01.08 : Evolution begins with the REAL you.

Good evening Rockstars + Lambs!

It's a chilly summer-going-into-autumn evening in SoCo.  I'm sipping coffee and loving this day.  Today, I stepped away from the salon and came in to do my best friend's hair and have lunch.  It was fabulous!  I've had alot of downtime lately to reflect and learn to accept who I am and where I'm going and what needs to change in my life.

At last week's "Dancing with the Starz", I had a regain of confidence in who I am as a public persona.  The event, itself, went very very well and I wanted nothing more than to relish the spotlight as I do at these events.  The event, even though, not about me was a lot of fun.. I had great family, great friends and great photos taken of all of us.  As I looked through a few of the photos, I liked what I saw.  I included my family, I was sharing a moment/a part of me with THEM. I also, saw a realization of the fatty mcfatty I'm becoming.

I have taken time to take care of me and have noticed nothing but weight gain... how does that happen? I also noticed my discrepancies in my finances (once again).  I have learned two things about myself:

-Number 1, I live a decadent life... sometimes TOO decadent (according to my pictures)

-Number 2, I spend money like it's water. That shit's gotta stop.

This is a controllable situation.  According to Suze Orman, people in debt are fifteen lbs heavier from stress and you usually spend "more than" because you feel "less than".... this would be accurate.

I would be lying to say that August hasn't been a test of my sanity. I feel about the salon the way Oprah felt about starting a network.. it's tough.  I love my salon, everything is well, but it's tough behind the scenes.  When people and situations affect my bottom line, it really becomes sucky to have to accept it and move on.  People that cancel and reschedule all the time or do not pre-book absolutely annoy me.  It's not a hidden fact.

I don't hide this information about me because, as I've said before, THIS IS REAL LIFE. If you don't like me real, you won't like me fake, I can tell you that much. 

As I re-read last week's blog about my uncontrollable mouth, I was at piece with myself. I have accepted that if someone cannot handle this world of social media we use for self-promotion, they're probably very insecure and wish they could do the same.  I've also realized that there are moments when NOT EVERYBODY needs to KNOW EVERYTHING about me.

This past 16 days of August have taught me to be me.... authentically be me.  Even if it means being hated or given the evil eye.  It's really okay. I have also learned that my business is ready to transform five/six months in.  There are people that need to be sent away and there is a new rebirth of clientele that needs to be reached out to.

For this reason, we will be debuting Gentleman's Wednesday and Root-Retouch Friday.  For a special price, we will offer services and products at a different rate to better accommodate the guest.  We will also offer specials on retail those respective days.

As fall approaches, I am looking forward to Rosh Hashanah and the rebirth and start of a new year.  I always take these days out for self-reflection and will be doing the same this year.  Goals to work for are:

-weightloss and health

-personal security in my finances

-a new Mac

-a new Blackberry

-letting others in to help me.

I have fallen short of taking care of aspect of my life in the sake of wanting others to like me.  Well, here it is: the real me.

The real me talks too much, cusses too much, drinks too much, smokes on occasion, doesn't manage finances well, seeks a partnership in life, lusts after goals and needs to accept that NOT everyone is meant to be my friend.

Sounds hardcore right?

Nope... this is all part of my evolution to discover who I REALLY need to be... in business and in life.

Time to be more healthy, open-minded, financially responsible, more organized than ever before and a mentor to myself, others and those around me in my daily life.

Here's to Rosh Hashanah, a new year and a new revitalized ME,

Josh Cooley

01.07 : Keepin' it real... mouth and all

Good evening lambs!

Thanks so much for checking the blog!  It's been exactly one month since my last post.  I have neglected this blog horribly.  Tonight, it's about 8pm and I'm finishing a Corona and lime at Studio JRy and brewing some much-needed coffee.  You know me! Constant coffee lover.

Well, this week has been challenging, I must say.  My patience and time and integrity have all been tested in the past couple weeks.  I hope that at the end of this week, the event "Dancing with the Pueblo Starz" makes me smile.  Last week, we had our fashion competition "So You Want To Be A Fashion Designer" and it was awesome!  Today, a local paper printed extensively regarding the event and with as many press photos as I took last week, I was surprise NOT to be in the print edition at all.  This was, for me, another bash to my ego.  It seems as though the public in SoCo has put themselves on a Josh Cooley-detox. (I'll reflect on this detox later)...

In very good news, my longing to educate and possibly do hair shows again has come to some amazing news.  The manufacturer Joico has come calling.  I absolutely adore this brand and cannot wait to get on board.  The sad part about my first phone interview today was that they wanted me to start doing training Monday (that's less than three days away).  For me, it was very hard when I did work for CHI because of my growing popularity in the salon.  As much as I feel "unwanted" this week, this is still an issue.  I have to trust that if the Universe feels its time for me to take on this opportunity, time will be made available.

 

I do feel as though this will be a magnificent pairing and hope to get started in-training this fall. 

Tonight has been a hodge podge of thoughts.. mostly "what to wear" for "Dancing..." ...last year was a hit and I have no clue as to what look I'm going for.  I've taken my "Rockstar chic" vibe and gone a bit more humble.  Think: retired Rockstar in Beverly Hills.  My life has changed significantly in the past eight months to a more mellow me.  However, my staunch business savvy and firey mouth are still getting me in trouble.

Now to explain the Josh Cooley Detox:

Please understand that my clients mean the utmost to me.  Always have, always will.  I did, however, hit a point in my career where I had some bug-a-boos in my roster.  Always blowing up my Blackberry, always making critiques of my views on Facebook, YouTube and publicly and I hit a point one day where I was over it. 

As I went to the neighborhood bar to decompress one evening, I overheard another business over talking about a smaller business on his block. He dogged this poor lady to pieces.  She wasn't there to defend herself and I, of course, as a business associate and friend, went to bat for her.  I was so angry after my words exchanged with him that I came home and turned on my Blackberry to be greeted by six messages, three voicemails and an email, all of which were reschedules, cancellations for no reason or complaints.  All I could think was, "what the fuck?  Really people?"

I started to video blog as I do. 

In the vlog titled, "You don't get it. So shut up!" I describe what frustration I had for this man and his views of small business and even touch base on bug-a-boo people in my life.  As I posted, I knew it was a bit honest, I just didn't care.  We watch reality tv shows all day and still watch these pseud-celebrities and talk shit all day on Facebook, but my little vlog caused quite the stir with many people.  Not just clients, but business associates and friends.  

"You called people stupid" said one friend.

"So I'm replaceable, eh?" said a client.

"That video made me want to cry, Josh" said one business associate.

 "I told you, the internet is no damn good" said my mom.

A week or two later, I recieved an email from a former client calling me "condescending", "negative" and "difficult to work with".  

Did I fuck up? Maybe.

Do I think I was rude in the video.  No.

I really truly believe I was honest. My tone in the video is not a mean tone nor a negative one.  I do, however, feel that people watching need to take a deep breath and understand that not everything in our pretty little world is always sugary and sweet.  As real as I am, I am not an angry person.  I am passionate.  As passionate as I am, sometimes ill-minded business associates and client urk me.  But... this is 2012, people and we ALL have the right to express our feelings, thoughts,etc.

I think for most people, me defending my words shocks people because I do not hide behind the screen.  If you asked me what I said, I own it... I do not hide behind my persona.  This is me.  I am real.

As I re-read this clients email, she said she could never consider herself a client of mine because I deleted her from Facebook.  Well, honey, grow up.  Buckle up, because Facebook is not the hardest pill you will have to swallow in life.  She also mocked me and my success and was very sarcastic in her email.  I'll let her have that.  She was angry.  Would I have been angry?  No.  Irritated maybe. But I will say this, and stand by it, the video was NOT about her.  She misinterpreted the video and assumed it was.

Sad for her because I really kinda liked her.  and really kinda liked her business. 

I have evaluated this situation all week only to have a well-deserved meeting with my executive team at Rockstars and Lambs LTD.

What to expect at the salon is a new menu, new services, new pricing structure and new retail starting September 01.  What the Studio JRy branch of my business had to do was alter/edit the way we use social media.  As of now and from now until forever, both the Josh Cooley and Rockstars + Lambs Facebook pages are ONLY business or hair or fashion related.  No more negative posts, rants or personal sentiments... maybe a spiritual lesson or two.  The FB page will also deliver the vlogs and blogs as usual.  My YouTube channel and blog will remain the same because, truly, I like them that way.  This is ME behind the scenes.  No bullshit.  No Fluff.

I like to keep it real... and it will stay that way.  Can't wait to see you at "Dancing with the Pueblo Starz"! 

Mouth and all,

Josh Cooley