Find your people
One of the most freeing realizations in business is this: You don’t have to be for everyone.
Early in our careers, most of us say yes to everything. Every opportunity. Every client. Every project. Partly because we need to. Partly because we’re still figuring out who we are, what we’re good at, and what kind of work actually fits us.
And I think that’s okay for a season.
But over time, something shifts. You start to realize that building a satisfying business isn’t just about getting more work. It’s about getting the right work. The right clients. The right collaborators. The right rhythm to your days.
For me, that’s become more and more true. I feel incredibly lucky to have built a crew of people I genuinely love working with. At this point, I almost care less about the specific project than the people I get to create it with. The people make the project for me.
I think the same is true behind the chair.
A lot of stylists assume they have to take every client who comes along. And when you’re starting out, that can be part of the path. But as you learn your strengths, your style, your values, and the kinds of conversations and services that light you up, it becomes so much more powerful to curate.
To choose who you want more of.
To communicate clearly.
To gently part ways when someone isn’t the right fit.
That last one can feel scary, especially in a smaller community. But the research is pretty clear: strong boundaries and clear expectations are not bad for relationships, they’re part of what makes healthy relationships possible. And in small businesses, trust and reciprocity matter enormously.
That means your dream clientele usually isn’t built by trying to please everyone. It’s built by being consistent enough, clear enough, and honest enough that the right people recognize themselves in how you work.
And yes, sometimes that also means learning how to let the wrong-fit clients go.
Not with drama. Not with ego. Just with the quiet confidence that your business gets better when it reflects who you actually are.
Because the goal isn’t just to fill the chair.
It’s to build days you’re excited to walk into.
So be brave. Protect what matters. Keep becoming more yourself.
Your people are out there.
— Stephen
