We recently connected with Alex Ioannou and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Alex with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Work ethic is a trait of servant leadership. How can one lead by example if one doesn’t display the correct example? I’ve always felt that it doesn’t matter what you do, just do it to the best of your ability; if your sweeping the floor, use both hands on the broom, get into the corners and make it look new while keeping a smile on your face. Ultimately you have to enjoy what you do, or at least a part where you may find pleasure, for me it’s watching a student ‘get it’ or when a client tells you how great you made them feel. I always search for the WOW factor and try to implement it whenever possible.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a former, multi-unit salon owner, educator, product platform artist, ambassador, and manufacturer, my experience strengthens my role as a coach and mentor. After merging my 30 year salon business, I now focus on education, coaching, writing, and presenting. My weekly schedule is packed traveling to different salons and locations presenting hair cutting curriculums and offering advice on becoming a successful stylist and hopefully a better person.
My website, alexhaircoach.com tells my story, however, my book, ‘Don’t Be Late, Clean Your Brushes!’ describes the humanity of what we as human beings can offer through experiences and anecdotes. To watch a great podcast, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6TFtU6cxTw&t=23s
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Qualities are the three things I’d like to focus on, because without Humility, Kindness, and Servitude everything else doesn’t really matter. You can be highly skilled in your profession, but if you are doing it for the wrong reasons, it just doesn’t matter! You may be the smartest person in the room, but if you don’t share the knowledge or do it in a condescending way, that doesn’t matter either.
I believe Humility, Kindness, and Servitude are qualities that can be learnt; you have to experience them, look within, and just don’t be a jerk! (can I say that?)
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Watching my parents work hard and go without, so I could have was perhaps a building block for my own personal journey. I grew up in a very blue collar part of South London, living in an apartment that shared a bathroom with multiple families, My mother was a seamstress and my father did odd jobs like painting homes, or working in a factory. After my father passed, the opportunity to come to the US appeared and my mother, very unselfishly, urged and pushed me to leave; that was in 1986 and I’m still here! Probably the best thing I could have done and the biggest gift a mother can give!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alexhaircoach.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexhaircoach/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexhaircoach
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexioannou/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCurYXNDISiMy6CbM0rksj2Q
Image Credits
NoAmy the Photographer Randy Swan
