With just five conversations completed, I have learned a great deal.
I had been thinking about this project for quite a long time before actually starting. And when I finally started, it felt empowering. I was so caught up in that feeling that I didn't take the time to contemplate what 500 conversations actually entailed. It just sounded like a good number to me so that's what I declared. I would interview 500 women uncovering their paths to success.
I learned from Conversation #2 with Moe Keller, former Colorado State Senator, that she took calculated risks on her path toward success. She always gaged what she was going to take on and in turn, took the steps she felt she could do. There may have been risk involved however it was calculated risk; a logical next step.
I surely did not follow Moe Keller's lead and gage what I was taking on before diving into this project. I did not put thought into what 500 conversations actually meant; what it entailed. I just jumped in head over heals with no game plan. Don't get me wrong, I would much rather have dived into this project than not dived at all. I'm proud for actually starting, yet I should have started on a smaller scale; beginning with a goal seemingly more attainable. As I continued with this project, the thought of 500 conversations became rather daunting.
This leads me to another take away I learned in Conversation #5 with Cozy Friedman, Founder and CEO of Cozy's Cuts for Kids. After opening three kids-only hair salons, she took a step back and reassessed her situation and where she wanted to go. At that point she decided not to open more salons and instead move forward with a line of kids hair-care products. She wasn't giving up, she was changing direction based on her current situation and the future she saw for her business.
Now realizing that I took on more than I can handle with this project, I have reassessed my situation. Based on this reassessment, I am changing my goal from 500 conversations to 125 conversations with women who have found success. Believe me, 125 is still an undertaking however I feel like 125 is something I can take on, and more importantly, accomplish. I sure could have used Moe Keller and Cozy's Friedman's advice before I started this project! :)
Thanks for your continued support as I continue this journey. Conversation #6 is coming this week so please check back.
And remember— it's ok to reassess your goal and change course, just don't stop moving forward.
Reassessing is not giving up.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Conversation #5: Turning a "Lightning Bolt Moment" into a Business
“I was in my twenties— without children— when I opened my first Cozy’s Cuts for Kids Hair Salon. I had no background in the beauty industry; I just thought a kids-only salon was a good idea and couldn’t believe there weren’t already a million in Manhattan. The day we opened, there was a line around the block.” —Cozy Friedman, Founder and CEO of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids; MORE magazine, November 2009
Do you dream of owning your own business? Do you have what it takes to start a business and succeed? While in New York City recently, I sat down with Cozy Friedman, Founder and CEO of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids. She took a risk back in 1992 with a vision of opening a kids-only hair salon. Her risk paid off; big time.
I met Cozy at her salon on 2nd and 74th Street— one of three Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in the Manhattan area. Although I knew the address I wasn’t quite sure where I was heading. Suddenly I spotted two young mothers pushing strollers and as I looked up I was greeted by a brightly colored sign that read Cozy’s Cuts for Kids.
When I entered Cozy’s Cuts for Kids, I was immediately struck by the fact that it didn’t appear like a hair salon. Rather, it felt very much like a toy boutique. There were toys upon toys extending as far as the eye could see; children playing; adults purchasing gifts for young loved-ones. It wasn’t until I walked to the other side of the salon that I saw where haircuts actually took place. I wanted to sit down and get my hair cut— it looked like so much fun! There weren’t normal barber chairs; instead kids sit in a blue Mercedes or a styling Porsche. And that’s not all— they can play with a toy or watch a DVD while they get their locks cut. This certainly wasn’t an ordinary hair salon. It is a kid-friendly environment that children actually look forward to going to. Imagine that— kids actually looking forward to getting their hair cut! And that is the genius behind this business model created by Cozy Friedman.
I was soon greeted by Cozy herself. She led me over to the kids manicure area where we sat on small, colorful chairs. I was immediately struck by Cozy’s down-to-earth nature. Having an entrepreneurial spark inside me, I suddenly found myself wanting to ask all sorts of questions. Mainly…how did she do it? How did she turn her vision into a viable, successful business?
The idea for a kids-only hair salon came to Cozy when she was in her early twenties.
“A friend of mine told me about her cute little nephew's awful haircut experience at an adult salon. He was scared and began to cry and they were politely asked to leave the salon. That was my "Lightning Bolt Moment", says Cozy.
Cozy began researching the industry. This was in the early 1990’s, before internet so she spent many tireless hours in the New York Public Library. Cozy was shocked to learn that a kid-friendly salon did not exist. She realized that she was on to something and she took action.
“I had a good job at the time. I was making a lot of money in the fashion industry as a Sales Manager for a denim division”, states Cozy.
But sometimes turning a vision into reality requires a big leap of faith and a lot of risk. Cozy quit her high-paying, prestigous job in the fashion industry to devote all her time to researching her business idea and immersing herself in the children’s market. She gave herself four months to open her kid-only hair salon.
“This period was such a surreal time in my life, explains Cozy. So much of my identity was with the job I left. At that point, I was just Cozy. I felt like an imposter. When I would run into people I knew from my prior career and tell them I was starting my own business, it didn’t seem real.”
During this time, doubt managed to creep in however Cozy pushed it aside and with the support of her mother, brother and now husband, she forged ahead.
With her four month time-frame in play, Cozy continued researching, developed her business plan, and began looking for a location. At the same time she was immersing herself in the children’s industry.
“I enrolled in barber school and worked part-time in a toy store, indoor playground, and children’s clothing store to learn and understand my market” states Cozy.
Although she knew she was on to something, most people didn’t understand her concept. At that time, there weren’t many businesses catering to children like we find today. Cozy found this most apparent when looking for a location for her salon. This turned into her biggest stumbling block.
“I could not find a landlord that would rent to me. I was young, I wasn’t married, and I had no retail experience”, states Cozy. “No one wanted to take a gamble on me”.
But Cozy continued to forge ahead; fine tuning her business plan, working her part-time jobs in the children’s market, and continuing barber school. Cozy found a real estate broker who believed in her concept and together they searched for retail space.
While continuing to secure a location, Cozy thought that it would make sense to team up with a toy company. She met with an executive with a major toy company and pitched her idea. She felt the meeting went well but never followed up. Looking back, she felt that it was her own insecurity that prevented her from following up. Instead, she continued down her path of opening Cozy’s Cuts for Kids with no partnership.
It was approaching two years since Cozy quit her job and gave herself four months to open her first salon. Two years and no salon. Right about this time, her real estate broker introduced Cozy to the Vice President of real estate for a national chain of maternity stores. They were looking to rent out some of their space on Madison Avenue and it just so happened that this executive got her idea and gave Cozy a chance. A retail location on Madison Avenue in Manhattan— it doesn’t get much better than that!
“We were busy from day one” says Cozy. The opening day we had a line around the block.”
Remember that toy company executive Cozy met with for a potential partnership? Well he came into the salon during Cozy’s first week in business. To her surprise, he asked her why she never followed up after their meeting. He thought she had a wonderful idea. From that point on, Cozy told herself that she would never let her insecurity get in her way again.
“Never let your own insecurity prevent you from making a move forward” says Cozy.
Cozy’s Cuts for Kids was a huge success. Two months after opening, it was listed as “Best Kids Hair Salon” by New York Magazine and celebrities like Meg Ryan and Rosie O’Donnell frequented the salon with their children.
Two years later, Cozy started planning for a second location. To date, Cozy has three hair salons in the Manhattan area, has published a book Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls Hair, and wholesales her line of children’s hair care products nationally. And Cozy’s Cuts for Kids continues to be a hot-spot for celebrities to bring their children.
Cozy’s four-month time frame of opening her first salon turned into two years, however as Cozy says “sometimes things take longer for a reason”.
“If I would have opened my first salon in four months after quitting my job, I would not have graduated from barber school and spent the valuable time I did immersed in the children’s industry says Cozy. “This time was invaluable.”
Looking back, Cozy says the single most important factor to her success was her business plan. “It was my road map to getting to where I needed to be” says Cozy. She followed it strictly for the first five years.
I asked Cozy if there’s a certain motto she follows that has led her to success. “I am an eternal optimist” says Cozy, “I don’t believe there’s such a thing as no"; and she’s also a big fan of Jack Canfield’s book The Success Principals: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be!
Cozy has indeed found success. But her success does not stop her from wanting to achieve more.
“There’s always a bigger boat to sail” says Cozy. As Cozy continues to push forward expanding her children’s hair care line and tackling other business goals, I have no doubt that this eternal optimist will be sailing a bigger boat very soon.
Do you have what it takes to start your own business and succeed? Cozy reached success by:
· Risk taking: Cozy quit a secure, high-paying job to focus on her business start-up
· 100% commitment: Cozy devoted her resources, time, and energy to her business vision. She took on three jobs to understand her market; she spent endless hours researching and creating a business plan, and she went to barber school.
· Not giving up: Cozy gave herself four months to open her business. However, that four months turned into two years because she couldn’t find a landlord who would take a chance on her. She could have easily given up; but she didn’t.
Are you willing to take a risk, give your vision 100% commitment, and not give up when the going gets tough? I guess that depends how bad you want it.
Monday, June 6, 2011
How long are you willing to persist toward your goal?
I recently met my mother in New York City. My mom is an author and she was exhibiting at Book Expo to promote her first adult novel— The Reindeer Keeper, a Christmas story for baby boomers. Although this is her first novel, she’s also authored and illustrated three children’s picture books and has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul, McCall’s, Highlights for Children, The Crafts Report, and has written numerous newspaper articles. By all accounts, she’s a very successful writer.
When I learned my mother’s intention of participating at Book Expo it was just a natural thought that I would join her. My mom has been writing for as long as I can remember- she’s actually been writing since age 7. I’ve always felt drawn to her talent and very attuned to her aspirations of making a living from her writing/illustrative talent. Attending a tradeshow with my mother was nothing new. I’ve joined my mom several times in the past when she exhibited at the New York Licensing Show— an event where companies seek properties (ie. logos; images) to license for use on products. For years my mom was focused on licensing her children’s characters to companies. Every time we attended a show we were certain that that time would be IT. The time when my mom’s children’s characters would be discovered and she would finally reach her goal of working full time as an author/illustrator. But it never happened. Not because my mother isn’t talented; not because her stories aren’t good. In fact, my mother is a gifted writer and her children’s characters are very sweet and enduring. However, we have learned over the years that talent and quality does not necessarily equate to success. Often times that’s not enough. For the lucky- the famous or shall I even say infamous- it’s easy to write and publish a book. More often than not they don’t even have to write the book- that’s where ghostwriters come in; and publishing companies are eager to take the book on because they know the books will sell because of the celebrity on the cover. So where does that leave folks who aren’t famous, yet have great talent and a true passion for the written word? This got me thinking…
There are so many talented and gifted people out there. Some may aspire to be a famous novelist or singer; others may aspire to create their own business, some may have political aspirations or a desire to earn their Masters or Ph.D. So why do some people succeed in reaching their goal and others don’t? I don’t believe it’s for lack of talent; rather I believe it’s due to lack of persistence. You can have all the talent in the world, yet if you lack the drive and the willingness to push toward your goal, you will not achieve it.
So this brings me back to the New York Book Expo. As I sat in my mother’s booth, watching my mom interact with fellow authors, librarians, books agents, and publishers, I realized the true grit and determination she possesses. Her goal has always been to make a living from her writing; yet she’s still not quite there. So many people would have given up by now. But not my mom. I realized at that moment that IT never happened at all those past tradeshows because it wasn’t supposed to happen that way. By not having her children’s concepts discovered by a major licensing company, it forced my mom to stop writing and illustrating children’s stories and begin to focus on writing for adults— which ultimately is her true strength. That shift in focus would not have happened if she “made it” long ago.
Everyone has a path to success. Some of the lucky achieve success early on, some never stay on their path because they quit after incurring a few bumps in the road, and some like my mother take a longer journey. In my mom’s case, she is still on her path toward success. Through re-evaluation, her path took a different direction, yet it did not end. It continues in a different direction.
I know IT will happen for my mom; the way IT is supposed to. And IT will happen because she never gave up.
This theme of persistence reminds me of my fifth conversation I had while in New York. I was lucky enough to spend some time with a very successful entrepreneur who lives in Manhattan. She had a vision in 1992 and gave herself four months to achieve it. Well that four months turned into two years— two years of rejections, brick walls, and hard work. But she did it. I will post this interview later this week so please check back.
You may be encountering some bumps lately on your path to success; perhaps you've experienced a recent failure, set-back, or rejection. These come across your path to give you an opportunity to re-evaluate. They may serve as an opportunity to change direction on your path toward success. Note: I say re-evaluate; not give up. Are you willing to persist toward your goal? Are you willing to change course if needed? I guess it depends how bad you want to achieve IT. Whatever IT is to you.
Check back later this week for Conversation #5. Meanwhile I leave you with this:
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
—Wolfgang von Goethe
When I learned my mother’s intention of participating at Book Expo it was just a natural thought that I would join her. My mom has been writing for as long as I can remember- she’s actually been writing since age 7. I’ve always felt drawn to her talent and very attuned to her aspirations of making a living from her writing/illustrative talent. Attending a tradeshow with my mother was nothing new. I’ve joined my mom several times in the past when she exhibited at the New York Licensing Show— an event where companies seek properties (ie. logos; images) to license for use on products. For years my mom was focused on licensing her children’s characters to companies. Every time we attended a show we were certain that that time would be IT. The time when my mom’s children’s characters would be discovered and she would finally reach her goal of working full time as an author/illustrator. But it never happened. Not because my mother isn’t talented; not because her stories aren’t good. In fact, my mother is a gifted writer and her children’s characters are very sweet and enduring. However, we have learned over the years that talent and quality does not necessarily equate to success. Often times that’s not enough. For the lucky- the famous or shall I even say infamous- it’s easy to write and publish a book. More often than not they don’t even have to write the book- that’s where ghostwriters come in; and publishing companies are eager to take the book on because they know the books will sell because of the celebrity on the cover. So where does that leave folks who aren’t famous, yet have great talent and a true passion for the written word? This got me thinking…
There are so many talented and gifted people out there. Some may aspire to be a famous novelist or singer; others may aspire to create their own business, some may have political aspirations or a desire to earn their Masters or Ph.D. So why do some people succeed in reaching their goal and others don’t? I don’t believe it’s for lack of talent; rather I believe it’s due to lack of persistence. You can have all the talent in the world, yet if you lack the drive and the willingness to push toward your goal, you will not achieve it.
So this brings me back to the New York Book Expo. As I sat in my mother’s booth, watching my mom interact with fellow authors, librarians, books agents, and publishers, I realized the true grit and determination she possesses. Her goal has always been to make a living from her writing; yet she’s still not quite there. So many people would have given up by now. But not my mom. I realized at that moment that IT never happened at all those past tradeshows because it wasn’t supposed to happen that way. By not having her children’s concepts discovered by a major licensing company, it forced my mom to stop writing and illustrating children’s stories and begin to focus on writing for adults— which ultimately is her true strength. That shift in focus would not have happened if she “made it” long ago.
Everyone has a path to success. Some of the lucky achieve success early on, some never stay on their path because they quit after incurring a few bumps in the road, and some like my mother take a longer journey. In my mom’s case, she is still on her path toward success. Through re-evaluation, her path took a different direction, yet it did not end. It continues in a different direction.
I know IT will happen for my mom; the way IT is supposed to. And IT will happen because she never gave up.
This theme of persistence reminds me of my fifth conversation I had while in New York. I was lucky enough to spend some time with a very successful entrepreneur who lives in Manhattan. She had a vision in 1992 and gave herself four months to achieve it. Well that four months turned into two years— two years of rejections, brick walls, and hard work. But she did it. I will post this interview later this week so please check back.
You may be encountering some bumps lately on your path to success; perhaps you've experienced a recent failure, set-back, or rejection. These come across your path to give you an opportunity to re-evaluate. They may serve as an opportunity to change direction on your path toward success. Note: I say re-evaluate; not give up. Are you willing to persist toward your goal? Are you willing to change course if needed? I guess it depends how bad you want to achieve IT. Whatever IT is to you.
Check back later this week for Conversation #5. Meanwhile I leave you with this:
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
—Wolfgang von Goethe
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