20 Years Flies by when you’re Having Fun!

By Faye Murray

This year I am excited to celebrate 20 years since I began my journey as a business coach. I can confidentially say, I was excited when I first began and continue to love what I do. “I have the best job anyone could ask for” is something I constantly say.

Where It All Began...

Prior to Your Coach, I held the position of general manager of Jon Le Court. A QLD salon group and training academy of 30 salons and 300 team members.

I was in this position for 17 years and enjoyed the challenges and achievements that obviously presented with a company that large. Jon Le Court was an amazing person to work with and many of the then team, are today leading salon owners, educators, and industry leaders. Tabitha Coffey, Julie Cross, Oscar Cullinan, Justin Anderson, Paula Hibbard, Geoffrey Herberg are a few success stories.

I started to think about a change. I had gained a lot of knowledge about salon business and management of people. Opening my own salon was something I considered for about 5 minutes only. What was my next step?

I have always been very fortunate to have, what I call “my inner circle” of very special friends. One such person is Lee Watt, who worked with De Lorenzo for many years. I shared with Lee my thoughts about change and “what I might do” she suggested I should become a business coach. I had never heard of this, so I asked her “what exactly is business coaching” her suggestion led me to where I am today.

Because it was so new, I had no idea where to begin and Lee introduced me to Performance Plus Training, which was a new company, offering coaching in hair and beauty. I was told that no opportunities were available in hair for coaching, but I could begin with beauty. It was probably a strange opportunity but ‘positive’ me saw it as a steppingstone.

Another very special person, Sandy Dellit, who was the state manager for Thalgo Skin Care, introduced me to the very different world of beauty. She arranged a group of people for me to present a business workshop. I did a lot of research about beauty and the day must have worked well as I then had my first 3 coaching clients.

Sandy’s wise advice to me was not to take “kickbacks” that were offered. I did not know what that even was, but that advise I have stood by for 20 years.

One of my new beauty clients was Stephanie Shepard, who is respected as a leader in the spa world and is the owner of 6 Luxury spas in QLD. I am proud to say, Stephanie and her husband Desmond, remain special friends. I developed a strong beauty client base in all states of Australia and after a couple of years was able to move across into hairdressing coaching.

Today my clients are large salons, not so large salons, multi salon groups, solo operators, and product companies. I also work directly with team members offering tailored zoom courses for managers, receptionist, apprentices, and I offer personalised team training.

If you ask people what the most frightening thing is they could do, most will say “stand up in front of a crowd of your peers to deliver education”. This is something I love to do. So much is in my head, and I get to share my knowledge. I don’t think I am a great presenter but what I do is prepare well, so that every session is packed full of new ideas and helpful strategies.

It has been a special 20 years with so many memories. I have asked some who have been on the journey to share some thoughts.

SPECIAL MEMORIES FROM SPECIAL PEOPLE:

Faye Murray is one of the founders of the Australian Hairdressing Council. Committed to the cause for the betterment for the Industry, Faye has contributed personally and professionally to the AHC since its inception. Faye is also a credible and successful business coach. She is knowledgeable, generous, kind, and supportive to not just me, but to everyone she meets.

Faye is well loved by the entire hairdressing and beauty industry. On a personal note, I met Faye at an offshore conference as we were both speakers. I struck up a conversation with a bikini clad Faye around the pool. This led to a 23 year old friendship. Faye is one of my most valued friends and I consider her as family. Always love spending time with Faye, she does like a glass of wine!

Sandy Chong – CEO Australian Hairdressing Council

The very first time I called Faye for help in 2015 I was a single Mum, barely making ends meet. Faye became my fairy godmother and helped me turn everything around, growing from a salon with one to now a team of 12. Faye has hugged me when I lost my nerve, and she has grown my confidence beyond belief. She has become not only my saviour but also my friend and I am so honoured to know her.

Meg Bates - Elvarl Hair Artistry. QLD

I have had the pleasure of working with Faye for 20 years. We began sitting around my dining room table with paper reports, no social media marketing, evening meetings with a wine. A move to Victoria and we progressed to phone meetings, emailing reports and some socials.

Today we connect by zoom and all forms of digital marketing. Faye has always kept me focused on “we manage people not things”. She holds me accountable and inspires me. Our industry is blessed to have a strong woman like Faye.

Leanne Pearce - Khayaam Salon. VIC

I will never forget our first meeting; I was so scared to hand over transparency to Faye about my business! It was like I was giving her my underpants size; little did I know that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. We laugh about me causing Faye great anxiety, announcing 3 years in a row that I was moving to bigger premises just before Christmas. We did it and now are a team of 18. No more new salons.

Ally Mcerlean – The Hairpin. QLD

From corporate world to home based office – yes, a shock to the system!! That was me 14 years ago. I had a 5-month-old baby and a 2-year-old, and “mums & bubs playtime” wasn’t for me. So, I applied for a job advertised in the local paper.

I recall walking down the driveway in my heels, skirt & jacket (feeling very nervous), only for Faye to say, “I think you are overqualified for this role”, I probably was, I didn’t care, as long as the work was interesting, and I was busy. 14 years later and I’m still busy. It has been a pleasure working alongside Faye, she has such a creative mind, extremely generous and is so full of knowledge. I’m so happy that I walked down that driveway in 2009.

Nicky Banks – Faye’s Truly Amazing Personal Assistant

I have many special memories created with Faye, since she gave me my fist job, as an after-school tea and tidy with JLC. We have always had a rule “what goes on tour stays on tour” so it is limited what I can share. The funniest time was, when Faye was receiving the Hairdressing Hall of Fame and I had been sworn to secrecy.

Just prior to the announcement, offering that we should do a lipstick reapply, she refused adamantly, in turn stood on stage with no lipstick receiving her award and all the photos!

Paula Hibbard - Fabulous Hair Up and Bestie

A memory for me is when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my business partner Leanne rang you, as we were heading off on a road trip to Hunter Valley, to get away before I had my mastectomy and Chemo in 2012. You invited us to stay. You were wonderful to open up your home to us and we went and listen to Brian play in the band, and we laughed, danced, and had a fun night to remember.

Tracey Ivanoski – Harbour Day Spa

I have been working with Faye for 8 years as a manager and as a salon owner. She is the angel and devil that sits on my shoulders, meaning she is my biggest supporter yet knows how to whip me into shape when I need it.

She has been with me through the highest of highs, believed in me even when I doubted myself and she has given me support during some really tough times. She is so much more than a business coach and I always say, “everyone needs a Faye in their life.

Kristy Kesic – Cobelle Creative

I have known Faye for many years now and she has always been a champion for me to look up to in both the hair and beauty industry. She has been an integral member of the judging panel for me across all of our award platforms for 12 years and is always the first to out up her hand when it comes to supporting me and the industry at large.

She is absolutely the one you want in your corner and I value her support, friendship and sound advice when needed. It gave me so much pleasure to honour Faye with the ABIA Hall of Fame in 2019, a worth and ell deserved recipient. Faye is an absolute delight, a dedicated business coach, long standing board member of the AHC and I am very blessed to call her a friend. It helps that we share a love of Red wine!

Linda Woodhead – mochagroup

REGRETS (Only a few)

Not making more time to spend with special friends.

Not having the stamina to party late into the night. Midnight is usually my curfew. Spending too much money on clothes and shoes when shopping with Paula Hibbard. Not having won lotto.