Payal Patel On Building Your Dream Team

The truth is, you need people. We’re the biggest fans of building community and it starts with your inner circle, the people closest to you. How do you hire people that will get you closer to realizing your beauty business dreams? It is so crucial and an entirely different set of skills than artistry. This week, Payal Patel of WhipLASH & Brow in Plover, WI shares how she built her dream team. Give it a listen because we would love to see you gather your dream team, too.

Tell us about yourself! Your background, history & the nitty gritty of all things you!

I’ve always had a love of business. My parents are hotel owners. I was always helping them with laundry, the front desk, or whatever. As a kid you don;t really like it, but i grew to love it. It goes together. As far as beauty, mascara has always been my thing. I asked my mom to buy mascara every time we went to the store. Most parents want you to get into a better field. I went a different route: medical, which is what they wanted me to do. I went for nursing initially until I failed chemistry. I switched to psychology then ended up with economics. My brother took over the hotel industry in the Midwest, so I can focus on my own thing.

How did you first get into the beauty industry? The PMU Industry?

6 to 7 years ago I got involved in a fitness camp. We have 24 locations now. My formal title is COO. I do all the operations and behind the scenes. The first time I got lash extensions, then got my brows done. My main thing is wanting to save time in the morning. I’ve had a lot of bad experiences; I tried 15 lash places, not one of them I thought That’s where you should go. I was really frustrated for a while, going from place to place. I want to do this right. 

What makes you feel the most beautiful?

I love the feeling of waking up and not having to do anything. Wake up feeling beautiful, as corny as it sounds, I love that feeling. I wanted to open something and show people the feeling of waking up feeling great. 

What do you look for in building your team?

I want to see how they make me feel during the interview. Is their appearance important to them? Do I feel comfortable and believe what they were saying? In this area, there aren’t that many full time beauty positions. I could have looked for aestheticians, but I wasn’t looking for certifications, and it turned out amazing. We’ve had our fair share of employees; even with my parents, I've seen employees come and go. I brag about the girls I have. They treat it like their own, not just a job. You have to love what you’re doing and go for the 5 star review versus punching the clock. 

Could you describe what makes a team work well together?

I’m not looking for someone who knows it all, but someone who has a vision. You could be doing it for 15 years, but doing it badly. Compatibility is super important: the way they talk, minimize drama and how they’re going to work together. If you have “cancer” or negativity, you have to get rid of it, because it infects everyone else who is doing great. 

How do you set goals for your team and motivate them to reach it? 

Hire slow, fire fast. Clients don’t want a struggling employee. I set goals on time -- how much time you spend on a set. Every month we would have to get closer to goal time. I tell them to practice on sponges. Do you still love this industry? If so, we have ways to get you better, even if it takes months.