Meet Shelah Coleman

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shelah Coleman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shelah, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic came from a long line of family who didn’t take kindly to the word “NO.” My family always fed off of people saying”you can’t do this, you can’t do that.” It’s part defiance and part proving something to myself. When I told someone this dream, they said, “what if you fail?” I said, “what if I succeed?” and just smiled. Prior to this person saying that I was already having intrusive thoughts and self doubt but this person saying this fueled the fire and I never ever looked back. I’ve been like this my entire life. Tell me I can’t and I will and I won’t do it halfway, I’ll go above and beyond just to prove anyone wrong. I think that finding your work ethic is completely is how you are raised. I watched my mom prove people wrong time and time again. She busted her butt as a single mom to make our childhood special. I started working at 13 to make sure I could buy my mom things she deserved. I was never asked to but I wanted to. Others weren’t able to dote on her as I thought they should. So since they didnt meet my expectations, I met those expectations and treated her like the queen she is. Another act of rebellion. However, I think ethics and drive is based on your rebellious spirit. Never taking no for face value.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Professionally I’m focused on reinventing the standards in salons. Everyone has been there; you enter a salon where the room goes quiet. You see all the eyes scan you up and down and a receptionist gives you a less than welcoming greeting. You sit through your service is awkward silence, occasionally getting basic questions and answers. The room is stuffy, judgy, and uninviting. As OutSpoken Headquarters we are breaking that stereotype. You are getting a room full of women who want to get to know you. Who is offering a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, and some really good and genuine conversation. Not only that but I encourage all the ladies there to be independent and to thrive in their business. Everyone at OHQ are their own boss within the confines of a collaborative environment. We truly want the best for each other and for each person that enters those doors. So I encourage them to be individuals! Wear what you want. Be who you are. I’m not there to sway their ideas or to dictate their business. I will, however, encourage the heck out of them and give them all the tools to thrive.
Currently we are renovating our space to create even more privacy for clients and to elevate their experiences. We collaborate on how to elevate all of our services in hopes that our clients know that they can ONLY get certain services through us and only we provide it in certain ways. Our industry is constantly changing so we are constantly honing in on our crafts and making sure we provide the best of the best.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. DROP THE EGO. You can’t have an ego or a power trip and expect to produce happiness and peace in a space. Ego needs to be honed in. I never introduce myself as the owner. I try to blend in. When the girls there introduce me as the one who owns it, interject that it’s my business but we all own it. I can’t do it without these women. They are baddies who deserve the respect and recognition too. 2. LISTEN. Listen to thoughts, ideas, feedback, and be open to learning from what you are listening to. Part of this goes back to ego. I’m constantly asking the women who are alongside me for their input in important decisions. I’m asking for how I can assist them and telling them what I need assistance with. I don’t want to run this as MY business. I love the mind of women and collaboration is the biggest force in life. 6 minds are better than one.
3. RESEARCH. Always assume you have more to learn. My craft is changing on the daily and so I follow websites, social media, and I reach articles and watch films to stay updated on all things within my industry. Fashion, hair, makeup , and skin goes through a new trend every 3-6 months and you HAVE to stay on top of it. Part of that, for me, is staying up to date with pop culture as well. I need to know what people are watching and listening to to stay up to date with the current trends because people like to emulate the things they see and hear.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Wow, this question really tied back into my village. At OHQ we call it a Tribe. From my husband, to my parents, to my children. They are who I go to when I’m challenged or stumped or feeling overwhelmed. When it comes to everything else though, first I go to the amazing women who work at OHQ. They are literally the best sounding board, the best collaborative community, and the only ones who really understand everything within the business. Together we research, we grow, we learn, and we build. Each of them are so unique and so amazing and each have a certain strength that they bring with them. They are respected first and foremost and that shows by me being completely open and honest with them in this business venture. I also depend on our clients and community. When you live somewhere that has the most amazing community, you dip into it. I love bringing in other local businesses and artists. I love being able to hire out help from local families and businesses. It’s not just collaboration within our walls of OHQ it’s learning to utilize your community and helping them build also. Part of my success is wanting to being around and surrounded by other successful people. So i build genuine connections. I don’t do fake relationships , so being genuine is of the utmost importance. Wanting to thrive in a world that is self serving, by collaborative efforts is what is making us work. It fuels us and our community and network of people and keeps us all going.

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Shelah Coleman

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