• Be Flexible. As cosmetologists build experience with working with different clients, they begin to realize that each client has his or her own distinct personality. Some are chatty while others are shy; some know exactly what they want, while others want your guidance; some are picky, while others want you to experiment. The best advice? Try to be flexible. Give clients the chance to express themselves if they are feeling daring, or be prepared to give tips, advice, and your suggestions if they are feeling anxious or wary.
• Be Open-Minded. In addition to being flexible, professional cosmetologists should also be open-minded when it comes to what clients ask for. For example, today many clients ask for streaks of neon or bright colors. Be prepared for this by having some bright colors in your inventory ready to mix. This will show clients that you are on top of the hottest styles and trends and are ready to dazzle them!
• Be Creative. Clients appreciate it when salon stylists make suggestions on what would look best on them. This is your chance to be creative and unique in suggesting new styles, colors, techniques, and even make up tips that will go along with their new styles and dos.In addition to being open-minded, you can even get really creative by adding a twist with some neon-colored streaks, as mentioned above, or even extensions, and a rock star shag layered hairstyle with various streaks and colors.
• Be Professional. This one is probably a no-brainer, but is certainly still worth mentioning. In working with clients and/or running and operating your own salon, you are probably very organized, detailed, and efficient in taking and/or managing appointments, providing a clean, well-maintained, and well-stocked salon, and maybe even employ other equally professional cosmetologists so that your salon and brand stand out in the community.However, it is becoming increasingly popular and necessary today to also communicate with clients via text messages and social media. This is where professionalism can lose some of its edge. It’s a great business and marketing strategy to operate a Facebook fan page and post pictures of clients and their new looks and hairstyles, but its’ still more important than ever to maintain a certain level of professionalism.

The world and society is constantly changing, and this includes how business and salons are run today. So how do professional cosmetologists stay ahead of the competition and still offer a great service to clients that other salons can’t beat? Implement these four cosmetology tips into your everyday and regular salon practices and really see your business boom. Promise and provide your clients with a service that is flexible, unique, creative, and professional.

The newsletter went out, and honestly, I had a moment of doubt after that. What if I was being “too honest”? What if it offended some people? Oh, big deal, they won’t like me anymore and they will unsubscribe. So? Let’s say people got really annoyed and 100 of them hit that button. I will still be well over that “1,000″ mark and hey I know how to grow my list so it will be back to where it started within a month. I will feel a little sad, but…

It’s more important that I be who I am and say what I feel needed to be said.

Many coaches, especially those who are starting out, have the fear of “rejection” in the form of people unsubscribing from their lists. I can totally understand, when your list has only 50 people, 2 people leaving can seem like a lot – and personal. You may start doubting yourself, the value of your work, and the validity of your newsletter content.

Reality is, you don’t have the control to prevent people from hitting the unsub button. However, you can:

Inject regular GROWTH SPURTS into your list!

Assuming you are providing valuable content and not spamming people, there is nothing to be “afraid” of.

Simple math: subscribe > unsubscribe = list growth!

If you are consistently putting your effort into growing your list, unsubscribe will soon lose its scariness.

Besides growing your list, here are a few more things you can do to ”Unsubscribe-Proof” yourself:

• stop receiving unsub notification which can bring you down (most of the time, people unsub because they are getting too many emails. Nothing personal) and don’t get obsessed when you look at your newsletter report;
• know that the process of unsubscribing is a way of “self-selection” – those who are not interested in hearing from you probably won’t buy from you anyway. When you get to the point of doing joint ventures, it’s way more attractive to your potential partner that your list has an open rate of over 30%, rather than a measly 15%;
• make sure that you continue to provide valuable content;
• put a personal touch in your communication so your newsletter doesn’t fall into the “just yet another promotional email” category; and
• communicate with your list at reasonable and regular intervals, and pay attention to the balance between content and promotions.

A high-quality list is the key to successful product and program launch. If you have plans to end that “feast and famine” cycle, stop “pounding the pavement” and leverage your time, effort and knowledge to make more money while working less, grab this List Engagement System – it will rock your world.

Ling Wong, “Make It Big Accelerator” and founder of Slideberry, provides Marketing Activation for health and wellness practitioners. Slideberry supports health and wellness professionals with done-for-you materials, marketing consultation and business coaching services so that they can “Get Out There Make It Big” without having to reinvent the wheel, get lost in confusion and information overload, or missing opportunities because they don’t know where to begin. Visit http://slideberry.com/freebies/ to grab your FREE juicy templates, done-for-you articles, and smart strategies trainings to propel your business forward

Few things are as important as the quality of the food we eat.  Unfortunately, as science progresses and new methods of food production are developed, the quality and genetic makeup of food seems to suffer.  As food manufactures look for ways to market less costly and less healthy foods, it is important for consumers to understand the distinct differences between products labeled as organic, natural, and local.

Organic Foods

Foods classified as “organic” continues to be a closely regulated and monitored process.  When labeled organic, the product is virtually guaranteed to be free of toxins, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMO), chemicals and added growth hormones.   Furthermore, the land on which the food was grown or raised must have been free of chemicals used as pesticides for at least three years prior.  Organic meats were raised in open air, free-range environments; the animals were fed a strict diet of organic feed.

As you can imagine, organic products are chemical-free and contain more nutrients than the foods produced by other methods.  Being closely regulated, organic foods (especially meats) are much easier to trace back to the producing farm.

Foods certified as organic are usually significantly more expensive than those produced for the mass market.  The label of organic is also not a guarantee that animals were raised in a clean environment or on a farm that treats animals humanely.  Also important to note, foods produced with at least 70% organic materials can be classified or labeled as “made with organic ingredients”.

Many nutritionists and health experts recommend buying organic fruits and vegetables such as apples, grapes, peaches, peppers, cucumbers and leafy greens.

Natural Foods

The term “natural” is more generic and less regulated than the foods classified as organic.  Often, foods classified as natural contain a wide variety of surprising ingredients; in the United States, the term often varies from state to state.  In fact, since the FDA does not regulate the terms “natural” or “all natural”, the foods labeled as such vary greatly.  The broad accepted understanding of foods labeled as natural is those that are free of artificial color, flavors and artificial ingredients.  Foods labeled as natural are not precluded from containing GMOs, pesticides, antibiotics, and added growth hormones.

While not as beneficial as organic foods, natural foods are typically free of added dyes and artificial flavors, both of which have been recently linked to various health concerns.

Local Foods

Foods classified as “local” are typically those produced regionally, usually by a small farm close to home.  There are no regulations on the term local; since these products are not shipped long distance, they tend to be fresher and contain more nutrients.  Purchasing local products is also a way to reduce pollution (from fuel) and support local, sustainable farm-to-table efforts.

While there are many different labels on many different items, health conscious consumers benefit when they read labels and ask questions as to the source of the foods they are eating.   Local, organic products are the preferred choice for supporting a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.

Did you know, The National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences concluded in a recent survey, within the cosmetology industry, even with significant levels of hiring, nearly three-quarters of the salons were not able to find applicants.  This suggests that Cosmetologists are in high demand!

Due to the increasing population; demand of personal appearance services and hair treatments; Cosmetologists stand to gain significant business and income.  But in order to amass a large part of this growing industry, you must prepare yourself by building a credible, well marketed business with friendly, and knowledgeable staff.  Here are a few tips to get you on your way to becoming a successful Cosmetologist.

Training and Education

A true professional never takes short-cuts when it comes to their training and education.  Especially within the world of Cosmetology, it’s imperative that you are properly trained in skin care and hair care technique.  Your education and training in Cosmetology will be vital to your overall success.  Be sure you are properly trained by an accredited Cosmetology institute.  You should always keep up to date with the latest trends, styles, procedures and equipment.

Who Are You Marketing Too?

Understanding who your clientele should be is essential in finding your niche within the world of Cosmetology.  You should ask yourself:  “What are my strongest traits and abilities as a Cosmetologist?”  Will my focus be:  as an esthetician, beautifying the skin, a shampooing technician, a manicurist, nail technician, make-up artist, hair stylist, hair colorist, or electrologist?  You should be asking yourself who can truly benefit from what I do best.  Whether you are a one-woman/man show or you have employees, each should know what they do best and promote those abilities to your potential and existing clients.

Marketing Will Be the Key to Your Success

If No one knows you are in business than what’s the point – right?  Business cards and word-of-mouth just aren’t enough anymore.  Your marketing should be as strong as your abilities as a Cosmetologist! There are now cost-effective ways to market your business, more now, than ever before.  Here are a few ways.

• Reach out to other sites/bloggers that focus on your demographic, asking them to review your services on their site.  This will create buzz about your services and business.
• Start your own website and blog.
• Create a page on as many media networking sites feasible including:  WordPress, MySpace, Facebook and Tumblr.
• Post in article directories like: Ezine, GoArticles and ValulableContent.
• Posting in business directories like:  Cannylink, Business.com and Dir.Yahoo.co, are still effective ways to advertise your business.
• Classified ads such as:   Craigslist, Classifieds.Yahoo and Classifieds.MySpace are still wonderful tools to utilize when promoting your services and business.
• Print advertising can be expensive but if you can afford it, it can be incredibly ideal especially if you have a specific location you’re based out of.  Though we are moving toward a digital age, people still love paper, and being able to access your website and phone number from a billboard, flyer or business card are still highly recognized and effective.
• Advertising engines such as:  Adwords.Google and Searchmarketing.Yahoo are PPC or pay-per-click advertising sources which can be pricey, but if you are looking to drive traffic to your website or blog, this tool can be most effective.
• While you don’t want to break-the-bank, or sell yourself short, to get people interested and to drive business, people love a good deal for quality cosmetic and hair care services so it’s always beneficial to you and your business to offer special deals, coupons, and discounts to current and potential clients.
  • If you are a sole business owner, just graduating from Cosmetology school and getting started, something to consider is walk-in trade.  In most instances you can depend upon the shop owner to advertise for you, especially if the franchise is already so well known and established.  This way of doing business is good for extra cash, but you should never count on it as your main source of income.  Work toward creating your own ventures.

It’s a great time for the Cosmetology industry as beauty and hair treatments from qualified professionals are at its highest levels of demand.  Feel good about your craft.  Know that others, who are on the receiving end, feel good about it too!

Our pioneer forefathers preserved the summer harvest out of necessity; to avoid starvation during the winter when fresh food was scarce.  After the advent of modern food processing few people bothered to preserve their own food.  Now, there is a trend back toward healthier eating and buying locally-grown seasonal foods.  The last decade has seen the re-emergence of farmers markets and more people are now planting gardens and growing their own food.

Food preservation is not difficult and there are many resources available for the novice.  Preservation methods include canning, freezing and drying. Canning is an excellent preservation method for a variety of fruits, vegetables, jams and jellies and especially for “blended” foods such as salsa or relish.  Most vegetables, fruits and berries freeze well, but are best used for cooking when thawed.  Drying works well for herbs, some vegetables such as peas, carrots, tomatoes, beans and for most fruits.

Food preservation requires little in terms of equipment.  For canning, you need a pressure or “hot water bath” canner, jars, lids, sealing rings and a jar lifter for removing hot jars from the canner.  A pressure canner is recommended for low-acid foods such as most vegetables.  Freezing food requires a kettle or steamer for blanching, a sharp knife for slicing and freezer bags or containers.  Drying food can be done in your oven although an electric dehydrator works best.

Buy a comprehensive food preservation reference book such as Preserving Summer’s Bounty or Stocking Up III, both by Rodale Press; or Putting Food By published by Plume Books.  Powell’s Books has a wide selection of such books available. These reference books are handy for looking up the processing time for canning a particular item, or how to prepare certain foods for freezing, and many include recipes for making foods like jams, salsa or pickles.  If you are a beginner, choose one that guides you step-by-step through the preserving process.

In this era of mass-processed foods, it is not necessarily less expensive to preserve your own food.  You can, however, buy produce in bulk while the items are in season and, therefore, cheaper.  Possibly the greatest benefit lies in knowing where your food came from, and the feeling of satisfaction you get from seeing your cupboard or freezer filled with preserved fruits and vegetables picked fresh from your garden or bought from a local farmer.  Shopping at the Portland Farmers Market or a nearby U-pick farm stimulates the local economy; your money stays in the community instead of going to a distant producer who must ship their goods across the country.

There are also websites available where you can get detailed information. The Portland Metro Area OSU Extension Service, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/metro, provides publications and information on preserving and storing food.  The Extension Service also trains volunteers who help to educate the public about safe food handling and preservation, by phone and at workshops and exhibits.

Download the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning from the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) website, http://www.uga.edu/nchfp. NCHFP also offers a free, self-paced, online course for those who want to learn more about home canning and preservation.

Why not give it a try?  Preserve some of this summer’s fresh bounty to enjoy the rest of the year.

About the author:

Tamara Muldoon is a Portland-based freelance writer and photographer.  She writes on a broad range of topics including wellness, healthcare, travel and business. When she is not writing or taking pictures, Tamara enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, music and reading. Tamara uses her training as a Master Gardener to grow and preserve food for her family.  Website: www.tamaramuldoon.com

What’s a co-op food store?

Co-op is short for cooperative, aptly named because it’s a democratic way to choose what to have in a grocery store.  Co-ops (the members that own them) buy straight from the local producers with no chain store acting as the middleman.  New Seasons is great for what it is, but if you really want to get involved in where your food comes from, co-ops are the way to go.  Plus, you will be nurturing our richly diverse local economy in untold ways – and meeting your neighbors to-boot!

As of now there are four established member-owned cooperative food stores, one in every quadrant of Portland.  Member-owned means that if you pay the membership fee, you actually own a percentage of the store and you get to vote on all sorts of things.  You can even propose what to vote on.  Plus, owners get discounts and special deals.  The main theme of all the co-ops is buying and eating local, sustainably produced grocery items whilst creating a community around how we obtain our food.

Food Front is one of the original co-ops in Portland having sprung up in 1972.  It’s apparently moved around a lot over the years but now it has two permanent branches, both on the west side.  One is in the Pearl District in NW and the other is in Hillsdale on the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway (SW of Portland).  Since I am an east-end girl I don’t know much about Food Front, but if you happen to live on that side of the river I recommend getting in with those guys.

People’s is the co-op I am most familiar with and the oldest in Portland – they’ve been “Feeding the revolution since 1970” as they say.  It’s a funky little spot close-in SE.  With a year-round, weekly Farmer’s Market (Wednesdays), plenty of opportunities to volunteer, owner guided tours of products, free and small-fee yoga classes and more, they have become a true health hub for the community.  People’s has got an exciting Earth Day planned this Wednesday, the 24^th including a seed and shoot exchange, an animal mask-making booth for the kiddos (and kids at heart), live music all day, plus their usual farmer’s market where you can meet the farmers that grow the food you buy.

Alberta Co-op Grocery on NE Alberta is, I am guessing, the smallest, but no less committed to buying the best local products and produce around.  It began in 1997 as a neighborly buyer’s club.  Some of those neighbors came together and created a store that opened its doors in 2001.  It’s located right on Alberta street, in the midst of the Last Thursday Art Walk.

Live further east than all of that?  I am pleased to announce there is a group currently working toward getting a co-op together in the Montavilla neighborhood (just east of Mt. Tabor).  They only have about 150 owner-members so far and need at least 300 to really get a move-on toward buying a spot for the store.  The Montavilla Co-op website helpfully lists and links to all of the other co-ops in the city here.  For the home gardeners they’re hosting a seed and shoot exchange on the afternoon of Saturday the 27^th from 12-3 in Mt. Tabor park, across from the public theater.

To become an owner of any of the co-ops you pay $150 or $180 depending on the place – which may sound like a lot but you can pay it in very small increments, like $5 a month until it’s paid off.  Also, you’re an owner as soon as you make the first payment and it’s refundable if you no longer want to be a member.  Basically, you’re buying refundable equity.

There is also a co-op in Vancouver, Washington, if you live up there and are only a sometimes-Portlander.  It’s called the Vancouver Grocery Food Co-op, but that’s all I know about it.

Other little groceries I recommend checking out, though they are not co-ops, are the Local Choice Produce Market in the Pearl and Proper Eats in St. Johns.  We are enormously lucky to live in an urban area directly adjacent to where so much wonderful food is and can be grown.  I say let’s keep it that way by voting for the food we want with our time and money.  What better way to nurture our community than by supporting our local (especially local organic) farmers, co-ops and grocers?

jotmoxy is the author of pdxn.wordpress.com and jotmoxy.wordpress.com.  She is a curious freelance writer and mom living in Portland, Oregon.

I don’t do Red Bull, I don’t even drink coffee. I don’t have super power, heck, I don’t even have a sitter!

So I took a good look at my typical day, and here are a few productivity tips for ya:

• I am focused – I don’t do any non-work related activities during my work hours unless they absolutely need to be done. (e.g. changing poopie diapers)
• I am crystal clear – about my target market, my unique positioning, and what I want my business to DO FOR ME. I don’t spend time doing things that do not meet the criteria.
• I make sure what I do is income-generating most of the time. I spend time every week on activities in the area of innovating my product offerings, creating valuable content for my peeps, growing and nurturing my list, and promoting my business so it stays top of mind for my target market.
• I am crazy-disciplined when it comes to social media – the only things I do on social media are business and marketing-related during work hours. I participate in groups where my target market hangs out, I promote my offerings to a targeted audience and I connect with potential clients and partners through these venues.
• I pick what I am inspired to do most on a given day, because when I am inspired, I bang things out fast, super fast.
• I schedule all my calls and don’t take any personal calls during my work hours. I am super protective about my boundaries.
• And, I type fast.

Ling Wong, “Make It Big Accelerator” and founder of Slideberry, provides Marketing Activation for health and wellness practitioners. Slideberry supports health and wellness professionals with done-for-you materials, marketing consultation and business coaching services so that they can “Get Out There Make It Big” without having to reinvent the wheel, get lost in confusion and information overload, or missing opportunities because they don’t know where to begin. Visit http://slideberry.com/freebies/ to grab your FREE juicy templates, done-for-you articles, and smart strategies trainings to propel your business forward

We have known about the benefits of laughter for a long time. In Ireland there is a saying, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” In the early 1300′s there was a professor of surgery, Henri de Mondeville, who wrote, “Let the surgeon take care to regulate the whole regimen o the patient’s life for joy and happiness, allowing his relatives and special friends to cheer him, and by having someone tell him jokes. The surgeon must remind the patient that the body grows fat from joy and thin from sadness.” Think about it, when we have a friend or loved one who is not feeling well or who is recovering from a major surgery or illness, don’t we usually go and find the funniest get well card? We also tell others that we are going to “cheer-up” our friend or loved one.

There was an increased interest in laughter in the 1960′s when a journalist and author by the name of Norman Cousins wrote about his recovery from ankylosing spondylitis, which is a severe form of arthritis that can fuse the vertebrae of the spine. Cousins was a firm believer that negative emotions had a negative effects on his health and that positive emotions had a positive effects on his health. When the doctors gave him a 500 to 1 chance of recovery, he checked himself out of the hospital and checked into a hotel. He brought videos of Candid Camera, the Marx Brothers, and Laurel and Hardy, a bunch of humorous books, and anything else that would make him laugh. After a while, he discovered that 10 minutes of healthy laughing gave him 2 hours of pain-free sleep. By eating healthy food, taking vitamin C, and laughing as much as he could, he amazed the doctors by eventually recovering.

Since Norman Cousin’s self-healing using laughter, there have been many studies done to test his claims. In one study, performed by Dr. Margaret Stuber at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, where she had children watch funny videos before, during, and after putting their hands in ice cold water. The kids were actually able to better tolerate the water when they laughed then when they didn’t. These studies, like this one, have built a preliminary case for laughter’s therapeutic effects, and who knows, maybe the next time you go to the doctor, they will hand you a funny book or video instead of a prescription. Wouldn’t that be nice for a change?

There have been more studies done that have focused on other benefits of laughter. There is one doctor who has been at the forefront of the study of laughter for many years, Dr. Lee Berk. He has been examining whether laughter has the power to bring about a wide variety of health benefits, and in 2001 he and his colleagues found an increase in the natural killer cells and other immune system cells in the blood of those who watched a funny video. Stress, is known to decrease these levels of cells.

Bringing people together socially is another benefit of laughter helping to reduce our stress even more. “Laughter occurs when people are comfortable with one another, when they feel open and free. And the more laughter, the more bonding occurs within the group,” according to what a cultural anthropologist, Mahadev Apte, wrote.

You should consider laughter as contemporary therapy, rather than replacement of conventional medical treatment.

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

My ‘to do’ list is longer than the C.N. Tower is high, my baby is teething, my older son has soccer practice and “wow!” it is already 4:30pm and I have no idea what we are going to have for dinner! Can I make something out of tomato paste and diet coke? I don’t think so!!!” Sound familiar? This is my life. Or at least it used to be. Now don’t get me wrong, I still have many days like this…I have three little boys…but I am learning to have less of them, and that’s a good start.

If you feel overwhelmed…like you are going through the motions…forgetting what a rose looks like, never mind what is smells like, take heart. You’re not alone.  But do yourself a little favour will you? At least humor me this one time.

The next opportunity you have to spend a little time with your child(ren), try something. Stop. Take a deep breath and put your ‘to do’ list down.  It doesn’t matter if you can spare a day, an hour, or even 10 minutes. Yes, 10 minutes. Can you spare that? I bet you can.

Now here is a little exercise you can try instead of folding the laundry, because if you and your kids have clothes on, the laundry can wait. All you have to do is stay in the present moment.

Ready? Good!

Go outside with your child(ren) for a short walk. What is the first thing your child notices? A house under construction? Snowflakes? A shiny red car? A bird’s nest? The yummy taste of the Popsicle he is eating? A living creature?  It could be anything really. Let’s take “a living creature” as an example.  And let’s say it is everyone’s favorite little pest – an ant – scurrying around an ant hole or on a branch somewhere in your yard or on a sidewalk. Now take a few moments to stop and take a closer look with your child. Is it a big ant or a little one? How is it moving? Is it going fast or slow? What different colours do you see? Are there more than one? Is it carrying anything? Eating something?

Point out the ant hole. Answer your child’s questions. Tell your child what you are wondering about as well. What is something your child already knows about ants? Talk about these things.  Notice the number of legs an ant has. Encourage your child to use their senses. Do they make any noises you can hear? Will they touch the ant? Do they smell?

Very quickly, you and your child will be experiencing learning while at play.

Now…notice how you feel. More connected to your child? More connected to your life? More in the moment?  And even perhaps…interested in all there is to know about ants?!?

Now if you have a camera on you – and many of you do these days with the invention of smart phones – take a picture or two. Get your child to take a few as well.  Maybe they want to get a picture with the ant(s). And oh what fun it is to expand on this little adventure!

Maybe it starts to rain and you go indoors. Now what were some of the questions you and your child were pondering about ants? A plethora of information is at your fingertips! Sit down at the computer with your child and teach them how to spell “ant” if they don’t know this. Help them sound it out!

Now do a simple search to find out a few interesting ant facts. If you prefer…take a trip to the local library and select a few books about ants. Not only will your child think this collaborative learning is fun, but you are both together, still in the moment. And hey…you will probably read a few things yourself and quip, “Who knew!?!

The lesson can go on as long as you and your child find it fun and stimulating. It can even be done over the course of a few sessions depending on the structure of your life, your child’s age, etc. Draw a picture or make an ant out of an egg carton box and pipe cleaners. I’ll bet your child will be very excited to share what he or she has learned/made with an older sibling, a friend, a grandparent. And guess what?

Suddenly, you will realize that much of your “to-do” list is much less important than what you just experienced.  And after the next soccer practice you maybe you, your child and probably a few curious teammates and their parents will suddenly be observing a few little ants on the sidelines. And your will realize the soccer jersey that had a little dirt on it beforehand has a little more on it now.

And it won’t matter. You have given yourself and your child a gift; a present.

The present. And you have started something that will create memories that will last a lifetime.

Smiles,

Lora

Lora Rossi is the mother of 3 boys, a wife, freelance writer, blogger, artist, DYIer, certified home stager and non-profit executive with a degree in Sociology / Family & Child Studies from The University of Guelph. Lora has a passion for connecting with and helping others, especially through the creative arts and the written word. On a continuous journey to live an authentic life and to remind others of the importance of doing the same, Lora blogs and writes to evoke thought, feeling and action. For more of Lora’s musings, please visit her blog The Hugging Home at http://www.thehugginghome.com

Find her on Twitter @thehugginghome and on Facebook at The Hugging Home