Heroic hairdressing

My recent blog on “celebrating start-ups” created a fair amount of discussion in the MYOB offices about who would have the guts to quit their job, take an idea, and create a business out of it. The general consensus was that it’s way easier to be employed than to be the employer.

I had a similar conversation last week with a very senior executive from a telecommunications company, who confessed he simply was not brave enough to take a great idea (and he has many), give up the security of his paycheck, and to go out and turn that idea into a business.

It got me thinking about the qualities business owners and the self employed possess that set them apart. And for me, it’s summed up in one word: “Passion”.

My hairdresser Mana Dave is a case in point. I’ve been a client for years and observed his journey from being a great employee to a fantastic and inspirational business owner. Although we’ve never discussed it directly, it’s clear that his passion for design and creativity combined with his desire to help people feel great about themselves (clients and staff alike) is what motivates him. He had a clear vision for the sort of experience he wanted his clients to have, and in order to deliver that, he made the decision to start his own salon, BlazeHair in Newmarket. His passion is what drives him – giving him the courage to take risks and move forward.

It’s been a total pleasure, observing Mana’s business go through its start-up phase and now reach a point where he is expanding his operations and opening a new concept outlet called Pony Xpress in partnership with the new Glasson’s concept store (“The House of G”) in Newmarket.

I’m sure it hasn’t all been plain sailing. I’m confident there will have been sleepless nights, very long hours and the inevitable cashflow pressures – but the one constant I always notice is Mana’s passion, and the fact that he and his business partner have a clear vision of what they are trying to achieve.

Last time I was in, I asked Mana’s business partner, Kelly Latu, how the expansion plans were going with Pony Xpress and she replied, “kinda scary, it’s a big step, there’s so much to do, but we’re going for it!”.

And for me, in those few words, Kelly summed up the secret of her and Mana’s success and that of thousands of Kiwi business owners – to feel the fear and do it anyway. In a word, “Passion”!

Julian Smith (@JulianTSmith) is the general manager for MYOB in New Zealand. A frequent keynote speaker and business commentator, he blogs on key issues and trends, providing advice on how to make business life easier.