Monday, August 26, 2019

10 things I have learned about having employees.


I am so excited to say that we are in our 6th year, almost about to enter into our 7th year of business. We've had our ups and our downs but really just all learning. Running a business is something else, let me tell you...


Ten things I have learned about having employees. 

1- Your employees will drain the life out of you... (until you find the right ones!)
Everyone says employees are the hardest part of running the business. Well no shit, I lost two years out of my life dealing with the crazy ones, and I keep experiencing it...  You will think you found one, a really good one, you pour your heart and soul into them. Love them, care for them, nurture then, then they turn around and stab you right in the back, and they'll do it hard. Keep your head up, I let the tough ones bring me down, they broke my heart. I had to step back and realize that those crazies were actually great lessons for me and you. The right ones will find you and when they do, you will have learned just how to keep that beautiful line drawn, the one called boundaries. You know, you are the one that fronted all that cash!

2- Establish Boundaries!
Ok, so you hired your staff because you loved them, right? Right.... wrong. You hired them because they are going to be a vital part in your business. Your vision isn't complete without the right people, we work so hard to developing a business plan, we work with mentors, read a billion books on our chosen industry, and we lay down serious amounts of money. We are ready!! Now let’s go find those perfect people to do all the things we plan on doing with our company! They start out great, really excited and then, they start wanting more for doing less. Those boundaries have to be part of your business plan. Nothing burns more than when a Know-It-All employee starts sending you articles about the real way you should be running your business. Get out of town. The moment that employee crosses that line, they need to go.

3- Red flags? No seriously it's a red flag!! No, it's not yellow, not orange, it's freaking RED!
Like we said above about establishing your boundaries, you have GOT to notice those red flags whipping in front of your face. I made the mistake of ignoring a lot of manipulation and realizing right after they put her two weeks’ notice in I should have protected myself a little more and fire her months prior to that shocking moment. She spent months manipulating me and slowly stealing information from my business. Every time there was a red flag my soft heart said, "Oh, that's cute, that's just how they are." I am a firm believer in loving people for exactly who they are. Just because I love everyone for exactly who they are doesn't mean I should employ them. Take note: If you start seeing red flags, protect yourself and make some changes before it's too late.

4- You will seriously start asking yourself why you thought owning a business was a good idea.
When the payroll taxes start pouring in, the employment taxes, social security, Medicaid, disability... you will realize that for a small business (in my case) you will be paying more in taxes than you've ever actually made in a paycheck. For my business we pay around $32,000 a year in payroll taxes PLUS about 12-15,000 throughout the year. There usually isn't a day that goes by that I say... Should I have pulled a solo act? I was making $100,000 a year alone... now I make $30,000... but then I stop and realize, it really wasn't about the money. I wanted to build something to help people, so if helping people costs me $70,000 a year... I'm good with it. My goal is to get each employee that works with us to a minimum of $80,000 a year, so I have some time to keep working towards that goal!

5- Respect your employees because they are your lifeline  
Think about all the things you hated as an employee... think... think... think... now do the opposite! Ok, let's be real. We do have to do things that suck for employees, but think about all the emotional damage that you went through. Don't do those things! Nothing kills me more than hearing people say, "Oh I couldn't go to (that family function) because I HAD to work..." "I had to cancel my vacation that I was planning for over three years because i HAD to work..." that sounds awful. In my business plan I have, "Do anything and everything in your power to keep family a top priority for your employees." They deserve it. If you respect your employees, they will respect you. Respect must go both ways. Just because you're the boss doesn't mean that you deserve respect, you need to earn it just as much as they need to earn yours.

6- I'm far from perfect
I keep thinking, I'm sure I'm doing everything right! What is the problem here? Well, even though I thought I was doing everything right, it was right by me, not for everyone. Being a boss is more about setting up some ground work and then tweaking it as your employees come in. Each one needs to be loved, appreciated, coached, and handled differently. They may be coddled a bit more than you ever thought you would need to coddle, but they're your lifeline like we just talked about. It's give and take. Do not expect your employees to give, give, and give if you only take, take, and take. It has to go both ways. 

7- Sometimes firing someone is better than letting them quit.
Sure, it's easier to let the toxic cancerous someone fire themselves so you don't have to go into the whole unemployment process, labor law jib jab. But have you ever thought about the fact that if you fired that cancerous person it would build up your other team-members? If that person was a true cancerous employee, they've been injecting toxic thoughts and behaviors into your other employees. They're stressed, they're frustrated... when they quit, they let out a sigh of relief and then all of a sudden you just hear it all. Try hearing it all from your team first and supporting them by firing that toxic person.

8- I didn't do that THREE TIMES and I regret it EVERY time... when will I learn?
Sucks. Without going into too much detail... it sucks. Remember how we talked about the red flags? Well I kept making them yellow flags to try and keep the peace. My first business is a cute little boutique salon that is WAY TOO BUSY and we needed bodies that I have trained. We can talk about one, thousands of dollars went into this person, hours and hours of training, tons of payroll... but this person wasn't the right fit after a year and a half. They created a lot of stress amongst our team, saying things that were hurtful, always bringing negative energy in, allowing the smallest things to set them off. That affected our team and I as their leader should have said goodbye. Instead, I worried too much about hurting their feelings, taking a job away from them that was exponentially helping their family, etc... But the most important thing I forgot, was taking care of the team who was taking care of me. 

9- Trust the process
It's hard to trust the process as the crappy stuff keeps happening. It's easy to let go and just be done. Throw your hands up in the air and call it a day. It's easy enough to say well 90% off small business' don't make it so at least I am part of the majority. Running a business day to day does suck sometimes. But focus on the good things. What makes you happy, what makes you tick? Do more of that. Try not to take things personally (unless of course you personally are responsible for the issue and in that case, try some accountability.) We pour everything we have into our business' so it's hard to not take things personally. But when you do, it can kill you from the inside out. Remember I told you I'm not perfect. I have things happen all the time that I have to shake off and let go. We will talk about how to let those things go in the future, it's super important for us to just trust the process and let go of the negativity. Keep pushing through and keep working hard. It's a process. Nothing good happened overnight, 

10- Know when it's time to stop.
This one is a hard one to swallow. Not everyone is meant to own their own business' and to manage a team. If you're realizing that it's not your strong suit and you've tried it all. Maybe it's time to step down and know that you're a baddass employee for a boss you respect. There is nothing wrong with being a #2 or #7 in a company. There's nothing wrong with not being the type of person to run a business. Don't beat yourself down, don't create a story to make yourself feel better. Just do you! If you have a bustling business but you can't seem to get a grip on how to fix what's wrong there are tons of resources out there that can help! Read some books, hire a general manager to take over some of your weak spots so you can focus on what you do best, or talk to a consultant. I'm here for you too! Reach out to Jordan@makingitawesome.com, and tell me what's happening. If I can't help, I'll help you find someone who can! 


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Tuesday, May 22, 2018

10-Steps to Starting a Business


Starting a business is easily one of the most terrifying and overwhelming feelings we can encounter in our life, but there are steps to help make it easier! Having gone through building my own businesses multiple times in my short life, I wanted to share my journey with you. Over the next few months I am going to break down some of the most important steps to starting your business. My name is Jordan Betts and I am the owner or Mint Salon in Brighton, founder of Entrepreneur Me Business Coaching, and we are working on our next adventure currently, which will be announced next month!



10 Steps to Starting Your Own Business

1-      Ask yourself the vital questions
2-      Do your market research
3-      Build your business plan
4-      Choose your business structure
5-      Figure out your finances
6-      Permits, Licenses, Register, Repeat
7-      Find your ideal location
8-     Hire your accountant, lawyer, and bookkeeper
9-      Find your genius team
10-   Promote, promote, promote









This month I wanted to focus on step one; asking yourself vital questions.
Do I have what it takes to be a business owner? This question is easy to quickly say yes to, but not everyone is meant to own a business. I challenge you to think deeply about these questions and answer them honestly. Starting a business and working through the challenges takes time, passion, and dedication. You have to believe in yourself and know that you CAN and WILL do what it takes to be successful! Welcome to the most exciting and difficult time in your life!

Do I have what it takes to be a business owner?
                Are you ready to marry this business? I mean, seriously, it’s like you’re entering a union. As with all relationships you will have your difficulties. The romantic days will make you forget your fights, and your fights will make you want to throw your hands up and say, forget it! This union requires 24/7, 365 dedication . You will eat, breath, dream this business. Trust me on this, you will need to find a way to shut your brain down at the end of the night, otherwise you will never sleep! This business thing, is the coolest and most amazing journey, but with it comes a lack of sleep because your best ideas will come at 2 a.m. *Side note: put a notebook and pen on your bedside table*        
        
Have I found my why?
                Do you have a clear vision? What is your plan? What is your why? Figuring out your why is what will drive you day by day. My WHY has traveled with me from the beginning of my journey in business to now and continues to evolve. Let that WHY drive you!
                Eight years ago, when I started on my journey as a hair-stylist I saw the sad statistic that 98% of single mothers were well below the poverty line. That statistic became my WHY. I wanted to offer my daughter a life filled with experiences, education, and most importantly time with me. Too often single mothers have to work multiple jobs to provide for their little ones and in return the littles lose valuable time with their mamas. My why was simple. I wanted a good life for my little and I wanted to share it with her. I wanted to be in that 2% and show other mothers how to too. Little by little we will get that number to increase, I want nothing more than to swap those percentages around. Are you ready to help me with my why?

What are the financial implications?
                Money talk stinks. It’s like, if I had a million dollars I could start all the businesses I want to and not even worry about it, but gosh darn it, I don’t have a million dollars! Few of us do have a million dollars so we must talk about money. We need to understand it, we need to know if we can financially handle the risks involved with starting a business. Unfortunately, as women-owned businesses, we don’t get the same loans as our counterparts, we pay higher interest rates with lower funding amounts.
                I have personally chosen to move slowly in my business ventures by using my own savings to start each business, it has been hard, it’s taken a lot longer than I want, but for me it’s right. It’s not the right option for everyone!
                If you’re looking for a loan, shop around. Make sure you talk to EVERY option out there before you make your decision on funding. Your loan becomes a monthly bill regardless if you’re making money right away and you will want the lowest interest rate you can get!

Do I have a support network in place?
                Friends, family, partners, girl groups, etc… find your people. You will need those girls, check out your local girl groups and find other business owners who get what you’re about to do. It’s so awesome to chat with other business owners, because honestly, not everyone can handle our conversations! I don’t know about you but I geek out about the nerdiest behind the scenes statistics and my sweet partner just smiles at me. I want to geek out with other lady business owners! Find your group, ask them questions, reach out for advice, listen to their advice, and drink lots of wine with them. You will thank me later.

Do I have the self-confidence and self-discipline needed?
                My biggest challenge. I am strong, I am able, I am capable. You are strong, you are able, you are capable, WE ARE DESERVING! The hard part, the self-discipline. Planning and starting a business takes a lot out of you, remember the union we talked about? Sometimes you will go home from your day job and want to Netflix and chill with your babe, RESIST!! Part of self-discipline is clearing your environment from distraction. Eventually your work/life balance will come, sacrifice it now for a better pay off later.

Have I been honest in my self-examination?
                Were you honest with yourself when you answered the above questions? Listen girl, dream big! That dream will become a reality if you put it in the universe and work for it. Protect yourself by answering honestly. The clearer your vision, the better your strategic plan will be. If you don’t have the money yet, figure out how to get it. If you’re not confident right now, find your girl group and find your voice! You can do this!

Have I done my market research?

                We are going to dive into market research next month, but if you’re looking to start now, reach out to me at jordan@getminty.com and find me on Instagram at @entrepreneurme_coachjb. We can start your 2018 Business Breakthrough now!

Until next time, think about the following:
·         Identify your business idea.
·         Is there a need for your business?
·         What is your competition like?
·         How will your business fit into the market?


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Five Steps to Understanding the Millennial Workforce

Did you know that by the year 2025, almost 75% of the workforce will be Millennials?

Do you know how to adapt to the change? Do you want to learn how to have a successful employer/employee relationship with them?

One of the most popular requests for my salon coaching is how to manage different generations of employees. Depending on your business, you might have several Generation Xers, a few Gen Yers, and maybe some Boomers, too.  Running a business that is, in this regard, “multi-generational” requires a bit of research and a healthy dose of flexibility.  The first thing you need to do is understand the hard-wiring of each generation’s brain. Each group has been raised differently and entered the workforce at different times in the last few decades, so most likely these individuals have different styles when it comes to how they comprehend and carry out their jobs and personal responsibilities each day.

The biggest group in question is Millennials, officially defined these days as those born between 1980 and 2000. So how do you work with Millennials so that both of you will succeed?  First, let’s all stop being so negative about them! They really aren’t as self-centered and entitled as you may think, have some incredible stuff figured out which we Generation Xers can learn a lot from. 

1: They want a team-focused approach not a level-up system
2: They want a good work/life balance
3: They want a path to success that they help create
4: They want clear expectations
5: They want transparency 

1: Team-Focused Approach
Instead of being raised by parents who harbored expectations about them becoming doctors or lawyers, Millennials have been raised to do and be who they want. “Be you!” “Create something!” “Enjoy life!” “Step out of the box!” All of these phrases define amazing—and potentially positive--attributes, but it's hard to handle as an employer if you're a ladder climber. Millennials want to be part of the bigger picture; they don't necessarily want to BE the picture. If you give them the chance, your team will step out of the box and create amazing revenue-boosting ideas for your business. 

2: Work/Life Balance
Millennials crave compensation that is not “just” a salary. Offering a $40,000 annual salary with a two-week vacation package isn't enough anymore.  Millennials would prefer a $30,000 salary with flexible hours, business-provided lunch, stock options, flexible time-off terms, and a creative workspace, etc... If an employee wants to take a half day to go to their nephew’s pre-school graduation, give it to them! Who’s to say that such an event isn’t important to that employee? I call this a “working retirement,” where you enjoy life to the fullest before you’re retired. Your reward will be increased loyalty and most likely, a more cooperative attitude next time an extra-hours-needed deadline looms. If you want to learn more about creating a culture of "Working Retirement," email me to schedule your first 2018 Business Breakthrough Session.

3: Team-Built Path to Success
Millennials want to be part of your company’s strategic planning sessions. They want to help set goals for the company and help build their own paths to success at the same time. Imagine how you would feel if you were told that you had to hit goals and follow plans that other people created for you. As business owners, we need to realize that although our business plan is what got us started, we cannot claim to be “the end all be all.” We have a lot to learn from our younger staff. 

4: Clear Expectations
Our younger employees want to have a seat at the drawing table. They want to help set their own goals and their own expectations within your company. Allowing them to tell you what they think their job description should be will help you understand more of where they are coming from; and in the end, if they decide that they're not going to follow the description’s stated expectations—which they helped create--you can firmly but politely say, "Well, people, you wrote them..." Urge them to give constructive feedback to the entire staff as well as to themselves. Using self-generated feedback and self-generated expectation building hugely increases the chances that your staff will respond positively to the process, which will help them—and you—grow.

5: Transparency
Millennials like to know what makes their company “tick,” why things are done a certain way, and how they can be part of the recipe for success. How much money did your business generate last month? What are the company’s future plans for expansion, relocation, etc.? And believe it or not, Millennials want to know what their coworkers’ job descriptions look like. The reason why is part admirable, part self-serving.  They want to know so they can figure out every detail of how everyone in the company “fits together” so they can decide if this is where they want to spend their time building a career. It's better for you to know right off the bat if someone isn't “meant to be” with your company so that you don't spend your valuable time, energy, and resources investing in them. 

Need help? Reach out, jordan@makingitawesome.com

If I can't help you, I'll help you find someone who can!


Want to guest on our podcast, Making It Awesome? Reach out, we want to hear your story!



Thursday, February 22, 2018

The power of change

The power of change.

"You notice a shift in someone's personality and strength when you watch them step over the line they created for themselves. Every day I see people's lives shift when they see themselves for the first time, their true self. It's a beautiful thing."

-Jordan G. Betts

Lucky me, I get to see people change every single day. I watch my employees grow into powerful human beings, I watch women appreciate their whole self for the very first time, I watch middle-school kids gain confidence, I watch little children truly love each and every little part of what makes them special, and I watch men take ownership over who they are. To say I feel blessed is an understatement. The fact that every day, people ask for my help and my direction for their lives is enough to walk around with 900 full cups, there is no room for half-full when you're given the opportunity to help guide and love everyone in your life.

What do I do? Would you believe me if I told you I was a hair stylist? 


I don't just cut hair, I work very closely with the emotional and psychological side of my guests on a daily basis. I work with my employees to teach them how to become better people, to find their path, to follow their dreams, and then to accomplish their goals. I would work salons and stylists to help them find their own personal path to success. I work with my daughter to teach her how to be strong and confident, I work with my family to help maintain our togetherness, and I want to work with you. I may not be a doctor, but I have taken an oath to nurture each and every person I come into contact with. It's just who I was made to be.

I asked my client Bobi to tell me what happened when she found her curls, this is her answer:


"I found my curls when I turned 30. When I came in for my very first haircut with you. I found myself when I found my curls. I always wanted to create and become an entrepreneur, build my business in scents. I have been building scents for people for years but I never had the confidence to fully take it on. I found myself, I found my confidence, I found me." 



The Power of Change...

It's a beautiful thing, keep sharing your heart.







































Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The Mint Betties

Jordan G. Betts
Owner and Mint Leader of Mint Salon
Founder of Eclat: Salon Consulting and Mentoring
National DevaCurl Educator, Regional Goldwell Educator

Trained in NYC, LA, and CANADA

Mother of the cutest, sister, daughter, lover of the one, hopeful inspiration.

"If you don't like where you are... make a change."

_________________________________________________

Dominique Grimes

DevaCurl Inspired Stylist
Natural hair Stylist

Trained in NYC, PA, and by Mint Leader; Jordan

Mother of Loyall and a spicy kitten named Ebony, engaged to the man of my dreams.

“People will always talk, so lets give them sumthin to talk about” ― Lady Gaga

_________________________________________________

Angelica Ritter

DevaCurl Inspired Stylist
Keratin Complex Certified / Goldwell Colorist
Microblade Certified

Trained in NYC, and by Mint Leader; Jordan

Lover of all 4 legs included, buy me a pizza and we are best friends 

"No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else." P.T. Barnum

_________________________________________________


Rachel Robach 

DevaCurl Inspired Stylist / Certified Goldwell Colorist
Certified Arrojo American Wave
Runs Mint Weddings / Co-founder of Mints Pop-Up Braid Bar

Trained in NYC, TORONTO, and by Mint Leader; Jordan

Animal Lover, Music enthusiast, Loves to give back to the community

"Nothing is Impossible, the word itself says I'm possible!"







Monday, September 28, 2015

Mint Salon's address has changed!! 2198 Monroe Ave, Rochester NY 14618

Mint Salon 
has moved to 

2198 Monroe Avenue

Rochester, NY 14618

Our grand opening / 2nd anniversary celebration was amazing! We are so grateful for the incredible support we have from this city! 

Introducing our gorgeous staff and our new space.....





Come visit us!




Thursday, December 12, 2013


First Curly Hair Salon in Rochester NY!


What a blessing it has been to be the owner of a Curly Hair Salon in Rochester, NY! 
The excitement of my clients, the excitement of  the new curly hair women finding us, and the excitement of my new location, Brighton, has just been beyond anything I ever imagined. 

One of my favorite things a client said to me about this new adventure, 
"It's about time Curly Hair has a home! Our entire life we have felt uncomfortable walking into a salon, now we all have a salon we can be excited to go to!"

Our ribbon cutting and grand opening party was amazing if you missed it, which I completely understand... I mean Vampire Weekend was playing at the same time! 

Enjoy some images <3

-Jordan






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