Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keri Burns. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Keri, thanks for joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?
Do I take vacations? YES! However, as a business owner a “vacation” often looks different for me than it used to. I travel as often as I can, whether with family or friends. Most of the time I schedule some time for work during my travels. However, when I feel that I have the opportunity to unplug, I prepare my staff for my absence and allow my leadership team to take over. My advice to fellow entrepreneurs? Everything will be OK. Create a team that is passionate about your mission and give them the gift of freedom and trust. Make sure that there is a system of accountability and leadership in your absence. They may not do things the way that you do, but that’s ok! Chances are you could learn something from them. Having confidence in your team is empowering for the entire company. Experiment with doing things differently until you find what works for you. Be flexible. When you find what brings you joy, keep doing that. When it doesn’t bring you joy any longer, change your approach.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I began my journey in the cosmetology industry 20 years ago. It was an unexpected opportunity that turned into a lifelong passion. I was searching for a fulfilling career that would also allow me the flexibility to grow my family and be present as a mom and wife. After earning my Bachelor’s Degree and gaining some experience, I decided that the corporate world wasn’t where I needed to be at the time. I had never considered working in cosmetology, however a few friends were convinced that I should explore the industry. I became a licensed manicurist and esthetician and spent the next 15 years learning about the industry and what success looked like for me. Over the years I found incredible fulfillment in the deep relationships that were formed and nurtured through my craft. Relationships with clients, coworkers, business owners, and more. I found myself helping cancer survivors feel beautiful again after treatment, celebrating the joy of life as people shared their life experiences with me, and becoming a confidant to those enduring difficult times. Throughout the years, I began thinking about what it would be like to own my own salon & spa. What kind of an impact could I make in the industry? How could I help aspiring service providers be seen as the professionals that they have worked so hard to become? Most importantly, I thought about how I could help others find fulfillment and success in their lives. As my children were in the midst of high school, the Covid pandemic turned everything upside down. My career was stalled… I thought. What would I do now? Would it ever be the same? All of the worry and fear came, but along with that came peace with the decision that this was not the end of the road. It was the beginning of our new story. I was blessed with time with my family as well as time to create a business plan and take the biggest leap of faith I had ever taken. I outlined what was important to me and what I would like to accomplish within the industry… and then I bought a salon, day spa, and bar! These past three years have been some of the most emotional, yet rewarding years of my entire career. I am blessed with an amazing staff who is eager to learn and has the same passion for their craft as I do. They are patient and loyal, they are kind and respectful, and they love to create a connection with our guests. Most importantly, we are all committed to supporting not only each other, but other businesses as well. After all, success in this industry isn’t about outselling another salon in our area. It isn’t about having all of the clients to ourselves. It is about staying relevant in the industry, being the best for our clients, and attracting the best clients. To be successfull, to find the greatest joy, we all need each other.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
Oh we don’t like to talk about our failures! But let’s face it, without failures we wouldn’t grow. Owning a business is not for the faint of heart. There is nothing like the feeling of doom when you aren’t sure if you can meet payroll. 25 families are depending on you and you don’t know where you went wrong. This experience has a way of making you dig deep, lose some sleep, and make some changes. The part I never realized was that no matter what I learned or changed to ensure it never happened again… it did. (Sometimes it takes more than once to learn the lesson.) But rather than running away, I used those opportunities to learn. I networked, I learned more about accounting than I ever wanted to learn, I found creative ways to find funding and increase visibility. The experiences made me willing to be creative and work harder than ever. Bottom line, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes… and you also have to be willing to never give up.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have to pivot all of the time. Flexibility is key! I heard once from a successful business woman “there is no such thing as balance”. That seemed a little ominous, but its true and its a great thing to remember. My business is more than an hour from my home. My first thought? No problem. I’ll find balance. Here I am 3 years later still looking for that balance. I have learned it is more important to follow my heart than to try to create so-called balance. If I am stressed, I need more time at home. If I’m overwhelmed, I need more time in the office. Every week looks different, and that is ok. That is what works for me, for now.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.serendipitylinden.com
- Instagram: @serendipityoflinden
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serendipitylinden
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keri-burns-bb886b115/