Hello! Let me introduce myself; my name is Anne St-Amand.
Born in the late '70s, I can confirm that in the early '80s, I was already a businesswoman!
I inherited the genes from my grandfather, who was an incredible businessman! Through the good and the bad times, he always saw the positive side of things, and was always ready to take risks, (calculated or not ) to provide for his family. He was an amazingly creative worker!
In 2000, I finished my studies in aesthetics. Only a few months after graduation, I opened my first salon. There was no way I was going to be taken advantage of in the job market! Already at a young age, my opinion was very "black or white.” And above all, I had a vision of the profession and the business world that was so different from what I had been taught at school...
After 3 months of opening, I was already super profitable! I gave myself the gift of changing my old car for a nice new one. I had the wind in my sails. And without knowing it, I had just started the creation of the Plan!
A decade later, I opened a larger salon. That's when I started getting my tiger stripes. Long live multi-disciplinary work! Hairstyling, esthetics and massage therapy were all offered in my salon! I thought it would be easy to attract more people... No! We now had to attract customers for several different types of professions...
It was an experience in which I learned a lot. The "GAME" was more "HARD.” I had more responsibility. It was during this period that I refined a lot of my sales techniques, as well as my marketing and advertising strategies. The need for profitability was totally taken to another level...
After a few years, I got tired of the managerial challenges. I missed being 100% in my practice, and the flexibility and lightness that a self-employed status brings. And most of all, the fact that I could make an income without limits, having the possibility to focus all my energies on the right place. Focus is so precious!
So I downsized. I made the choice to focus on myself and the clientele that I loved so much. I applied my best work techniques to my clients, and I pushed the limits of what it meant to have a micro-business.
Why do I emphasize the word micro? Because from my point of view, there is nothing more powerful than a micro-business or a solo worker who builds on a solid and strategic foundation. Clarity, a clear mission and a work methodology are the keys to success and happiness!
This is my vision of the business world: SMALL IS BIG! Small means great things will happen.!
Now you know my secret recipe for success!
As an only child, my parents always treated me as an adult. I loved it! It was amazing that as a child, I was already entrusted with the rudiments of conflict resolution at work...
My dad was a humble, gentle and loving man... He had this drive to constantly want to do good around him. If everyone was good, he was good. This was so reflected in his work... Being a profoundly caring person and the constant need to evolve are two values he taught me.
My mom, through her work, also helped people to evolve. After a long stint in the service of helping couples, she continued her career as a guidance counsellor to help people in challenging situations regain their dignity and return to the workforce.
Thanks to my parents, I was able to develop my own mission of wanting to help people achieve things they never thought possible.
September 2014. The long Labor Day weekend kickstarted my vacation. I had nothing to do.
I created a crazy plan in 5 minutes: I packed! The next more, I get up at 5 a.m. and drive until I see my first palm trees...
Thirty hours later, I found myself on the beaches of South Carolina... On a whim, I went to buy a board in a small store on the corner of the street. The next morning, I was already learning how to handle my board... I learned the hard way why the expression GO WITH THE FLOW exists! Understanding the waves, currents, and instincts one must develop to surf has become one of the most memorable moments of my life. While admiring the gigantic and majestic pelicans spread their wings in the sky, I realized my life had taken a whole new meaning...
Sharks, jellyfish (for which I have a love-hate relationship!), and the danger of the currents did not succeed in altering the new passion I had developed. I had fallen madly in love with surfing. I was ready to make many sacrifices to drive down the East Coast as many times as I could
I spent a whole month in Hawaii... I kept searching for my “Why.”
I travelled for almost 2 weeks every 2 months. As I was not interested in slashing my income (in fact, the need had become greater), I set up a salon with a really targeted clientele.
To ensure that I would have a recurring income, even when I was on the road, I started to develop a job via social media. I did a few years in MLM. I learned a lot there, and at the time, it was a good solution for me. I discovered that converting part of my income via the Internet was something magical! And above all, it gave me a sense of security, in case of a serious illness or incident...
I always had this frustration that I couldn't do things my way. It wasn't my product (even though I loved the products I used). There were a lot of rules and regulations, written and unwritten, and sometimes some things "stung" my core values...
I learned a lot of things. I learned how to be a good leader. I didn't have to worry about shipping... But since I never settle for anything less, I went through it quickly... And at some point, I felt lost about it. I loved working online, but the model didn't work for me anymore...
I did not see it coming. I did not choose it.
One day, I broke in two... The day itself and the days that followed were incredibly painful... Because I loved my job as much as I did on its first day. I was a successful entrepreneur; my methods were sharp. I had a solid client base and a well-established reputation. I was bringing in as many ideal clients as I wanted. And I was having a lot of fun with my clients and my business!
But deep down, I was struggling.
My dad was losing his autonomy... I was so angry and stressed. I had experienced a rather intense separation from my partner. I had endured 2 or 3 other challenges that were quite significant in my life.
I found myself in the grip of an anxiety disorder... Yes, an anxiety disorder! I, the strong woman who had no limits... I found myself corned against the wall.
I struggled for a while, but the symptoms became so strong that I was burning out at a phenomenal rate. Within a day, I was no longer able to take care of my clients. I was in too much pain inside. My new boyfriend travelled outside the country for several months for his work... Fortunately, we were very close, and he was there for me even if we were physically apart. I was surrounded by my precious friends. My best friend and her little boy were very soothing.
It was a horrible time, but transformational at the same time. I found myself unable to continue the career that I loved so much... It was a total blackout. A sad Thursday in February... I closed my salon with no plans ahead of me.
I was fortunate to be supported by people who believed in me and knew the power of my ability to get back up, brush myself off, and start over. I had an attentive and caring doctor who helped me get through this trying time quickly. I am so lucky. I am healed now.
My boyfriend took me on a trip to the Gaspé Peninsula (where I was born). We collected shells and polished glass. I started to make jewelry... I created my collection of jewelry Child of the Earth.
I sold my jewelry so quickly! I found myself a victim of my marketing, which was impeccably executed... I loved making jewelry as a hobby, but not to make it 24/7 lol....
And it was there, one evening of "I had one too many glasses of wine,” that I exclaimed to my boyfriend who I love so much: "HEYYYYY!!!!!! I am a solid business machine... I MUST TEACH THAT TO THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!.” My boyfriend replied: "You're so beautiful when you're glowing like that!
A few days later, I hired the best teacher, with the best program, to accompany me in the development of what would become the Happy Beauty Business Community! It’s a training platform to teach people marketing methods that are too often explained in such complicated and convoluted ways...
I wanted to teach the basics of successful entrepreneurship in a way that is accessible to anyone.
So this is my journey. This is what led me to want to help people develop to their full potential.
Our economy has been changing rapidly over the past few years, and I am fortunate to have a good understanding of how to navigate the waters. Many talented entrepreneurs are suffering financially. I hate that!
I have chosen to give my keys to success to the world. I have chosen to leave my mark on the world of entrepreneurship!
I am Anne St-Amand,
Proud Founder of The Blueprint and The Happy Beauty Business Community
