Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelsey Applegate. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Kelsey, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic is a direct reflection of my family. I was raised in a very middle-class family by a single mother who worked her way from a secretary, all the way up to managing an entire county’s payroll and retirement. My Dad was an idea man, a dreamer – always coming up with the next “million-dollar idea.” My brother is the single hardest-working person you’ll ever meet. Both of my sisters ended up with college degrees working in the nursing/caregiving field. NOT working was never really an option in my mind. I started working at 14, and have had a job ever since. After high school, I attended a brief period of community college. I was working at the same time, and I prioritized working. I ended up attending a vocational program to start my career, and I’m still in the same field 17 years later.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Professionally, I am focused on growing my business and continuing to serve our community. I want to offer a supportive space to our stylists at Hive, providing an environment where they can grow and reach their full potential – the way I did as a young stylist. I love creating a place where they feel a level of comfort from being part of a team. It was so important for me coming up to be supported by my mentors because I was so shy, I needed a lot of help getting started in the industry. At this point, Hive is the only Team-Based Pay salon in San Luis Obispo. That, along with our Eco-Friendly Certification, is what makes us different! Our salon was founded on eco-friendly practices and a Hive-like mentality: a group of like-minded individuals working toward a common goal. I have taken that concept and gone a step further, offering benefits and retirement to our staff for the last couple of years.
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?
Looking back on this journey of business ownership, I can say tenacity has been a hugely important quality of mine. I don’t think I would have used that word to describe myself before becoming a business owner. I am actually impressed with how much I stick to things I set my mind to. Another skill that I believe has greatly aided in my journey is being personable. We are in the people business. It’s important to remember special things your guests share with you, and genuinely listen and care for people who come to support your business. The last skill I think is probably the most important is being humble. My husband has a saying that always sticks with me, “you don’t even know what you don’t know.” I used to think I knew it all or had very strong opinions of what was or was not. Now, it’s a good feeling to accept that there is always more to learn. To hone in on these skills, I suggest being patient and giving yourself grace. They will develop more and more with time.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, which is bound to happen from time to time, I practice taking a step back and pausing. I always call on my support team (husband, coach, friends, etc) to get perspective. I try to remember to breathe. I think the best advice when it comes to combating overwhelm is to take some time for yourself. Ask for help. Get some fresh air. Treat yourself! If all isn’t working fast enough, I book a relaxing scalp massage and blowout at Hive for a little self-care! (Highly recommend)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hivebeauty.com
- Instagram: @hive_beauty
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiveNaturalBeautyCollective
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hive-a-natural-beauty-collective-san-luis-obispo
Image Credits
Alexandra Wallace
