Things I learned from Tristin Morrison

Today I went into school on my morning off to attend a 3 hour haircutting seminar and demonstration taught by Tristin Morrison (http://www.tristinmorrison.com/) who is the senior creative director for Aveda Canada.  I was so excited to meet him and see him in action...however I did not expect for him to change my life in the way that he did.  Below are just a couple of things I took away from today's presentation.

1. The average Stylist in Canada makes $26,000.00 annually.
This figure absolutely floored me.  $26,000.00!?  That's pitiful.  Especially when the course itself costs at least half of that.  Tristin really gave all of us starry-eyed students a wake up call today.  Becoming a six figure income stylist is my ultimate goal.  I'd like to say it's in my five year plan, but, realistically it's probably better suited to my ten year plan (by the time I'm 30).  He made us realize just how hard we're actually going to have to work to get to that point.  This isn't a career for the faint of heart.  And to become an "average" stylist and work in an "average" salon and make the "average" annual income of $26,000.00 is what a lot of students are going to end up doing.  I've never been average, and I'm never going to be average.  Tristin, for lack of a better expression, lit a fire under my ass in showing me just how much dedication and sacrifice will go into becoming exceptional in my field.

2. Immersion is Key.
There are going to be times when your craft and your art need to take priority over absolutely everything else in the world.  To become a master, it is essential to immerse yourself completely into the world of hair and fashion.

3. Never Stop Learning.
We work in a field where trends and techniques are ever-changing and evolving all the time.  Like Tristin and so many others, I find my greatest passion comes from education.  The salon where I began working this week actually requires their staff to participate in a minimum of 5 educational events each year.  Sometimes there is a large cost or time commitment involved.  But you will not be a successful stylist if you ever put your learning to an end.

4. Kiss Regular Schedules Goodbye.
This one is probably the hardest for me to digest.  The rest of the world goes to work Monday - Friday, 9 - 5.  When do people get their hair done?  When they're not working, of course!  This is when the busiest times for a stylist begin to arise.  You must accept a life in which evenings and weekends will almost always be a time for work.

5. It Is Very Difficult To Have a Family in this Industry.
Because of everything stated above, mainly the scheduling issues, having a family proves to be especially challenging for stylists who are truly passionate in becoming successful in their art.  When you have children and wives and husbands who need care and attention during the evenings and weekends (when you are at work) life may become very interesting.  I also plan to do a great deal of work in my career as a stylist that will require me to travel.  A lot.  Do the math.


This may all sound wildly discouraging to the average reader.  Today was actually a spectacularly positive and inspirational turning point for me.  To me, these challenges are something that I am choosing not to see as "challenges" at all, but rather as opportunities.  Opportunities to push myself to my absolute limits and to keep moving forward to a life that I can not wait to be living.

It's certainly not for everyone.

xo-ac