Out with the old, in with the new...
New Year’s resolutions are so last year, why bother?  Really; who keeps New Year’s resolutions anyway? They almost seem to be more of an excuse not to do something. Instead just make an effort to just give your year an overhaul where work is concerned rather than trying to lose weight or stop smoking, change it up and do things at work completely differently. Do this not only for yourself but for your clients too. If you are bored your clients are bored too.  Put the life back into your treatments and make going to work an adventure. There is much in our industry to be explored and discovered and so many different directions you can go in. Here are just a few suggestions of places you can find inspiration to fill 2015 with new and stimulating things to make your work days breeze past accompanied with a smile on your dial.

Social Media Do you have a smart phone….? Do you use social media on your smart phone….? Is the pope a catholic? About 50% of our audience is reading our content on smart phones and most of you access social media on your SP. Do you know how many sources of information are out there and VERY active in this arena? Are you making use of the plethora of information there is - absolutely free?  Follow companies and inspiring individuals on Twitter and Facebook. Interact with them on LinkedIn. Share your experiences on the groups on these sites and learn from others who are going through the same things as you.

Blogs, Digital Magazines and Online tutorials (Youtube) Not only is social media a place to find free information about our trade but with the internet; there is an online spa world that is a mountain of material just waiting to be explored and digested. There are so many blogs to subscribe to. Learn about the latest product and make up trends. Identify what your interests are and follow bloggers who have the same interests.
	Online magazines are available, crammed full of news, new spas around the world and explanations of all the latest and greatest machines and treatments. It has never been easier to be as thoroughly informed as you can be today. Get yourself inspired and take this back to your spa and salon. Encourage your employers to investigate as well so they are up to date with the latest trends in our industry. Online tutorials will also help you to learn new techniques that you can employ in your treatments to spice up your work day.
There are websites dedicated to news in the industry. Go to www.cosmeticweb.co.za and get news on everything pertaining to the salon and spa world.

Print Media There are many exciting publications to subscribe to; Les Nouvelles Esthetiques, Professional Beauty, Spa Business, Spa Opportunities and Pulse are just a few. If you cannot afford the subscription check on line to see if they have digital versions. Encourage your employers to invest in these subscriptions they bring value beyond their cost. They are available in many countries so choose a couple from across the globe for a broader overview of what is going on EVERYWHERE!

Different Products How many of our spas and salons carry more than one product line? Most of them! And how many of us focus on just one brand to retail to our clients? Most of us! We feel safe because we are well versed at explaining the product to our guests so that they will most certainly buy it. At the same time we are bored to tears.
	Make a change! Ask to go on training for another brand. Get excited about learning about new products and how to sell them. Nowadays the trainers are amazing and they really help therapists to market their brand. With all the competition in the product world, they understand the importance of teaching how to sell every product so that their brands are in the bathrooms of every client visiting your spa. The good trainers now have whatsapp groups for their therapists; to liaise and interact with them if they need information.
If there is only one brand or if you refuse to change the brand you recommend; go on refresher training and learn some new techniques from your favourite product house. They are always changing and improving their treatments in the same way they as the actual product making treatments current and interesting. Short Courses

Do short courses? There are many colleges that offer day courses which could be done on days off or on the weekend to learn new techniques. Try www.therapeuo.co.za - their course are great and very reasonable but get online and check out the back of Professional Beauty which has listings most of the colleges. So let’s clear the cobwebs and begin this year with a BIG BANG! Never be “busy waiting” for things to happen. Make them happen on your own. Take an energetic approach to the New Year and see how exciting a year it will turn out to be.