The funny thing about rejection
You are being re-directed to something even better!
Hey Beauty Pro,
Did you know that when you lose, sometimes you win?
That’s right. The sting of rejection is not only part of what helps us to survive, but to thrive! Rejection is the wake up call that encourages us to consider our circumstances, look for alternatives and take action. Only you have the ability to decide how you’ll move forward after the sting of rejection. And, so as I arrive at another moment of insight, here’s an impactful beauty industry story worth sharing. It’s the story of how a team of beauty pros overcame rejection to create a mega niche hair care brand connected to all clients on a journey to self-acceptance of their hair and themselves.
In 2002, shortly after we launchd NO-POO, the first of its kind, non-lathering sulfate free-cleanser, we were eager to present our expanding portfolio to a leading global manufacturer. We were hoping for a partnership which would ultimately allow us to scale. To our surprise, while the executive team respected and appreciated what we were trying to accomplish, they believed strongly that most people with natural texture would rather straighten their hair, use hot tools and smoothing products. They weren't quite convinced that the industry was ready for a curl specific product, even though our entire salon team ( and clients!) would tell them otherwise.
They were wrong and we knew it.
In fact, in order to keep up with the demand of our clientele, we had to increase production as our products were flying off the shelves!
The rejection hurt, especially since we knew we had something special. Not only were we transforming hair, we were transforming destinies! Clients felt compelled to share their childhood hair stories and experiences from an early age, many of them negative. They would explain to us that comments from friends and family members informed their decision to alter or hide their natural texture, leaving us to heal their emotional scars with our skilled hands and open hearts. Some clients hadn’t seen their natural curls in almost 30 years!
As a beauty pro, I know you can relate.
We would hear stories like these for the next 15 years.
Our product was flying off the shelves!
We were transforming hair & destinies!
Months later, the owners of a local distributorship, Paramount Beauty, were in the area and decided to pop in and say hello. I was the Director of Education for five years before leaving there to partner with the Devachan salon co-founders. They looked around our bustling salon and asked what all the commotion was at the front desk. We explained that clients were lined up to purchase our products. They were stunned and explained to us that in all the years they'd been in this business, they had never witnessed such a high volume of retail being generated from just one salon. We told them that recently, we had to increase production to satisfy the demand and we were running out of storage space. They offered us space at their warehouse and asked if we’d be willing to speak to their sales team. The rest is history. It was clear to them that we had a winner. Needless to say, they became our first (and most successful) independent distributorship.
Here’s how we turned rejection into opportunity:
⭐️ We were proactive, not reactive
We acknowledged the rejection and agreed to move forward with hopeful optimism.
⭐️ We stayed on course.
In spite of rejection, we continued to create high performance products and transformed the lives of thousands of clients with our guidance and direction
⭐️ We aligned Only with those who believed in us and our brand
We trusted that our great product, commitment and relentless approach would eventually attract the right partners at the right time.
⭐️ We built connections through education
There is nothing more powerful than sharing thoughts and ideas with a compelling message in order to build loyal long-lasting relationships.
Turn rejection into an opportunity!
As beauty pros, we all need our north star to anchor us and to give us hope. May this valuable story be a beacon that glows brightly for you as you move toward your purposeful destination.
If you are ready to dream big too, join me on the he path that lives inside of The House Of Harbinger programs, where we focus on the concepts and skills you’ll need to build your business and realize your fullest creative and business potential.
Stay tuned as I continue to share valuable lessons along the way.
In the meantime, learn more about THE BEAUTY SCHOOL SEQUEL, the online comprehensive 4 week program for beauty pros!
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Technical Training I Strategies I Leadership
@jennymoloney