by KeAnna Ballard | Jul 26, 2023 | The Journey
Hello and Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a productive week thus far! If, by chance, your week isn’t going quite the way you expected it’s not too late to turn it around. Each day is a new opportunity to do something great leading to progress. You got this!
Being prepared for the journey, no matter what your end goal is, is key to your overall success. Let’s face it, no one will be interested in what we have to offer if the person behind the brand/business doesn’t have any knowledge of what they’re doing. Plus, the more prepared you are the greater the confidence and your confidence is your superpower! There are many things you can do to prepare yourself and it doesn’t always take a lot of money. I would love to share with you some of the things I did on my journey to ensure I was prepared. They are as follows:
- Started researching and educating myself on things relating to my industry
- Started a savings account
- Attended business networking events
- Subscribed to a magazine publication to stay current with industry trends/demands
- Got hands-on experience in the industry by working at a spa
- Prepared a business plan
- Connected with a spa coach
- Connected with a mentor
- Expanded my network with other like minded individuals
- Invested in industry events
All of which helped to further develop me both personally and professionally and they all occurred during different seasons on my journey. I may not know what your dreams and aspirations may be but if it’s something you truly feel you’ve been called to do and you get excited doing it, wanting to prepare yourself should come natural. It will be something no one has to force but, instead, you’ll continue to find new ways to prepare yourself for all that is to come! One thing my husband always tells me is “preparation is never time wasted.” All those many years ago when I started researching the industry and doing what I could with what I had, it wasn’t wasted. Some of the best ideas I have today to implement in my business are things I came across many years ago! Some of those connections I made attending business events back in 2011 and 2012 are some of the best connections I’ve ever made and we still inspire and motivate each other today. Writing my business plan was quite the experience but it serves as a roadmap for me today and will help to ensure my goals are met and my business is a success.
All I’m trying to say is prepare yourself! Nothing is too small or too big. If it’s something that pushes you closer to your destiny and further develops you then do it! Yes, each season will be different but remember to use what you have and if you have more to invest in yourself it will be worth it!
Plan accordingly and remember preparation is never time wasted!!!
See you next week!!
by KeAnna Ballard | Jul 19, 2023 | The Journey
Hey there and welcome back! I hope you are still working hard to achieve your goals. I honestly can’t believe that July is almost over! Time is flying by and waiting for no one so we must continue to live life and live it more abundantly!!!
I felt it in my heart to talk about faith and business this week. Faith has played such a huge part in my journey of becoming who I was created to be so it only makes sense. There is NO way I would be today, typing this message on a blog to share my story and undergoing a process to secure funding for my business had it not been for my strong faith! What is faith? Faith is having hope & believing in something you can’t see. You can imagine it, you can dream it, but it hasn’t manifested yet! If you’re reading this I’m sure you, too, can relate and agree that having faith is needed to help keep you moving forward.
On my journey there are countless times where I had to depend fully on my faith even when it didn’t make any sense. Let’s make it real. Here are some examples: when the dream was planted in my heart in 2009 and it didn’t make sense because I didn’t know much about spas, when God told me it was time to leave my current job to begin working on your own business (very uncomfortable), when God told me to start the blog to begin sharing my journey & my business isn’t opened yet (let’s just say terrified), when my first attempt at securing a loan was rejected (completely crushed & wanted to give up), and so many more but I’ll stop there. All of these moments in my life required MUCH faith to get through. I was able to keep the faith during these times because I stayed connected spiritually with God through prayer, by talking with him, and seeking His guidance everyday. Although none of these experiences were comfortable I knew that if God was leading me to do these things or allowing these instances to occur it had to be for a reason and would all work for my good. Don’t try to understand it while you’re going through it…we won’t be able to. Just know that you’ll understand it as time goes on. Your job is just to keep moving forward no matter what!
I like to tell people that my business is built on passion and purpose but it’s my FAITH that keeps me going. Y’all, the journey will not be easy. He never promised it would be. BUT it will be worth it in the end. My advice to you is keep the faith. Never stop believing in your dreams! Stay connected to a higher source…for me, that God. I look to him for direction and He always provides me with specific instructions, always! However, you must to be ready for whatever it is He leads you to do. In most cases it will be uncomfortable but remember…His ways are better than ours. He sees the end from the beginning so trust Him! Keep believing. Never give up and know that it will ALL be worth it!
Keep the faith!!!!
See y’all next week! Be well and be blessed!!
by KeAnna Ballard | Jul 12, 2023 | The Journey
Hello and Happy Wednesday!
I hope you all are having a great week! In case you’ve been keeping up, yes, I’m still making great progress on my financial SBA Loan process. It is still in the works and I can’t wait to share all of the details with you! Trust me, we’re getting closer to the finish line with this particular part of the process…it’s long but worth it!
This week I want to talk about spa consultants. Are they needed? My answer to this question is it depends on the individual and his or her needs. For me, I knew I wanted to make that investment early on. I connected with a spa consultant about 2 years ago when I began writing my business plan to open my own business. I needed guidance, accountability, and motivation while embarking on this journey. You know, the road to entrepreneurship can feel like a lonely one so staying connected to people who have been where you’re trying to go & know more than you is so valuable.
Choosing the right spa consultant could take some time. There are many different things one should consider while choosing the right consultant for you and your business goals. For example, are they a good fit for you, are they qualified in your industry (relevant experience), do they have good listening & communication skills, etc. Below I would like to share some questions you can ask your prospective spa consultant to get to know them a little better and to ultimately help you make your final decision:
- How do you feel you can be of benefit to the project and how do you intend to execute it?
- Do you have a client list of projects he or she worked on in the past?
- Tell me about your experience and more about your work process. What happens if a client isn’t satisfied?
- What is your payment fee structure?
- Do you receive compensation from vendors for making recommendations for their company?
- Will you be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement if necessary?
Although these questions will help you get to know your potential consultant better you must keep in mind that no consultant is perfect. They will have their own areas of expertise & strengths they bring to the table so take your time choosing the best match for you. Choosing to partner with a spa consultant has been one of the best decisions I’ve made and I would highly recommend any aspiring spa owner to invest in one if you have the means to do so as it will definitely help contribute to your overall success!
Have a great week and let’s continue to make our dreams a reality together! We are closer than we think!!
by KeAnna Ballard | Jul 5, 2023 | The Journey
Hi there! Welcome back! I hope you all had a Happy 4th of July! I can’t help to say how much I enjoyed the day because it was my birthday! Yep! Fun fact– I was born on the 4th of July. For many, many years I believed all the fireworks were for me! Hahaha… I actually kind of still think that to this day! This year, I decided to take some of my own advice for my birthday…I focused on taking care of me! I celebrated by doing some of the things I enjoy like enjoying a nice dinner, going to the spa, eating some sweet birthday treats, and spending some good quality time with my family! I was, indeed, one happy and grateful birthday girl!
This week I wanted to provide some tips for anyone who may be thinking about entering into the spa industry. I’ve been chasing this dream for quite a while now, worked with many people, learned a lot of lessons and decided to share in hopes of helping someone while on their own journey!
Here are 7 tips to remember when starting a spa business:
- Remember why you started
There will be many good days and some not so good days while on a journey to fulfill your dream. Therefore, we must remember why we want to become a spa owner {or whatever your dream may be}. When we take time to remember our why it’ll push us to keep going on the days we need it the most! I’ve personally had to do this very thing countless times. I realized a long time ago that this dream is so much bigger than me. I remember that God called me to do this and no matter how hard this journey gets at times I remember I was created for this and I have everything in me I need to accomplish the assignment. And guess what??? So do you!!!
- Plan, Plan, Plan
If you fail to plan you plan to fail. I know we’ve all heard this one before but it’s SO true! One of the first action steps I took on this journey was write a business plan. Yes, I may have been dreaming of this for years but it’s nothing like putting your plans on paper. There are numerous aspects to opening a spa like marketing, financial projections, inventory, operations, location, etc. All of these areas require a well, thought out plan so it is imperative that you take all the time needed to prepare yourself.
- Stay connected to a community of like-minded individuals
Listen, this journey was not meant to be taken alone. Surrounding myself with like-minded individuals has been one of the best decisions I’ve made while on this journey. Have you ever heard the term “if you’re the smartest person in the room you’re in the wrong room?” Surround yourself with people who have been where you are trying to go, people who are smarter than you that you can learn and grow from, people who motivate and inspire you. Who we connect with matters so make sure you connect with the right people!
- Invest in professionals to help
Don’t be afraid to invest in industry professionals who can help you accomplish your goals. I believe the saying “it costs money to make money” applies perfectly here. We don’t have all the answers nor are we experts in everything which is why we must hire the right people to help us get the job done. For example, while writing my business plan I knew I didn’t have the skills necessary to produce the financial projections/worksheets that were required. So, because I was connected to a spa community, someone within the group referred me to an industry professional who could help me get it done. Not only did he help me get my projections done, his company will also be handling my bookkeeping as well. Hire professionals to help you on your journey but, of course, make sure they’re the right fit for you and your needs.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest in the industry
Things change and evolve quickly no matter the industry. Always stay up to date with the latest in your industry no matter where you may find yourself on your journey. It will help you remain competitive & full of knowledge, help you stay in the know with consumer demands, and help you keep pulse of the industry and where it’s headed. Never stop learning and growing as a professional as your success will depend on it!
- Save, Save, Save
I can’t stress this tip enough! We must have savings set aside when building a dream/business. This goes for everyone, even if you don’t need to borrow capital to fund your business. Why is savings so important you ask? Because when you’re starting a business we all know that most businesses don’t make a profit starting out. No one has a crystal ball and can tell you how much money you’ll make starting out; we can only make projections. There’s a lot of uncertainty and we never know if we’ll need additional funds to carry us through those beginning months…whether it be monies to help keep the business afloat or just monies to help pay your personal financial responsibilities. It is wise and highly recommended for every one to save money before opening a business, no matter the industry.
- Stay focused on the end goal
Don’t ever lose sight of where you are going! Remember, you are only in a race against yourself. Stay the course when things get hard and remember…everything you go through during the process will work for your good in the end…if you don’t give up! Stay FOCUSED, stay DETERMINED, stay COMMITTED, and BELIEVE!
by KeAnna Ballard | Jun 28, 2023 | The Journey
Hello everyone and I’m glad you decided to return! 😉 I hope your week is going great and you are making great strides to achieve your goals. I’m most definitely making great progress too! As I mentioned last week, a lot has happened in these past 6 months…things that only God can make possible and for that I’m grateful. I am still in the funding process (yes, I know, I know) but remember GREAT things take time. Just know that you’ll be the first to know when this part of the process is over!
Choosing the right name for your business is so important and one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the early stages of startup. What you choose to name your business speaks volumes. In one of my earlier instagram posts I talked about my business name & how it came about. In 2020 when I started to write my business plan I named my business “Dreams Day Spa & Wellness Lounge.” This was a name that just came to mind. At the time it seemed to fit since this was, in fact, my dream for quite some time. However, as time went on I started to get the feeling that I needed to change it. I wanted a name that was more meaningful, a name that wasn’t so common, a name that was more unique and could be trademarked in case I wanted to expand my brand in the future.
In 2021 I started brainstorming other ideas. I knew I wanted to include the word “moments” within my business name. Reason being, I feel that how we choose to spend our time, creating memorable moments in life is what matters most. Then, one day I was listening to a T.D. Jakes sermon. I believe the sermon was entitled A Moment Like This. During his message he said the words “Intentional Moments.” In a matter of seconds I said “that’s it,” “that’s the name of my business…Intentional Moments Spa & Wellness Lounge.” I knew immediately. I wrote it down, began a search online and the rest was history. I now have a personal joke and tell people T.D. Jakes helped me name my business and he doesn’t even know it!
So, there you have it. That is how my name was birthed. I love the name of my business because it has so much meaning. When you come into my spa you’ll be there for a purpose and that purpose will be to care for yourself and your wellbeing. So be present in the moment. I believe we should be intentional about how we choose to spend our time and be intentional about the choices we make everyday. Afterall, our choices today will not only sustain us now but they will sustain us for many years to come. So, be intentional. Make yourself a priority, not just on the days when you need it most but everyday. I encourage you to do what you need to stay well and live a happy, healthy, and whole life. Intentional Moments Spa & Wellness Lounge will be here one day soon to help you do just that!
Until next week. Take care and stay well!
by KeAnna Ballard | Jun 21, 2023 | The Journey
Hi there! Can you believe it? It’s been 6 months since I launched my blog site to begin sharing my journey of becoming a spa owner! It sure doesn’t feel like 6 months have passed but it has and to be honest, I’m proud of myself for getting uncomfortable. Let me remind you…
This blog site idea was birthed during a season of “pause.” It was something I felt led to do but the idea of putting myself out there made me very nervous, scared, and extremely vulnerable. So much so that I almost talked myself out of it! Yes, I know! But it’s true!
Starting my blog gave me a sense of freedom. Not only was it a way to take “action” but it allowed me to show up to the world as my full self. You see, everyone knows me as a wife, mother, sport’s mom, and one that worked in the spa industry but many didn’t know me as “The Aspiring Owner.” To be honest, I didn’t share much of my end goal because, again, I wanted to stay comfortable. I had the mindset of “people will find out my story when my spa opens.” Well, I guess God had other plans!
In addition to all of this, opening up to share my journey helped to increase my faith and encouraged me to make those bold moves as well! It’s funny how things work that way! …the thing I was scared to do is the same thing that pushed me further into my purpose! Is my blog site perfect? No. But it is a start and it can only get better and better from here!!! If I can give you any advice…stay uncomfortable! That’s when the growth happens!
The truth is, our stories have the power to help someone else. Our stories are inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging so it’s imperative that we get out of our comfort zones and do what we feel the next step is and in my case it was “share your journey.”
From the very beginning my hope was to encourage and inspire others on their journey so you don’t feel alone! I can see that people are accessing my site but you never know who it’s helping, unless they have the courage to let you know! I started with the mindset of…if sharing my story helps at least one person then it was worth it and it still rings true today! I encourage you to let me know if my stories helped you in some way! I would love to hear!
I have been on this journey for about 14 years now and I’m not stopping until my dreams are manifested. I know I keep saying it but I’m closer today than I’ve ever been! You know how I know…because SO MUCH progress has happened in these past 6 months! I had NO idea any of this would happen when I launched but I was obedient and as soon my site got up and running God started moving in miraculous ways!
My question to you is… Are you staying comfortable? Are you sitting on something you know you should have taken action on? If so, I encourage you today to take that next step! We will never have all the answers but if you walk by faith and not by site I promise you’ll see things begin to move in your life. I’m a living witness!
Stay uncomfortable! I’ll see you next week!
