There aren’t just one type of hairstylist, in my opinion. There are the ones that go into it because it seems like a good idea, and there are the ones that obsess over how the how hair feels in their hands. I started out as the first, and quickly became the latter.
Because I look at hair from a passionate artists perspective I constantly need to be fed inspiring things, because passionate people are always hungry. Mix that with an entrepreneurial spirit and you can have one malnourished girl on your hands.
If I come to a point where I don’t literally bounce out of bed ready to get at em I know there is a problem. I by now know what it is – I am starving. With a strong refusal to hop on that hamster wheel every day – work-out/go to work/pay bills – the very smell of complacency sends me into a nauseous state. This is why I can clearly remember the day I was in my office at 77 and an email came into my inbox, trying to get me suckered into buying a new product line. I was completely aghast at the packaging. Luckily I was standing when I opened it because it shaved 2 seconds off my sprint to show my business partner this new amazing product. She was less than ecstatic. I could see all the thoughts in her head without her saying a word. “Great. Another flippin idea from Mandy.” “We can’t afford that, no way.” She politely nodded her head without a word. For me, that was a green light – she didn’t say no, right?
From the day Felicity, Kevin’s right hand lady, came in to the salon with her long luscious copper hair, the nickname Money Penney, and that delicious Aussie accent I knew my hair world would cease to be the same. I instantly fell in love. I wanted to work for this company so bad I could taste it.
Through the course of three years, from the day Felicity graced me with her presence, I did everything I could think of to become part of the team. I even went so far as to make a book, as I thought a regular ole resume wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention. I sent it off to the US CEO, and hand delivered the other copy to Kevin himself when I attended a hands-on event in Seattle. Kevin Murphy was everything I wanted in a hair idol. Funny, honest, and not one of those big deuchey American stylists.
I called the CEO to make sure he had gotten my book, and from there on checked in via email every so often. I made sure that every KM event held in Portland was at my salon. I wanted him to remember me, so that when my time came he would welcome me with open arms.
Fall of 2010, with my German-American tendencies, I sat down and wrote a 5 page business analysis of KM’s social media and online presence. It wasn’t delicate, and I left nothing out. I failed to send it directly to the CEO because, to be honest, I felt like I may have offended him via email arguing the need to sell product online. Oops.
Fast forward to Spring 2011 and I finally mustered up the courage to send it directly to him, after chatting with the North American Head of Education who said, “Why don’t you just send it to Rick?” Duh.
I got a response within 24 hours. I breathed a sigh of relief, I obviously didn’t offend him as much as I thought I did. Or if I did, he forgot about it. After meeting with he as well as the head of marketing in LA I am happy to say that I am now in charge of Kevin Murphy’s social media. I spent today editing images from his various Vogue Magazine shoots – and I have to admit, I was brought to tears a few times. I still haven’t grasped what this opportunity is going to mean, but for now…I have plenty to eat.
Mandy Zelinka, Social Media Maven for Kevin Murphy International
