If you’re booked out, exhausted, drowning behind-the-chair and trying to keep the salon afloat… yet you keep telling yourself “I need help”… This episode is for you.

Most salon owners aren’t avoiding hiring because they don’t want the support.
They’re avoiding it because they’re scared as hell and unsure of the unknown.

In this episode, I’m getting real and personal about:

• One of my first assistants I ever hired… and how she literally never came back from her lunch break 😳
• The false stories that experience planted in my head (and how they kept me stuck)
• The TOP 5 fears I hear from salon owners all the time when it comes to hiring help and why those fears feel so real

We’re breaking down fears like:

• “I’m scared I won’t be able to afford an assistant.”
• “What if I train them and they leave?”
• “What if my clients hate it?”
• “I don’t have time to train someone.”
• “What if I hire the wrong person?”

And I’m not just calling you out — I’m walking you through:

• What’s actually underneath these fear
• Why staying comfortable is a dangerous place to be
• Simple, tangible steps to move forward

This episode is part mindset shift, part tough love, and part practical strategy!

✨ You can stay comfortable, or you can keep growing. You don’t get both.
✨ Courage > Confidence (confidence comes after the reps)
✨ The biggest risk isn’t hiring an assistant… It is staying exactly where you are one year from now.

If you’ve been feeling called out just reading this… Hit play right now!
This one might change the way you see hiring forever. 🎧

Color is one of the largest expenses in your salon… and yet most owners are still guessing. 😬

In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how we track, upcharge, budget, and invoice color for booth renters at Salon Lace.

If you’re eyeballing color, “doing your best,” or avoiding the numbers altogether… this one’s for you.

Here’s what I’m walking you through:

• Why tracking every single drop of color is a non-negotiable in 2026
• The real reason we provide color for our booth renters (and why most salons don’t)
• How an all-inclusive color bar elevates creativity, consistency, and the guest experience
• The big mistake I made early on by not upcharging — and how I fixed it
• Exactly how we upcharge renters for color (and what that fee actually covers)
• How we invoice renters monthly — clean and simple
• Our weekly color budgeting method (this is GOLD)
• The step-by-step system we use to order, stock, and track inventory
• How to get your team fully on board with tracking color
• The hard truth about what happens when someone doesn’t follow the system

I’m also sharing real standards, real policies, and real lessons that I learned the hard way… so you don’t have to!

If you don’t track it, you can’t charge for it, and if you can’t charge for it, you’ll resent it.

🎧 Press play if you’re ready to protect your profit, clean up your systems, and finally stop bleeding money through your color bar.

Click here if you would like to see an example of one of our Rental Invoices 👉🏼 Sample Rental Invoices

✨ Final episode of The Level Up with Lacey Podcast for 2025 ✨

I’ll be honest, I’m really bad at celebrating how far I’ve come. I move the goalpost fast, judge myself even faster, and usually skip right past the “wow” moment straight into “what’s next?”

In this final episode of 2025, I’m sharing the mindset shift that completely changed my peace, confidence, and anxiety this year- learning how to live in the gain instead of the gap.

We’re talking about:

• Why high-achievers and salon owners constantly feel behind (even when they’re winning)
• The difference between measuring yourself against the future vs. honoring your growth
• How living in the gain doesn’t kill ambition — it actually makes it healthier
• The exact moment I realized I was standing in a life I once prayed for
• Powerful reflection questions to help you close out 2025 feeling proud instead of pressured

Plus… I’m sharing a heartfelt thank you and celebrating what WE built together this year — and the growth of this podcast honestly blew my mind 🤍

If you’ve been grinding, growing, building, and still feeling like it’s not enough — this episode is for you.

Let’s pause. Let’s reflect. Let’s finish 2025 in the gain.

I love you guys.
See you in 2026, SO many fun things ahead ✨🎉

If assistants feel frustrating, inconsistent, or exhausting… this episode is for you.
Because here’s the truth: that’s usually a leadership and systems issue, not a people issue… Mic drop. 🎤

In this episode, I’m breaking down the 6 standards I would absolutely be holding my assistants to in 2026 — not to be controlling, but to create clarity, structure, and confidence for everyone involved.

We’re talking about:

• Why your assistant must know and track their numbers (and yours)
• What “hands-on with every guest” should actually look like
• Owning the guest experience- every single time
• Daily + weekly debriefs and why silence kills culture
• Treating this career like a business, not a hobby
• Why assistants need to actively invest in themselves and their future

These aren’t random rules.
They’re standards that protect your time, your energy, and your business.

If something in this episode hits a nerve… good. That’s usually where the growth is.

✨ Free 3-Day Training Invite
At the end of December, I’m hosting a behind-the-scenes training inside my Instagram Close Friends called
Your 2026 Habit Reset: Because You Can’t Do 2026 with 2025’s Bullshit.

📅 December 28–30
📍 Inside the green circle (nothing live, no Zooms)
💬 DM me “Close” on Instagram @lacey_gebo to get in.

Want the systems to support these standards?
Grab the Ultimate Assistant Guide- the exact structure I use to train assistants behind the chair. → https://lg-education.mykajabi.com/ultimateassistantguide

Hit play, take notes, and let’s raise the standard going into 2026.

Before we dive in, don’t forget, I’m hosting a 3-day mini training on my Instagram Close Friends list called Your 2026 Habit Reset: Because You Can’t Do 2026 with 2025’s Bullshit. It’s happening Dec 28, 29, 30 and everything will live in that little green circle.
To join: DM me the word “Close” on Instagram → @lacey_gebo → https://www.instagram.com/lacey_gebo/

Now let’s get into the purchases that kept me alive, sane, and functioning this year. Every item mentioned is linked below!

Productivity + Home + Life Management

• Skylight Calendar → https://myskylight.com/products/skylight-calendar/
  Code: FRIEND-XV2MSH8
• Full Focus Planner → https://amzn.to/44X7Lhr
• Aro Box → https://goaro.com/products/aro-box
• Standing Desk (Flexispot) → https://www.flexispot.com/l-shaped-standing-desk-e1l
• Acrylic Cord Organizers → https://amzn.to/4rUSp6X
• TG90 Power Bank → https://amzn.to/4rTDTwn

Health + Wellness + Fitness

• MyFitnessPal → https://www.myfitnesspal.com/
• Nutrition Coach (Turner Hall)📱 Text: 918-232-8766IG → https://www.instagram.com/hall_l.i.f.t.nutrition?igsh=MWplZ243Zzg0bGxoNQ==
• Creatine Gummies → https://amzn.to/4rRUukf
• Viome Health Test → http://rwrd.io/k84wzjv?c
• ChatGPT (Chippy 😉) → https://chatgpt.com/
• Prompt- "Build a 4 meal macro friendly plan with high protein, low fat dinners for a family of four. Include make-ahead tips, freezer-friendly swaps, and a grocery list by aisle, and make sure that it’s not too spicy, because my kids don’t like spicy. I would like to incorporate some of the items we have left over from last week and some items we have in the pantry and fridge that we need to use. If I give you a list of the items we have, can you build our meals around using these items?" 

Mom Life + Family

• Tonie Box → https://amzn.to/3XUKLfc
• Atlantis Bahamas → https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/
• Bengal Cat Breeder → https://www.swaincattery.com/

Self-Care + Cozy Girl Era

• Big Ass Candle → https://bigassluxuries.com/collections/all-candles
• Alo Shoes → https://www.aloyoga.com/products/a0685u-alo-x-01-classic-natural-white-gum
• Sunday Citizen Bedding → https://sundaycitizen.co/products/snug-bamboo-duvet-cover?variant=39678118363234

Business + Personal Growth

• The Milly Club / Amy Porterfield
  Website → https://www.amyporterfield.com/
  Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-amy-porterfield-show/id594703545

Join the 3-Day Close Friends Training

Your 2026 Habit Reset: Because You Can’t Do 2026 with 2025’s Bullshit
Dec 28–30 • On Instagram Close Friends
→ DM me “Close” on IG to get added: @lacey_gebo →  https://www.instagram.com/lacey_gebo/

If you want support setting YOUR 2026 SMARTER goals, come join my Close Friends List on Instagram! December 28–30, I’m teaching a free 3-day mini series:

Your 2026 Habit Reset- Because You Can’t Do 2026 with 2025’s Bullshit.
DM CLOSE on IG (@lacey_gebo) to join.

Why SMARTER Goals Matter

A goal without a plan is just a wish.
Last year I hit 7 of my goals, missed 2, and learned that clarity + simplicity always win. The goals with a clear path? I nailed. The vague ones? I outgrew or ignored.

Achievement Goals = one result.
Habit Goals = ongoing behavior.
You need both, but not too many.

2026 rule of thumb:• Max 8 annual goals• Max 4 habit goals (one per quarter)• Max 4 professional goals

You become what you repeatedly do.

Start With the LifeScore Assessment

If you don’t know where to begin, take the LifeScore Assessment (linked below). It scores nine areas of your life so you know exactly where to focus heading into the new year.

🔗 https://assessments.fullfocus.co/lifescore/

SMARTER Goal Refresher

Specific • Measurable • Actionable • Risky • Time-Bound • Exciting • Relevant
Your goals should stretch you without breaking you and they need a plan behind them.

What I’m Sharing in This Episode

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of:

• What worked and didn’t work in 2025
• The biggest lessons I learned
• Why I’m shifting my approach for 2026
• How I’m structuring my Achievement + Habit Goals
• The exact SMARTER Goals I’m committing to for the year

Want to hear my full 2026 SMARTER Goals?
→ You’ll have to listen inside the episode 😉

Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now.You don’t have to wait for January, you just have to decide.

Want help setting your goals? DM CLOSE on Instagram (@lacey_gebo) to join my 3-Day Habit Reset on Close Friends.

Salon owners… we’re going there today.
Because every December, we all have the SAME question running through our minds:

“What the heck do I even get my assistants for the holidays?”

How much is normal?
What’s too much?
What if money is tight?
How do you show appreciation without blowing your entire December revenue on gifts?

This episode breaks it ALL down- honestly, clearly, and with zero fluff.

Inside the episode, we dive into:

🔥 Why holiday gifts should never become a financial burden
🔥 What gifting looks like for small teams vs. bigger teams
🔥 Why intentions matter more than the price tag
🔥 What not to do (YES, there is a list)
🔥 What SMART gifting actually looks like and why it’s a total game-changer
🔥 The exact savings strategy we use inside Salon Lace so the holidays don’t feel heavy anymore

And because I love you… here’s a little sneak peek at one of my favorite SMART gift ideas:

✨ The Full Focus Planner — my go-to planner that helps stylists stay organized, intentional, and focused heading into a new year.
👉🏼 I’ll drop the link for you right here: https://amzn.to/3X5HRnz

But that’s just ONE of the ideas…
I’ve got a whole list waiting for you inside the episode, for every budget, every team size, and every season of salon ownership.

If you want gifting to feel thoughtful, smart, aligned, and stress-free…
This is your episode.

🎧 Listen now to hear the full list and the mindset shifts that will completely change how you approach holiday bonuses this year.
Suggest podcast topics here 👇🏼

⁠https://forms.gle/Vq9JMXrhPrUmesrR8⁠ 

As we head into Thanksgiving week, I wanted to slow things down… just a little. This season has a way of making us breathe deeper, notice more, and really reflect on what truly matters. Inside Salon Lace, we call it Gratitude Friday and today, I’m bringing that same energy straight into this episode.

In this heartfelt conversation, I’m sharing the things, and people who carried me, challenged me, strengthened me, and shaped me this year. From the moments that brought joy to the moments that nearly broke me… this episode is all about honoring the blessings that matter most.

We talk about the relationships that kept me grounded, the support systems that held me up, the growth that surprised me, and the hard seasons that refined me in ways I never expected. This one is honest, vulnerable, and straight from the heart.

This episode is a reminder to slow down… to notice what’s right in front of you… and to remember that gratitude isn’t just something we feel  it’s something we express.

If you listen to anything this week, let it be this.
Your heart might walk away feeling just a little bit lighter. 💛

Suggest Podcast topics here ⬇

⁠https://forms.gle/vAjcHPWjnhEkbQog7⁠ 

📧 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

📱 Text Line: 218-392-9054

💖 Instagram: ⁠⁠@lacey_gebo⁠

If you’re juggling a full salon, a booked client schedule, DMs, team drama, color orders, laundry, walk-ins, phone calls, and somehow trying to remember to pee and eat lunch… this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.

I know that feeling of having 462 tabs open in your brain while wondering, “Why am I so forgetful? Am I getting old? What is happening?”

You’re not alone. Every salon owner I know is asked to hold a thousand things at once and without the right systems, it’s impossible to keep up.

This episode is the one I wish I had years ago. I’m sharing the exact time management strategies, boundaries, and habits that truly SAVED my sanity and my business while I was still behind the chair. These are the tools that helped me stop drowning in overwhelm and start leading with clarity, intention, and confidence.

Why This Episode Matters

Time management isn’t just “being organized.” It’s the foundation of:

• Hitting your goals
• Leading your team
• Protecting your energy
• Keeping your business profitable
• Actually enjoying your life outside the salon
• And reducing that constant mental load you carry every single day

Inside this episode, I share my personal turning point, the moment I realized my lack of boundaries was costing me more than time. It was costing me memories with my husband and kids. I’ll walk you through how I rebuilt my days, my routines, and my mindset so I could show up fully for my family and my business.

What You’ll Learn

This episode breaks down the three exact strategies that changed everything for me:

1. My Ideal Week Framework:
How to plan your week around your energy, your responsibilities, and the work that actually moves your business forward. 

2. The Daily Big 3:
Why your 119-item to-do list is failing you… and how choosing three intentional tasks can completely change your productivity and your mindset.

3. Work Day Startup & Shutdown Rituals:
The rhythms that keep me grounded and help me start every day with clarity and end every day without chaos hanging over my head.

I also walk through my three non-negotiable boundaries (word-for-word), how we use ClickUp to stay organized, the power of saying “no,” and the tiny habits that create massive momentum.

If You’re Feeling Scattered, Overwhelmed, or Behind…

This episode will help you reset, refocus, and rebuild your time with intention. You’ll walk away with clear action steps you can implement TODAY to feel more organized, more productive, and more in control of your business and life.

How you use your hours determines the success of your business.

Salon owners who manage their time well not only grow their income and their teams, they create a life outside the salon they never thought was possible.

Links mentioned in this episode-

1.) Full Focus Planner- https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737211955?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzlaceygeb-20&creativeASIN=1737211955&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3HX9TWMWKLOJT&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d_asin&th=1 

2.) ClickUp- Clickup.com 

3.) Aro Box- https://goaro.com/products/aro-box 

4.) Hour Glass Timer- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KVR8LFT?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzlaceygeb-20&creativeASIN=B08KVR8LFT&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1U99BSBP8JEF5&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d_asin&th=1 

5.) Digital Timer- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M46DWPJ?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzlaceygeb-20&creativeASIN=B09M46DWPJ&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3HX9TWMWKLOJT&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d_asin&th=1

6.) Atomic Habits-  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735211299?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzlaceygeb-20&creativeASIN=0735211299&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3HX9TWMWKLOJT&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d_asin

Suggest Topics Here 👇🏼

https://forms.gle/tpgKV1CDexAjJN386

Follow on social- @lacey_gebo

Do you ever feel like your team meetings last about two days before everyone slips right back into old habits? 🙋🏼‍♀️ Been there.

For years, I poured my heart (and hours) into monthly team meetings- snacks, agendas, motivation, the works, only to leave frustrated and drained. Everyone nodded, smiled, and then… nothing changed.

Until I made one tiny shift that completely transformed how my team communicated, followed through, and took ownership.
I stopped holding team meetings altogether and started doing monthly one-on-ones.

And let me tell you… accountability skyrocketed.

In this episode, I’m walking you through:
✨ What wasn’t working (and why traditional team meetings fail)
✨ How monthly one-on-ones created real accountability and trust
✨ The exact format I use for every single meeting (including the questions I ask)
✨ And why clarity and consistency always outperform motivation.

If you’ve been craving a team that takes action without constant reminders , this episode is your roadmap.

🎁 Bonus: I’m sharing my exact One-on-One Framework- the same system we use inside my salon. You’ll get the prep form, action plan template, and how my team books their time slots. Grab it here- https://lg-education.kit.com/34c2734255

Suggest podcast topics here 👇🏼

https://forms.gle/Vq9JMXrhPrUmesrR8