Hair Hero
Welcome to "Hair Hero," the ultimate podcast for hairstylists seeking inspiration, knowledge, and growth.
Join your host, Ryan Weeden, founder of the 8-figure brand Masters of Balayage, as he shares his journey from being flat broke to becoming massively successful, all through the power of hair.
Each week, Ryan engages in intimate conversations with industry leaders, icons, and trendsetters, uncovering their secrets to success and sharing actionable insights.
Tune in to elevate your craft, fuel your passion, and become the hero of your own hair journey. New episodes drop every week—don't miss out!
Hair Hero
The Fast Track To Success Starts Here (w/ Aleck Zajac)
Ever wondered how a passion for sneakers can turn into a thriving collection and a smart investment? Get ready to be inspired as Aleck Zajac takes us through her fascinating journey in the world of sneaker collecting. With a collection that once boasted 300 pairs and now stands at a curated 150 elite pairs, Alex shares her unique habit of hunting down Nike stores during her travels, like her unforgettable trip to Milan. Learn about her strategies for reselling sneakers and hear her thoughts on the impact of bots on the sneaker market. Alex’s story will show you how a love for sneakers can be both a creative pursuit and a savvy business.
Public speaking can be one of life’s biggest challenges, especially when navigating the complexities of bilingualism. In this episode, Alex opens up about her personal battle with speech nervousness, from her early days transitioning from Polish to English, to overcoming an accent after moving. Despite these hurdles, Alex’s continuous exposure to public speaking through travel and teaching has pushed her to grow in confidence and communication skills. This honest conversation provides valuable insights for anyone struggling with similar issues, showcasing how perseverance and practice can lead to personal growth and newfound confidence.
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Be Bold, be Brave, be You.
Thanks for you listening.
-Ryan
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Hey everybody. I'm excited here to pick the brain of the wonderful Alex Ajak she is. I don't even know what to call you. We still have to work on your title. Yeah, like you're in charge of education for Mob, you are everything to everybody on our team. You help with your personality. You see her all the time, probably, or you hear her all the time. You maybe hear her, see her, whether you're listening to this or watching this. That's what you're going to take from this. I haven't had enough coffee today, so it's obvious here, as I'm trying to figure out my thoughts and put them all in order, but they're all scattered. Anyway, welcome, alec.
Speaker 2:This is great. I'm glad to be here. I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 1:Dressed up today. You got some magical shiny pants on.
Speaker 2:They're so soft.
Speaker 1:Probably some Nikes right. Are those the Nikes? Is this all you have?
Speaker 2:Yes, nikes, pretty much, yeah, mostly Nikes. I have a tiny little collection of Vans that I don't wear at all.
Speaker 1:I'm like those are like my. Let's talk about this Nike obsession that you have, because every time we've ever traveled, the first thing she looks for is a Nike store where you can buy some new fancy pair of Nikes that most people wouldn't ever wear because they're just so off the wall. But you pull them off. But if I'm walking, around in those, they just wouldn't fit we were in. Italy, milan, and we found a Nike store and you got some right. You came home with some how many pairs of Nikes do you have?
Speaker 2:So I believe my collection. It's smaller now, but it did get to a point of around 300 sneakers 300 pairs or sneakers.
Speaker 1:300 pairs, 300 pairs, yeah, so 600 actual sneakers yes, yep, so you need like an extra closet.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it started to kind of like take over. I've always lived like more minimally because I like move around a lot and stuff. So like I don't really have a nightstand, like I have like sneaker boxes along the walls and everything I did drop my collection down significantly. I got rid of a lot of shoes that I don't like. I thought they were cool but I wouldn't really wear again or like I wouldn't want to wear them. So I'm just keeping like the, I guess like the elite collection that I like. So I think around now I have maybe like a hundred 150.
Speaker 1:So what do you do with the ones that you don't wear anymore? I resell them. You resell them, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, anymore. You resell them, Okay yeah. So the resale community is really big. I think the sneaker game if there's any sneaker heads out there listening it dropped down a lot because of bots, so it's not as big as it used to be. So I think I just sold like it's like an investment.
Speaker 1:What do you mean, bots?
Speaker 2:Like when a new sneaker drops, there's only X amount that are available, so that's why people collect them Like I, like I need to get it.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But people purchase bots that just go on and like buy as many sneakers as they possibly can for them.
Speaker 1:Oh, and then they resell them, and then they resell them, gotcha.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so instead of like going to the store and getting them it kind of dropped down to, if you're lucky you might get a pair. I resold a lot and it's kind of like an investment for me how people like collect baseball cards or things like that. Sneakers have always been my go-to. My brother's a sneaker head too, but he actually like, wears and destroys his like he like uses them what they're meant to be for, but I just like to look at them.
Speaker 2:They're like little art pieces and it's fun now because a lot of artists collab with Nike or like any brand, but they're just like my little collections I. That's awesome. That's something that you look forward to on every trip. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's cool. I've seen pictures of your closet and the boxes and they're all in fantastic shape, like all my sneakers, I mean, I've had these for years, I love them, but I was looking at them.
Speaker 2:I'm like I can't believe they.
Speaker 1:Maybe I mean they're holding up the heel a little bit here, but yeah, they could use a once over. I got you or twice over, something like that. Or maybe it's just time for a new pair, I don't know, could be that, but you said that before we got started today that you were nervous, you're like I'm nervous. I feel like it's a job interview. Let's talk about your nerves. Why are you nervous?
Speaker 2:I was boy lock growing and I was raised bilingual, so I over-enunciate words because I had ESL until sixth grade. I was raised in America but spoke Polish at home, went to Polish school on the weekends, had ESL in school. So I think just like my speech makes me nervous.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can barely understand a word you're saying, so I over-enunciate everything and, like people, are always like that's not how you say it.
Speaker 2:And then, moving from the East Coast to here, I had to drop my accent and I think I'm just scared of judgment from people. Yeah, you're doing videos all the time you do the most. Yeah, You're always out in front of people.
Speaker 1:You're traveling the world teaching.
Speaker 2:Really that's on your mind a lot really, that's on your mind a lot, it is on my mind a lot, but I will say this um, I've done so many positions in this industry and I've pretty much stuck with mob since we met and I think it's honestly, because this is like a judgment-free zone and I don't want to use the word like rejects, but like we're just like people and we're not like I don't know, I can't find the word.
Speaker 2:We're just like people and we're not like I don't know, I can't find the word. We're just like normal, everyday people. We work behind the chair or like we have a life. We're not like actors putting on a show.
Speaker 1:So this is like found my comfort zone and you guys just kind of like honed in on it. Right, yeah, well, do you remember when we actually met? Like I don't remember the exact meeting you do.
Speaker 2:I do and I remember it because Asil was there teaching with you and I asked if he was assisting the class with me and he was like what? And then he taught with you and I looked him up and I was like oh my god, this guy's like a million followers. But it was a small class in New York. I remember you and Jenny came with like backpacks and you guys were like carrying in chairs.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, that was the first one.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was a really small class in.
Speaker 1:New York. Is that the one that you assisted? Because you, but we talked before then.
Speaker 2:Right, we met at Kevin Murphy, at Kevin Murphy. Yeah, that was like our first, like actual interaction, right, wow, wow, that's incredible.
Speaker 1:I remember yeah, you're definitely the OG and one of the hardest workers, One of those people that you're willing to put yourself out there for a free opportunity, not knowing what it might turn into, but knowing that you're doing the right thing or you're going to learn through the process of doing it and I feel like it's so rare these days because a lot of these new personalities I don't know if it's a new generation or if it's a millennial thing or whatever.
Speaker 1:I don't want to talk bad about any generation, but I think there's just a lot of entitlement right now. People expect to be paid for things they have no experience with. Everything is, I think, just needs. I don't know, I don't know Opportunities. We used to have to work our ass off. Yeah, Work for free, for no, I guess, no guarantee of any opportunities or jobs. We just did it and you did things for free for a long time before because I couldn't pay you.
Speaker 2:I couldn't afford to pay you.
Speaker 1:And you're just, that was the beginning of mob really. And you're just like hey, can I come and assist in it again, can I do this? And then, finally, I was just like hey, I can pay you now. You want to come and assist a class, you want to teach a class? And here you are, years and years later, several roles later, and you're here in the new Mob studio full-time like you were behind the chair full-time, and one of your dreams was to get out from behind the chair.
Speaker 1:Not that you didn't love your clients or doing hair you do. You just were ready for something different, something new, a way to actually impact the lives of hairdressers instead of clients, one at a time yeah, I definitely.
Speaker 2:That was always. My long-term goal was to eventually step away from behind the chair, and I taught with Kevin Murphy and that's how I met you. I was only with them for a really, really short amount of time and I was like, what am I doing? Styling hair? I'm like I love color. So then you came along and my goal was always to step away from behind the chair. I actually cut down my days behind the chair and it's not because I hate doing hair, it's not because I hate my clients. It takes a huge toll on your body. I calculated this morning and I've been doing hair for 14 years, from assisting, doing a lot of free opportunities and all those little free opportunities Like I did Fashion Week and I learned, like I made connections through there to do other things. Or I traveled with you to London. That was like my first like international trip and I learned what not to do when booking flights.
Speaker 1:Which one was to take WOW Airlines.
Speaker 2:WOW Airlines. Don't do it. I've never even heard of the airline before. I don't think they're an airline anymore. Maybe they are, but probably not. It was.
Speaker 1:W-O-W yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, wow, like wow, wow.
Speaker 1:I can't believe I booked this flight.
Speaker 2:Literally. Did I pay for it?
Speaker 1:I don't remember it took you like 12 weeks to get there by air.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Gosh, it was scary Chickens in the back, yeah, the chairs were like foldable chairs drilled into the like. Not really, but maybe.
Speaker 1:But yeah, you did that and you showed up. You got there and I still remember on the way out of London. I think Jenny and I were traveling after that.
Speaker 2:I think we were going to Italy after that.
Speaker 1:I just stopped you guys everywhere I was like Vacation and we started out teaching a class in London there and we went to the airport together and they're flying on this Autobahn or whatever to the airport and we get to the airport and it was early. You know it was most airlines flights that we get to go anywhere. It's like you know right early. We had a car, we had a car right.
Speaker 2:You guys had a car and I was like, can I come with you please?
Speaker 1:Yeah, you got a ride and apparently we found out there's two airports in London and you were at the wrong one.
Speaker 2:I sure was, and I had two hours to get to the next one and it wasn't like right around the corner.
Speaker 1:It was close enough, but I mean leaving one airport, going to another airport. There's still a distance in between and there's traffic and I don't know. We're just like I don't know what. Like our flight was about to leave and you had two hours to get you did somehow yeah, I was like I'll figure it out.
Speaker 2:My like motto in life is it's fine, I'll figure it out because, like I'm like alive, I could figure it out. Worst thing happens is I sleep at the airport. I get money somehow and like get to the next one. But I found a taxi driver, um, and I was like please get me to the next airport. I gave him all the cash I had on me, um, up front, and I was like I really hope this guy's going to take me to the airport. Got there on time, made my flight, got home. So this is fun because this is like the behind the scenes, that people don't see what goes on behind the scenes they think we just like poof, we arrive and I'm like there's always a little bit of chaos behind the scenes.
Speaker 2:A little yeah a little bit yeah.
Speaker 1:Could be worse? Well, you even. You're the world's best traveler.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:I mean, you'll travel anywhere and you. Just one incredible thing about you. I don't know how it's possible you fall asleep before the plane takes off almost 99.9% of the time, and your favorite seat in the plane? Is which one?
Speaker 2:I love like the window seat and when they're small, because I kind of just like curl up like this and I'm like hey.
Speaker 1:Didn't you also say that the middle seat was one of your favorites?
Speaker 2:No, definitely not me. Oh, not middle. No, not me Okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was like who would love a middle seat.
Speaker 2:That would be crazy.
Speaker 1:But yeah, you have your way of. You're not fun to travel with.
Speaker 2:No, I don't think so, because you can't talk to you. Yeah, you just go to sleep. Yeah, I think Amanda sat next to me on a flight and she was like working, and then she like looked over to me and I was just knocked out. I've also been like trying to stay up late before a class, and then probably not the best idea of like staying up late and then waking up early so I can like get a little napping before I get to my destination, so I can adjust that time period.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And like I guess, yeah, that time frame, that time period.
Speaker 1:There are hours, right. That's just. It's just wild. So let's take it back to hair. When did you get like? When did this obsession because you love doing hair? When did the obsession with hair begin? Was it like a like straight out of the womb kind of thing, or was it like it was for you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Super cheesy straight out of the womb. I've always loved doing hair. I still have my Barbie hair books which I'm like. These could probably be like. Buy me three houses in California now, because they're in pristine condition. I took care of those things. I used to do my grandpa's hair. He stopped babysitting after that because he would have, like that, bald spot and sick comb over and I would just take these little tiny like round brushes and put them in his hair.
Speaker 2:He would always have to cut them off. But no, I've always loved doing hair. I did everyone's hair in like middle school, high school.
Speaker 2:I have like a billion photos of my hair throughout the time because I would just go to Sally's and mess with my own hair. But hair is not a career, right? So, like air quotes, it's not a career, right? So, like air quotes, it's not a career. Which it is because, like, look where it brought me, which is awesome. Um, I went to college for a little bit after high school because I wasn't allowed to do hair. It's like not a career. Um, hated it. My mom will probably listen to this, but it's fine, she knows I went to beauty school secretly at night when I did sign up for my college classes. So I like, went to college for a little bit and then I worked for a little bit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then I went to beauty school and eventually, like, I went to beauty school full time, while working full time in a nursing home.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Which I absolutely loved I will say it was one of my favorite jobs and then got licensed and worked my way up from there.
Speaker 2:I applied at a very high-end salon because I figured like that's where you learn. So like I figured those people are charging enough money to be able to do these like really awesome looks. So I learned a lot there and I kind of just like kept working my way up. I worked seven days a week, 12 hour days. I took any opportunity I could, and it's crazy because, like, I'm very much an introvert, but this is where I'm comfortable. This is the only thing I understand. And I think imposter syndrome is huge in this industry since the beginning, for me too, and I would try to learn everything. Like I would fixate on things. If someone came in and they're like, oh, I want braids, I would learn how to do every single braid possible. And then just for that one client, just so I like am ready for the next experience, I guess. Um, and then eventually found my niche loved educating, I wanted to. I saw there wasn't that much education, right, like when we kind of first started doing hair um't big.
Speaker 2:It was kind of like youtube hair and, yeah, I just took every opportunity possible. I wanted to help the younger generation so they didn't have to struggle and just want to keep doing that in life I guess so like not so much a classroom teacher setting with like colored pencils and stuff maybe one day, but yeah, that's that so you secretly went to school yeah didn't go to college I went to college for, I think, like three semesters. Okay, I hated it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so you went, yeah then how did you break the news to your mom? Hey, by the way, I'm a licensed cosmetologist now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, pretty much so my mom did come with me for like the initial part, where like I had to go like sign up and everything, because I'm still like younger, I'm under 18. She helped me sign up with that, help with financial aid and everything, but like I still had to go to college. Gotcha. But college sucks because like they don't call your parents to tell you didn't show up, right, right. So like you didn't have to go and I'm like I tried really, really, really hard. I got good grades. I wasn't like whatever. Like I showed up to my tests. But then the last semester I was like I can't keep writing papers on statistics, like I want to do color, I want to do hair. We're creat to get in there and do stuff. So I got good grades. Didn't get a degree because I was like bye, I'm going to go excel in hair.
Speaker 1:Yeah, how long did it take you to get your niche to actually start making enough money to where you felt like you were onto something?
Speaker 2:So I think that and it also depends who you surround yourself with and who gives you value I think that was one of the biggest things. When I met you and actually moved out to California in 2019 is when you and Jenny were like you can charge more for what you're doing. You deserve it. This is the time to shine, and I think it's honestly when I moved out and started working for you guys. Really. I don't want to talk badly about my old salon, but was very much yeah it was like set in old ways and I also felt bad.
Speaker 2:I didn't want to charge my clients too much and I didn't have that encouragement right of like no, you're worth it, like you can charge more for this, like you deserve it. And so I think I definitely should have been charging a little bit more earlier in my career. Um, because I was doing like these huge color corrections that took me 10 hours and charging like honest, like 90 bucks for the color, and then like so you're losing money on a color correction Like $70 on a haircut, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, you reminded me of something, because I remember talking to you about your other salon and it was a huge salon, if I remember correctly and because you were trying to better yourself. You were involved in, like, personal improvement. You're taking classes, you're part of mob, you're teaching, you're becoming more Instagram famous and getting followers and putting yourself out there. There were a lot of people that hated you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was bad.
Speaker 1:Tell me about that and if other people are in a situation like this, how did you deal with that? And you're saying surround yourself with the right people. What if people are in a situation like that? What do you do?
Speaker 2:So not many people know about my move. A lot of people are like oh, you got lucky because I moved from New Jersey to California. I honestly had a a mental breakdown and I was like I'm getting out of here. And I moved to California with $500. I had first month's rent and I was like I need to get out of here, I need to figure it out. And so I didn't realize I was being like in an abusive situation until I came to your salon. Everyone was so welcoming, so nice.
Speaker 2:I wouldn't say abusive situation heavily but, like bullied yeah, not by everyone, but there were certain stylists that if they saw that you were doing better than them, they would kind of like look down on you and like bully you. And that hurt me with the I guess imposter syndrome, because I'm like, oh yeah, I'm not good enough.
Speaker 1:Were they older stylists?
Speaker 2:Yeah, there was a lot of older stylists, that would be a little bit bully.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that makes sense, they're just like setting their ways right. And they see these new stylists come up on Instagram or wherever and they're charging more than them and they have a lot less experience and they see them moving faster and making their dreams come true, while they're stuck setting their and like, why should they get it Right? It's like screw them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was told that I'm ruining my life moving Bolliage isn't a thing, like when I started becoming a Bolliage specialist. Like it's not a thing. And I'm like, okay, well, whatever, like maybe next year won't be a thing, but at least I'm doing it now. I did have one girl that was really nasty to me, but over time I watched her lose all of her clients and she actually doesn't work behind the chair anymore because that's just her personality. So I learned. Not, I'm like they're reflecting right.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm like they're going through something and they're reflecting on me, but I think just surrounding yourself with the right people it'll help you realize and like maybe you'll move and maybe you'll lose a lot of clients, and like maybe you'll be in the red for a little bit, but in the long run, like you can build yourself up right. And like surround yourself with better people and then, like, your mental health will start to get better. Right, and I think with bullying too, I've learned a lot that they're reflecting.
Speaker 1:Those people are just reflecting back on you. Well, talk about your battle with, like the imposter syndrome and you're an introvert.
Speaker 2:And it's funny too, because I'm an introvert. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I think the definition of an introvert is yeah, we can put ourselves out there, but it takes away everything that we have. So after we're done talking here, I'm probably just going to be able to go sit in a room by myself and look at the computer screen and just shut off for a little bit so that we can gain that energy back, that fill up our fuel cell. But in order to charge more, in order to go on stages, you're going to be on the hero stage in front of hundreds of people there. You wanted to do that and I put myself on a stage years and years ago and continue to, as an introvert.
Speaker 1:For people that are afraid to put themselves out there, for fear of rejection or just fear of the F word failure, what kind of advice can you give to somebody that is kind of locked in themselves and they have these big dreams, but you know that they're not going to be able to realize them unless they actually start to put themselves out there and gain the confidence, gain the belief? What can we tell these? There's a lot of them, a lot of stylists that don't have confidence.
Speaker 2:Of course. So it's funny because I'm always like I'm not confident, I'm not confident and then I do things like this and like work in mob and like teach classes and travel all over and just meet strangers. I think one of the biggest things that helped is actually what Jenny said to me before I moved out and I just kept saying, like what if this? And it's like something bad, and what if that, what if I fail? And she's like you keep saying what if you fail? But what if you fly? Like, instead of what if you fall, what if you fly? So just put yourself out there.
Speaker 2:The worst thing that happens is it doesn't go well, okay, cool, and then people move on with their lives and then you kind of learn from the mistake and just do it better next time. So I guess that's my advice is like stop looking at like the what if the bad, the bad, the bad, but like what about the good part of it? Like and just start. Like, start, do something little. Like me doing this is like starting. I've been working on, like my stage presence in classes and just like working on little things before I actually do something really big. And also it's hard because the internet is bigger than it's ever been, and so if you want to teach a class, I'd say like, get together like your local stylist and do something smaller and just record yourself.
Speaker 1:That's something that Kevin Murphy made us do Right.
Speaker 2:Is record ourselves doing a script or teaching and then watching it back.
Speaker 1:So if you do-, you learn a lot from that.
Speaker 2:Yes, Yep, I always like play with my hands. That's something I do. I look at the ground a lot, but just like re-watching yourself. It's cringy, but it'll help a lot. So just like practice and stop looking at the negative. Look at the positive and then you'll go a lot further.
Speaker 1:Right. It's about putting ourselves in the growth zone, which is whenever we step outside of our comfort zone. That's where we start to grow, and the more we do that, the bigger our comfort circle grows. And suddenly something that used to scare us so much doesn't bother us at all. Like the first time you get in front and do a video. Now you don't need any preparation, like hey, we're going to shoot a video in five minutes.
Speaker 2:I'm like okay, you ready?
Speaker 1:You're just like yeah, let me just like you know, fix my hair a little bit and I'm ready to go, whereas your first video you're like, oh gosh, what do I do, what do I say? And you have to do 25,000 takes before you actually get something that's even remotely usable. Like looking back at old videos that I've done and I'm sure you as well you're just like. That is a different person. That is a person that has no idea what they're doing, but you got to start there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think, sometimes putting on your blinders and not comparing yourself to someone else. I'm 33. I can't compare myself to someone that's 70 years old and been in the industry for so long and has been doing this forever. No one's the same. So not comparing yourself to another person, maybe taking tips and pointers from other people, but then applying them in your own way. I think that's a really big thing too, because I would always compare myself to others. I'm like, oh, I'm not as good as them. I'm not good enough.
Speaker 2:And I'm like well, I'm literally not them Like.
Speaker 1:I'm me Right.
Speaker 2:So I think that definitely helped me a lot.
Speaker 1:I think that's all I think we take for granted, thinking everybody else already knows this. Or why would I teach somebody this if it doesn't seem like it's a big deal to me, but to somebody else it could be life-changing? For instance, earlier, we're putting together this incredible coaching program now for Mob, and I should probably tell you about it soon. I always have these new ideas and things we already kind of started it.
Speaker 1:but we're just and I was talking to Amanda earlier and I'm just like, hey, amanda, I'm like what am I good at?
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I was like, what can I teach people?
Speaker 1:I mean, I know I can teach people a lot of things, but I'm like I think I just I'm all scatterbrained and and she's like, well, obviously you're very good at marketing, modern marketing and creating facebook ads and and marketing materials and copywriting, and I'm like, oh yeah, she's like salon owners could use that, stylists could use it to attract new clients and it's underutilized and you can start to do it for like $5 a day and get a new steady stream of clients coming in, calls to action.
Speaker 1:And that was just like the tip of the iceberg. I mean, I know all kinds about creating a business and marketing and thriving in a niche business, but I actually just had that moment of kind of, in a way, imposter syndrome and after two decades of doing this well, I would say past two decades, because I've had businesses before even I got into hair I've been working my whole life in creating things. When I was a nine-year-old collecting golf balls that golfers would hit out of bounds at a golf course and I'd clean them up and I'd go back two holes later and sell them back to them.
Speaker 2:I live right behind a golf course. I'm kind of like should I do that?
Speaker 1:So I've been an entrepreneur in my mind for a very long time and I have a lot to teach.
Speaker 2:But even with somebody that has experience and confidence in most things, there are certain things when you're trying something new that's unproven to an extent, you question your own self-worth, yeah, yeah, and I felt like when I stepped away from behind the chair, I was talking to my boyfriend, I had like a crisis. I'm like that's my whole identity and I was like, wait, I'm not just like hair.
Speaker 2:I was like there's other things. So I was like educating is what I'm good at, this is what I like. So and like with you, I think you're really good at everything. I'm like, whatever you pick, you're like, I'm gonna do that and like you do it to the most extent you possibly do something like so you like I want to do a course and we make it like the best course ever awesome and so that's very good at you're welcome.
Speaker 1:Thank you, I'm like, but you talked to me about football, or?
Speaker 2:yeah or oh, yeah, okay or or who's when?
Speaker 1:who's gonna who? I want to win the world series.
Speaker 2:I'm like when is that?
Speaker 1:they're like oh, it's tomorrow. Oh yeah, okay, I could call Rob for that. I'm like when is that?
Speaker 2:And they're like oh, it's tomorrow. Yeah, okay, I could call Rob for that. I'm like everyone on our team is really, really, really good at something. So it's cool because you create these, we all have tunnel vision in our areas of love and expertise.
Speaker 1:But I think one thing that we've done with the Masters Academy and we keep making Masters Academy better and better and better is what we stand behind. Now it's kind of our tagline is love what you do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and.
Speaker 1:I think, as hairstylists, that's one of the main reasons we're in this business because we love what we do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I totally agree with that. I think it's because we're artists in the beginning. We don't do it for the money, we're like, it's because we love what we do, and then the money comes later.
Speaker 1:Then the money gets in the way. Yeah, that's true, because as we get older and burned out and realize how expensive life is, then we start to lose that passion for loving what we do, which is why it's important that we got to make sure that we stay up to date with our marketing, with charging what we're worth, with the confidence, so that way we can make enough to still love what we do.
Speaker 2:And like radiate that energy to like the younger generation too. My nightmare has always been a nine to five job Like a nine to five, where you're sitting in traffic you have, like your cubicle. Your lunch is specifically at this time, like. That is my absolute nightmare, just like the structure to that point where everything is the same.
Speaker 1:I've done that before.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I'm so happy. I like, chose path and I'm able to be really happy. There's so many people that I went to school with that make over six figures and they have the house and kids are just miserable they're like what am I doing with my life?
Speaker 1:Because they never get a chance to enjoy it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they work for the weekends, and when the weekends come around they drink their faces off, forget the whole week yeah, like I've noticed during the pandemic, like people's personality was drinking, like because they like don't know what else to do, and I'm like drive around, go travel, like do something, get like a hobby, but like, so that was always my nightmare was like a nine to five. So I'm really happy that I like excelled in this career and I literally love what I do yeah, so you came up to me recently and we're going on our fifth hero
Speaker 1:now our fifth hero, and it's local. It's here in San Diego, 10 minutes away, which is going to be fantastic. You've never wanted to be on stage.
Speaker 2:We've asked you years ago and probably every year, since You're like yeah no, I'll help out in the back.
Speaker 1:I'll lead the prep room and do this. I'll assist on stage if I have to. You helped me on stage last year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I was shaking, I was like, and you just you were, yeah, terrified of that.
Speaker 1:And then this year and you're just like, hey, can I be on stage at Hero? And I'm like huh, and I'm like you don't even have to ask, like duh, yeah, of course I'm curious like why now, and what's the driving force behind this?
Speaker 2:I want to talk to you about that Right now, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2:I'm just kidding, I think because the opportunity is there. That's literally the only reason One. Because opportunities there yeah, that's literally the only reason one because I'm doing a lot more like helping out behind the scenes, more, too, seeing. Like last I did the model room prep and I saw, like how beautifully it ran. And so I'm not. I think I'm just more worried about what's happening on behind the scenes and I want everything to be beautiful and flow perfectly. But we have such a great team that works behind the scenes so I can like let go of that control a little bit. But mostly because the opportunity is there like how many people are offered a stage? Like very, very, very rare, and I have the opportunity, so why not take it? And if it doesn't go well, well then like it'll just be a funny Instagram reel or something. I don't know, but I think it'll go well. I will prep and prepare. And also because hero isn't really scary. A long, long time ago you invited me onto the Brazilian Bomb Builder stage.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And you're like, do a platinum card. And I was like, okay, and then not knowing what it's like to be on stage, and I didn't finish the platinum card, so she was platinum blonde and then I went to brown Because we had to rinse her out and then put her on another stage. So I think that scared me so much.
Speaker 1:That was scary. Um but that kind of turned you off to wanting to go on stage. Oh good, sorry about that, it's okay.
Speaker 2:That was my own fault too. I was like, yeah, platinum card, you gave me an awesome opportunity. I just didn't do well in it. It's fine, but coming to Hero and seeing that it's not Fashion Week, it's not a hair show it's actually so many awesome people and whenever I talk to people about Hero, I'm like Mashes of Bollywood attracts a certain type of person and everyone wants to uplift each other. We're all like motivating.
Speaker 1:Happy people, happy people, and it's not a hair show.
Speaker 2:So there is hair going on, but it's a lot of positive public speaking. Everyone leaves like people become friends from all over the world. So I think, because it's such a positive thing, I feel better going on stage. So, that's why I was like, let's do it.
Speaker 1:Speakers in the past have said it's the most welcoming stage.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's very welcoming.
Speaker 1:They feel love just walking onto that stage there and that they're talking to people that are actually receptive to what they're delivering, whether they're talking about personal growth or business or balayage or blonding. It's almost like a conversation, in a way, with, of course, hundreds of people in the stands, but they're there for a shared, life-changing experience.
Speaker 2:They're there because they want to get better. They're like they want to have better mental health. And the way I thought about it, I was like if I trip on stage, instead of people being like haha, loser and like take videos, I mean, maybe a little bit I would do it to myself, but I feel like people will be like my god, is she okay?
Speaker 1:right and like more like I wouldn't be surprised if somebody from the front row would jump up and be like hey, can I help you? Yeah, so that's why let's test it out. Yeah, trip on the stage me. Yeah, easy. I trip like eight times here a day so easily.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I remember last year fabian was like. He asked me for pointers um. Fabian is our educator from germany and he speaks very well right but he was nervous because he is bilingual and I was like just start speaking in german, it'll be funny. And he's like no, no, no, no, no, no, no and I was like please. He's very by the book yeah, and he did it and the crowd was silent. He was like I'm just kidding. And he started speaking english, and then everyone, and then like broke the ice and I'm like perfect, maybe I'll do that, but in Polish yeah, that's a great.
Speaker 1:That's a great idea. I'd love to see that. Just throw it in there sometimes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, but it's just like everyone was laughing.
Speaker 1:It was like a good time and some dancing, so that's why I wanted to be on stage. High energy. At times it's people that are crying.
Speaker 2:At times I mean, um yeah so that's why I was like the opportunity is there, let's do it right right. And I can always back out last minute, right? Just kidding. No, I will never.
Speaker 1:I won't do it. Well, I'll always jump in. Yeah, exactly, if anything ever happens. I'm like more stage time. Yeah, I'm there, and that's the other thing, Like we have such a great team that, if anything happens, get out. Yeah, no, we all help each other, right, right, right. Well, cool as far as like where you're at in your life and career now. Um, I, there's a lot of stuff happening in your life and you're becoming a full-fledged grown-up yeah, it's great.
Speaker 1:You were like I feel like jenny and I, you're like one of our older kids for a while, you know, just because we're obviously an age difference, I can you're not that far off from jenny, but for me you are, I'm almost 70. You guys like brought me up, though, so like I'll always be like your kid Right.
Speaker 2:You guys like helped me up in the industry whenever I needed anything Like you guys are the first ones I called when I broke up with my ex and I was like 10 minutes after we broke up, I was like I think I called you first, didn't pick up. Then Jenny called me and I was like can I come to California? Yeah, sure. And then you called me the next day. You're like, can you be here in two weeks?
Speaker 1:And I was like give me two weeks, so like you guys are actually the first ones that I told that's amazing, Like I always come to you guys.
Speaker 2:And then you started to work at Salon Spruce, right, is that when we had Salon Spruce? Yep, my only friend here, no, but it was awesome.
Speaker 1:So, aside from Hero, do you have any other big goals that are in the career realm right now? Or is it just kind of like let's just see what transpires? Because I know we have a lot of things in the works and there's so many things happening within our company right now that we just kind of the sky's the limit. I don't even know what to expect as far as specific dreams and whatnot but roles. Do you want to take my job one day? What are you? What's next for?
Speaker 2:you. I love, to be honest, just being in the background but also just making sure everything flows perfectly that's it like gives me peace of mind and I love helping out with new projects. When you guys asked me to go help out with the color line, I was like hell yeah, I'll be there. So I'm kind of like a very yes, let's do it kind of person and just seeing as far as I can go within the company with you guys. But I absolutely do not want your job no offense Like. Your job is very stressful.
Speaker 1:I wake up in the mornings and I don't want my job. Yeah, very, very stressful.
Speaker 2:I'm good at where I'm at. I would love to just like stay an educator and just like keep helping people out, becoming more of like an influencer and like a popularity thing was never and like a popularity thing was never like I never asked for the amount of followers that I have. I actually stopped posting as much because I like built my clientele, I got comfortable in my career, but like not being an influencer popularity just like helping people out and just growing the brand as big as it can get.
Speaker 2:I'm like let's take Mob International. Let's have a headquarters in Japan. I'll be there. I'm like maybe not there specifically, but I just love the idea of just helping you guys expand, and I remember helping us expand yeah, helping the brand expand.
Speaker 2:yeah, um, they're the company and I just remember helping you guys out and like you guys had like a townhouse or like some house and like we were physically binding the books and the workbooks, like physically doing each binding the workbooks, right, yeah, I had this little binding machine and the bindings and like thousands of bindings and the books. That was exhausting, and now we're here. Yeah, that was in the garage.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we were doing it in the garage of an old place that we used to live, packing all the color orders and sending them to each class. I'm like just helping the company grow and seeing what's next and just like let's keep going like this guy's isn't it nice that we don't have to do the binding anymore?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah I mean, the crunch sound was nice and asmr but yeah, but then to line them all up and if it didn't work, and ruin them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, yeah, so as far as, like where my career goes, I'm happy ended behind the chair. My back feels better, I have like normal hours. I'm like this is cool, but I think just continuing as an educator and helping create videos and just helping everybody does it answer the question? I'm like that was very. I think so, yeah, lengthily. Yeah, I don't know, I mean it's great.
Speaker 1:I just nod a lot and be like that's my five year plan.
Speaker 2:Yeah fantastic.
Speaker 1:Well, this was an awesome conversation.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was pretty cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was getting really lit up there for a little bit. This was great. Yeah, we'll have to do this again, especially if we ever need content and we schedule a shoot day without any content. That's kind of what happened today. We had our John Vidyar for coming in and we were like, well, we're going to start shooting our new course. Yes, but we hadn't done the legwork yet and we didn't want to.
Speaker 1:We don't like you're saying, we don't half-ass anything, so yes decided to do another training video and then and then supplement it with with this, which is long overdue anyway um, yeah, but this was fun.
Speaker 2:I had a great time.
Speaker 1:I know it's going to connect with a lot of people, especially moving across the country. With what? Five hundred500?
Speaker 2:At $500. Yeah, that's scary as shit. A few suitcases. My cat and my mom bought a ticket like a week or two before Because she was like you can't do this alone and I was like I got it, I didn't have it when I showed up in California. I was like I ruined my life, yeah, but then it turned out great.
Speaker 1:And here you are, you still are. A lot of people come to California knowing that they're not going to be able to survive here, just knowing that it's how expensive it is and knowing how amazing it is. But it'll be a chapter in their life, but then they're going to move on. You made that determination to come to make it a reality, and you did.
Speaker 2:I'm like you figure it out. You can figure it out, you just have to try. You just can't be like everything's handed to me.
Speaker 1:Just drop everything and move to California.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's fine, it'll be okay. Call me, I will help you figure it out, yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, thanks for being here today and every day and, gosh, so excited for the future. Hope you guys got a lot out of today's chit chat. Make sure you subscribe, put your comments down wherever you're watching this or listening to this, and there might not be a subscribe or a comment button, but you know we'd love to hear from you and, I guess. Have a wonderful rest of your day, your morning or your evening.
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