word. with Gordon Miller

Part 3 of my 3-part series focused on the fast-evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This series is a part of my ongoing effort to offer important context as to the potential of AI to be highly relevant to salon professionals, managers, and owners. In this episode, I focus on how AI will likely influence work - across industries including the professional beauty industry. From research assistance to 'ideation partner' and educator, the potential to help us all in new ways is fascinating to consider.

Part 2 of 3 part series focused on the fast-evolving field of AI to offer important context as to its potential relevance to salon professionals, managers, and owners.

In this episode, I focus on how AI will likely influence the attitudes and behaviors of consumers/clients - and what that means for salons and pros. For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com to sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter.

Part 1 of 2 (possibly 3!) episodes focused on the fast-evolving field of AI to offer important context as to its potential relevance to the lives of salon professionals, managers, and owners.

In this episode, I share my take on historically and culturally relevant context as well as thoughts around the many and varied 'feelings' being shared by salon pros about this controversial topic. As in the early days of Social Media, I consider myself an early adopter of AI as it relates to beauty- and, once again, am doing my best to be a cautious 'evangelist' around this groundbreaking technology (that is not going away!). 

For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com to sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter.

After 4 decades of industry-specific experience, I admit to having a few "pet peeves" (defined by Websters as meaning "a frequent subject of complaint"). In this episode, I talk about my challenges around (1) lack of knowledge in business fundamentals, (2) the term "artists", (3) echo chambers of information, ideas, and inspiration and how they can hold us back, (4) the opposite of imposter syndrome, and (5) generational differences. For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com to sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter.

Apologies in advance for this rant on the danger of uninformed 'experts' actively encouraging total de-regulation of the pro-beauty industry by way of their Instagram posts. After decades of concerted efforts to promote and maintain the value of licensing, it's shocking to read posts by coaches with a big following irresponsibly sharing what I can only call 'fake beauty news'. I'm the first to say that licensing is imperfect -but let's not throw the proverbial 'baby out with the bathwater'. For more on the importance and value of licensing, I suggest www.probeauty.org as a great resource.

My solo riff on the challenges the industry faces today with workforce retention (across all categories of business models) and how beginning to talk about this topic as a larger industry could have a profound and positive impact on our perceived 'labor shortage'.

As independence rises, more are arguably at risk of leaving the industry sooner rather than later - and that has a ripple effect relative to the larger industry that is worthy of all of our attention. For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com to sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter.

If you follow me on IG, you likely know I'm a huge fan of quotes for the purpose of adding context to conversations, learning, business and/or life. Here's one that helps explain why: "It is often not the words but the message behind the words that makes a quote so meaningful. Even the shortest of quotations can convey the most powerful of messages, provide meaningful perspective, and impart hard-won wisdom." - Paul Ayoub. In this episode, I share a few favorites and discuss why and how they might be of value to most.  For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com and sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter.

A trip into the weeds of some big-picture industry numbers as well a look at best practices related to growing the salon business. And it was done with the help of my research assistant Roger (note: I've named my ChatGPT-4 bot Roger- and they actually respond to it!).  For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com and sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter.

Today, social platforms like Instagram are searchable - including by way of Google; and that is a game-changer for salons and pros. Consumers use social content to make decisions about how & where they spend. Many pros looking at employment opportunities check out salons on IG to help them decide if they should apply; & many looking to hire use IG as a first impression before interviewing. Listen in for more on what this all means. Note: For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com and sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter.

A renowned coach, marketer, & thought leader in social/digital media, Nina Kovner, Passion Squared CEO, gives us a 15-minute master class on the fundamentals of 'brand' & 'branding' -two words too often used interchangeably... in error.

Today perhaps more than ever before, the essence of who we are & how we show up (as businesses, professionals, or as humans) matters to those we connect with day-to-day. And just as education matters in your craft, so does it matter in raising the bar on your marketing game. For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com & sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter.