For
25 years Salon Development Corporation has been a leader in pioneering
the NEXT RIGHT ANSWERS in salon business.
SDC
is a company that develops personal and professional training programs
that inspire and educate people to become Top 20 % in the salon industry.
Our teachings are based on the principle that within every person is
a "Spirit of Greatness" waiting to be discovered, and developed,
into the ability to achieve and prosper. The mission of SDC is to transform
people into extraordinary salon professionals by awakening their spirit
to succeed!
Michael
Cole’s track record in the salon industry has
been absolutely phenomenal. He has accumulated over 30 years experience
as a stylist, manager, executive chain director and multiple salon owner.
For the last 20 years Michael has been the founder and president of
Salon Development Corporation, an international company specializing
in salon business training.
He is a world-renowned
recipient of numerous awards for his contribution in helping tens of
thousands of salon professionals transform their businesses. The key
to Michael’s success is his unique ability to observe current
and future business trends and translate them into systems and methods
by which salons achieve dramatic growth. He has been featured in all
industry trade journals as an expert in salon management. Below is Michael's
story in his own words.
MICHAEL'S
STORY
It is possible you have already heard pieces of
my story. It is a story that I have shared with thousands of salon professionals
over the years. Some of it may sound familiar to you, part may even
look similar to your life. By telling you this story my hope is that
you may be inspired. I’ve always believed that one of the best
ways to learn is through experience. I can honestly say that so many
of the experiences I have had have taught me a lesson about life. So
come along on my journey; by listening closely and suspending your judgements.
I guarantee, you will learn so much more.
What it Used to
be Like
I am a hairdresser, and have been in the salon business for 30 years.
The first 10 years I, like many of you, was working behind the chair
trying to build a clientele and make money so that my family and I could
live better. For the first five years things did not go well. Thinking
I knew everything I needed to know about running my business, I paid
little attention to the advice of others. I was arrogant, stubborn,
and completely ignorant as to how to build up my business. As it turned
out the few clients that I had began picking up on my attitude. And
though I couldn’t figure out why, they soon began booking appointments
at other salons. I now began suffering the consequences of scarcity.
The Starving Artist
While things were not going good for me,
I wasn’t dead in the water yet. I realized it was time to take
stock, see what was working, and what wasn’t. On one hand my technical
and creative skills were very strong. This was good because having to
tell my wife I needed a reenroll in beauty school would have been a
tough conversation. The areas where dramatic improvement was needed
were my people and business skills. I just couldn’t build up or
maintain a clientele. I couldn’t even make enough money to pay
bills or buy food. I had become a starving artist. Infected by my own
pessimism, sarcasm, and apathy, I had driven myself to the point of
financial ruin. These “baditudes,” as I have come to call
them were the disease of so many starving artist before me, and I had
come dangerously close to being next.
What Happened
After 5 excruciating years, my self-imposed crisis had finally
beaten me into a state of willingness. I had become sick and tired of
being sick and tired. I was fed up with having to much month at the
end of my money. Beaten, battered, burned out, and broke. I was finally
ready to let myself become a student. That was when I meet my first
real mentor, Joe Francis. Joe had been a multiple salon owner, and a
very successful one at that. Before passing away in 1994 he had accumulated
a net worth around 30 million dollars. While Joe’s financial success
was without a doubt impressive, it was surpassed only by his boundless
mental and emotional prosperity.
Joe Francis profoundly changed my life. He showed me that there was
a whole other side to success that I had yet to discover. When Joe found
me I was negative and apathetic. For some reason though, he saw something
in me, something I could not see in myself. And so it was than that
Joe hired me. Here had agreed to teach me how to be more successful
and prosperous. But upon doing this, he made me promise him three things.
1. Have Faith
The first promise he had asked of me was to make a leap of faith. It
was not just a leap of faith though, it was a leap of blind faith. Joe
had told me what the definition of blind faith was; to believe without
question in the ideas that I don’t yet understand, and to make
a decision to take action on these ideas. He had asked me to make this
promises to him for six months. If at the end of that time my life had
not dramatically improved I could always go back to the way it was before.
I had made the first promise to him.
2. Defer Judgement
This second promise Joe had asked of me was simple, “Don’t
Judge” for six months. Once again he gave a definition for this
promise. He said that I couldn’t have negative opinions or jump
to negative conclusion about any of the ideas he presented for six months.
Again, after six months I could judge Joe and his ideas all I wanted.
I had agreed to the second promise.
3. Pass It On
He ended by saying to me, “Michael, if what I think is going to
happen to you happens, you will be successful beyond your wildest dreams.
When that happens you will than owe me the third promise.” The
third and final promise Joe had asked me to make was to “Pass
It On.” I was to share with others the knowledge and wisdom that
I gained from my experience with Joe. It was then that Joe simply said,
“that’s the deal Michael, what do you say?” My reply
was only two words, “I’m in!”
My success went far beyond my wildest dreams and now I'm keeping that
final promise.I want you to know that you too have the inner
power to prosper too. If you can't see it, believe me when
I say I can. Please know that I believe in you and your potential. This
site is designed with you in mind. If you're just getting acquainted
with my teachings please start by visiting my U
Matter section which will help you to get familiar with the tools
and techniques I want you to start focusing on in the coming months
so you can better your best. I also urge you to consider purchasing
a Full Pack or at the very least my book A
Little More Off the Top. Remember...what gets measured gets
improved.
