Every salon/spa owner wants to get things done. But getting things done means getting control of your time.

But what about having a life?

Is it even possible to get things done AND still have a work/life balance? The answer is a major YES!

Getting things done means making progress. It means accomplishment. Heck, getting things done just feels good.

So why is getting things done such a challenge? I’m not talking about simple things like tasks on a to-do list.

I’m talking about those profound things that require courage, commitment, and tenacity to get to a better place.

FACT: The only way to be an owner and have a life is to take control of your time and get things done.

When it comes to getting things done, it’s the same for personal and business.

• You can’t lose weight or get physically fit if you don’t make better decisions on what you eat and make time to exercise and work out.


• You can’t advance or fix what’s not working in your salon/spa without implementing change.

1. It begins with a spark: That spark sounds like, “It’s my turn.” “I’ve had enough of ________.” “I’m going for it.” “It’s time.” Sometimes your current reality needs to become frustrating enough to spark the decision to change. The spark momentarily opens a door to your future and new opportunities. KEY: You must seize the moment. Never ignore the spark because it may or may not return.
   
   


2. You can do whatever you choose to do: Getting things done takes action and effort. Likewise, making excuses, procrastination, and avoidance also require action and effort to prevent progress and opportunity. Why put energy into holding yourself and your business back? KEY: You can choose to hang on to your current reality or you can choose to do things that move you closer to your dreams and vision. Success is always a choice.


3. The alignment thing: Everything is a trade-off. You can’t lose weight without some form of food management. You can’t eliminate financial stress without making serious changes to your business and spending. You can’t deal with employee challenges if you allow yourself to be held hostage. You can’t build a viable business brand without implementing structure and accountability. Lastly, you can’t make personal time without rethinking how you spend time in your business. KEY: You can’t get new things done if you don’t let go of something else.


4. Creature habits vs. time: We are all creatures of habit. There’s a time we wake up, a time we go to bed, and days filled with routines that we follow. If your goal is to get new things done, you need to change your daily routine. The statement, “I don’t have time for that,” really means, “Sorry, I refuse to adjust my routine to make time for that.” Let’s take that one step further by saying, “I’m addicted to my routine.” It’s interesting how a major life event can almost instantly make an individual break their routine to diet, stop smoking, or exercise. Why does it take a staff walk-out or massive financial stress for an owner to change his or her routine to make time for culture building and how to manage cash flow? KEY: There is time to do anything and everything you want to do if you build yourself a better and more efficient routine. The old routine never surrenders easily. It wants to keep coming back. Why? Because it’s familiar. It’s comfortable.


5. The things you need to do: Sorry, there are responsibilities to get things done that just may not be fun and exciting. I’ve never met an owner that says, “Oh boy, I can’t wait to do performance reviews,” or, “Building a cash-flow plan is the most exhilarating thing I do.” No owner or manager looks forward to having a fierce conversation with an employee or having to fire a problem employee. The same goes for making better food choices, going to the gym, or engaging in some form of fitness routine. KEY: Getting things done requires self-discipline to do the tougher stuff that leads to the good stuff.


6. You don’t have all the time in the world: We have but one life to make our mark in this world. You either challenge yourself to achieve your full potential by getting things done, or you abdicate. Fear of the unknown and procrastination are opportunity killers. KEY: There’s something extraordinary about testing and challenging yourself. About believing in yourself. A little self-doubt helps to keep your ego in check. You will discover that getting things done will take you farther than you ever imagined.