Clear out the clutter, refresh your strategy, and attract your dream guests.

Just like your favorite spring cleaning ritual, your marketing deserves a seasonal refresh. Now’s the perfect time to tidy up your online presence, tighten your message, and refocus your content so it actually works for you — not the other way around.

Here’s a simple checklist to help you clean up, level up, and feel ready to bloom into your next season of growth. ✨

✅ Website Check

• ☐ Is your website mobile-friendly and easy to navigate?

• ☐ Are your team bios and service menus up to date?

• ☐ Do all links (especially booking!) work correctly?

• ☐ Is your branding consistent — fonts, colors, images, tone?

• ☐ Are you clearly explaining what makes your salon different?

Bonus: Add seasonal imagery or an updated team photo to make it feel fresh.

✅ Google Business Profile Refresh

Stop Guessing. Start Growing.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your phone thinking "What should I post?" or "Is this even working?" — you're not alone. Social media can feel like a full-time job on top of your actual full-time job as a salon owner. But here’s the truth:

👉 It doesn’t have to be that hard.

Social media isn’t just about being trendy or posting daily. It’s about building a brand that attracts the right clients, showcases your team, and tells the world why your salon is special.

Let’s break it down into what really works (and what doesn’t) — without overwhelming you.

✅ What Actually Works

1. Consistency Over Perfection

You don’t need to post daily. You do need to show up consistently. Whether it’s twice a week or five times a week, stick with it. Social media is a relationship tool — not a billboard.

💡 Try This: Choose 3 weekly content pillars — for example: transformations, team features, and education. Rotate through them to keep it simple and strategic.

2. Tell Stories, Not Just Show Styles

Before-and-after photos are great — but the real magic is in the story behind the photo. Why did the guest come in? How did it change their confidence? What was the stylist's inspiration?

Understanding Tenant Improvement Allowance

When negotiating a commercial lease, one of the most critical aspects to understand is the Tenant Improvement Allowance (TIA). This is the money a landlord offers to help cover the cost of building out or renovating the leased space. However, before getting too excited about this financial incentive, it’s essential to clarify exactly what the landlord is paying for and how it impacts your overall lease agreement.

What is the Landlord Paying For?

If the landlord is offering a Leasehold Improvement Allowance, here are key questions to ask:

• Is the allowance covering the landlord’s required work? If so, there should be an appendix to the lease detailing the division of responsibilities between the landlord and tenant—even if the tenant is handling all the construction work.
• What is included in the build-out? Are there provisions for a ceiling, demising walls, an electrical panel, plumbing stub-ups, HVAC units and distribution? These are typically part of the landlord’s work to ensure the space is in a “vanilla shell” condition, meaning it is move-in ready.
• Is the Tenant Improvement Allowance repayable? A true allowance should not be tied to an amount the tenant must repay in case of default, nor should it factor into the calculation for Basic Rent.

In today’s competitive salon industry, exceptional service is no longer enough—what sets businesses apart is their Customer Experience (CX). CX is the overall perception a guest has of your salon, shaped by every interaction they have with your brand. From the first click on your website to their time in the chair and even post-appointment follow-ups, CX is the thread that ties every aspect of your business together.

Why does CX matter? According to Forbes, 66% of guests prioritize time as the most critical aspect of their experience, and 90% read reviews before booking their next visit. These numbers show just how much each touchpoint impacts your salon’s reputation and growth. With thoughtful attention to elements like personalization, consistency, and journey mapping, you can elevate your salon’s CX to not only meet but exceed guest expectations.

This blog dives into the key components of creating a standout customer experience, offering actionable strategies to review and enhance your service standards. Whether it’s redefining your greeting, refining your consultation process, or ensuring consistent excellence across every touchpoint, this guide is your roadmap to delivering a market-leading guest experience.

Happiness is not just a fleeting emotion; it is deeply intertwined with how we perceive challenges, setbacks, and growth in our lives. Emerging research demonstrates that mindset—the beliefs and attitudes we adopt about ourselves and our abilities—significantly impacts our sense of well-being and happiness. The distinction between fixed and growth mindsets, as explored by Dr. Carol Dweck and other researchers, provides a powerful framework for understanding how mindset shapes success, emotional resilience, and happiness.

Understanding Fixed and Growth Mindsets

A fixed mindset reflects the belief that intelligence, talent, or character traits are static and unchangeable. Individuals with a fixed mindset may avoid challenges and experience failure as a reflection of their innate inadequacy. In contrast, a growth mindset embodies the idea that abilities can be developed through effort and learning. This perspective fosters resilience and a willingness to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

Research shows that these contrasting mindsets influence how individuals cope with negative experiences. For example, people with a fixed mindset may interpret setbacks as a sign of personal inadequacy, while those with a growth mindset see them as stepping stones to improvement. Thus, cultivating a growth mindset can encourage positive emotions and enhance happiness.

As we head toward the end of the year, many salons and small business owners are busy handling the holiday rush. It’s tempting to put off some of the “bigger picture” planning—like setting your 2025 budget—until after January. But waiting until the New Year to start your budget planning can leave you behind, unprepared, and ultimately losing money. Getting your budget completed before January isn’t just a best practice; it’s the foundation for a profitable, sustainable year.

Here’s why establishing your 2025 budget is essential—and how it sets successful businesses apart.

1. Why Procrastination Costs You

Starting January without a clear financial plan is like setting sail without a compass. It is like consulting with your guest after you finish the haircut. Decisions become reactive rather than strategic, leading to financial leaks that erode profitability. For example, imagine launching into the first month with uncertain service costs, unclear revenue targets, or a loose idea of your monthly expenses. You may end up spending more on supplies, waste time on unprofitable services, or miss revenue opportunities because you didn’t allocate enough funds toward effective marketing campaigns.

I recently saw a TikTok from @BlakeReedEvans about how service providers react when they have a large hole in their schedule. A few days later I had a conversation with a salon leader who was struggling with people calling out when their first appointment wasn’t filled and it got me thinking about the whole topic of scheduling.

You obviously need to have a schedule that fits into your life. But you also need one that is appropriate for where you are on your career path. For many professionals, the schedule necessary to help them GET busy, may be different that the one that is possible once they ARE busy.

Regardless of where you are on that journey at this moment, it is important for you to be “all in” with your schedule. Another way to say it . . . you need to be 100% committed to whatever schedule you choose. If for you that’s 30 hours/week, be 100%committed to the 30 hrs. If that’s 12 hours/week, be 100% committed to the 12 hours.

I think it is important for you to actually tell yourself, “I’m committed to x hours per week in the salon and everything else needs to be scheduled around that.” Leaving the door open to thoughts like, “it’s okay to leave early if I don’t have anything,” or “I’m not showing up until I have something” can become problematic and affect you in a couple of ways:

For many small business owners, the most significant challenges often boil down to two words: time and organization. You know the drill—juggling operations, managing clients, putting out fires, and trying to fit 30 hours of work into a 24-hour day. This chaos becomes the status quo, and getting stuck in a survival mindset is easy.

But what if there was a way to regain control and change the trajectory of your business? Enter the Summit Leadership System (Summit LS)—a tool designed to help business owners, solo entrepreneurs, and leadership teams stop spinning their wheels and start moving toward sustainable growth.

The Chaos Trap: Why Do Some Businesses Avoid Organization Tools?

Why would any small business owner not adopt a system like Summit LS? Maybe it's because some feel weirdly comfortable in the chaos. The frantic pace becomes their normal, and they believe, "This is just how business works." It can feel easier to react in the moment than to carve out time to plan and organize.

But the hard truth is that chaos isn't sustainable. Eventually, the overwhelm catches up, leaving owners feeling stuck and burned out. Without structure, even the most talented entrepreneurs lose sight of their goals, and business growth stagnates.

The 2024 holiday shopping season is expected to show steady growth, with the National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasting an increase of 2.5% to 3.5% in total retail sales compared to 2023. This translates to holiday spending between $979.5 billion and $989 billion for November and December. Key drivers include a healthy job market, wage growth, and resilient consumer spending patterns despite lingering economic pressures, such as inflation, and weather-related disruptions.

Key Trends to Be Aware of:

1. Shorter Shopping Season: The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas will be five days shorter than usual. This compressed timeframe may lead to more intensive marketing efforts early in the season and a stronger focus on digital channels.

2. Online Sales Surge: Online sales will play a pivotal role, with projections indicating an 8-9% increase in e-commerce activity over last year. Small businesses should enhance their online presence to capture this growth, as online purchases are expected to account for around 30% of total holiday sales.

3. Cautious but Optimistic Spending: While consumers are more measured in their purchases, personal services such as salon and wellness offerings might benefit if bundled as experiential gifts, which are gaining popularity among consumers seeking meaningful purchases.

Running a salon means juggling creativity with business management, and navigating complex tax and financial responsibilities is part of the journey. To help salon owners avoid common financial pitfalls, our partners at Boyum Barenscheer have outlined essential steps to keep your salon compliant and financially healthy. From managing payroll for owners to accurately tracking sales tax, this guide provides actionable insights to streamline your finances, minimize audit risks, and protect your bottom line. Dive into these top 10 tax and accounting tips and set your salon up for success!

Note: Always consult with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) familiar with the salon industry to tailor these strategies to your unique business needs.

1. W-2 for any owners who are filing Form Schedule C or Partnership Form 1065

• Schedule C salons cannot pay wages to the owners.
• Form 1065 partnerships cannot pay wages to the owners, they would instead pay guaranteed payments which are similar to wages.
• IRS prohibits a Schedule C or 1065 from paying W-2 wages to owners.
• To fix this - immediately stop paying wages.

Maximizing Holiday Sales: How Salon Owners Can Prepare for a Successful Season

The holiday season is fast approaching, and for salon owners, this is an exciting opportunity to boost retail sales and strengthen customer relationships. With a bit of preparation and a strategic approach, you can maximize your holiday promotional efforts and ensure that your salon is set up for success. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get ready for the most wonderful (and profitable) time of the year!

1. Review Last Year’s Data

Before jumping into this year's holiday promotions, it's essential to reflect on the previous year's performance. Analyzing past data can help you make informed decisions about inventory, promotions, and team engagement. Here’s what you should review:

• Service Sales: Look at October, November, and December sales from last year. Identify trends or services that were in high demand.
• Retail Sales: Analyze the performance of your retail items during the same period.
• Guest Numbers: Check how many guests visited during those months and how many purchased holiday promotional sets.
• Signage and Promotions: Review the effectiveness of any social media posts, contests, or signage used last year to see what worked and what didn’t.

At Summit Salon Business Center, we understand the unique challenges faced by salon professionals. Our consultations often reveal two distinct groups: rental salon owners and top-performing stylists. Both groups, while successful in their own right, encounter limitations hindering their full potential. Let's explore these roadblocks and examine how the hybrid salon model can provide a strategic pathway for sustained growth.

Challenges of the Rental Salon Owner

Rental salon owners, often doubling as stylists, frequently express the immense workload and struggle to achieve profitability. Despite their dedication, many find their income barely covers rent and overhead. This disconnect between effort and reward can be disheartening.

Transitioning to a hybrid model can offer a significant advantage. By establishing a recruitment and development plan for new stylists, owners can foster sustainable business growth. Our Summit coaches can assist in creating a comprehensive career path and onboarding program, addressing critical aspects like pricing strategies and career advancement. Additionally, we can help design a compensation plan that ensures both the business and stylists benefit.

Disruption is synonymous with innovation. Disruptors bring new ideas to the forefront that are typically linked with technology to support innovative ways of working or performing. In today’s world, it’s never been easier to cause disruption. The question we must ask ourselves is, why disrupt? Is the disruption for attention or innovation?

The professional salon industry is not the first industry to attract publicity seekers. For years, publicity and attention were garnered for talent, intelligence, and results. Thankfully, those attributes hold true today, but there are new discussions percolating that unfortunately do the opposite. There are ‘hot’ ideas that remove measurements. An emerging theme we have been hearing lately is, “Why even bother?”

As described by the media, the "great resignation" has caused a lot of disruption in recent years. Even before 2020, SSBC taught and promoted flexible schedules and asking employees what makes them happy. We have since encouraged the companies we serve to embrace employee feedback and consider new ideas.

In 2006, when SSBC started talking about double-shifting and a 30–32 hour work week, many salon owners and professionals thought the notion was impossible. There is no doubt that double-shifting disrupted conventional thinking. It did, however, do something else that is noteworthy; it provided a math model to support the idea. Based on data, the average stylist had 8 hours of downtime during a 40-hour workweek. Further, upon testing and following salon professionals working shorter shifts, attitudes improved, and so did daily service averages—a win-win.

I’ve been wanting to start this conversation for a few months now, but I wasn’t quite sure how to approach it – mostly because it has all been changing almost weekly. In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept; it's a reality that's reshaping how we conduct business (OUR businesses) – in ways we may not even realize. And just think – five years ago I thought elevating the way we used Instagram and Google SEO was cutting-edge. For many salon, spa and school owners, the integration of AI tools, especially platforms like ChatGPT, seems exhausting at best and impossibly complicated at worst. I mean, we just cracked the code on Instagram (I’m both laughing and crying a little as I type this…)

Here’s the thing – we know from the events of 2020 and up until today – our industry continues to be in a state of rapid change. If we learned anything from the pandemic – it’s that as small business owners we have to “lean in” to adapt. We have to stay nimble and open-minded. We must embrace what is new and let go of what used to work in the past. As market leader companies, our ability to maintain that pole position is now dependent on our ability to adopt strategies that include AI throughout our business practices. So, let’s unpack all of this together…knowing this is only the beginning. (take a deep breath)

I think we can all agree that we're living in the digital age, where first impressions often kick off with a simple click. And for hair salons, your website is basically your online storefront. It's not just a jumble of pixels and lines of code – it's the virtual handshake that introduces potential guests (and stylists) to your fabulous brand. Imagine stumbling upon a hair salon's website that's like a work of art, perfectly capturing the salon's vibe and services. Instantly, you're hooked. That's the secret sauce of a well-thought-out online presence.

Now, when it comes to crafting the perfect website for your salon, our Marketing & Branding Team have your back. We get it because we're salon owners and managers just like you. We understand the unique needs of our industry when it comes to website development, and we're experts at delivering beautiful and effective results that will leave you and your team inspired (and busy!).

The Guest Experience: We know today's clients crave convenience and transparency, which means creating a booking experience that's as smooth as silk, giving them a sneak peek into their future salon experience, and introducing them to your awesome service providers.

We have been discussing recruitment at an elevated level since 2020. As new generations enter the workforce, companies and leaders must embrace new ways of recruiting and onboarding talent. A common reaction to new ways of working is frustration, angst, and abandonment. Many companies decided that training and recruiting require more effort than the reward, only to realize that lack of training and recruitment stagnates growth, cash-flow, and promotes the hostage syndrome. A classic chicken/egg conundrum.

As in most relationships, first impressions make up 80% of the future success rate. When it comes to recruiting, are you doing it wrong?

According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Gen Z (born 1997-2013) will comprise 30% of the workforce by 2030. It's already the reality for the salon industry, with 95% of cosmetology school graduates being Gen Zs (most of the current year’s graduates born between 2002 – 2004).

Deloitte's 2023 Gen Z and Millennial survey* uncovers Gen Z's high expectations for its employers and businesses. Gen Zs continue to believe that business leaders have a significant role to play in addressing social and environmental issues. Their most important concern is the high cost of living, and they worry about living paycheck to paycheck.

One of the most interesting things about the 12 different buyer types is that most people don’t even know what they are.

If you don’t know – THAT’S OKAY! You’re not wrong, you’re just missing out on a big opportunity for sales with both services and retail sales.

For example, if you have a salon client and she is the MOST interested in products that are NEW and EXCITING and yet you’re talking to her about your special offers and promotions – you are setting the sale up to fail!

Being able to identify a guests buying personality, or love language, puts you and your guest on the same page. With knowledge of the 12 Buyer Types comes power and you’ll be able to see increased sales, guests that will start purchasing from YOU instead of outside of the salon company and you’ll have a TEAM win by increasing the paycheck with higher service and retail sales.

This is all about the TRIPLE WIN! This is where the guest, salon company and team benefits.

HOW TO SPOT THE TOP THREE BUYERS:

1. “I got it for only $12 at Marshalls!”

When you compliment someone on their outfit or something they’re looking at and their first reaction is not to say, “Thank you,” but instead to say where they got it and how much they saved then you KNOW that you have a SALES AND SPECIALS personality in front of you!

Salon owners ask me, all the time, how do I get my team to SHOW UP for staff meetings?

How do I get them to engage?

Staff meetings have many benefits including boosting your salon culture, getting everyone on the same page as well as an opportunity to have everyone in the same room in a POSITIVE atmosphere. Here’s how to get the most out of that time together! Here are my top 5 tips:

• #1 Schedule in Advance
• Schedule meetings a year in advance and make sure your team has all of the dates written down. This advanced notice will increase the likelihood that they will be able to show up. It will also show how seriously you take staff meetings. When you can show how important it is to you, they will believe it is important as well.

I recommend having a staff meeting EVERY MONTH!

• #2 Best Evers!

I like to start the meetings out by asking the team to share their “best evers” from the month.

Service Providers are very proud when they are able to reach their goals and see growth, so you will definitely have people who will want to share.

Lynn Chisholm has dedicated the past thirty years to the commercial real estate industry. She is an authority in lease negotiation, with experience ranging from national, regional, and small, independent clients. In the professional beauty industry, reducing overhead costs is critical. As a leasing consultant with Summit Salon Business Center, Lynn walks through the process step by step with salon owners. Read on to learn Lynn’s tips for smart salon renewal leasing strategy.

A key question to ask yourself eighteen to twenty-four months before your lease expires is, “Do I want to remain in this location?”

If the answer is yes, and you do not have a renewal clause, here is Lynn’s advice: “Without time and negotiation, you will be signing off on the highest rate the landlord offers you. Worst case scenario, you risk losing your space if the landlord chooses not to renew your lease. You may then be scrambling to find a new location. If your lease has already expired and the landlord even allows you to stay until you can move into a new location, they may charge you double the rent until you leave.”

The majority of salon owners come into the industry as stylist - stylists who are passionate about serving guests and making people feel beautiful and confident. As a stylist, your career is focused on you and your goals and on the customer service that you deliver to your guests. It is incredibly rewarding, and the amount of positive affirmations you receive from your guests throughout the day are addictive and highly satisfying.

When a stylist transitions into becoming a salon owner everything changes.

It is no longer about you and your day and your guests, it is about your team. It is about what you are doing to nurture every employee into becoming the best that they can be– and this transition is difficult, to say the least.

I spent many years continuing to work behind the chair as I ran my own salon company. The day came, however, when I realized it was time to step away from my clientele and step into my new role as leader and mentor.

I have been talking about the "digital quantum leap" for almost 3 years now. I can't believe we are coming up on three years... time is so strange nowadays. Of course 2020 disrupted our industry in countless ways. From the great resignation to the zoom phenomenon, no-show policies to flex-work schedules - as business owners we have literally pivoted over and over (you should be proud of yourself by the way).

As we slide into 2023, new patterns have begun to emerge. Our guests have settled into their work-from-home routine. Stylists are again seeing the benefits of working for a team-based, commission salon company. The salons that sadly did not make it through the last three years have left a market filled with larger, successful salon companies and busy suites. With all of this being said, competition for guests, talent and resources is only going to grow more and more intense. For any of you that had experienced large influxes of new guests over the past couple of years, I believe that you will now have to market smarter and broader to claim the same marketing share and maintain your position as a market leader salon.

So, what is Summit Salon Business Center doing to elevate our industry? When people talk about innovation it’s always about the latest and greatest. Most people think that innovation is doing things differently, “new technology” or a new product that will change the industry. But innovation at its core is about “added value” and in our industry that means creating a difference in people’s lives.

We are not just innovators at Summit, we are a revolution! We add value and impact the salon industry by providing the systems and coaching you need to have your dream salon and change people’s lives for the better.

Summit life looks like this:

Six-Hour shifts + Six-Figure Income

Gone are the days of 10+ hour shifts. Your physical and mental well-being are more important than working more to make more! Summit teaches you how to work smarter, not harder.

Flexible Scheduling

The #1 reason why stylists leave commission salons is because they want freedom. If innovation is about “added value” this is one place you can add the most value for your team.

Inclusive Gender-Neutral Pricing

Since March 2020, I’ve made the observation that in the face of the pandemic and the ensuing shut down, salon owners exercised a completely different set of “muscles” with regard to their businesses. Whether it was the shock, the suddenness, the unknown nature and potential duration of the threat, it seemed that salon owners went to a whole new level of fiscal discipline as well as creativity about how to keep their businesses afloat. This expressed itself in unprecedented levels of financial planning, budgeting and resourcefulness around preserving and protecting cash. It also fostered new levels of creativity in areas such as scheduling, defining and protecting the guest experience, building of team/culture, and even new services such as curbside and/or delivery of retail to guests. These activities gave us something useful and productive to do as uncertainty swirled around us. They also got results!

Unfortunately, as the imminent threat passed and the perception of long term damage faded in the minds of many business owners, old habits gradually came back to the forefront. This took the energy out of some of the wildly creative and innovative ideas that had been implemented in times of crisis. Flush with PPP money, newfound respect and appreciation for our services from guests, and a surplus of guests seeking new homes, our industry got “so busy being busy” that creativity and innovation gave way to the status quo.

The science of happiness is the most popular class in Yale's 300+ year history. Dr. Laurie Santos created the course and beautifully points out that "if you are in a better mood, you will find a better solution." Santos maintains that happiness can be a key to your health and positive performance and improve your immune functions. She highlights that many people wait to focus on happiness as they attempt to sort out other factors when happiness is the key to sorting it out.

Summit is a happiness project that continues to impact thousands in the professional beauty industry through its consistent approach to coaching and mentoring a team to achieve their own definition of happiness. As salon leaders, we tend to project our definition of happiness on our employees. In some ways, it is a natural process that occurs due to a shared vision and values. In other instances, it can cause unnecessary conflict or undue pressure due to the various stages of the employee's personal life. To stay dialed in and create a positive culture, consistently ask your team a straightforward question, "what makes you happy?"

Dr. Santos prefers the term work-life harmony over work-life balance. She offers ten happiness facts to consider:

We all know that it’s IMPOSSIBLE at the front desk to keep everyone we love. We cannot afford to pay them millions of dollars for all of the hard work that we ask out of them. So how are you supposed to increase loyalty and motivate your front desk team to do a great job for your company?

We have worked with thousands of salon companies across the country and what we have discovered is that performance-based rewards work! When we partner goal setting, tracking and cash rewards – we see better results, and most of all – happier front desk team members.

What this looks like:

Every single week, we are tracking our front desk teams progress.

At the end of the month, we put all of it together and I total everyone’s team goal as well as their individual target goals.

Then at our staff meeting and in our private Facebook page, we announce the total dollar amount that each front desk team member was able to bring in. We calculate Referrals, Additional Services, Gift Cards and Packages for that month.

Making this announcement is really important because it emphasizes the Triple Win! The Service Providers will see the overall impact that the Front Desk has on bringing in more money for them and the Front Desk Team feels acknowledged and proud – all of this better serves guests and the salon company as a whole.

You don’t have to run your salon company alone.

Would you rather feel isolated OR have a partner with you, a community to share with, and a pathway that can help you grow to the next level?

As salon owners, we opened our companies with the mission to do it better, bigger, faster than who we worked with before or who we graduated school with. Many of us opened our companies out of an emotional reaction to our surroundings and with a dream. Oftentimes, we get in over our head, because we lack the foundational knowledge to create what we dreamed of.

The truth is that we can only go so far as our experience allows us to go.

If you look at the most successful companies, salon’s and even in other industries, they all have something in common. It is that at some point, they realized that they didn’t have all of the knowledge that they needed in order to scale their business, and so they decided to bring in coaches and mentors to help them - or, as Michael Cole calls it, they invested in “Welcome Intruders.”

Salon owners face so much. We are inundated with social media, inventory guidelines, budgeting, restructuring, how do we hire, how do we train, how do we keep your team motivated… etc. And who has the time to focus on these challenges? Especially if we are still working as a service providers within our companies.

Studies suggest that our mental health is linked to successful work/life balance, but many believe that this delicate weight of scales is an unachievable dream. As the owner of nineteen salons, and two medi-spas, Peter Mahoney understands the multiple stresses and pressures that owning a business brings to the table.

Here are Peter's Top 5 Tips for Achieving Work / Life Balance:

1. PLAN AHEAD

• I plan my schedule a full year in advance. Personal vacations, time with family and friends and my hobbies go into my calendar first. Even if I am not sure yet what exactly we are doing, or where exactly we are going, I know that our time is secured. This way, work events can be filled in around the most important aspects of my life. Our personal life fuels our soul.

  It is when we feel good and creatively satisfied that we are able to lead our companies.

2. ONLY HANDLE THINGS ONCE

• I only handle things once. For example, instead of checking emails and messages non-stop throughout my day, I block time in my calendar to do “clean up” work. This means I only spend time reading emails when I have the time to to take immediate action, whether that means filing the email in a location, deleting it or responding. Scheduling time to take action, as opposed to spending time on tasks I cannot immediately take care of, gives me more time to manage more things.
• So many people are working sixty hour work weeks, but they are actually only doing the work of a forty-hour work week. They spend those remaining hours thinking about how they are so tired of working sixty hours a week. When you set your time up for success, you be able to then master the work of a sixty-hour week in forty hours or less.