to launch your next event, you have to put yourself out there and meet people! It is vital, no matter what your business is, to create relationships.

MODIFY, MODIFY, MODIFY

It doesn’t matter what your neighbor looks like in class. Just like it doesn’t matter what any other business LOOKS like. Because, baaabyyyeee!! The amount of debt some choose to take on or incur is not shown in their very pretty websites or professional business headshots. You have no idea the strain in their relationships it may be causing. You may not realize how small they may be, how unhappy they actually are or what help and advantages they’ve had along the way to get to where they are.

I’ve learned over time, It’s the smallest, sometimes undetectable changes that make an impact for your life and for building great glutes.

THE COOL DOWN IS NECESSARY

This is the part we want to skip out on, but truly provides the most delicious nuggets. Your heart rate is high, you’ve put in all this work and you're going to SKIP the best part?! Craziness. I get it. As someone who has been going, going, going for so long. It has taken me YEARS to learn to rest and I’m still learning how. This moment for stillness, this moment for breath is something that anchors me at the end of the class, but I’m really learning it anchors me in life.

When you forget the pause, there is very little room for gratitude. Whether that be for how much our bodies have supported us in movement, but also how much our nervous system supports us during hit, after hit, after hit in life.

I could go on and on about how sitting your ass down and being still is actually necessary to live a good life, but I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.

There’s also things like your breath is important, a cute outfit makes workouts more enjoyable and to check yourself in the mirror. If you’re a barre3 girly, what are some gems that come to mind for you? I'd like to hear in the comments!

If you’re ready to spend some one on one time sorting through all the hidden gems you’re missing in your own life check out my Creative Strategy Sessions for women ready to pivot or bring their passions to life.

The Secret Sauce To Getting What You Want | Soloprenuer Support

If you’re not on #manifesttok, it’s probably for the best. January can truly be a big ole vision board szn. While I love and have manifested a lot with the various boards I’ve made, I do think there is an element of embodiment + and action that need to be entwined with them to see the best results for seeing your life align with your vision.

I’ve had quite a bit of practice with this. With very little credentials in the beginning of my business, I was able to do sooooo many things through aligning my actions with the visions I had for myself. I wanted to be regarded as an expert, work for myself, travel internationally through work, create a skin care line- the list was extensive. I did all that and some hunnyyy!

The secret. 

ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT

I am the queen of the ask in my circle of friends and my favorite quote is “ a closed mouth don’t get fed”.

It mostly just takes being a little more bold. Here are the ways that I have found have a 87% rate of getting exactly what you want. I know you may be thinking “Kana, I don’t have a business, I don’t have followers” or things along those lines, but trust me this works for anyone.

This seems like a no brainer. You would be so surprised that not only do people feel scared to ask, but also think it’s “not their place”.  When you think in this way you are preventing so many good things from happening from not asking. The collab you’re wanting to do, could open up the business you're asking to a whole new pool of clients. The job position you dreamt up might not be created yet, but  is something that not only can change your life, but the trajectory hires in a new department.

My first magazine column came about because I merely ASKED. Ya boy got a ring on my finger…because he asked. 

In all seriousness, sometimes you are sitting on an opportunity that could not just work for you, but also the person you're asking. Which brings us to the next point.

CREATE A WIN/WIN 

In every situation that I have made the ask, I made sure that it had benefits for all parties involved. In this day and age I don’t see this done as much, but I always personally like to spend money at places I plan to partner with in the future. I think it extends some good juju. This obviously doesn’t work for every situation, but it leaves a good impression when you can.

The best way to create a win/win most of the time is to be really transparent about what your goals are. For example, when I wanted to write a column for a local magazine I wanted to reach an audience to show them a new side of the city. The aligned goal for them was diversifying their voices and ALSO reaching a new audience. A win/win.

BE OPEN TO A PIVOT

So what if you ask and what the other person wants to give isn’t exactly what you were expecting?  A STEP towards something you want is still creating energy of movement forward. My first spa room on my own was essentially a closet, a window nook. At the time I was so proud of it and I still miss it to this day. Was it the space I dreamed of having? No. Did it eventually get me to my dream space? Absolutely. 

Don’t be afraid of messy, non linear action. Don’t waste any more time not going after things 

That you want. If you need some more personal guidance take a look at these SERVICES.

I would love to hear if you try this, comment below!

And Just Like That... it's 2022

You ever feel absolute overwhelm in December/January?

As I sit in my unfinished floor of a home I am making with a man I love- I am overcome with emotion of seeing my life through the lens of love. It’s been extremely hard to do in this season of my life.

I am someone who can be really hard on those around me because I am especially hard on myself. So taking this moment to see my life for where it truly is feels miraculous. I expanded my capacity for love, I expanded my business, had some great adventures- overall it doesn’t seem like I should be struggling to see the good.

But I am a mildly reformed pessimist. I am someone who tried very hard to remain emotionless. I actually kind of lived for figuring out what the worst case scenario is. My anxiety loved that game. While I weave out of doom and gloom to hopeful and full of love it’s nice to have the grounding moment in my attic that love really is the answer as cheesy as it sounds.

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If you are new around here, I started The Beauty Room in 2014 legally, but went solo in esthetics a couple years before. Having a business was really never something I intended to do or have. I had never seen it done in real life. I just truly wanted the freedom to do things the way I wanted.

From its inception, it's been a whirlwind of opportunities- from becoming a brand ambassador for a global company (before influencer culture) and learning from celebrity artists, Paul Innis + Lauren Anderson. To being flown to Europe and everything in between. I’ve done makeup for prom clients who turned into bridal clients. I’ve gotten to start a magazine and create a skin care line. More recently, I’ve gotten to help others start their own businesses.

I’ve also not known where my next client would come from. Been lied to and devastated from ruthlessness in business. Not always shown up my best self. I’ve been very lonely, even surrounded by so many others. I say all this in hopes that if you are thinking you shouldn’t try something- you absolutely should. It won’t be all rainbows, it will actually be really fucking hard. But what that one singular choice of creating freedom for myself has created- WHEW.

I am in the final stages of removing the last traces of myself as The Beauty Room. TBR will no longer be just me, it will now be for everyone else who wants a new route to freedom in their businesses.

It feels liberating, sad, methodical...the right time to.

I welcome the shift, and it’s a layered change that I’m not quite sure how it will play out. The weird space this puts me in feels like one foot out the door. I am, albeit scared, very excited for what by be next for me. I can’t put exact words to how all of these changes make me feel, but I hope that starting to be more transparent about the journey will help others and even myself, feel not so alone anymore.

Even though I draw closer to not doing business in the way I’ve been doing it. I am still very thankful for all the things it has taught me. Some of the biggest lessons that you can apply to a wide range of things are:

• Get it in writing. Always have receipts.

• Your ideas are never as original as you think. It’s okay. You have something that meets the right people for you, where they are.

• You don’t have to give it all away for free when you start. Your peers will be more willing to work with you when you take your industry seriously and at the very least charge minimum market price.

So as I also get a little further away from social media, I will be posting more here. I would love if you interact, share and really get some nuggets of wisdom you can use in your own life.

I’m making up for lost time and making my website, my business or whatever it turns into, way more personal. More authentically me. What has come up for you in this season of refection?

5 Ways To Deal With Business Heartbreak

I have personally gone through this with transitions with The Beauty Room, the end of Love IT! EVV Magazine and many other partnerships that I loved. When these things end, we are expected to just carry on like nothing happened. Something did. A partnership that you felt very invested in severed and now your competitor is in your spot, you had to close a business or your feelings were just very hurt. You may have got a big NO for something you were betting on to be a sure thing. All of these can be so heartbreaking, so I wanted to give you some things that may help. Here are five great ways to get through business heartbreak.

BE SAD...OR WHATEVER.

Yo. It is completely okay to be all up in your misery, your anger, your heartbreak. It’s okay to feel your feelings. I repeat, IT IS OKAY TO FEEL YOUR FEELINGS. They are valid no matter the situation. You only create more pain and resistance when you try to stuff them down. There is a time for trying to get back in the groove of things and putting on a happy face. Right after a perceived failure or disappointment are just not it. Not addressing how you truly feel about the situation will only further complicate future business endeavors. What you resist, persists. So listen to Alanis Morissette, rip stuff up, have a bonfire whatever fits your mood at that moment. 

PLAN A GETAWAY

Run away. Far away from your problems. An Island always sounds nice.  

Well, I am only half way serious, because you may not have island money or a week to spare. While not a popular opinion, I do think it is healthy to take your body and all the things that could be triggering out of your life if only for a couple days. Really during your business heartbreak are the stages of grief. We pour our resources, our love, our life into our businesses. A mental break does not come often enough. Especially when it may be your sole income. So schedule a weekend or a couple days for sheer space to let your mind and body go to other places. This can be done to have more space to feel your feelings or a great time to do it is when you’re ready to get over that hump of self pity.

TAKE INVENTORY

Okay you have to take your woe is me outfit off ( I legit have a playlist, outfit, tea for when this happens) and look at the situation through a few different perspectives. When you do this you can take inventory of what happened in a less biased way. This step is VITAL especially for service givers. As an esthetician, I automatically jump to “do they hate me now”, if I see that they’ve gone somewhere else for a service.

I take myself out of the equation and ask; Was I even available? Was the competitor’s price more viable for the person? Do they have other people in their life that give these services? These types of questions vary for everyone. Not taking things so personally will save you a world of hurt. Honestly things aren’t all about us. It seems that way since our businesses are very personal to us. Even with our best clients and partnerships it is still a BUSINESS transaction. A lot of factors take place when doing business. We can't forget that even when we’ve created a relationship. If this is a shock to you, look at some of the people you love but don’t patronize a lot. 

REVISIT YOUR WHY

Sometimes we’re thirsty. We’re dying to drink from whatever we think may give us life.

What we don’t realize in those times, is that it may not have even been what we truly want. When things don’t work out, God was probably working and literally “business blocked” you so that you stay on the right path. Alignment will not only create better flow for serendipitous moments in life and business, but also creates sustainability. My WHY felt like it’s been changing and the last year, but it hasn’t. What I was doing to get to it has been, but when I look at the bigger picture, I know that my choices revolve around providing women with spaces to BE, sharing knowledge & love on my journey in hopes that it will help others make whatever leap they’ve been yearning for.  What is your WHY and are you making your choices with your why at the forefront? 

PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK

Quite easily one of the hardest things when you are going thru this. Girl, take a minute though and really applaud yourself. You went for something. Whether it was a business, a partnership a job opportunity, YOU TRIED. Honestly that is 73% of the battle. What taking action does is gets you further than you were, even if it’s not the place you originally imagined. So look at you, all in a different place & stuff! Go have a drink and celebrate the space there is for new things to happen.

As always, if you’re ready to do some plotting and have some fun on the way to creating your next business venture, holla atcha girl! .