I stepped into the presentation room to be warmly and graciously greeted by a gentleman who appeared as the missing link form the group the BeeGees and this was where the similarity ended.

Down to earth, highly indigent, motivated and eloquently spoken with a great desire to engage and share his knowledge of his successful and dynamic business  protocol and ethics. Putting life and vitality into a topic, which by the general hairdresser, would seems as a little dry. For those that wish to evolve and develop their business from a proven business module this was the place to be.

Paul masterfully swept us through a one-day business program in 1.5 hours overwhelming yet highly informative.

He started out the session with an instant engagement with his audience, what is the one word that is common and most important to us all? Many and answer was hurled back form the floor happiness, joy, balance, creativity, love……….

No it is Conversation. As Paul explained what is the first thing that takes place as we awake it is conversation. Possibly the negative conversation that is most common to us all limiting our ability to achieve and succeed in our chosen path, that human characteristic of that negative pay of the mind which is inherent in us all. With this he won me over and captivated my attention. With this interweave of this concept of conversation throughout his presentation.

He clearly demonstrated what we need to define our business. What is our vision? Or as he calls it what  is our BHAG our ‘big hairy audacious goal’. To identify this is the paramount of success. He then continued on to explain the break down of our physic 20% of our focus should be in the past 70% in the present and 10% in the future and this should be the model of how we operate all our elements of the business from the experience of the client engaged at that present moment to the holistic concept of the whole business.

Be in tune with all that is part of your business. Strength and weaknesses of staff and cultivate this conversation to develop the strengths to overwhelm the weaknesses. Strive t be an innovator not an imitator. Be first at what you do not just the best.

His description of his business being like a bus and all involved on that bus need to be engaged and focused in the same direction to ensure a compatible and successful bus journey is of paramount importance.

Business structure with control point and continuous assessment of each and every element of the experience of the business needs to be maintained and monitored at all times with each individual accountable and active in maintaining each and every individual BHAG to allow for the BHAG of the whole business to be successful.

Operational systems should be evolved to embrace the concept of KPI’s key performance indicators. To allow for all involved fully understanding and appreciating what and how all is to be achieved. The totality of everything being an experience that all need to be engaged in at all times right down to all key elements of engagement of staff. Presentation of each individual, salon space, consistent branding and the upholding of that branding by all staff and external businesses involved. Bench marks of clearly defined requirements. All of this was continuously supported by the success of all of the Servilles branding from Hair to Academy to Barber. With a staggering of 300+ staff going through the Academy each year.

The culmination of this success and testament to the Servilles success as a brand was Paul Servilles entrance into the Hair Expo Hall of Fame. Well deserved. And he can still hold his own o the dance floor of the Brad Nagata after party. Truly inspiration and evolved individual on all levels. Let me end this article with a quote from Paul ‘You cannot control the waves but you can learn to surf’ So true……

CMG

Chris Gratton

Artistic Director and Education Director at Chumba Concept Salon.19 years industry experience. Educator for Wella, Sebastian, Aveda. Session Hair Stylist.

1997 L’oreal Colour Trophy.

Passion is everything.

To be alive means to be active and, if we want to avoid difficulties for others, and ourselves our actions must be benign and go beyond the grip of the ego. (The essence of the Bhagavad-Gita)