When you put 55 hours of work in the salon per week and find yourself daydreaming on the way home about your guest’s next visit, you’ve found your passion. When people watching turns into analyzing every person’s color and cut, you’ve found your passion. When your educators and your classmates feel more like family than mere pieces to your education, you’ve found your passion. When you goal set and meet each of those goals exactly as you had envisioned them…you know without a doubt, you found your passion.

Christian with guest on our Annual Denim Day fundraiser for Breast Cancer

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It has been quite a journey. I appreciate all of you who have accompanied me throughout this process. Although I have been M.I.A for a brief period, I have to say that I have enjoyed my time at Gene Juarez Academy

This past year has been the most entertaining yet. The reason why I say that is because I was pursuing my passion. When you find something you’re passionate about, you need to chase it with everything you got. To all the students that are reading this, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Just keep pushing and driving towards it and you will be done in no time.

I suppose the one thing that you guys should start thinking about is a place to work after you’re done. Now that I have been graduated for a few weeks, I have been focusing on state boards, as well as looking for the right place to work. One word of advice is to check out AS MANY SALONS as possible! You never know what you’re missing out on if you don’t check it out. Don’t ever think you’re too good, or too bad for a certain salon. Whichever salon you go to, just make sure you choose according to gut instinct. You can never go wrong with that, if you don’t have a gut feeling, ask yo mama! Because you know moms are always right!

In regards to state boards, Instructor Elena will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know! I will not lie, at first, I was a little scared of her. I’m only saying this because she knows, =). Take the classes, listen to what she says, and do what she tells you to do. When you get to the testing facilities, you will understand what I mean, when you look at some of the other students that show up.

Thank you again for following me on this journey. If you would like to keep up with my randomness, please follow me on my own personal site, www.joebae.com

My client and friend reported to me last night after I had done her foil that she walked into her home and her 3 year old little girl exclaimed ‘Mommy you are a beautiful princess’ – everyone she met exclaimed over the beauty of her hair and how lovely she looked….

Needless to say this is my personal goal with working with hair – we are working to bring this joy into people’s lives regardless if it’s a fashion forward ‘out there’ design, a mother or a 60 year old woman who may only leave her home and socialize while she’s at the salon.

If we invest in them, their joy – it will return to us.

I had always looked at obtaining Featured Student Artist as something that would be obtainable for myself.  Well, it came to the middle of February and I looked at my log of guests and product sales.  I was over half way there!  To obtain FSA, you must have 20 request guests and 10 product sales.

I’ve obtained several Guest Education Awards before, but not the combination that creates FSA.  By the way, I like the fact that our award says “Guest Education” instead of “Product Sales” because it does reflect the fact that you have educated your guest in such a way that they understand enough to buy the product you have just used on them and educated them about.

I decided, after looking at my numbers mid-February, that FSA was going to happen.  To make sure that I had enough to account for the cancellations that just might happen (and did happen) between then and the end of the month, I made some phone calls and got guests in.  This was great practice for when I graduate and will be in the Salon, needing to create my own business.

I was presented my FSA award in early March.  My picture and career in cosmetology philosophy statements are posted in the lobby, I received a Gene Juarez gift card, my profile will be posted on the GJA web site and I can add it to my portfolio and resume.

Keep your records current, make sure you get everything signed off in your MOD book and make a plan.  How will you make FSA?

“Trying to be cool or trendy doesn’t work. It’s more vital to be relevant to women’s lives.” -Alber Elbaz

I find as the time to advance onto the clinic floor draws near, my anxiety goes up.

I have had incredible support from family and friends and from the school with various tools but it never quite seems enough to me. And realistically in real life – self promotion will never be over.

I have received great feedback from those already on the floor (THANK YOU) that your books may be slim in the beginning but they will build, and once you get to WORK, more will come to have you work your magic on them.

Some food for thought. What have you done this week to help promote yourself and your work? I actually just put up a flier in my apartment manager’s office! I wonder if I will see any familiar faces on my floor.