Level Up with Lacey

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 

Four years ago, I made one of the scariest decisions of my life, I walked away from behind the chair. My books were full, the money was great, and from the outside, everything looked perfect… but I was exhausted. I knew deep down that if I wanted to hit big numbers and do big things, I couldn’t keep operating the same way.

Sometimes, you have to quit really cool, money-making things to get to where you actually want to be.

This week’s episode is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the five things I quit that helped me hit my first million-dollar year. These shifts didn’t happen overnight, but they changed everything about how I lead, grow, and think as a CEO.

Here’s a peek inside:
☑ The moment I quit doing hair (and how that single decision tripled our salon’s revenue)
☑ Why doing it all yourself keeps you small and how hiring the right help changed the game
☑ The uncomfortable truth about avoiding your numbers (and how data became my superpower)
☑  What happened when I stopped holding onto money so tightly and started investing strategically
☑ The costly mistake of “hiring anyone with a heartbeat” and how I fixed our culture for good

This episode will challenge you to look at what you might be white-knuckling in your own business, the things that feel safe but are actually keeping you stuck.

If you’re ready to make more by doing less, this one’s for you.

✨ Your permission slip: Quit something on purpose. Because once you do, the coolest opportunities start to open up for you.

🎧 Listen now and start thinking like the million-dollar CEO you’re becoming.

Grab the Ultimate Assistant Guide Here 👉🏼 https://lg-education.mykajabi.com/ultimateassistantguide Use code 2025 to get $200 off! 

Suggest Podcast topics here ⬇

https://forms.gle/vAjcHPWjnhEkbQog7 

This one’s hands-on! Grab your planner, Google Calendar, or wall calendar because we’re mapping out every single major date, goal, and event for 2026. From one-on-ones and education days to retreats, content days, and (yes!) your own vacations, this episode will help you build the kind of rhythm and structure your team needs to thrive.

If it’s not on the calendar… it’s not happening! Let’s plan smarter, lead intentionally, and set your year up for success.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. Why Planning Now Matters
Stop leading in reactive mode, leadership is intentional. Learn how early planning shapes your energy, confidence, and clarity all year long.

2. How to Organize & Communicate Your Calendar
From Google Calendar to Slack or Facebook Groups, get a simple system to keep your team aligned and accountable.

3. What to Schedule for 2026

• One-on-Ones & Assistant Classes

• Team Retreats & Photoshoots

• Education Days & PK Classes

• Leadership “Train-the-Trainer” Events

• Promotions, Recruitment, and Gratitude Fridays

• Vacations + Financial Review Days (yes, both!)

4. How to Lead Proactively
Plan now so your team always knows what’s coming next. When your year is organized, your culture thrives.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• One-on-One Framework: https://lg-education.kit.com/34c2734255 

• Photoshoot Inspo Folder:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-gtqkkVV-eff4CADOaUp4Jzi2pq7C84E?usp=sharing 

• Pinterest Boards for Photoshoot Ideas:
  #1- https://pin.it/6kHPbeNRv 

  #2- https://pin.it/5lwIil9qh 

   #3- https://pin.it/7acGydQl6

• Team Retreats Episode:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-lacey/id1680369235?i=1000665041550 

• Train-the-Trainer Episode:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-lacey/id1680369235?i=1000624382657

• Train-the-Trainer Guide:   https://lg-education.kit.com/4ccedb98dc

  
  

Pour a coffee (or glass of wine 😉), open your calendar, and block out your entire year. Your future self will thank you.

📧 ⁠[email protected]⁠

📱 Text Line: 218-392-9054

💖 Instagram: ⁠@lacey_gebo⁠

Everyone loves the idea of having a team… until they actually have one. When I hired my first assistant at 23, I thought it would make my life easier… instead, it made me a better leader. It gave my body a break, but not my mind.

“New level, new devil. New opportunities come with new challenges.”

Fantasy vs. Reality

We all think once we hire, everything will get easier. But in reality, chaos comes first. You go from working in the business to growing people.

Assistants: The Most Misunderstood Role

Assistants aren’t “help.” They’re our right hand, our Co-Stylists, our future leaders. When you hire out of desperation, you create misalignment not culture.

“You can’t lead people until you’ve learned how to train them.”

The Hard Truths

You’ll be the bad guy sometimes. You’ll lose sleep. You’ll care more than they do. But every tough moment shapes you into the kind of leader your team deserves.

“If you avoid confrontation to keep the peace, you’ll start a war inside yourself.”

Why We Do It

Because it’s worth it, the lightbulb moments, the growth, the legacy. Leadership stretches you. It’s hard as hell, but it’s the most meaningful work you’ll ever do. 

Ready to start training your first assistant the right way?

 Grab our Ultimate Assistant Guide for $99 👇🏼

https://lg-education.mykajabi.com/ultimateassistantguide