We recently connected with Colleen Mills and have shared our conversation below.
Colleen, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.
We are an industry with significant influence on how we make clients feel about themselves not just how they look. That’s the key element that corporate America gets wrong. A boost of self-confidence helps anyone. We are an industry that understands looking great leads to feeling great. When we “think” positive thoughts about ourselves we flourish a beautiful vibration on to others, but sometimes we all need convincing. What is better than that? Nothing.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
Imagine coming home from work and you can’t park your car. Why? Your daughter has your driveway full of cars from doing hair in the basement. What If I told you I went away to college and was doing hair off campus? Styling was a side hustle at first. It later became a reality that it was my gift. This gift provided and made room for me. I didn’t see me making a career of it. Schooling was brutal and a lot of people don’t finish! Cosmetology school is the study of hair, skin, nails, body system, bacteria, and more. It’s like nursing school. No one tells you this. The terminology and understanding of chemistry are crucial. Having your Master’s in Cosmetology is not an easy accomplishment. In fact, they tell you school is the hardest. It is! We do more in 10 months than some college students do in a year. We may not write papers, but we test like the bar exam.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I’ve had to unlearn childhood beliefs. Education is wonderful. However, it is not the only path for opportunity and financial well-being. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. They only tell you this because they couldn’t do it. I have made more money working independently for myself as a Master Cosmetologist/Master Colorist then I have working in Corporate America. Happier too. My figures are equivalent, or more than my previous college peers who have become Lawyers, Nurse Practitioners, and Bio Chemist. The point here is… set your mind, position yourself, and you will be the best version of yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mybellagiosalon.com
- Instagram: BellagioHairStudio105
- Facebook: Bellagio Hair Studio
- Linkedin: Colleen D.
- Yelp: Bellagio Salon