Life Lessons I Learned From Tabatha
Tabatha Coffey, star of Bravo's hit TV series, Tabatha's Salon Takeover, visited my school-(Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago)-on Tuesday. It was quite an experience. While I've always been interested in all things hairstyling, some of the terminology and logistics of running a salon went right over my head; I had tuned into Tabatha's Salon Takeover every once in a while before beginning my schooling at Paul Mitchell, but was never a consistent viewer. Once I heard Tabatha was coming to speak at my school I began recording every episode that aired in attempts to learn as much as I possibly could about her craft before meeting her in person.
During that time I was still in the "core" phase of my schooling (which means I wasn't out on the floor assisting or cutting myself). I found it really helpful by watching the show because it gave me real insight into what working in a salon was like. The recommendations she makes for the salons she visits gave me a better idea of what works, and what doesn't work. About a week before she came to speak at Paul Mitchell I got It's Not Really About the Hair, the book that she wrote to share her experiences and encourage her fans to embrace who they really are. I read the book cover-to-cover in 2 days. This got me all the more excited to see her speak in person.
It was truly a blessing to learn from Tabatha because she taught me some very important life lessons; ones that you learn not just through the good times, but the bad times as well. I'll share some of them with you.
1. If you really want it, you can get it.
Tabatha is one of the few people in the world that sticks to her guns and doesn't cater to society's expectations. She embraces who she is using her intuition to guide her decisions. New opportunities came her way because she was not afraid to take risks. Sporting a shaved head, Tabatha stood out from the average New Jersey stylist. She embraced who she was because she was confident in her skills and ability to do great hair. She didn't compromise who she is to fit in and that it something I respect and admire about Tabatha Coffey.
3. Don't sell yourself short.
Unlike many other stylists who will discount their prices and advertise 1/2 off deals, Tabatha preaches to value your services and your profession by holding yourself to a higher standard. She teaches stylists the importance of periodically raising prices and giving a quality experience to the guest while they are in your chair. She used an example of how friends and family members often want to take advantage of you by asking for free services simply because of the relationship you have with them. She told us to honor ourselves and our profession through willingness to say no, and asserting appropriate boundaries between your work and your personal life. I found this to be profound because I believe it may be the cause of burnout for many stylists. She advised us to value our work by holding ourselves accountable and using our skills as a salon professional, not a personal favor to others.
All in all I learned a great deal from Tabatha and am so very grateful to those at PMS-Chicago that raised the funds to get her as a guest speaker.
During that time I was still in the "core" phase of my schooling (which means I wasn't out on the floor assisting or cutting myself). I found it really helpful by watching the show because it gave me real insight into what working in a salon was like. The recommendations she makes for the salons she visits gave me a better idea of what works, and what doesn't work. About a week before she came to speak at Paul Mitchell I got It's Not Really About the Hair, the book that she wrote to share her experiences and encourage her fans to embrace who they really are. I read the book cover-to-cover in 2 days. This got me all the more excited to see her speak in person.
It was truly a blessing to learn from Tabatha because she taught me some very important life lessons; ones that you learn not just through the good times, but the bad times as well. I'll share some of them with you.
1. If you really want it, you can get it.
From what she shared, Tabatha inspired me to take matters into my own hands and go out and get what I want. When she moved from London to New Jersey, she took the initiative to make herself known by passing out business cards and offering free hair cuts. She thought outside of the box and propelled herself into the spotlight. It was not luck that got her to where she is today but her determination, resiliency, and willingness to do what others weren't willing to do that brought her success.
2. Embrace who you truly are.Tabatha is one of the few people in the world that sticks to her guns and doesn't cater to society's expectations. She embraces who she is using her intuition to guide her decisions. New opportunities came her way because she was not afraid to take risks. Sporting a shaved head, Tabatha stood out from the average New Jersey stylist. She embraced who she was because she was confident in her skills and ability to do great hair. She didn't compromise who she is to fit in and that it something I respect and admire about Tabatha Coffey.
3. Don't sell yourself short.
Unlike many other stylists who will discount their prices and advertise 1/2 off deals, Tabatha preaches to value your services and your profession by holding yourself to a higher standard. She teaches stylists the importance of periodically raising prices and giving a quality experience to the guest while they are in your chair. She used an example of how friends and family members often want to take advantage of you by asking for free services simply because of the relationship you have with them. She told us to honor ourselves and our profession through willingness to say no, and asserting appropriate boundaries between your work and your personal life. I found this to be profound because I believe it may be the cause of burnout for many stylists. She advised us to value our work by holding ourselves accountable and using our skills as a salon professional, not a personal favor to others.
All in all I learned a great deal from Tabatha and am so very grateful to those at PMS-Chicago that raised the funds to get her as a guest speaker.
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| Me & Tabatha at PMS-Chicago. |
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