What does buying a boat have to do with owning a salon or small business? Everything.

In this episode of SOS Small Business Success, Bonnie Bonadeo shares a real-life experience that became a powerful metaphor for business ownership and leadership. Just like many entrepreneurs, she jumped into something exciting—only to realize how much there was to learn to truly enjoy it.

Bonnie breaks down why many salon owners are seeing flat or slightly declining performance and why the solution isn’t working harder—but working smarter. She explains the importance of mastering the fundamentals of leadership, systems, sales, and mindset, and why focusing on just 1–3 key initiatives per quarter can create real momentum.

You’ll also hear insights on:
• Leadership and people management most owners underestimate
• Using technology to improve efficiency and client experience
• Why personal responsibility is the fastest path to growth
• How investing in yourself and your team changes the trajectory of your business

If you want your business to feel less like stress and more like freedom, this episode will help you take back the wheel.

Listen Now, Plus watch this on YouTube!

In this episode, we drop anchor on the real-life struggles salon and spa owners face when trying to grow their business. From missed sales goals to half-implemented strategies, many leaders feel like they’re drifting without direction—overwhelmed, under-supported, and unsure of what to do next.

After speaking at multiple industry events, I uncovered a pattern: the biggest challenge isn’t a lack of ideas—it’s implementing the right ones consistently.

Join me as we navigate why so many beauty business owners feel "lost at sea" when it comes to strategy, sales, and sustainable growth—and how to find your compass, course-correct, and turn small, powerful actions into lasting results.

Because you're not alone... you're just missing the map. 🧭

The 5 Challenges Holding Salons Back (And How to Break Through)

Salon owners are feeling the pressure, from hiring struggles to stalled sales and team miscommunication. In this episode, I break down the 5 most common challenges holding salons back right now:
1️⃣ Recruitment
2️⃣ Communication
3️⃣ Sales
4️⃣ Working on vs in the business
5️⃣ Structure & systems

Plus, actionable steps you can take today to start moving the needle in your business.

🎧 Tune in now and let’s shift from stuck to scaling!

#salonbusiness #movetheneedle #beautybusinesscoach #salonowners #leadership #podcast

Simple Ways to Lead... How Occam’s Razor Can Sharpen Your Leadership & Client Conversations)As leaders, we often fall into the trap of overexplaining, overtalking, and overcomplicating conversations that could be far more impactful with fewer words and greater clarity. In this episode, I introduce the concept of Occam’s Razor and share how applying this simple yet powerful principle can make you a more effective—and genuinely likable—leader. Tune in and learn to lead with clarity, confidence, and connection. Listen now... Or watch on YouTube.

Plus, join Nikki Le, Brigette Sobus, and me for The Beauty Leadership Lab May 17-18

Scale from a good leader to a great leader! Find out more here.

Inside The Beauty Leadership Lab!
Featuring Special Guests: Brigette Sobus of Power & Joy Coaching Academy and Nikki Le of Nikki Le Consultancy

Being a salon or spa owner isn’t easy. Every day brings new challenges—some you’re prepared for and others that leave you wondering, what now?

In this robust podcast conversation, we’ll explore the real struggles owners and managers face and share wisdom on how collaboration and innovative solutions can help you lead with confidence, clarity, and connection.

🌟 Join us May 18–19, 2025, at BASEONE in Dublin, Ohio
Discover how to lead with both heart and edge at www.beautyleadershiplab.com.

The ripple effect is a concept that describes how an initial event can cause a series of other events to happen, with the effects spreading outward.   What will you do differently this year to create a positive ripple effect? Also, what will you stop doing that impact the ripple effect? 

Listening Now and Join me on Monday, January 13t,h for the ACTion Planning Workshop.

Register at sosactionplanning.com

It’s that time of year to reflect on what we have accomplished and what frustrations keep us up at night.  As business owners, could you do this exercise?

What areas of your business have you been a fish out of water this past year or in previous years?  What will you do differently in 2025? 

Listen now as I share some examples of areas where if we don’t grow, we don’t go…forward!

Most of us enjoy the artistic and even the business side of beauty, but are you aware of the politics of beauty?  The issues we face as an industry range from changing policies to trying to eliminate the license.  Listen now as our advocate, Tamara shares what we can do and how to advocate for beauty for the issues now and for future generations.

Get involved! www.politicsbeautybarber.org

It’s never easy when a relationship is on the brink; no matter how hard we try, the connection seems lost at sea.  Turbulent winds and waves of emotions crashing create a sense of doom.  Whether it’s a personal or business relationship, being emotionally intelligent helps immensely, but even with the best intentions, we can lose ourselves in what to do.  Listen now to some tips for separating emotion and logic to help you get through the

Today, we discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in business, particularly for salon owners.

Listen now…