9. Mind Mapping Technique
You'll need some large sheets of paper and some colour pens (or you could use mind-mapping software programs). In the centre of your paper, you write down your starting thought, key idea or creative challenge. Now, you have a choice you can either systematically explore sub-ideas or you can just let your mind free flow and use your mind map to keep track of the ideas as they pop into your head. I recommend you do both at different times.
The systematic approach to mind mapping involves creating branches out from your central idea, labelled with sub-ideas that relate to the central idea. So if you were mind mapping on the subject of, say, facials... your central circle would say Facials, then you would branch off with sub-ideas such as Skin types, Cleansing, Massage Techniques, Equipment, Tools, Products, Therapeutic Concept ideas, Facial Approach/Procedure, Marketing etc. This systematic approach can often end up being simply a way of creating a map of your knowledge of a subject -- but just seeing it in this format frees your mind to think creatively, laterally, dynamically on the subject. You start with your central idea on the mind map and you see what comes to mind next and you add that to the map with a branch line from the central idea to the new idea with a circle around the new idea. If that idea sparks other thoughts, you add lines and circles from the new idea to note down the other thoughts too. If you reach a dead end, you may go back to the central idea or to any other sub-idea that has occurred to you.
While Tony Buzan encourages the use of colour pens and little drawings as well as words on the mind map, you'll find which approach works best for you. Mind mapping is an extremely adaptable and useful tool for creative thinking.
Tony Buzan, inventor of Mind Maps http://www.buzan.com.au/
10. Adapt and Develop Current Concepts
Be aware, curious and creative. Creativity is really a way of getting rid of old thinking, and old ideas. Creativity is a valuable skill in your beauty business. Creativity doesn’t necessarily mean originality. Even the greatest artists learned from their masters and adapted their work from various styles and techniques to create their own original work.
As a beauty therapist you can adapt your various skills and talents to your particular beauty and wellness niche. The English language has only 26 letters; however there are thousands of different fonts. Bodywork, beauty therapy, health techniques and the wellness industry have thousands of variations and different nuances. New techniques are constantly developed as skills from a variety of modalities are integrated into advanced solutions. With imagination new options are explored. For example the ancient art of massage has been adapted and varied in alternative therapies from massage with essential oils. (Aromatherapy) to deep Rolfing (deep tissue) or Bowen therapy to therapists who use wooden toggles, rollers and hot stones to massage therapies with ultra sonic machines.
Focused thinking can turn a good idea into a great idea. W.Clement Stone says, “Keep your mind off the things you don’t want by, keeping it on the things you do want.”
Our ability to create new value is only limited by our imagination. A critical step to success is to recognize that you are not in the business to provide services, but to create value. For example clients don’t buy skin care products they buy the hope of a more youthful skin.
Develop integrated value. Integrate products and treatments for better results. It adds to your competitive value when you initiate new concepts and methods.
Also Read:
Beauty Salons and Spas Making Money - Inventing a New game and Make your own Rules.
© Belinda Meyer publishes information for the Salon and Spa industry. She offers helpful information relating to health, beauty therapy, spa treatments, skin care, hair and more. Want to know more? Visit www.salonprofit.net
