Many of you have been following me and my blog and have learned I've been doing a lot of research and writing on company culture and building a business on culture. So how do we create a good one?

An a-ha moment came to me in the middle of the night one day specifically at 3:51 am. I came to realize how important it is when you hire, you don't necessarily hire just for the skill or experience they have or can bring, you must hire on people fitting into the company culture.

Unfortunately, I didn't follow my own rule of thumb when I sought out team members for my business. The current business model I operate my hair salon is a booth rental model which means they are independent contractors which they lease or rent a space under your roof to operate their independent business. With this model it is so challenging to get others to buy into the company culture? But Why - I want to scream out. Candidly put I cannot treat them as employees and cannot dictate nor force them to do anything they don't want to do.

To foster a great culture a company adopts ways to have fun, acknowledge others, games, team building activities, celebrating birthdays, to name a few. Also continued education is vital to the Sucess of a business and is necessary. Well known companies such as Google, zapoos, and Southwest Airlines build their business on culture first and that is why they have been so successful. Many seminars and training are given to teach the model which these companies foster because business owners know they work but don't know exactly how to create it. I've worked exceptionally hard and was intentional in branding Patti Usselman Hair Company. Part of that Branding is to target a niche market and to be exceptionally known for customer service, excellence in hair color and precision haircuts. If you talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk! If you don't keep up with the current trends, perform the service well, and meet the needs of the customer they'll buy elsewhere. When someone on the team doesn't respect the company culture and neglects to participate in activities to create a team environment or continued education they won't accept the culture.

Im making changes to improve things that haven't worked so well and trying so hard to build a cohesive team that is excited to come to work each day. Those who desire to be part of a team, be an asset to the business, be positive, supportive, hungry for learning, wants to invest in themselves, and most importantly wants to have fun while doing it. We all know that people behave differently and I know they can make a conscience choice to change if they value and want to adapt into the company culture. Getting a bad apple on your team is like a cancer. They are a morale killer and makes it very challenging to be around them and gets in the way of being able to foster a good company culture. We know what they are doing is wrong. so we try conciously not to invite those onto our teams. But what if they are? How do you get the wrong people to get off the bus? Create change and keep fostering the culture and thrive in the culture. Eventually they will be forced out or they will realize they don't fit in to the company culture and will make a decision to get off the bus. That's ok, it's for the best. You move on and focus on recruiting passionate people who will accept your company culture. After all YOUR CULTURE IS YOUR BRAND.. ❤️ Patti Usselman

NETWORKING is a powerful marketing tactic for any individual or business. It is necessary!

Networking is about making connections, building enduring mutually beneficial relationships and expanding your sphere of influence.

Let me share one remarkable story how networking has positively benefited me and my hair salon business.

One evening in October 2012 at a third Tuesday networking event I was introduced to Jim Munro, then a business coach with Action Coach. In conversation Jim learned I had won an award with Krem 2 the best of Spokane earlier that year. Jim asked me to share with him about my hair salon business, my vision, what steps I had taken to get where I was then, my goals, customer satisfaction, retention, keys to Sucess, and other relative information. Jim shared with me that he was looking for extraordinary businesses owners like me and felt my business was a great example of a business he was seeking to nominate for the national 2013 Business Excellence Awards with Action Coach. Of course I was honored and agreed. Jim conveyed that all the information I told him had to be factual and had to be verified to be considered for the nomination. He wanted to make sure that I had the hard numbers and facts to back up my story. A few weeks later we met at his office and Jim collectively gathered the necessary information to write the nomination. Based on my business and the 19 categories for the nomination, Jim and I mutually agreed to choose "the best service based business" category. The deadline for the nomination to be submitted was the last day of November 2012. A few weeks later I received notice that my nomination was accepted and that my business was one of finalists for the business excellence awards to be held in Las Vegas in January 2013.
http://www.aboutbradsugars.com/here-are-the-finalists-for-the-2013-americas-business-excellence-awards/
I shared the great news with my husband Mike who was slightly pessimistic regarding this award nomination and still wasn't 100% on board. I assured him it was legit and that we were going to the awards ceremony in January and he needed to get a tux. The date January 25th 2013 arrived and earlier that day Mike and I took a quick day trip to Hoover dam outside of Las Vegas. At Hoover dam there are 2 bronze statues and legend says that if you rubbed the feet of the bronze statues it would bring you good luck. So of course I rubbed the feet of the statues, said a little prayer and hoped for the best. That evening Mike and I presented for the awards ceremony at the Red Rock Hotel and Casino. The event was exceptional, in my mind it was like going to the Oscars for small business. With over 19 categories receiving awards that night covering categories Best start up business, best customer service, entrepreneur of the year, etc.  In my category  "the best service based business" there were 12 other companies represented which varied in different types of small businesses throughout North America and Canada. Approximately half way the awards ceremony my category came up and Brad Sugars was discussing this award category, it felt like an eternity went by! I was so nervous and I just stared at the large screen in the front of the room with all the business nominees names and logos, closed my eyes for a brief moment and kept repeating.....say my name, say my name. Then the next thing I remember Brad Sugars was actually announcing my name and the name of my business as the winner of the "best serviced based business in North America, and just like the Oscars I gave a brief acceptance speech.
https://www.prlog.org/12069139-patti-usselman-wins-business-excellence-award-at-las-vegas-gala.html

So the moral of this story and I hope you can see the underlying message I'm trying to get you to understand. Networking is a must for your business! Networking brings connections that you never knew were possible, and brings people into your life that can be a positive influence on you and your business. I am thankful I get the value in networking. Had I chosen not to attend the third Tuesday networking event in the fall of 2012,I wouldn't have had this wonderful experience to live and tell, and to share with you all of you. Business owners - what are you waiting for? Don't let someone else steal your recognition and nomination. I encourage you to get the confidence to get out there and network, then watch your business referrals grow. What do you have to loose besides growing your business? Simply put you've got a lot to gain with great opportunities and referrals. ❤️Patti Usselman

Everyday I read to gain knowledge, to learn, I watch a motivational video, listen to a successful business person so I can learn more. What does this do for me? It makes me more excited to go out and do my life, run my beauty salon business, to reach that next level of Success, or what ever I choose to do today. I put my plans into actions. Actions = results which for me means I'm doing what I said I would do.

Live it, believe it!  Know you will and you can and you will become!  Start now....take steps, wrote down your goals, set a plan, measure the plan, modify, take action, go for it.  Don't listen to the nay Sayers.  Live your dream! I have the power to be who I want to be and will achieve it with out a doubt.  Will you?  Read, learn, live, read more, learn more......my key to Sucess.  You are your decider. Will you decide to sit back and watch others pass by you on the ladder of Sucess? Or will you be the driver of your Sucess.  Step 1) this week I encourage you to watch this video and get your hands on books or material to help you be more successful in your life, decisions, business, marketing, financial freedom, relationships, goals, you name it - what ever you need to help you to be a Sucess. If I can be one thing to you, I hope I can be a positive influence to help you to be motivated and to be the best you can be.  When life knocks you down you get back up, when someone says you can't, YOU prove to them you can.  Patti Usselman