Figuring it Out as I Go

For those who don’t know me yet, I’m Kirby.

I’m a hairstylist, a business owner, and a mom of two. I’m also someone who is constantly trying to figure out how to balance all of those things while still building the life and business I actually want.

And, apparently, I’ve decided to start a blog.

As someone who has never really blogged before, you never really know what to write—or how to draw people in.

So, here goes nothing.

I’m not entirely sure what this space is going to become, and honestly, I kind of like that.

I want to use it to talk about whatever is on my mind and relevant to my life at the time. Hair. Fashion. Business. Entrepreneurship. Motherhood. Becoming successful. Learning how to be a leader. Building a brand. Making mistakes. Figuring things out.

Probably a little bit of everything.

But today, what’s really been on my mind is time.

The never-ending to-do list

One of the biggest things I’ve been struggling with lately is time management.

Not necessarily finding time for the big things, but finding time for all of the little things that somehow manage to take over your entire day.

Answering emails.

Replying to clients.

School emails.

Ordering supplies.

Keeping things organized.

Making sure the salon looks and feels the way I want it to.

Taking pictures.

Editing pictures.

Posting on social media.

Keeping up with trends.

Making sure the website is updated.

And then, somewhere in the middle of all of that, I’m also supposed to actually do hair.

Owning a business has made me realize just how much happens behind the scenes that nobody really sees.

When you walk into a salon, you see the finished product. You see the beautiful space, the stylist, the hair, the experience.

You don’t necessarily see everything that had to happen before you walked through the door.

And then there are the days when your assistant calls in sick.

When you’re essentially a one-woman show, there isn’t exactly a backup plan.

Suddenly, you’re answering the phone, cleaning, checking clients out, doing laundry, making sure everything is stocked, taking care of clients, trying to stay on schedule—and somehow trying to make it all look effortless.

I’m incredibly lucky to have clients who understand that I run a small business and who are accommodating when life happens.

But I also never want being a small business owner to become an excuse for things to feel unprofessional.

That’s something I’m still figuring out.

Because how do you build something that feels elevated and professional without feeling like you personally have to do absolutely everything?

I don't want to do everything

I’ve started realizing that maybe being a good business owner isn’t about becoming better at doing everything yourself.

Maybe it’s actually about figuring out what only you can do and finding ways to take everything else off your plate.

Because I didn’t start a business just to create a job where I work 24/7.

I started it because I wanted to build something of my own.

Something that reflects who I am.

Something I can be proud of.

Something that gives me the freedom to create the kind of life I want for myself and my kids.

And now I’m learning how to build that without letting it consume everything else.

The funny thing is, I became a hairstylist because I love doing hair.

I didn’t become a hairstylist because I wanted to be a web developer, social media manager, photographer, content creator, accountant, receptionist and marketing director all at the same time.

But that’s kind of what happens when you own a business.

Especially now.

The industry has changed so much. Prices keep going up, expectations keep getting higher, and I feel like hairstylists are working harder than ever.

Except now, the work doesn’t stop when the last client leaves.

There’s Instagram.

TikTok.

Pinterest.

Blogging.

Emails.

Websites.

Taking photos.

Editing photos.

Posting your work.

Creating content.

Keeping up with trends.

Trying to figure out what people actually want to see online.

And somehow, in between all of that, you’re still supposed to actually do hair.

Learning from other people

I’ve worked in multiple salons throughout my career, and I’ve learned something from every one of them.

Some things I learned because I loved the way they were done.

Other things I learned because I knew, if I ever had something of my own, I wanted to do them differently.

I think that’s one of the most valuable things about working in this industry. You’re constantly surrounded by other people who are doing things differently, and there is always something to learn.

I also follow so many incredibly talented hairstylists and salon owners.

I’m constantly watching what they’re doing, how they run their businesses, how they market themselves and how they’ve created brands that feel professional without losing who they are.

And honestly, I find that really inspiring.

I’ve also started reading more books about business and entrepreneurship, and there’s one idea that keeps coming up over and over again:

You don’t have to be the person who does everything.

That one has really stuck with me.

Because if something is in the budget, does it actually make more sense to hire someone who is better at it than I am?

Should I be collaborating with people who understand social media, photography, websites, branding or marketing better than I do?

Should I spend money to take some of that weight off my shoulders so I can put more of my energy into the thing I’m actually really good at?

Hair.

I think the answer is probably yes.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Knowing when to let go

I actually enjoy learning about the different parts of running a business.

I like understanding how things work. I want to know what’s happening behind the scenes. I want to understand marketing, branding, finances, social media and all of the other things that come with owning a business.

But I’m starting to realize there’s a big difference between understanding every part of your business and personally doing every single part of your business.

And I think that’s where I’m getting stuck.

Maybe growing a business isn’t about learning how to do more.

Maybe it’s about figuring out what only you can do—and getting really good at letting go of the rest.

That sounds simple.

It’s not.

Especially when you’re used to doing everything yourself.

There’s a weird feeling that comes with handing something over to someone else. You wonder if they’ll do it the way you would. You wonder if they’ll understand your vision. You wonder if you should just do it yourself because it will be faster.

But maybe that’s exactly the mindset I need to change.

Because if I want to grow, I can’t build a business where everything depends on me.

And that brings me back to time.

I think one of the biggest things I’m trying to learn right now is the difference between work time and home time.

When you own a business, it’s incredibly easy for those two things to become the same thing.

There’s always another email.

Another message.

Another post.

Another thing that needs to be ordered.

Another idea.

Another problem to solve.

And when you’re also a mom, there are already a million things waiting for you at home.

I don’t want to be physically home but mentally still at work.

I want to be able to build something successful while still being present for my kids.

I want to be ambitious without feeling like ambition means I have to sacrifice everything else.

And I want to build a business that supports my life—not a life that revolves entirely around my business.

Figuring it out as I go

I definitely don’t have all of this figured out.

I’m still learning how to be a business owner.

I’m still learning how to be a leader.

I’m still learning when to delegate, when to say no, when to slow down and when to push myself.

I’m still learning how to balance being a mom with being an entrepreneur.

And I’m still learning how to build something I’m proud of without feeling like I have to do every single thing myself.

But maybe that’s what this blog will be.

Not me pretending I have all the answers.

Not me telling everyone how to run a business.

Just me sharing what I’m learning along the way.

The things that work.

The things that don’t.

The mistakes.

The wins.

The lessons.

The hair.

The business.

The motherhood.

The fashion.

The behind-the-scenes stuff that nobody really sees.

And whatever else happens to be on my mind.

Because I’m realizing that maybe you don’t have to have everything figured out before you start.

Maybe you just have to start.

So...

here goes nothing.