Meet Alisa Macias

We were lucky to catch up with Alisa Macias recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alisa, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

In the beginning of my career my wellbeing and basic needs took a backseat to collecting clients and overworking myself in the name of “paying my dues”. Over the years it became apparent that this approach was unsustainable, and led to my work and home life suffering. I now pay close attention to how each day is structured, by setting boundaries, with myself and other responsibilities in my life, as well as scheduling rest periods. Additionally, I started to consider my whole family’s schedules, then decide when I will be available for clients.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I opened DNA Salon in 2018 with a dear friend and business partner, and growth was steady. then covid changed everything. The shutdown was hard for every business, the difficulty I experienced was not unique, yet I was able to see it as a huge blessing for me. I learned that I was burning out at work and was often operating from a place of fear. Forced to stop working and be in my home with my kids 24/7, who were 8 and 5 at the time. I learned how much I wanted to know them more deeply, and how I needed to earn more without losing precious hours with them. That’s when I began to restructure my business to prioritize my husband and babies and therefore myself.
By the time salons could reopen in June of 2020, I was spreading out clients in order to prevent the spread of COVID and it resulted in having breaks between clients that I didn’t allow myself before. I started to see how my frantic pace in the salon had been affecting my ability to even just sit and listen to my children, or allow me to consider my own satisfaction. I began really thinking about what it would take for me to work less.
Lately, I have been focusing on human connection, which is vital for me and contributes to my personal and professional growth. My ADHD brain thrives in collaboration which helps to keep me inspired. Collaborating with colleagues and clients gives me satisfaction as well as spending quality time with my family and friends. My desire to connect with each person requires me to be fully present in all interactions. I’m at my best when I’m able to take a moment between clients to go over notes and assess what tools and supplies are needed, all while taking stock of personal energy stores.
Artistry is naturally an important aspect to being successful as a hairstylist. Curly hair, color services, and extensions are currently what excite me most behind the chair. By investing in education on new techniques in these areas, I’m able to practice my craft more confidently, and by practicing new concepts with clients, I’m keeping their experience fresh as well as growing my own knowledge.
Educating other stylists is another way I like to connect. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with other stylists. I often learn from my students and colleagues as well, adding another rich layer to these collaborations.

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?

Meditation is a tool I use often to settle my mind. I am clearer on what really needs to be prioritized each day and what can actually wait until tomorrow, releasing shame associated with striving for perfection. 10 minutes each morning upon waking and another 10 minutes before going to sleep help me keep thoughts in perspective. On a more stressful day, I’ll add in another couple 5 minute sessions to quiet any noise. Meditative practices help my ability to focus which can vary throughout the day. Taking deep breaths often, drinking plenty of water, and eating at the same time each day keep my mind on track better than any supplement or ADHD medication I’ve tried. Remembering why I set boundaries in the first place yields more clarity than anything else.
My ability to lead with empathy is extremely important, and enables me to give grace to my family, colleagues, and also myself. Empathy can sometimes get lost in the day to day operations of a business, and it is important to me to make sure it is always in the forefront of my efforts. Ultimately, empathy leads to understanding and growth, helping to deepen connections.
The ability to be self aware is an essential for me. Self awareness and humility help me to avoid burn out by allowing me to be honest about my physical and emotional limits, and for me to ask for help when it is necessary. Moreover, this mindset helps to encourage me to reach out and cover any growing edges.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I believe focusing on one’s strengths is the best place to start. When you know what you’re good at, it’s easier to identify your growing edges. Once you can identify your growing edges, you can decide which tasks you’ll need help with. By the same token, if you’re not easily able to identify your strengths, it may be helpful to identify which skills you need to work on or ask for help with. Then you can look at what’s left to do and decide which of those you would be best at.
This method can also work in families with chores and other household tasks. In using a more holistic approach, collaborators are more likely to feel heard and understood.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dnasalonconnect.com/
• Instagram: @amaciasstyle, @dnasalonconnect
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisa.bakermacias?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dna-salon-lakewood-2?uid=dPyNQjp1pXToBpnZQTwJ1g&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)