Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenna Richardson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jenna, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I feel like everyone who takes a chance in something experiences imposter syndrome because you only know what you know! I realized very early on in this career that I could only “fake it till I make it” for so long before I would need to invest in myself, my education, attack my goals head on and also take accountability for what I don’t know. I wouldn’t say I’ve overcome the syndrome however I never feel like I know it all. I’m constantly striving for more knowledge, I seek out people who are further ahead in their career and learn from them, I work with a coach and mentor and genuinely focus on expanding my expertise which in turn leaves no room for imposter behavior!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I grew up in a small town in Northern Maine and ever since I was a young girl, I loved beauty; makeup, hair, fashion, looking good, all of it! I always wanted to go to cosmetology school but felt that getting my college degree was step 1. Once I received my BA in Business Administration, it wasn’t long before I took the leap into a cosmetology apprenticeship. I learned how to do hair through hands on training and immediately knew it was the right career for me. I dreamt about and visualized owning my own employee based salon like the one I trained at, it seemed far fetched but I just knew it would happen one day. After about 9 years in the industry and various employee/booth renting experiences under my belt, I opened Shine Salon in the height of Covid in September 2020, it was crazy to do but I knew that if I was going to get my dream space it was going to be when the chips were down. Nearly 4 years later, 1 expansion already, an incredible salon training program, and a wildly successful team, Shine is a 7 figure company and employs 16 amazing ladies, it’s a dream come true and I’m so grateful!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Resilience, courage and a desire for knowledge are so incredibly important to be successful these days. I have been knocked flat on my butt more times than I can count, I’ve been humbled over and over again, I’ve been on top of the world and at the bottom of the barrel and through all of that I just picked myself up, dusted myself off, refocused, regrouped and continued forward. Shine wouldn’t be what it is today without my ability to get through and learn from everyday challenges of owning a business. I know it’s scary to take a leap into the unknown, but having the courage to do so will always reward you in the end. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. Put your thoughts on paper, visualize who you want to be and start showing up as her everyday! Consistency is key. Finally, I’ve realized that the most successful people in the world never think that they know everything. They ask for help, they seek out education, seminars, self help books and podcasts. They question where they’re at and where they want to be and then take the steps necessary to make it happen!
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I think we should recognize our strengths and capitalize on them however, if we don’t also work on our weaknesses then it’s impossible to grow into the best possible version of ourselves. I embrace my weaknesses, which I believe sets me apart from a lot of people and I truly want to learn and grow so that I can be the best mentor, owner, friend, spouse, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shinesalonme.com
- Instagram: shine_salon_westbrook
- Facebook: Shine Salon
Image Credits
Chelsea Briggs Creative – photographer
Gianna Fagone – makeup
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
