Have you ever thought about where are businesses born or what would possess someone to dare to open their own business? Is it pure luck or being at the right place at the right time? Are some born with an ownership gene? What if it is just the snowball effect, where circumstances and experiences keep gathering momentum and then one day you realize, “hey, I should open my own business!”

I’m not sure that there is just one answer or one way, but what I do know is that those who take the plunge fascinate me because I’m not made that way… I’m not an “owner”. I’m an excellent #2. I am a loyal cheerleader and caring coach that will cheer others toward their dreams. I get behind something I believe in and push it toward the finish line. What I do know is that #2 people are attracted to #1’s, like moths to a flame we are curious as to what makes them tick and why they are so fearless. I think in many us 2’s think that if we stick close enough to #1’s it might rub off and in some ways we might be able to live vicariously, as business owners, through the brave few.

This leads me to Drew Johnston, VP of Operations for Salons by JC.  Our paths first crossed over 15 years ago at an in-salon training, only to reconnect recently when I was developing a class on salon suites. As I got to know Drew I became more fascinated by his journey and by what led him to the beauty industry. Drew is not your typical ‘beauty’ guy. He was a college guy and a military man. He served as a medic and an instructor for paramedics all while working on his undergrad and graduates degree while in the Air Force. All of which, unbeknownst to him were preparing him for ownership. Drew is as self-proclaimed introvert. He had no aspirations to become a salon owner, let alone a franchise developer. Nonetheless an owner he became.

But why? How?

Enter his smart, beautiful and talented wife Julie, a licensed hairdresser who grew up in a family of beauty professionals. The flexibility of a beauty career afforded her the ability to pick up, move and start again no matter where they were Drew was stationed.  It was during the time they were stationed in Germany when Drew started thinking there was ‘something’ to the beauty business. Julie opened a salon on base and began to cut hair for all of the service men and woman. Her business grew, her income grew and her tips grew…and subsequently Drew’s eyes grew, “I realized the potential in owning a salon by watching Julie build a successful business in such a short amount of time. I just knew that when we returned to the states that we had to open our own salon and we did!”

Upon returning to the states in 1998 Drew and Julie purchased their first salon franchise with Fantastic Sam’s. They grew the business only to sell it when Drew took another assignment. In 2003, after retiring from the Air Force, Drew was approached by his former Fantastic Sam’s mentor. He was asked to join his team and together they grew the region from 14 stores to 50 in 7 years. During this time Julie opened her own business in a Salon by JC suite. As the Salons by JC franchise grew they knew they needed someone like Drew to help them take the business to the next level. In 2014 Drew joined Salons by JC as their VP of Operations responsible for franchise development as well as franchisee training, marketing, and operations.

It seems odd to switch career paths so drastically but with Drew it was natural, “I never realized how much fun you could have in this industry. Being fairly introverted and not your typical ‘hair’ person you get to hang out with the ‘cool’ kids and that is fun.”   I liken Drew to a rainmaker of sorts. He opens pathways to progress for professionals who have an entrepreneurial spirit because he has experienced firsthand what it takes to succeed. He is a tireless advocate for independent salon ownership and he comes by it genuinely.  His experience in this industry has given him a wealth of knowledge that he happily bestows upon young entrepreneurs and people thinking about joining the salon suite business. His top 6 things to remember are,

• Perseverance – those that win at success are those that stick with it, they persevere when it gets tough.
• Good listener – find a mentor and listen, listen to your franchisor, your owner, your team, your spouse…just listen
• Gut vs. data…get as much data as possible but in the end go with your gut and heart and you will hardly ever go wrong
• Understand that your success is up to you, don’t count on the franchisors or anyone else for that matter to be responsible for your success.
• Don’t think you know it all, use the support of your franchisor, salon owner or community.
• Be Independent minded but smart enough to take advantage of all resources that are available to you.