Let’s be real for a second…

How many decisions are you NOT making right now because of what someone might think?

Raising your prices.

Changing your schedule.

Having that hard conversation.

Starting something new.

Instead… you overthink it. Sit on it. Push it off.

I’m calling this out because I’ve caught myself doing the SAME thing lately.

And I know I’m not the only one.

So today, we’re talking about the fear of what people think and how it might be quietly running your business behind the scenes.

Not to tell you to stop caring… because that’s not realistic.

But to make sure it’s not the reason you stay stuck or keep playing small.

Because here’s the truth:

You can either build a business that makes sense to everyone else… or one that actually moves you forward. Most of the time, you don’t get both.

This fear tends to show up in three big areas... your clients, your team, and people in the industry.

With clients… you’re undercharging, overworking, and second-guessing everything.You’re scared to raise prices, set boundaries, or change your schedule because of one thought:

“What will they think?”

But the goal isn’t to keep everyone.

The goal is to build something strong enough that the right people stay. And they will.

With your team… you avoid being a leader because you don’t want to be the bad guy.

You hold back on hard conversations, policy changes, or stepping into your next level because you’re worried about how it looks.

But leadership isn’t about being liked.

The cost of being liked by everyone is usually being true to no one... especially yourself.

And then there’s industry and peer fear…The one that makes you feel like you’re constantly being watched.

Posting. Sharing. Growing. Pivoting. Expanding.

“What if people judge me?”

“What if this doesn’t work and everyone sees?”

Let me save you the spiral:

People WILL have opinions.

People WILL misunderstand you.

People WILL talk.

And none of that means anything.

Seriously.

So here’s what I need you to do—

Make the decision.

Stop over-explaining.

And let people think whatever they want without making it mean something about you.

Because it doesn’t.

If you’ve been sitting on something… thinking about something… feeling that pull to make a move—

The time is now.

So make the move.

Because if you’re waiting for everyone to understand your decisions…

or approve of them…

You’re going to stay exactly where you are.

And I know that’s not what you want.

We’ve got BIG dreams to chase.

Their opinion doesn’t pay your bills… but your decisions do.

And the louder their opinions get…

The more important it is that you trust your own.

Press Play! 🎧

Podcast Ideas for Lacey: Click Here!

The one-hour weekly habit that changed everything in my business.

Alright… we made it to the FINAL Money Monday 😭

And I’m not letting you leave this series without something you can actually implement immediately.

I’m giving you my exact monthly profit margin spreadsheet — the same one I use in my business… every single month.

And here’s the best part… I only track THREE numbers.

Simplicity Wins. Always.

I know so many salon owners think they need complicated systems…P&Ls, dashboards, all the reports…

But the truth?

You don’t need more complexity… you need simplicity + consistency.

The Only 3 Numbers That Matter

Every month, I track:

• Revenue (what came in)

• Expenses (what went out)

• Profit (what’s actually yours to keep)

• Profit Margin % (how much you’re actually keeping)

That’s it. That’s the system.

Because here’s the reality…

I don’t care how big your revenue is if you’re barely keeping anything.

You can do $500K… $700K… even $1M…

But if you’re only keeping a tiny percentage?

We have a problem.

Let’s Talk Profit (for real)

There’s no magic number.

But what DOES matter?

• You are profitable

• Your profit is improving month after month

If you’re at 3% right now… amazing. Start there.

Let’s move to 5% → 8% → 10%… and keep going.

That’s how you win.

And for context — a healthy salon typically sits around 8–15% profit margin.

Most are nowhere near that… and that’s exactly why this matters.

Your New Habit

This is your move:

• Track your numbers monthly

• Analyze them consistently

• Make decisions based on DATA… not feelings

No perfection required. Just consistency.

Put it in your calendar right now:

The 5th of every month = Track Your Profit.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need more clients.

You don’t need more time.

You don’t need more information.

You need to start paying attention to your money.

Keep it simple.

Stay consistent.

And make it happen.

Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity.

And if you don’t know your profit… you don’t know your business.

💬 I Want to Hear From You

If you loved this Money Monday series, I would LOVE to hear what you want next.

Send me your ideas for future episodes:

• What topics do you want me to break down?

• What are you currently struggling with in your business?

• What do you want more clarity on?

Your support means everything… and it helps me keep creating content that actually moves your business forward 🤍

Podcast Ideas: Click Here!

Profit Margin Spreadsheet: Click Here!

Credit cards are either one of the most powerful tools in your business… or the fastest way to completely wreck your finances.

And the truth is… most salon owners fall into one of two categories. They either avoid credit cards completely… or they use them with absolutely no system at all.

Inside today’s Money Monday, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how I use credit cards inside my businesses, why they’ve become such a powerful financial tool for me, and the simple rules that keep them from ever turning into a financial disaster.

Because here’s the truth… Credit cards don’t create financial chaos — a lack of discipline does.

When used intentionally, credit cards can actually work for your business, not against it. From points to travel perks, I’m sharing how I run my normal business expenses through my cards and how that strategy has earned me free flights and even a Southwest companion pass.

But there’s a catch… and it’s a BIG one.

I also share the five non-negotiable rules I follow with credit cards and the weekly Money Monday habit that keeps everything under control.

In this episode we’re talking about:

• Why I choose to use credit cards in my businesses

• How I structure my cards across multiple businesses

• The 5 rules I follow with credit cards (no exceptions)

• The biggest credit card mistakes salon owners make

• Why using cards to cover payroll or cash flow is a major red flag

If you’re ready to stop feeling anxious every time you check your bank account and start running your business with more clarity and control, this episode is for you.

And next week inside Money Monday, we’re going even deeper into the 3-number spreadsheet I use to track revenue, expenses, and profit.

Trust me… you’re going to want to stick around for that one! 💰

Welcome back to Money Monday — the series where we talk about the numbers, habits, and financial systems that most salon owners avoid… but desperately need to understand.

In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly what I do with every single dollar that hits my business bank account — the weekly system that completely changed the way I run my salon.

Quick disclaimer before we dive in: I’m not a Profit First coach and I’m definitely not a financial advisor. I’m simply a salon owner who implemented the Profit First system by Mike Michalowicz, and it has completely transformed the way I manage money inside my business.

Inside this episode I break down:

💰 The Profit First philosophy and why most entrepreneurs operate with a “leftover mentality”

💰 Why the system uses multiple bank accounts (and why this simple trick works with your brain)

💰 The 5 core bank accounts every business should have

💰 How separating your money creates instant clarity and discipline

💰 The difference between CAPS (Current Allocation Percentages) and TAPS (Target Allocation Percentages)

💰 My Money Monday weekly habit where I allocate every dollar that comes into my business

Instead of the traditional accounting formula:

Revenue – Expenses = Profit

Profit First flips it to:

Revenue – Profit = Expenses

In other words… profit is not what’s left over. Profit comes first.

This system didn’t magically make my business profitable.

What it did do was force me to look at my numbers every single week and make smarter, data-based decisions.

And when you remove your profit first, something interesting happens…You’re forced to run a smarter, leaner, and more efficient business.

Profit First doesn’t make your business profitable.

It reveals whether your business actually is profitable.

If you’re loving the Money Monday series, we’re just getting started. Over the next few weeks we’re diving deeper into the financial habits and systems that will help you stop feeling stressed when you check your bank account and start running a truly profitable salon.

Hit play 🎧 and learn what to do with every dollar that hits your business!

Click here to access the Podcast Recommendations Form and let me know things you would like to learn!

Being fully booked does NOT mean you’re profitable — and some of the busiest salon owners I know are the most financially stressed. In our very first Money Monday, we’re talking about the numbers and habits salon owners avoid but absolutely need if they want real financial freedom.

This episode is all about the one-hour weekly habit that completely changed how I run my business and how I feel about my money.

What We Are Talking About:

Revenue vs. Profit — why big revenue can still leave you feeling broke.

Why being fully booked means nothing if your pricing, productivity, and payroll aren’t aligned.

My exact Monday Money Ritual that keeps me calm, clear, and in control.

The simple 3 numbers I track monthly to make confident business decisions.

Why avoiding your numbers is the fastest way to stay stuck.

The Truth Bomb:

Busy is not a strategy.

Profit margin is.

When you start looking at your numbers weekly instead of emotionally reacting to your bank account, everything shifts — your confidence, your clarity, and your leadership.

Schedule a weekly money date with yourself. That one habit alone can stop financial leaks, reduce anxiety, and help you actually keep the money you’re working so hard to make.

This is just Week One of the Money Monday Series, and we’re only getting started. If you’re ready to stop feeling stressed every time you open up your banking app and start feeling powerful instead — you’re in the right place.

Hit play! 🎙️

Resource Mentioned:

Profit First Book

Because let’s be honest…

Every salon owner has one.

Had one.

Or is currently avoiding one. 👀

If you’ve ever had a team member who:

– Doesn’t listen

– Pushes back on feedback

– Skips meetings

– Gossips

– Drains your energy

– Is wildly talented but slightly (or very) toxic

This episode is for you.

When you first open a salon, you think leadership is:

- Hiring cool people

- Training your team

- Celebrating wins

- Posting team photos

And then reality hits.

Leadership is actually:

– Hard conversations

– Clear boundaries

– Documentation

– Emotional regulation

– Being okay with not being liked

– And holding it together when you low-key want to scream.

In this episode, I break down the 3 REAL reasons someone feels “challenging”:

• Lack of Clarity – No standards. No systems. No follow-through.

• Skill Deficiency – They were never trained properly.

• Character Issue – Gossip. Negativity. Entitlement. Misalignment.

And then I walk you through my 5-Step Framework for handling difficult team members with confidence (and without blowing up your culture):

1. Regulate yourself first (24-hour rule, always)

2. Document patterns — not emotions

3. Have a direct, face-to-face conversation

4. Create a measurable improvement plan

5.  Decide — growth or release

Sometimes leadership means coaching.

Sometimes leadership means “bless and release.”

You are not a bad leader because someone challenges you.

You become a misaligned leader when you avoid the hard conversation and let it erode your culture.

This one is bold.

It’s honest.

And it might be exactly what you need to hear.

Hit play! 🎙️

You say…

• “Not having enough time to train well.”

• “The time it takes to train.”

• “Not enough time in the day.”

• “My time is valuable and it takes time to train.”

• “No time to train.”

Sound familiar? 👀

In this episode, I’m lovingly calling you out.

Because I get it. I lived it. I built my salon in the “I’ll train when things slow down” era… and guess what?

Things never slowed down.

We’re diving into the truth behind the “no time” excuse and what’s really going on underneath it:

• Why busy feels safe (even when it’s burning you out)

• The fear that keeps you doing everything yourself

• How short-term comfort is costing you long-term freedom

• The systems mistake that’s keeping everything running through you

• Why “time isn’t found… it’s chosen”

If you keep saying you don’t have the time to train…

What you’re really saying is that staying busy feels safer than slowing down.

And that’s the lie.

You don’t need more hours.

You need to operate with intention and SLOW DOWN… TO SPEED UP.

No one is coming to hand you more time.

No one is going to clear your schedule.

No one is going to build your systems.

No one is going to protect your future if you won’t.

At some point, you have to decide that your future matters more than today’s urgency and to-dos.

And that decision? Will change your entire life.

Hit play! 🎧

Ever caught yourself thinking (or saying 😬):

“My assistant is lazy.”

“They don’t take initiative.”

“I’ve told them a hundred times and nothing changes.”

Can we please have an honest conversation.

In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the biggest misconceptions in the salon industry and it might be the ONE THING that is keeping you exhausted, frustrated, and stuck doing everything yourself.

👉🏼 Most assistants are NOT lazy… they’re lost.

When there’s no clear structure, expectations, or path for growth, assistants are left guessing. And guessing looks like hesitation. It looks like waiting. It looks like what we label as “lazy.”

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why clarity creates confidence
• The real reason assistants “don’t care” and why it’s usually not personal
• How “winging it” in training is costing you time, energy, and money
• What assistants actually need to succeed, stay, and grow
• Why doing everything yourself feels easier… but keeps you burnt out

If you’re already stretched thin, your body is tired, and you are juggling all your clients and the business… This episode is for you!

I’ll also walk you through exactly why The Assistant University exists, who it’s for, and how it helps salon owners just like you:

• Stop guessing
• Stop micromanaging
• Stop burning through assistants
• And finally build a team that truly supports them

✨ Enrollment for The Assistant University is officially OPEN — but not for long.

Doors close Friday, February 6th at midnight.

If you’re ready to work smarter (not harder), build real structure, and take your time back !

👉🏼 Tap the link right here to join us: https://lg-education.mykajabi.com/au

I cannot WAIT to see you inside!!

…and this episode might be the most honest one I’ve ever recorded.

This was not an overnight decision. This has been four years in the making, and inside this episode I’m sharing the real story behind it.

In this episode, I walk you through:

• The one decision I made at 23 years old that created every ounce of freedom I have today
• Why stepping away from behind the chair was the hardest and best move I ever made
• How Salon Lace grew 118% after I removed myself as the bottleneck
• The huge identity shift that no one talks about when you outgrow a season
• And how hiring my very first assistant changed the trajectory of my entire life and career

I’m also sharing the emotional moment, sitting at my kitchen counter as a brand new mom, when I said out loud for the first time, “I think I want to sell the salon.”

In a moment that the salon was doing so damn well… so why did I feel the need and want to sell it? It didn’t make sense.

If you’ve ever:

• Felt stuck behind the chair
• Known you need help but don’t know where to start
• Wanted more time, freedom, and support

This episode is for you!!
Before you do anything else, I want to personally invite you into my FREE Co-Stylist Confidence Workshop!
This training lays the foundation for everything I talk about in this episode and exists for the salon owner who knows they need help but feels scared to take the very first step.

👉🏼 Save your seat right here: Click Here
This entire journey — the wins, the mistakes, and the hard lessons — is the reason The Assistant University exists today!!

If you’re ready to build a team, work smarter (not harder), and create a salon that doesn’t rely solely on you… this is your next step.

👉🏼 Tap the link right here to join us inside The Assistant University!

This episode is proof of what is possible when you stop waiting, stop playing it safe, and start building something bigger than yourself.

I didn’t get here by accident.
I got here by making bold decisions, getting uncomfortable, learning as I went, and choosing growth — even when it felt incredibly scary and overwhelming.

You can do this too!!!
I’m cheering you on every step of the way! 💛

Before we dive in, I want to personally invite you to my upcoming free live training — The Co-Stylist Confidence Workshop!! It is BACK and better than ever!!

If your goals this year include hiring stylists, working less behind the chair, making more money, and building real systems in your salon, this training is for you!

Inside the workshop, I’m teaching:

• A simple way to pay a Co-Stylist or assistant
• My 39-week assistant training outline
• How to create work-life balance as a salon owner

When you show up live, you’ll also get a copy-and-paste Google Sheet with my actual systems from Salon Lace — plus my social media batching training in the first few minutes.

👉🏼Save your seat here:
https://lg-education.mykajabi.com/costylistconfidenceworkshop1?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Episode+163

Now let’s get into today’s episode.

I hear this fear from stylists and salon owners constantly:
“What if I train them and they leave?”
“What if I invest the time, money, color, foils, and education… and it doesn’t work out?”

Here’s the truth: Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will.
So many of you are making decisions based on something that hasn’t even happened yet.

Ask yourself:

• Can you afford to be in the exact same place one year from now?
• Can you keep doing everything yourself?
• Can you keep trading time for money?

There comes a point where you have to use your brain 🧠 more than your hands. 👐🏼

And if they leave? Let them.
Just like Mel Robbins says — let them. This is a business decision. Stop taking things so personal.

Let your dreams be bigger than your fears.
Get uncomfortable. Take action. 💪🏼
Because nothing changes if nothing changes.

And if this episode is hitting you, I’ll see you inside The Co-Stylist Confidence Workshop.

Sign up here: https://lg-education.mykajabi.com/costylistconfidenceworkshop1?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Episode+163