The hustle mentality is deeply ingrained in our industry, with many stylists believing that the more they work, the more successful they will be. But what if I told you that working smarter, not harder, is the key to creating a sustainable and profitable styling business?

If you've ever felt like you're running on a hamster wheel in your styling business, constantly hustling but never getting ahead, you're not alone. I recently had a conversation with a stylist, Anne, who's been there too. 

In conversation with Anne, a talented stylist who has been in the industry for over five years, we explored the challenges and opportunities that come with building a successful styling business. Anne's journey is an example of what happens when you subscribe to the hustle mentality and our conversation can help you rethink how you approach your business.

The Hustle Mentality: Why It’s Not Sustainable
Anne's story is one that traditionally trained stylists can relate to once they figure out how to get a steady flow of clients.
She started her in-person colour consulting services a few years back, gained traction over time, but in the last six months, the demand has quickly became overwhelming. "I can't keep up," she admitted. Despite her success, Anne found herself running ragged, traveling across Australia to meet with clients and juggling a part-time job in addition to her business.

During our conversation even though Anne acknowledged the unsustainability of her current pace, she struggled with the idea of slowing down. Like many stylists, Anne was caught in the hustle mentality—believing that if she just worked harder, she could achieve her goals.

But here's the truth: the hustle mentality is not sustainable. While it might lead to short-term gains, it often results in burnout, decreased creativity, and a lack of time to focus on the bigger picture of your business.

The Shift to Working Smarter
So, what does it mean to work smarter? For Anne, it began with rethinking her business model and considering how she could create a more sustainable income stream. One of the first steps in this process was realizing that her current system was heavily dependent on her time and energy. I explained to Anne, that she had created a business that was very dependent on her and her time, and how it's impossible to scale a business like that.

Scaling a business that's entirely reliant on you is incredibly difficult. Not only does it limit your earning potential, but it also ties your income to the number of hours you can work. This is where the concept of working smarter comes into play—it's about finding ways to generate income that aren't solely dependent on your time.

Embracing a High-Ticket Offer
One of the smartest moves Anne could make is to create a high-ticket offer. High-ticket offers allow you to charge more for your services, providing you with more income for less time. This could be in the form of a group program, an exclusive workshop, or a premium one-on-one service. The key is to create something that delivers significant value to your clients and allows you to scale your business without burning out.

Anne readily recognized that she was underselling her services and that by increasing her prices and creating a high-ticket offer, she could reduce the number of clients she needed to see while still achieving her income goals.

Exploring the One-to-Many Coaching Model
Another powerful strategy for working smarter is to embrace the "one-to-many" coaching model. This business model allows you to leverage your expertise by teaching multiple clients at once, rather than working with each client individually. This approach can take the form of group coaching programs, workshops, or even online courses.

For Anne, who was feeling the strain of balancing one-on-one consults with her other commitments, shifting to a one-to-many model could be a game-changer. Not only does it allow her to serve more clients in less time, but it also provides her with the opportunity to create a more scalable and sustainable business.

By combining high-ticket offers with a one-to-many coaching model, Anne could significantly reduce her workload while still delivering exceptional value to her clients. This approach not only frees up her time but also allows her to build a more profitable and resilient business.

The Importance of Clarity
As Anne and I discussed her business, it became clear that one of the biggest challenges she faced was a lack of clarity. She was juggling multiple aspects of her business—traveling for in-person consults, managing online services, and considering new ventures like training retail teams. While each of these areas had potential, the lack of focus was creating chaos.

"Realistically, it's not sustainable," Anne acknowledged. And she was right. Without clarity on where she wanted to focus her energy, it was impossible to create a sustainable business model.

To work smarter, you need to be clear on your goals and where you want your business to go. This might mean narrowing your focus and letting go of some of the services or clients that are draining your time and energy. It could also mean creating a more defined niche or target market, allowing you to position yourself as an expert and charge higher prices.

Delegating and Outsourcing
Another crucial aspect of working smarter is recognizing when to delegate and outsource. Anne was already taking steps in this direction by hiring a VA to handle tasks like creating colour analysis reports. "Now that I'm making the money, I'm buying back my time," she explained.

Delegating tasks that don't require your unique expertise frees up your time to focus on what you do best—whether that's working with clients, creating content, or developing new products and services. It also allows you to scale your business more effectively, as you're no longer limited by the number of hours in a day.

The Long-Term Vision
Finally, working smarter means thinking about the long-term vision for your business. Where do you want to be in five, ten, or twenty years? For Anne, this meant considering a future where she could reduce the amount of in-person work and focus more on online services, high-ticket offers, and one-to-many coaching.

As we discussed, creating a sustainable business model often requires a shift in mindset. It's not just about how much money you can make this month, but about how you can build a business that supports the lifestyle you want to live. Whether that means having more time to travel, spending more time with family, or simply having the freedom to choose how you spend your days, a sustainable business model is key.

Anne's journey is a powerful reminder that working harder isn't always the answer. By shifting her focus to working smarter—embracing high-ticket offers, exploring the one-to-many coaching model, gaining clarity on her goals, delegating tasks, and thinking long-term—she can create a sustainable business model that supports both her financial goals and her well-being.

As stylists, it's essential to recognize that our time and energy are finite resources. By working smarter, we can create a business that not only thrives financially but also allows us to live the life we desire. The question is, are you ready to make the shift?

If you're ready to implement these strategies in your styling business and want personalized guidance, I invite you to work with me one-on-one or in one of my group coaching programs. Let's create a sustainable, profitable business model tailored to your goals.
Book a call with me by DMing me through the speech bubble💬 to the right of this blog post. Let's take the first step together toward working smarter and building the business of your dreams.