Maybe you crave the freedom to set your own schedule.

Perhaps you want to have the choice of what protocols and products you use with your clients, or you want all the perks you’ve heard about being your own boss as a solo aesthetician.

No matter the reason, there’s no doubt that operating as a solo aesthetician comes with a variety of benefits, but one thing our industry tends to not shine as much of a light on is the behind-the-scenes.

The reason being: sometimes the behind-the-scenes isn’t as desirable or “sexy” as what you see paraded as the benefits of being your own boss.  

Now don’t get me wrong, these less-than-desirable things don’t make being an entrepreneur any less of an excellent choice, it just makes for one that should be thoughtfully considered before taking the leap into operating as a solo aesthetician.

Why?

Because not everyone is cut out to run their own show or take on the endeavor of entrepreneurship.

That’s why in this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, I’m sharing some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on my path in building a business as well as the key factors you’ll want to think long and hard about before taking the leap as a solo aesthetician.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why the spa industry lends itself well to branching out on your own using your unique skill set
• The pros, cons and major lessons you’ll learn as a solo aesthetician
• And the three questions you need to consider to decide if being a solo aesthetician is the right fit for you, your goals, and your circumstances

References Mentioned in Episode #010: Is Being a Solo Aesthetician the Right Fit for Me?

• Ready to create your own success as a solo aesthetician? Click here to access a vault of step-by-step marketing strategies, video masterclasses, and more!
• Read The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
• Ask questions, receive feedback and support from fellow aestheticians within our free Aestheticians Connect community.

Help us reach and measure our goal of impacting the lives and careers of 500 aestheticians by subscribing to the podcast and leaving us a review on iTunes!

As service providers, especially aesthetic experts who are inclined to give so much of ourselves to see our clients happy, it is all too easy to neglect our own self-care.

However, as my guest on today’s episode, Kimberly Spreen-Glick, explains, if we don’t fill up our cup first, we can’t expect to be able to provide our clients with the highest level of quality that we’re capable.

With over 25 years in the fitness, yoga and wellness industry, Kimberly has worked as a teacher, trainer, coach, program developer and director and has presented at workshops and conferences all over the world. In 2017, she founded the Make A Difference Academy, an online platform that provides inspired growth for Difference Makers everywhere, and remains a passionate student of life who uses her gifts to help others feel empowered to be themselves, let their authentic light shine and live the life they were meant to live.

In this episode, she shares the why and how behind her three critical steps for cultivating self-care, maintaining presence, and balancing our energy, especially as service providers.

If you find your mind wandering during treatments, feel mentally burnt out by the end of a workday, you’re finding it tough to find inspiration or motivation for growth, or you’re in an emotional rut, I know you’ll find the insights and takeaways Kimberly shares in this episode to be light-giving on a variety of levels, and I can’t wait to hear how it inspires and motivate you.  

Be sure to share those takeaways with me by leaving a review or posting in the free Aestheticians Connect community.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The importance of, plus how to initiate a consistent self-care practice
• What role self-care plays in our businesses in addition to our mental and physical wellbeing
• Inspiration for how you can fill up your self-care cup that doesn’t require any more than a few minutes of your time
• Why it’s paramount to our lives and business to maintain a mindset of continued learning and growth

References Mentioned in Episode #013: 3 Ways to Create Balance as an Aesthetician with Kimberly Spreen-Glick

• Connect with Kimberly via her website and on Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram.
• Enroll in Kim’s free mini-course, “Discover The 3 Simple Ingredients Anyone Can Use to Live an Inspired Life.”
• Learn more about Kimberly’s Make A Difference Academy and connect via Facebook and Instagram.
• Check out the expert resource recommendations for Iyanla Vanzant, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, and Marianne Williamson mentioned during this episode.

As aestheticians, I wholeheartedly believe we provide more than just beautiful skin. We’re also healers and confidence creators, so when I heard from one of my guests on today’s episode that 50-60 percent of aesthetic schools have closed since 2009, I was honestly shocked.

I had no idea our industry was experiencing such a shortage of educational avenues, and it got me thinking, “How can we as aestheticians be doing more to support and enrich the community and industry we’re a part of to ensure that it doesn’t slowly die?”

As I pondered that question, one of my guests on today’s episode, Maxine Drake, a leading spa consultant and coach, stepped in to help shed light on the subject and share how she’s giving back and creating educational opportunities on a larger scale.

Along with Maxine, I’m also talking with Malinda McHenry, a veteran aesthetics educator and Co-Owner of Bronzed n Beautiful (among many other notable accolades), about the current state of aesthetic education, the importance of giving back to the aesthetic community and industry, and how we can continue to professionally thrive through education.

In addition to those topics, we’re also talking about the incredible event Maxine is hosting in Hawaii on October 14 and 15, the 2018 Beauty Business Summit!

When you buy your ticket to the Summit, not only are you investing in your professional growth, but you’re also giving back to the aesthetic community since all proceeds from the event will go toward a funding grant for an aesthetic education institution.

I’m honored to have been invited as a panelist at the event where I’ll be speaking on “Retail Selling With Confidence.” I would love to meet you and learn with you there, so get your ticket today!

During this episode you’ll learn:

• The current state of aesthetic education institutions and why it’s critical they receive outside support from those thriving in the aesthetic industry
• Various ways we can give back to the aesthetic industry by imparting our gifts of knowledge and helping up-and-coming aestheticians gain greater experience
• How Maxine saw an opportunity to help up-level aestheticians’ business acumen while simultaneously giving back to aesthetic education through the Beauty Business Summit
• The benefits of participating in industry events and making professional connections
• How you can get involved with giving back no matter where you’re located or how much time you have

References Mentioned in Episode #014: Giving Back and Owning Your Role in Supporting the Aesthetic Industry

• Learn more about the 2018 Beauty Business Summit and to get your ticket.
• Apply for your school to be a candidate for the Beauty Business Summit Grant.
• Learn more about Maxine via her website and schedule a complimentary coaching call by click here.
• Learn more about Malinda and connect with her via LinkedIn.

When I first traveled to Japan in 2016, I immediately fell in love.

Not just with the place, but with the people.

They’re kind, inviting, present and take immense pride in their work, and as I explored some of their most prominent cities, I noticed that my experience with the people remained constant whether I was in a 7/11 convenience store or an upscale sushi restaurant.

Needless to say, it’s not uncommon to be inspired by travel, but Japan and its people genuinely offer an experience that’s uniquely it’s own, and I believe we have a lot we can take away and bring into our spa client experience.

So, in today’s episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, which I’m recording while on my second trip to Japan, this time to Kyoto, I wanted to share while immersed in the surrounding culture, the three core principles that I’ve experienced within the culture and among the Japanese people that you can use them to transform and enhance your spa’s client experience.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What it looks and feels like when you make people your priority
• How details matter when crafting a client experience that leaves a lasting impression
• What it means to be “simplistic” in a way that adds immense value (without creating a ton of extra work for you)
• How approaching an attitude of gratitude and service is one that can only come authentically

References Mentioned in Episode #015: 3 Takeaways from The Japanese Culture to Enhance Your Spa’s Client Experience

• Learn more about cultivating a presence practice by listening to my discussion with Kimberly Spreen-Glick in Episode #013 of Spa Marketing Made Easy.
• See the culture and mindset of the Japanese exemplified in the documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
• Join the free Aestheticians Connect community and give your feedback on this episode or ask questions within a supportive community of like-minded aestheticians working to create thriving careers.

Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?

Traditionally speaking, an entrepreneur is someone who owns their own business, which if you own a spa or operate as a solo aesthetician, would mean that you’re an entrepreneur!

But even if you work as an employee for a spa, and don’t necessarily have aspirations to run your own show, the insights shared in this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy will still apply because as you’ll see, every successful spa expert needs to possess these key qualities to achieve their definition of success.

After all, as an employee, you still have sales goals to meet and client bookings to fill, right?

So, as long as that’s the case, there’s always room for improving our entrepreneurial traits in skills, and this episode will help you do just that.

Today I’m joined by my good friend, Nicole Simpson, an aesthetics industry educator, aesthetician, international speaker, and most recently the AVP of Global Education for SkinCeuticals.

She’s traveled and worked in more than 37 countries educating on the skin, cosmeceutical science, as well as on business development and social media for aesthetics clinics around the world.

And as a co-founder of Aesthetic Influencer, an aesthetics education and support company created to provide the aesthetics industry with resources for business and social media growth, Nicole remains at the cutting edge of the aesthetics world to carry out her mission of elevating and supporting the industry she loves.

(You may also be familiar with her as she is one of the panelists from the Aesthetic Marketing Seminar I hosted in San Diego this past spring!)

In this episode, we discuss which qualities every skincare and spa entrepreneur needs to have and develop to build sustainable success on your terms.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why it’s critical to define your vision for success and how that aligns with the journey you take to achieve it
• The purpose of “starting with why” and how to find your “why”
• How your “why” and purpose helps you overcome entrepreneurial roadblocks the steps you can take to cultivate your why further and have it drive the actions you make in your work
• What a successful entrepreneur’s mindset consists of and the consistent attributes between successful entrepreneurs
• How understanding your own personality and perspective allows you to shape your journey to success

References Mentioned in Episode #016: The Key Traits and Practices to Become a Successful Spa Entrepreneur

• Connect with Nicole via her website, on Facebook and Instagram.
• Learn more about Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” via his book and by watching his TED Talk.
• Read “The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level” by Gay Hendricks.
• Take the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator test.
• Join the free Aestheticians Connect Facebook group.

Does the idea of going live in front of the camera leave you feeling frozen?

Yes, you know that doing things like Facebook and Instagram Live can be great for your marketing efforts, but you feel awkward being on camera, you don’t know what to talk about, and then the fact that you’re LIVE and can’t click the stop or pause button?

Forget it!

Listen, I 100 percent understand that putting yourself out there via live video can feel scary, but if you were brave enough to venture out on your own as a solo aesthetician or spa owner, you’re brave enough to sharpen your camera-ready skills.

Thankfully, with tips from experts like Tiffany Lee Bymaster aka Coach Glitter in your back pocket, you can build your on-camera confidence to begin leveraging the power of live streaming.

In case you haven’t guessed by now, Coach Glitter is my guest on this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, and she’s here to give you the honest-to-goodness truth: you can’t afford to not connect with your audience via video.

In case you’re still on the fence, according to a study conducted by HubSpot, 72% of respondents said that where both video and text are available on the same page, they would rather use video to learn about a product or service.

If that’s not enough reason for you to embrace video marketing for your services, I don’t know what is.

So, if you’re ready to get on board with today’s most effective social media strategy, listen in as I discuss Coach Glitter’s unique background as a pro makeup artist and how she became a live video expert, plus how to use these tools to boost your aesthetic expertise and grow your audience.

(And with a name like Coach Glitter, how can you not be intrigued?! Trust me, she is an expert who will give you the boost you need to finally click the “Go Live” button with confidence!)

In this episode, you’ll also learn:

• How Tiffany was forced to take the plunge into live video and has since gone live over 1,000 times, and has never looked back
• Why live streaming can provide a much-needed boost around building our audience and promoting our services
• How to stop playing small and start showing up through your online video marketing
• Her top tips for getting started with what to say, do and show when you go live plus how to leverage that live streaming content through your other marketing channels

Recommended Resources from Episode #018: Getting Comfortable with Live Video as an Aesthetic Expert with Tiffany Lee Bymaster aka Coach Glitter

• Learn more about Tiffany and her work as a camera confidence coach, branding expert and pro makeup artist.
• Check out Coach Glitter’s course, Lights Camera Branding!
• Connect with Tiffany aka Coach Glitter on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
• Ask your live video questions, receive feedback and support in the Aestheticians Connect Facebook group.

Energy healing, Reiki, incense and essential oils…if you’re anything like me, these ideas and concepts have always been a bit, well, “woo woo.”

But as I’ve opened my mind to holistic practices and how they can correlate with business, I’ve seen the benefits and, dare I say, become a bit of a believer.

From crafting gratitude and presence practices in my personal life to seeing how those practices correlated within the spa industry, I wanted today’s episode to dive deep into the concept of energy healing and energy flow, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to help lead this discussion and answer my questions than Silke Tyler.


For the past 30 years, Silke has honed her expertise as an energy healer and teacher of various modalities, including being a Reiki Master, as well as an artist. Not only does she have a breadth of knowledge when it comes to energy work and healing, but a true depth as well

In this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, she gives insight into how we can make our treatment rooms a sacred space for our clients as well as ourselves as we give so much of our energy as heart-led service providers.

If you’re already on board with the “woo” side of business, I know you’re going to love all the actionable takeaways Silke shares, but if you’re someone who’s maybe a little more analytical like me, I encourage you to approach this episode with an open mind and heart.

Because beyond learning a new practice that can impact your business, Silke offers advice that can genuinely transform the experience of your spa for both you and your clients for the better, and that is always something to strive for!

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What energy work and energy healing entails, Silke’s journey into this line of work and her philosophy on how energy healing can benefit everyone
• The importance of creating a sacred space as an aesthetician and what defines a sacred space
• How to begin creating a sacred space in your treatment room that allows for positive energy flow and a more connected client experience

References Mentioned in Episode #019: Creating a Sacred Space in Your Spa’s Treatment Room with Silke Tyler

• Learn more about Silke’s healing work via her website, and connect her on Facebook and Instagram.
• Learn more about Silke’s free resources and trainings, which she’s created for you to learn and grow, gain spiritual and holistic knowledge, insights and practical tools.
• Skip ahead to Episode 20 to tune in to Silke’s short guided meditation to take before servicing your clients.
• Explore essential oils by Aura Cacia.