Dear Future Professionals,

The world is your oyster and anything is possible . . . if you have a plan.

Every plan starts as a dream. Don’t be afraid to dream too big. Don’t limit yourself because of your background or because of what you don’t know. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. There are ways around everything in achieving your goals.

Once you know your dream, don’t be afraid to do the small stuff it takes to accomplish that dream. If you’re sweeping the clinic floor, do the best job you can. You never know who’s watching. If they see you take pride in something as small as sweeping hair, they see the pride and integrity of your work. When a bigger job becomes available, they know and trust you’ll do the job right. But remember, integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

It’s wonderful to dream big professionally, but please remember balance. You can have success in your professional life and still enjoy your family and friends. I started my career as a cosmetology and Paul Mitchell educator, got married, opened a salon, had a family, and then opened a school. I’ve been able to balance my personal and professional lives—not always brilliantly, but always to enjoy them. Just focus on one thing at a time, and eventually they all come together.

Finally, find mentors who have already achieved what you want to accomplish. And while you’re at it, be a mentor. Everybody can be a mentor. We all have brilliance. Whatever you’re brilliant at, help people in that area, even if it’s just by inspiring them. My Future Professionals are my mentors every day. When you’re a mentor, you know people are watching and it keeps you on task of doing the right thing.

SHARON GAULT


Young Hollywood actresses flock to makeup artist Sharon Gault for her flawless beauty work. Her list of credits includes Madonna’s Blonde Ambition and Girly Show tours, the Emmys, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and an MTV video award for Christina Aguilerra’s “Nasty” video. She has worked with Catherine Zeta Jones, Charlize Theron, Renee Zellwegger, Johnny Depp, and many, many others. She has done music videos with Elton John, Justin Timberlake, and Mandy Moore.

With one of the most recognizable names in the makeup industry, Sharon is still one of the most approachable artists around. While teaching a class at Paul Mitchell The School, Costa Mesa, she invited Future Professionals to assist her in an upcoming show. Some of them took her up on it and had the experience of a lifetime. “When you want something badly enough in your life, you can’t be afraid to ask,” Sharon says. “You have to really just go for it.”

Sharon’s “Just Do It” message in this month’s MASTERS interview will inspire you to new heights and teach you how to find mentors, create contacts, and prepare yourself with education and experience.


If you enjoyed this month’s audio message, you’ll love our MASTERS Audio Club. CLICK HERE for more information.

ATLANTA SCHOOL DESIGNS WINNING AD


At the April 2006 Paul Mitchell School Owner’s Summit, John Paul Mitchell Systems Senior Vice President Creative Director Nanette Bercu issued a call for help: She invited the schools to submit ideas for a national ad campaign.

“We received an overwhelming amount of submissions, ranging from mini videos to mocked-up ads to concept boards to magazine collages,” Nanette says. A team from John Paul Mitchell Systems’ advertising department reviewed each entry, looking for a focused message, intriguing creativity, and a good fit with the existing campaign. They also evaluated how well each submission raised awareness about what John Paul Mitchell Systems is doing for the industry, and of course, how well it did at getting people excited about becoming Future Professionals in the salon, spa, and beauty industry.

Congratulations to Paul Mitchell The School, Atlanta, for submitting the winning entry!

FINDING MENTORS
from Connecting to My Future


A mentor does not necessarily need to be a famous person who owns a company or the author of a book. Think about your goals and look for people who have successfully worked on each of these goals. They are your mentors. For example, if your goal is to develop your client service skills, find a mentor who has a great clientele. If you want to learn how to be an instructor, find a successful instructor who can guide you. If you want to open your own salon, work with a salon owner. Think of each goal and ask yourself how a mentor may help you to grow and who that mentor may be.

Where do you look for mentors? Go where successful people work and hang out. Successful people, your potential mentors, are continually focused on things that help them grow professionally and personally. You can find your mentors at work, at social events, at educational events, in publications, and in professional organizations.

Talk about your goals with people you know. Your friends, family, and coworkers may be able to help you find a mentor who is perfect for what you would like to learn. Read industry magazines regularly; they feature top industry artists and salons.

Once you have identified a mentor, do a little research on this person. Most famous people have a bio or personal story. Send your potential mentor an introductory letter and request an in-person or phone interview. Your potential mentor will most likely be flattered and interested in helping you. Remember, however, successful people are also very busy, so you may have to be patient in getting your interview. In preparation, create several questions that will help you learn about the person.

There are many people around you who want you to succeed and are willing to help you. These people can become your mentors. Work smarter, not harder. Find and work with mentors who will broaden your perspective.

HEATH TANNER, CLASS OF 2006
North Haven Academy – A Paul Mitchell Partner School


Heath Tanner knows the importance of connecting with mentors. With a passion for makeup, the North Haven Academy Future Professional makes networking a top priority.

“Since starting school, I’ve had such wonderful opportunities to meet people like Vivienne Mackinder and Ruth Roche,” Heath says. When his school won a visit from Roche in a fundraising contest for the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation and Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, Heath assisted her with computer work and sound, then asked if he could visit her salon. Ruth said, “Anytime you want. Call me and let me know when you want to come down.” Heath took her up on it and recently spent a day assisting her at Rare NYC, her legendary New York City salon.

“If I know there’s going to be a performing artist at a nightclub,” Heath says, “I weasel my way in and give them my business card. I’ve met singers Christine W, Reina, Bette Midler, and Ultra Nate. Winn Claybaugh put me in touch with Beth Minardi, and she gave me contact info for Michael Christian, who did the makeup for the movies Air Force One and What Lies Beneath. He wants to meet with me and discuss doing hair and makeup for movies and TV.”

“If they say, ‘Call me,’ I take them up on the offer,” Heath says. And that attitude is already paying off. Although he’s still in school, he works for the Model Act modeling agency and does all the makeup for their photo shoots. He also does makeup at Lanphier Day Spa and does freelance work on the side.

“I’m just going to keep pursuing people who give me that one minute out of their day,” Heath says. “I don’t look at it as stepping on toes, I look at them as the rungs to my ladder to help me get there.”

“From the very first day you could tell that Heath is talented, personable, and likeable. He has all the traits of a person in charge of his own destiny. He’s always saying yes, even before you ask him the question.” — Mario and Laura Landino Owners of North Haven Academy – A Paul Mitchell Partner School “Heath called and asked if he could come to my salon. I said sure, and he did. People sometimes think it’s a lot more complicated than that. Heath has no fear. He doesn’t hold back; he goes for what he wants and I admire that.” — Ruth Roche President and Owner of RARE NYC Salon NAHA 2003 Master Stylist of the Year

JAKE SALK, CLASS OF 2006
Great Lakes Academy of Hair Design – A Paul Mitchell Partner School


Two days after graduating from Great Lakes Academy of Hair Design – A Paul Mitchell Partner School, Jake Salk attended a hiring fair and was selected as an assistant stylist for the new Kelly Cardenas Paul Mitchell Focus Salon in Fort Gratiot, Michigan. Cardenas and Great Lakes Academy owner Tina Black have teamed up to convert her Elite Expressions Salon (winner of this year’s Paul Mitchell Color Bar contest) into the joint business venture.

Jake’s goal of working in a Paul Mitchell Focus Salon is not just one option, it’s his only option, he says. “I was raised in this culture and I don’t want to leave it. One of the first times I met Kelly, he told me, ‘Commitment eliminates options.’ I don’t have a Plan B. If Kelly doesn’t take me now, I’ll be at that salon every day sweeping up hair for free until they decide to pay me to do it.”

That level of commitment and determination helped Jake succeed in school and connect with industry mentors. As vice president of the Design Team, he helped put together a fashion show that drew an audience of 500 and raised $7,000 for the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation and the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation. He founded and served as president of the Hair Cutting Club, and he frequently attended shows and events, where he volunteered to assist Cardenas and Advanced Academy Team members Michael Helm and Andrew Carruthers, among others. “Everything I can possibly get my hands on could open up a career opportunity down the line,” Jake says. “I asked Kelly if he needed any help backstage and he said, ‘Absolutely.’ To get him to our school, I told him I’d pick him up at the airport and do everything I could. If I hadn’t asked him, he wouldn’t have offered it to me. The opportunities are there. Just be friendly. Just ask.”

“There are opportunities like this at every single Paul Mitchell School, like having guest artists come to the school, or having Future Professionals assist Vivienne Mackinder at the Maly’s show or work with the ARCS team at Chicago Midwest. Jake had so many opportunities here because he always said yes.” — Tina Black Owner/Dean, Great Lakes Academy of Hair Design – A Paul Mitchell Partner School