01.05 : Setting boundaries = fun.

Good afternoon Rockstars + Lambs,

I'm taking a break in the middle of the afternoon from the salon to blog.  I'm currently at Studio JRy sipping an ice-cold bottle of lemon water.  It has recently been (on average) 106 degrees in SoCo.  I'm dying at the salon as in our building only has a swamp cooler, hence, breaking in the middle of the day to come to my loft where there is central air makes life a little easier.  Especially when I have to finish a day in the muggy heat of 

R+:L.

So, not too much has gone on since the last blog I wrote.  Life has been good on a business level. There have been numerous phone calls from new word-of-mouth referrals.  I remember when I first ventured out on my own a couple years ago, I thought that having the largest ad campaigns worked the most to keep me publicly relevant.  Now, with the help of two hit columns and a major web-presence, I've pretty much stapled myself to part of the business community here in Southern Colorado.  

Yesterday, I took time away from the salon to be a domestic diva and do simple stuff like laundry, paying bills and even had time to see my colourist.  Thank you Jesus! I took a bit of ribbing about it as well from a very good client that wanted to get in on a timeline.  Unfortunately, sometimes, you have to say "no".  People do not realize that I have taken a look at the ENTIRE calendar year and sectioned off all of my days off from now until January 2013.  So, no, unfortunately, Monday, I was not going to make an exception.  Not even for a VIP.

This week, we're having a large sale at the salon in an effort to liquidate two lines that I'll be discontinuing.  Part of doing this now, is making room for the addition of one new line this fall at Rockstars + Lambs and bringing in a long-awaited men's line I've wanted since I opened, but haven't had room for.  In my heart, I wish I could keep everything, but just as clients ask for too much after hours, so do some of the manufacturers I work with.  

Tonight, we're totally ending on a high note.  I have a wine dinner that I'm attending with my parents and my aesthetician.  I was given news last week that my beloved aesthetician and business networking associate will be moving back to California at the end of the summer.  I kind of want to go with her.  We've done so much business together through the years that I don't know what to say... except, "I'm going to miss her... terribly."

Even though it's a staggering 103 degrees outside today, part of being at home this afternoon has been me pulling potential outfits for tonight.  If you've paid attention, I really do believe in the separation day-time and night-time clothes.  Nights = always pants for men.  Even in 103 weather.. and especially to a wine dinner.  A fresh tan, a shower and a quick change will allow me to put my "happy face" on for a night of eating, drinking, and being merry.

With that said, let's be merry this week.  The salon's doing well and the summer has been hot, but ultimately, I'm enjoying myself... all thanks to saying "no" and giving myself and others boundaries.

Stay cool, Colorado lambs!

xoxo.

Josh

01.04: Profits, Losses, Critiques and.... Collagen?

Good evening lambs,

It's yours truly, Mister Cooley pecking away at my laptop and updating my "behind-the-scenes" blog after almost a two-month hiatus from blogging.  Sometimes a break does a body good, well, a brain good at least... Today, I was stuck at home with a mild migraine.  I could feel the aura coming on about 8pm last night and at 4am this morning, I awoke in tears.  For once, I called off on my scheduled day at Rockstars + Lambs and decided to shut off the Blackberry.  

My migraine left me disabled in terms of most social media as well.  My iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and TV were all too bright and too loud until about 2pm this afternoon.  As of now, it's about 10:30 pm at Studio JRy, I haven't showered yet and am sipping coffee in my my Yves Saint Laurent frosted shades and sitting in an Alexander Wang tee and Andrew Christian trunks.  This is the equivalent to a gay man's Victoria's Secret ad.

Since I last blogged, I've had many engagements booked.  In August, I will be on the judging panel for a local competition called, "So You Wanna Be a Fashion Designer"... a week after that is the second installment of "Dancing with the Pueblo Starz". Believe me, this is a compliment.  I wish people understood what is was like to have this kind of attention on a local level.  As of June, "Haute Mess" entered it's third volume to rave reviews and I am working on a new installment of "Living Fabulously" for Accolades Magazine.

My only frustration in life at this time in my extra-curricular activities is #1) EVERYONE EVERWHERE seeks sponsorship dollars from me.  In July, I was asked to go to Beverly Hills for a fundraiser and have had to since decline.  The salon isn't even three months old and sponsoring at this time is almost pre-mature.  If I haven't even began writing checks on a local level, what makes people so interested in me sponsoring national campaigns? Also, both publishers has hit me with so many last-minute guidelines and last-minute deadlines, I'm not surprised I stayed home with a migraine today.  Some could argue that working on my blogs is diverting my professional growth, I would argue that it's not only therapeutic for me, but also a catharsis for my lambs to read and live-through vicariously (that's the point of both).

As part of mulling down this migraine, I have been subjected to alot of emails and comments made publicly regarding my demeanor.  Past clientele, friends and business acquaintances have told me I have a reputation for being hard to get along with and my rules a bit staunch for the average Puebloan.  Well, my darlings, buckle up.  Late is never okay and YES if I have to wait for you, we WILL reschedule.  In business, I do expect advanced notice, confirmations and that you conduct yourself as my business peer, not my mate.  I do, however, have a great relationship with a lot of business associates outside of our work environments.  Make no mistake though, just because we've had cocktails or dinner together, DOES NOT mean you may walk all over me. As the publishers and organizations I work with have no problem setting guidelines for me, I have reflected the same in my guidelines for them. That is BUSINESS people!

When reading an email last night, I was brought to tears at the fact that someone let me know she was leaving me for being a tyrant and inflexible with her time.  I can't be everything to everyone.  Part of me telling a heavy-hitting client she'll have to reschedule due to time restraints is being fair to the other 250 regulars that visit me. Am I expecting too much for people to be on time and keep their appointments?  I'm on time and I'm always there for my clientele.  I don't find it unreasonable to be off the clock at 6pm to enjoy dinner with my family or best mate or refuse to answer e-mails or calls on Sunday.  The people that find this "difficult" were gladly remembered on Migraine Monday. No more of that in the future.

As part of setting up standards these past few months, I've decided that after my first quarter profits and losses are reported for Rockstars and Lambs Ltd., we will be working on bringing more into the salon in terms of decor and marketing.  Also, Studio JRy is getting a facelift.  I need a new couch and a new desk and a new laptop and at the salon, more seating, nesting table and window dressings will be brought in.  Part of profits and losses will be the first official announcement of which retail line will be discontinued and in September this year, I will unveil to the public WHICH new line will be joining our fantastic retail line-up.  As much as I love all the brands I have in the salon, the point is this: if it costs me more money to stock than it is bringing in, it will have to go.

Whew!  As you can tell, I've been busy on the business-front these past six weeks since the last blog.  Hopefully, I can get back to a regular blog-schedule and keep you in the know... at the end of this and all the projects coming in July, I'm gonna need a collagen facial and about twenty spray tans.  

More to come, lambs... more to come.

xoxo,

JRy

Visit www.josh-cooley.com for more or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rockstarslambs