Pivot With Purpose Season 5 Episode 20 Lauren Kinton Full Transcript

Meghan Houle (00:02.762) Welcome to the pivot with purpose podcast my friend. How are you today? Lauren Kinton (00:04.371) Whee! I'm so good. I'm so happy to be here. Meghan Houle (00:10.294) Me too. And what a beautiful journey we have been on to this point. I'm just so grateful for the connection and to know you from one local New Englander, Northeaster. That sounds like a storm, but we are a storm of fierceness. Because for me being based in Boston and you're home base, Maine, right? Yeah. Not far proximity. Lauren Kinton (00:20.098) Good. Lauren Kinton (00:28.12) We are. Lauren Kinton (00:34.075) Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (00:38.635) No. Meghan Houle (00:38.93) and how great it is for the Blueprint. Shout out to the Blueprint mastermind that has brought like all, I know, all these amazing women together. And it's been so incredible to see in a few short months, right, since October, like how much, you know, people have grown and like these new businesses that have formed. And I know you've launched so much that we can dive into. So I can't wait and I know how busy you are. So thank you so much for taking the time to get on here. Lauren Kinton (00:42.575) I know. We love you! Lauren Kinton (00:51.822) It's wild. Wild. Lauren Kinton (00:58.654) This is... Lauren Kinton (01:06.646) Thank you for having me. Meghan Houle (01:08.074) Yeah. And in the spirit in the podcast, usually I'd love to kick off with the here and now. So before going into the juicy pivots, what is going on in your world? Like, what are you loving these days? Like we're kind of diving right into 2024. What is up currently on your plate? And you're like, how long do we have? Yeah, like, yes. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:16.375) Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (01:29.53) Oh my God, I'm like so many things. So many things. Well, I have a very, very busy 17 month old. So being a mom and all the amazing things that toddler life brings, but in the business world, I am running my salon and I am a full time stylist as well, bridal and in salon, blonding extension specialist and. launching my new business do. We just launched on Wednesday of last week. I cannot believe. It's here, it's coming into fruition and being in the tech space is wild. Like I was just on a call with Marina and I think this was like two weeks ago and she was like, how does it feel to be a tech startup owner? And I was like, I never saw it like that. Which is crazy because I just see myself, I'm like so hair focused and in the wedding industry and Meghan Houle (02:39.725) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (02:40.19) But it's a software as a service product and working with developers and designers is wild. Meghan Houle (02:43.316) Yeah. Meghan Houle (02:49.1) AHHHHH And so amazing and I feel like for what I'm looking to do as well, top secret, I'm going to need to like pick your brain on that because that in itself, you know, your zone of genius. And I feel like that's probably the biggest miss. And we can kind of talk through this in that zone of genius is like bringing people into your business, your business, you know, you can do a full confidence, sometimes it's hard to relinquish control over aesthetic or like your own personal brand. But like with Lauren Kinton (02:53.838) Mhm. Lauren Kinton (02:58.719) Oh my gosh. Lauren Kinton (03:06.343) and Lauren Kinton (03:11.842) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (03:17.28) much. Meghan Houle (03:19.704) serious, like specific tech things or other platform, you're like, I don't know anything, like please Lord help me. And then all these people I'm hiring to make sure it's done correctly. What have you, yeah, what have you learned the most in the process of creating this just in general? And congratulations, yeah, yeah. Lauren Kinton (03:20.78) Oof. Lauren Kinton (03:38.094) Thank you so much. I'm really just coming back to myself and like sometimes I feel like I got lost in like the like we got to go, go mentality and just like feeling out of control and then just like needing a second to be like, no, this needs to be intentional. Let's calm down. Let's recent ourselves because I felt like there were moments in time where I would be like, maybe ups not I wasn't like upset but I was just like this doesn't feel like me and like I just needed to take a second and knowing that I could take a second and not feeling like I like this is my product like we're I'm building this for so many people that I needed to be intentional and not get lost in the like of it, of like, well, we said we were going to launch on this date, so it has to happen. And I'm like, no, it's okay to pause and be like, it's going to take a little bit more time. And I would rather it take a little bit more time and be exactly what I want it to be rather than like rush, rush. So I just feel like being okay and knowing it's going to be okay to pause. Recollect and then set a new intention Like I would say like my one of my biggest takeaways was being honestly brand new in this like my I would say like my Closest to like the tech space I had ever gotten was make I know you and I talked a little bit about this I was a technical recruiter back in the day and I was talking about things like JIRA and I don't even like software developers, but I had never experienced it for myself. So I'm like, I've gone through talking about it to actually experiencing it and like really just like learning as I went and a little bit of imposter syndrome there meaning a lot of it. Meghan Houle (05:54.276) Yeah. Meghan Houle (05:58.755) Yeah, that's OK. We don't know. But I feel like it's embracing those learnings and being OK that you're not going to be an expert in everything because we're so used to being an expert. Right? Lauren Kinton (06:05.767) Uh huh. No, an expert. Oh, it's so true. And like having other successful businesses that have taken years and then knowing and keeping myself in check, keeping myself in check along the line of being like, okay, my other two brands have taken years to get here. So why am I expecting due to just be an overnight success? Meghan Houle (06:31.789) Yeah. Meghan Houle (06:37.666) Right. Hmm, yeah. Lauren Kinton (06:38.587) You know, it's hard. Meghan Houle (06:40.558) it's hard. And that's it's so hard with me as you know, walking, trying to get some fresh air today getting out and as you know, building a lot on my own as well. The the rushing and like the forcing Lauren that you got to hit the deadlines. And you know, we are obviously committed to like working with very high level coaches right now. And you don't want to like disappoint or feel like you're like lazy or not focusing on it. Right. Or also we have 150,000 other things that we're trying to do. Lauren Kinton (06:55.754) forcing. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (07:01.778) Mm-hmm. Just falling behind. Ah, falling behind, yeah. Meghan Houle (07:10.412) So I agree with you in terms of the rushing of it, because I have to catch myself. Lauren Kinton (07:13.71) Thank you. Meghan Houle (07:16.386) all the time being like, girl, you need to calm down because this coming from a place of true, like passion and purpose of like, what you're putting out, what do you want to say, in terms of like, just it being another check off list, right? I've like, I check it done. And it just not feeling great. I 100% agree with you. My first round that I presented a few weeks ago when we were in New York with blueprints of doing some of the pitches. That was a Lauren Kinton (07:20.043) Down. Lauren Kinton (07:26.126) That's it. Lauren Kinton (07:32.652) Yes. Lauren Kinton (07:36.974) Great. Lauren Kinton (07:43.458) Yeah. Meghan Houle (07:46.24) of the feedback of my business was like it doesn't feel like you Megan. Lauren Kinton (07:50.222) Mmmm Meghan Houle (07:50.822) Yeah, so I want to dig into that further because I feel like as you may know, I mean a lot of our community is women and our women in business, women professionals, but there's messages, whether you're looking to create your own business or pivoting through personal career development. That I think points and nuggets that can like really land. So I definitely want to dig in more of that. And it sounds like so amazing. All the things you have going on. But going back like early Lauren, where did the love. Lauren Kinton (08:18.485) Yeah. Meghan Houle (08:20.854) for hair come in, you know, and then tell us too, like how that journey has really evolved for you. Like where were the pivots early on? Yes. Lauren Kinton (08:29.758) Oh my goodness. Okay. So it, it all started with being in the chair, having my hairstylist and she had just graduated hair school. Um, and it was like, Oh God, I think I was maybe like 11, 11 or 12. Um, and my mom would just like, I would go in when my mom was getting her hair done and, um, you know, she's Meghan Houle (08:35.386) Mmm. Mmm? Meghan Houle (08:49.015) Mmm. Lauren Kinton (08:54.154) would get her roots done and I would just sit there and chit chat with all the girls. And I just loved the like, busyness of a salon and like just watching everybody and just like women coming in feeling a certain way and like literally watching them get happier and like more confident as they walked out the door leaving. And my mom one day was like, Hey, does anybody have time to cut my daughter's hair? And my hairstylist Sarah, was the receptionist at the time. And she was like, yeah, sure, I'll do it. And she has been my hairstylist since. And so she... Meghan Houle (09:30.254) Oh my gosh, that's awesome. Lauren Kinton (09:35.49) I could almost cry thinking about it, but she has had such a influence on me. We have been through so much together, so many life moments together. Everybody says in jokes that hairstylists are therapists, but it's true. I always say, what happens in the chair stays in the Meghan Houle (09:37.081) Aww. Lauren Kinton (10:05.898) It's like more than a friend, not a best friend, not your mom, not your sister, but just somebody else that like just doesn't judge you. And so experiencing that firsthand and then having that relationship with her. And I remember being in high school being like, I feel like our parents would like, or my parents were like, go to college, go to college, go to college. And I would just sit in her chair and be like, I want to do hair. I just want to do hair. And she's like, so go do hair. But then I'd be like, but I want to go to college. She's like, then go to college. And so she just like having that support of somebody that's not just like a mom or dad or, you know, of just being like, just do what you want to do. So I... Meghan Houle (10:54.97) A hundred percent, yes. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (11:02.59) Ended up going to school. I went to college. I went to University of Maine in Orono and I was supposed to be a high school English teacher. And I started my student teaching my senior year in 2013 And I hated it. I had kind of like put my dream of being a cosmetologist on hold and was just like, no, like this is gonna be my career path, this is what I'm supposed to do. And even though like I loved college, I grew up in a very small town in Maine, and I was like, I can't wait to get out of here. Even though I live here now and I love it. So. I. Meghan Houle (11:43.758) Right, that's fine. Sometimes you just need to go away for a bit and come back and then you almost like reappreciate. Right? Yeah. Lauren Kinton (11:49.838) Totally. That's exactly what had happened. So when I graduated in May 2013, I was like, this ain't it. I'm not going to be a teacher. And so in August, I applied to be the Cosmetology Program at Empire Beauty School in Bangor, Maine, which Meghan Houle (12:12.605) Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (12:19.222) That is a very interesting story as well, because I was dating somebody at the time. And we had started dating my junior year of high school. And I was like, I'm gonna marry this man. My family, like my dad, I come from like a very traditional family. And it was very important to me that like my family loved who I was dating. And so like, I'm like, this is it. This is my life. Like I graduated school, I got my four year degree. I am going to cosmetology school now. Like I'm really fulfilling my dream. And so I was at, oh my gosh, I'm like, this was I think October, 2014, I believe. I might have my years mixed up, but. I was dating somebody and he had lost his job. And the reason why I was up there was because he was a chemical engineer and essentially was the breadwinner and was very supportive of me going and fulfilling my dream of going to hair school. And so he had lost his job. So we're like, okay, we're going to pivot. Like what's next? So he... started looking for jobs and we had said like all along the East Coast and then his family had just moved to Texas. So we said East Coast or Texas. And then I started looking to either transfer my pro like in within the program or finish out school in Bangor. And so what we ended up doing was I was going to transfer down to Portland, Maine and then move home because I had only I think I only had like five months of school left. And so I was like, this is what we're gonna do. And then I was gonna move down to Savannah, Georgia, which is where he ended up getting a job. And he proposed. Lauren Kinton (14:17.55) Christmas Eve in my family's living room and he was literally moving the next week. So in that timeframe, we had gone down, gotten an apartment, my name was on the lease, all the things and I'm sure you probably know where this is going, but long story short, I had found out that he was cheating on me once he had moved down there and totally like, Meghan Houle (14:20.59) Oh boy. Meghan Houle (14:25.101) Ugh. Meghan Houle (14:33.525) Oh, wow. Lauren Kinton (14:48.19) wrecked me. And I mean, we had a date, we had saved the dates out. We had already asked like our bridal party, all of my when I say all of my belongings were in Savannah, Georgia, except for my winter clothing, like I'm talking like my birth certificate to like my bed, like all of all of my life. Because like, Meghan Houle (14:56.59) Wow, yeah. Meghan Houle (15:08.002) You're like those important documents, you know? Yeah. Lauren Kinton (15:15.646) when he moved, the company that had hired him was like, oh yeah, we'll just move you guys down there. And so it was just a short stint that I was gonna be living at home, graduate school, move down south. We had a wedding date. And I was 23 years old at the time and thought that, I literally in that moment before I had found out that he was cheating on me, I was like, I'm on top of the world. My life, I was like... This is freaking awesome. And Megan, if I'm being completely honest with you at that time, I was like, this is going too good. Meghan Houle (15:54.066) You're like waiting for the other shoe to drop ish, but then the universe showed you that this isn't it. Yeah Lauren Kinton (15:56.402) Yeah, I was like, yeah, this isn't it. And I had flown down with my parents the week before I was supposed to graduate school and move down to Savannah, Georgia and move out. And it wrecked me. It, no, I... At the time, I mean, this happened over a week, like a Friday, and I was back at school on Monday, and my parents were like, we will do anything to get you out of bed and not let this wreck you, you know? I wasn't in therapy at the time. I was like, no, I can do this myself. I can do this myself. And it's like, no. No, you can't, Lauren. No, you can't. And that's when I got help, and I was in the deepest, darkest place in my life. I wasn't eating, I wasn't sleeping. I haven't spoken to him since the day I was in Savannah and I threw my ring at him. That was the biggest pivotal moment in my life. for sure because in that moment, cause my dad had always told me growing up, never depend on a man. Never depend on a man. Meghan Houle (17:33.598) Yeah, I mean, amen to that girl. Even though I love my husband, my cool shout out. But like same, I am like the most into, like Kelly Clarkson wrote that Miss Independent. That song is like about me. So I hear you and I think there's just so much power in like being able to also stand on your own two feet financially and all of that. So yeah, yeah. Lauren Kinton (17:39.684) Oh my god. Lauren Kinton (17:45.482) Is that it? Lauren Kinton (17:54.83) one. Yeah, I mean, like my husband now, Mike, they could not. Oh, my God, we love it. We love them. We love them. But that moment right there is why I am here today, because that pivotal moment was like you're never ever going to let that happen to you again. And Meghan Houle (18:00.33) Yes, we love all the mics. We love them all. Ha ha ha. Yeah, yeah. Meghan Houle (18:11.059) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (18:22.842) It was just so important to me to build myself back up myself and not depending on anybody else. Meghan Houle (18:28.458) Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. Well, and I give you so much credit, too, not to interrupt, but going into really saying I can't do this alone. First of all, not staying, because I think a lot of people see, oh, this happened, but I love them so much. And sure, maybe people can work through things. But I'm happy for you to follow your gut and knowing that you deserve and were meant for more, better, best, and then taking the time. Lauren Kinton (18:38.016) Yeah. with. Lauren Kinton (18:45.99) Oh yes, no. Lauren Kinton (18:54.723) Totally. Meghan Houle (18:57.906) unfortunately, you know, and hitting rock bottom, to be able to pull yourself out of something, especially if it was like, was that maybe like your first like really like big, massive, like that's a huge, that's a huge breakup, right. So to be able to navigate that internally, not blame yourself, and then be able to move forward, not jumping into another relationship, not trying to like, put pull something else into it to make that pain go away, which is always like a Lauren Kinton (19:01.013) Okay. Lauren Kinton (19:09.286) Yeah. Totally. Lauren Kinton (19:14.704) Ugh. Lauren Kinton (19:19.319) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (19:23.112) Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (19:26.776) Yeah. Meghan Houle (19:27.9) the hard work on yourself. How long did that take Lauren from, you know, kind of coming back home, and then like emerging this new beautiful soul person after a lot of time? Like, what was that process like for you? And then what was next? Yeah. Lauren Kinton (19:38.836) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (19:43.642) So years, it was not overnight. And I am definitely like a perfectionist in nature and literally just taking the time to get back to the root of who is Lauren Kinton. And it took years and it was by far, it was the most humbling experience. Meghan Houle (20:04.62) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (20:11.59) And it's like, if I ever need to like, take a moment and just reflect and like, I go right back to that moment. I go right back to that moment of like, crying myself to sleep, but getting the help and continuing to do me, continuing to not let anyone tell me who, what, where, when and why I was gonna be. the stakeholder in my life and spearheading that. And so I graduated school on time and I went into a commission salon and I really wasn't sure what my next move was going to be, Meg, like I really was like, I was still lost. I was still like, I don't know, I don't know what I want. I don't know where to look. I'm still very much like... Meghan Houle (20:41.755) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (21:08.426) trying to figure that out. And so I lasted six months there at the commission salon. Meghan Houle (21:17.758) at the at the commission salon, because that's like, that's aggressive, right? In terms of that environment, defined for our listeners, like, what does that mean? Do you come in just like on a draw, and then you're kind of like bringing people in and like, that's how you get paid because it's stressful. I know what commission is all about, you know, yes. Lauren Kinton (21:23.252) Yes. Lauren Kinton (21:31.342) It's... Yeah. So I... So when I graduated and like hair school doesn't really... I don't know what it's like now, but back in 2013, they say like, okay, so you're gonna work at a commission salon. That's how you build your clientele. And like, they were like, booth rental is like years down the road. Like don't even think about that. And I'm like, nobody's gonna tell me what to do anymore. But like, no. Meghan Houle (21:57.002) Right, you're like, sorry, not subscribing to that, thanks. Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (22:01.418) Um, send back to sender. So I tried it and I learned a lot and I learned a lot about why I never want to work at another commission salon. And I'm sure that there are commission salons out there that are truly incredible. Um, but my experience was not that. And I was just like, it was just like your classic. toxic positivity and, God, it's just like, who gets what client and like, this person got this client before me and I was supposed to get that client. I'm like, guys, like, come on. Like, so basically what, God, I just. Meghan Houle (22:36.292) Right. Meghan Houle (22:42.382) Mm-hmm. Yeah. And it takes out the experience too, right? Like I even think about equating that to retail and people like fighting over clients. And like, are you truly giving your best? Or are you just showing up? Because you're in this like scarcity mode of like, I got to get paid. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (22:50.75) Yes. Totally. Lauren Kinton (22:56.97) Scarcity that's it. It's like a tactic 1000% and I was just like this just ain't it for me. Um, and Actually, I worked at Clinique for a brief stint and I was just like, oh I can't do this Meghan Houle (23:14.346) It's a lot. It's a lot. Where did the recruiter part of you come in? Was that like in between? In between? When did you come into my underbelly world of recruiting? Lauren Kinton (23:19.174) All right. So, so I, so where my journey ended with the commission salon was the owner had sprung a non-compete on us all and was like, hey, you all have to sign this. And if you don't, there's the door. And I chose the door. Um, yeah, I chose. No. Meghan Houle (23:29.954) Yeah. Meghan Houle (23:38.235) Nah. Yeah, you're like you can't lock me in for non competes. And also too, for listeners, because I think this is such an important point to as anyone's navigating a new company, a new business, new business partnerships, like a non compete, if you really don't read through the lines can be so tricky. And I know for my fashion brands I work with, literally companies will pay you months and months to like not work like basically out of spite Lauren Kinton (23:51.981) Okay. Meghan Houle (24:09.204) is too close to something what we're doing now or doing the same thing or whatever, you can't work anywhere for six months. And it's wild because you could be interviewing for jobs and another company is not gonna wait for your non-compete to come up. So you just have to be so careful. Do you feel like you navigated that well or was there like some issues there? That's good, thank God. Yeah, that's good. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (24:16.618) God. Wild. Lauren Kinton (24:25.003) No. Absolutely. It's wild. Lauren Kinton (24:34.992) No, it was definitely the right decision to make. And so I ended up, that's when I found my home, at a booth rental salon. But again, I was young and I still was like flying by the seat of my pants. So I kind of started to freak out. I was like, I'm going to need insurance. I'm going to be 26 in a couple of years and here I am like freaking, I was like 24. And so my parents were like, Meghan Houle (24:37.902) Good. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (25:00.77) because I was still living at home and they're like, don't worry about that and here I am worrying about it. And so that's when one of my clients was like, I think you'd be really great at my job. And I was like, I don't even understand what you do. Can you talk to me a little bit about that? And so she worked at a tech agency and so I ended up applying and the first time, so I applied once and the CEO literally put my resume in the trash and was like, you have no experience. Like what are you doing? And I was like, I don't know. She told me to apply. And then they literally doing what I was told. And I'm like, again, flying off the seat of my pants. So she was like, okay, the person that we hired didn't end up working. Like, can you please apply again? Like I promise I'm going to get you an interview. And I was like, Meghan Houle (25:41.04) All right, I think I'm just listening to what I was told. Lauren Kinton (25:57.81) Okay, cool. So I was like, I don't have anything to lose. And so I went in and I, it was like a three hour interview. And I was like, it was like one of those interviews where you just kind of blackout and you're like, I think I did okay. Like, and it was a long time. Yeah. Whoa, my goodness. Yeah. So I was hired. Meghan Houle (26:06.422) Oh, wow. Meghan Houle (26:12.482) That's a long time to interview though, but like also good Lord, you're not the C-suite. Like this isn't like Phil. You're like, give a girl a break, but good for you. Lauren Kinton (26:27.726) And so I went part-time at the salon, at the booth rental salon, and I worked Monday through Saturday, Monday through Friday at the agency. And then I did clients on Saturdays and weddings on Saturdays and Sundays. And so I met my best friend at the agency that I was working at, and I worked there for four years and absolutely loved it. Like, loved it. I loved being in that environment, but also love doing hair. So I'm like, I'm literally doing two things that I absolutely love. But then I ended up finding myself like wanting to be at the salon more. And I, I was just like. Meghan Houle (27:09.078) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (27:14.51) COVID, we weren't at COVID yet. This was like 2019 when I was thinking about like what my next move was. And so I ended up going back to school to get my master's degree in business. And because I was really starting to think about like, what do I want? What's the plan here? I'm like, I'm in my mid twenties now, like what's the next move for Lauren? And I ended up started, I... Meghan Houle (27:25.262) Wow. Lauren Kinton (27:38.346) started dating my husband now. And things were just starting to feel really good. And so my best friend, Cal, she's the one that I was working with at the tech agency. And she's like, dude, you belong in the salon. Like, you need to go do that. And, cause like, I don't think I stopped talking about it. And she's like, just shut up and go, please just like go do your thing. And so I quit. Meghan Houle (28:02.246) Right? Just go. Yes. Lauren Kinton (28:08.826) And it was so hard because I honestly cried. I cried when I left because I just loved everybody that I worked with, but it was definitely time. And I ended up graduating from Merrimack in 2019 and I was like, I wanna go build my salon. So before I opened the Opal Society, I was still, I went back to the booth rental salon and worked for one year full time. Really got my clients held back up and running because I was again, just part-time working one day. Um, so I was like, before I go full steam ahead with the salon, I was like, I need to, um, just make sure I have clients. And, um, so I opened Opal Society in full blown COVID. Um, we, I've signed my, my lease July, 2020, and we opened September 1st, 2020. Meghan Houle (28:40.798) Yeah, yeah. Meghan Houle (28:49.866) Right. Lauren Kinton (29:09.054) Um, and then got married June 12th, 2021. And then my son was born September 1st, 2022. Um, Oh my God. Love, love, love Virgos. Meghan Houle (29:17.406) Yes, my fellow Virgo. Mm, little man. That, girl, that's amazing. So, so, so many pivots in there. And I mean, a pivot that unfortunately was kind of a rock bottom moment, but I think it seemed like brought this incredible awaken, you know, of your soul of like, okay. Lauren Kinton (29:28.129) Yes. Lauren Kinton (29:32.739) to him. Meghan Houle (29:39.782) I'm learning all these lessons, this is not gonna happen again, you know, especially when it comes to like relationships and love, like, just in general, so tricky, because there's two people involved, right? So as much as you can control, we don't want to try to control the other person, like it just has to feel right. But in the bit twigs in between, like you really were focusing on you and exploring what you want to be doing and what you don't want to be doing, which I think is where always people get stuck in the pivot. Lauren Kinton (29:44.173) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (29:53.646) Absolutely. Lauren Kinton (30:00.27) Totally. Meghan Houle (30:06.71) of either shaming themselves of like, well, this is a different path. And, you know, I'm not necessarily following my true thing, like, do I should I be doing this? And like, sometimes like, give yourself a chance to try something new, maybe completely out of your wheelhouse, because you picked up a bunch of learnings. I mean, I'm sure you're hiring and recruiting people all day every day for all the various things you have going on. But knowing that at some point, you can, you know, you can be this and that. But that is going to pull you eventually into that like true passion, true purpose. Lauren Kinton (30:10.158) Thank you. Lauren Kinton (30:21.862) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (30:35.35) Mm-hmm. Meghan Houle (30:36.742) Especially if you're doing something creative on the side and like that's like you're calling. I just feel like the creativity always takes over, right? Yeah Lauren Kinton (30:40.914) It was like fuel for my fire. Yeah, and Meg, I was like, I was honestly like embarrassed for a long time to be like, my rock bottom moment was my breakup. And, because I didn't have like anything that was like, I felt like so catastrophic. Like, I, you know, I feel like there's so many other people that go through things that are so much worse or like. really traumatic and it took me a long time to talk about my story because I was like it was Meghan Houle (31:13.71) girl, that's traumatic. Like you got engaged, you were married, you moved across, like you were young. I mean, love is heavy. So don't discount what you went through. You know, everybody has a journey. Yeah, yeah. Lauren Kinton (31:18.411) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (31:21.838) it is, especially being so young, you know, like, and then when I when I was working as a recruit, I moved downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and I was living paycheck to paycheck, like, you know, trying to find myself. And so like, just an underlying message through all of this is like, tell your story because like, you just don't know who else is going through. something similar. And so that's when I was like, you know what? I'm not embarrassed anymore. I'm gonna talk to anyone and everyone about what I have been through. And if there's one little tiny thing that they take away from it. I'm cool with that. Meghan Houle (32:11.422) Yeah, well, and you're, you know, you're so relatable, and you're so authentic and approachable. And you know, I think that there's so much I feel like a lot of people can see in themselves in you of I mean, again, we all have at some point been in maybe bad relationships, like, I feel like that in itself, but then just we're all Lauren Kinton (32:18.903) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (32:31.267) Yeah. Meghan Houle (32:35.102) Lauren, we are all just still figuring it out also. Like we are all girl, always just figuring it out. But there is so much in building community invulnerability and I'm sure to given now this platform that you have to in the salon where you see people like you said, you're even a therapist like for people to come and sit and be like, damn, like she went through something really hard. Lauren Kinton (32:38.954) Yes. Always. Lauren Kinton (32:45.333) I see. Lauren Kinton (32:49.266) Thank you. Lauren Kinton (32:55.767) Mm-hmm. Meghan Houle (33:02.916) you know, Lauren Kinton (33:10.254) Thank you. Lauren Kinton (33:13.803) is really... Lauren Kinton (33:21.399) Yeah. Meghan Houle (33:25.602) There's just relatability in all the moments, big, small, otherwise. So thank you for sharing all of that. And yeah, I mean, I feel like pivoting to being a business owner now. What was that journey like for you of creating your own space? And tell us more about the Opal Society. What do you have going on in your world now before we kind of launch in to do? Because I know in there between that, the bridal piece of it had to have come in somehow, right? More loud. More. Lauren Kinton (33:30.499) Oh my gosh, of course. Lauren Kinton (33:41.966) Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (33:51.532) Yeah. Meghan Houle (33:54.034) Louder, I guess you could say like prevalent. I don't know if there were those signs coming kind of over through like bridal But it's such a beautiful marriage of like what you do in a special day for individuals that there's probably so much in there You know, yeah Lauren Kinton (33:57.089) Very simple. Lauren Kinton (34:01.384) Yes. Lauren Kinton (34:04.906) Thank you. Lauren Kinton (34:08.802) Well, so I mean, COVID was another huge pivotal moment. And I know so many people can relate to that. And it's like, rather than, I know that so many doors have closed for people through that time. And it was a time for me that like, almost like a rebirth. And so the Opal Society was like, it's like a passion project for me. It's like, you can come as you are. And I feel like the salons around me, especially like in York, Maine, are just kind of old and tired. And, um, like, when I was building it, and I had like the craft paper all over the windows, and it said the old society coming soon fall 2020. And Meghan Houle (34:53.243) Yeah, no, amen to that. Lauren Kinton (35:04.63) there was an older lady that pulled in and opened the door and goes, what is it? What do you run in here? Colt. And I was like, you make. Meghan Houle (35:09.82) Oh Well, you're like, Hello, ma'am, welcome. Thank you for busting it on private property. No problem. Lauren Kinton (35:17.194) I was like, number one. Yeah, literally. I was like, wait, what? What? Who? What is happening? And I was like, yeah, the town of York has given me permission to have all of this window space to open up a cult. So I was like, but it's so like, I wanted a conversation starter. So I'm like, you know what? Like, sure. If you want to think about it, let them let them, you know, um, any press is good press. So it's like, Meghan Houle (35:22.546) Oh my god. Meghan Houle (35:29.93) Right, we're starting a call. Like, you want in? Yeah. Meghan Houle (35:40.242) Let them think. Yes. Lauren Kinton (35:46.162) I just like, I was talking to my girlfriends and my friends and my family and I was like, I just feel like there's this bigger calling to have the modern woman walk in here and like, if they need to work while they get their hair done, I don't want them to apologize for that. I don't want them to apologize for walking in with dirty hair. I don't want them to apologize for who they are in that moment at that very specific time in their lives. I want them to come unapologetically. And the salon culture, it's like people walk in and they're like, there really isn't any drama here? I'm like, no, like there really aren't, there really is not at all. And it's really cool to see a lot of other salons that are investing so much in their salon culture and really making it a non-negotiable. Um, because the clients feel it. Meghan Houle (36:46.722) I mean, I've so many stories and you know, I'm literally I live in downtown Boston, Hi Newbury Street. Many, many individuals that I know in the beauty space have taken that pivot just like you have like, breaking out of these really toxic salons. And I've been in a few of them where you show up and, you know, yes, you have your preferred provider who a lot of times someone you know, for years a friend, but like, you can feel it like when Lauren Kinton (36:51.574) Yes. Lauren Kinton (37:07.906) Thank you. Lauren Kinton (37:13.774) Hopefully. Meghan Houle (37:16.656) there's this air of I don't know what it is. It's almost like, I don't I guess for a user like snotty. It's not a word to do it right of just like, in time and also like entitlement and yeah, like, ooh, like your hair is looking crazy or they like shame each other. It's wild. Like I'm sure there's so many stories you can tell, but you 100% feel that but also to that's like your brand. Lauren Kinton (37:25.23) Yeah. I'm better than you. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (37:31.93) Entitlement. Lauren Kinton (37:36.078) Okay. Lauren Kinton (37:40.743) and make that totally, actually. Meghan Houle (37:46.466) Like that's what people are walking out of the salon saying about your brand and your business. So it doesn't matter after a while people could love coming to see you, but people don't want to step into salons where they're feeling like judged or not accepted, right? Yeah. Lauren Kinton (37:59.006) Exactly. It's not about us. It is about them. And it is about every single client that walks through the door. And it's actually really cool. And I would love to actually look up the psychology behind how a client chooses their stylist, because I have six women that work at my salon. It's very much a boutique, tight-knit space. we have kind of like open discussions on the salon floor sometimes, but then like everybody has their own like intimate conversations with their clients as well. And it's so cool how like the salon will just kind of start talking and then everybody starts talking and it's such a cool thing. But like, I just love that there is a safe space that women can walk into and just feel completely like just feel themselves. And um, Meghan Houle (38:37.314) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (38:57.31) I named it the Opal Society because I didn't want it to be Lauren's Salon or, you know, LK's Studio or something like that. And like, I don't want to say that that's bad if somebody's salon is called that, but it just, to me, it's just not about me. I could care less if anybody knows that I'm the owner, because again, it's not about me. It's about them. And that was the whole... Meghan Houle (39:21.778) Yeah, you have your community. That's what it is. It's like you're creating this beautiful community. But you are at the top in terms of just setting that standard and precedence of how you make your people feel, which then kind of snowballs into how they treat their clients and the experiences they get. Because there is a standard that you set 100%, I'm sure. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (39:25.998) Exactly. So. Lauren Kinton (39:31.742) It's good. Yes. Lauren Kinton (39:44.371) Absolutely. No, 100%, 100%. And they know we have a cultural agreement that everybody signs. So everyone's on the same level. And we kind of keep each other in check, which is really cool. It's a really awesome respect level that we all have for each other. And just keeping each other in mind. And like, that's what's also cool about booth rental is like, we're all our own individual businesses. Meghan Houle (40:11.095) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (40:12.758) but then we have a collective. And so Opal is my birthstone, and then society is that community piece. So that's where I came up with the name. Meghan Houle (40:19.362) Oh, I love that. Mm hmm. So cool. And then we're so weddings because I'm sure you're like get booked and busy. How how has this new off shoot like really taken off like over the years like in kind of what was the inspiration and motivation behind it to like say okay, we need to book and do something more for some of our wedding clients and offerings. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (40:32.418) Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (40:47.366) Yeah, so I found my love of weddings, actually from the commission salon. And I just recently, I remember like all the like more senior stylists would get the weddings. And I'm like, oh, I want to do that. Like I want to be there. Like, you know, so it like pushed me to like really like start practicing updo's and makeup and all the things. And this is actually this is the first year that I'm no longer offering makeup. And I'm just focusing on bridal hair, you know, almost 10 years later. Meghan Houle (40:53.227) Mm. Meghan Houle (41:01.212) Right? Yeah. Meghan Houle (41:08.822) Love it. Meghan Houle (41:12.961) Okay. Lauren Kinton (41:17.366) So then when I moved over to the booth rental salon, we would just get calls. I was kind of just like thrown into it. And it was so other than that, it was really my best friend, Kara. She's a big name planner in the Seacoast area and in Maine. And she spearheaded this for me. She, I remember Meghan Houle (41:22.393) Mm. Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (41:41.918) She had moved back from California and she's always been in the event space. And we had dinner at a local restaurant here. And she surprised me by, she had a bag made that said, by Lauren Kinton. And it said like weddings. Blonding and I think or maybe just my logo or something you know and she had because I wasn't even doing extensions at that time and um she had business cards made for me and she just like Brand like she just created this logo for me and um like Literally, I just remember I actually still use the bag that she gave me as my work bag and Meghan Houle (42:01.618) Oh, your brand pillars already come into life. Yes. Lauren Kinton (42:25.594) that was a huge pivotal moment that I was like, oh my God, somebody believes in me that isn't me. And so we still work together. And it is such a cool relationship that has evolved. And she's like even been the one to be like, Lauren, like, you're, you've made it, like you're here. Because like sometimes I'll be, I feel like I'm still that young, you know, 23 year old. That's like. Meghan Houle (42:33.655) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (42:55.786) what we had just talked about, like, everyone's still figuring it out. And that's okay. And so I just, I really have to thank her for getting me into that space and introducing me to so many people. And then just like my love for hair and being with the brides and like, being a part of that whole process for them and educating them and like telling them. Meghan Houle (43:08.747) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (43:25.394) Also, it's not just about the hair. I'm just another advocate for them on that day to be like, no, it's what you want, not what anybody else wants. And I always say, I'm like, I can be the bad guy for you. Like, if you want your hair to be a certain way, shoot me a text. And if like somebody's coming to your trial or somebody's gonna be there on the big day that is maybe influencing you to change something, I can be like, no, no. Like we talked about this, this is exactly what Meg wants. Like, and it kind of just like eases everything. And I love being the first vendor on site that kind of helps create the vibe for the day. And so with COVID happening, and I was a bride, I was a quote unquote COVID bride. And it just made me love and see another side of being a bride and weddings that I had never been a part of before. And so being a vendor and being a bride really showed me this different like other element and being like, oh my God, I have to now cancel weddings. reschedule weddings, book 2021 brides, and then some brides who are rescheduling are not only rescheduling for 2020 but for 2021. And my best friend Kara also was planning my wedding. So like keeping up with all of the COVID regulations and all the things. I'm like, girl, I am there with you. I am right there with you. Meghan Houle (45:13.608) You're like, we're just doing it all. Meghan Houle (45:19.753) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (45:22.118) And that's really when the idea of do came about. And I was like, there's just got to be a better way. And I was thinking at the time, like, I didn't know it was due. It was really just like within talking of like how there's got to be a product out there to better manage and organize rather than like I was working off of a Google doc. Like Meghan Houle (45:48.29) I mean, I was like back in like the olden day, I don't even I don't even think I had a Google Doc. It was like all like hand the handwritten and like paper. So like trying to keep up with everything. It's a lot. Yeah. Yes. Lauren Kinton (45:56.782) Yes, planner. Like, oh my goodness. It was a lot. And I was almost living in a fear of, did I do that? Did I properly put that on the right day? Did I? I was just like, there's got to be a product. And there's no product out there. And that was kind of the birth. Meghan Houle (46:13.544) Oh yeah, yeah. Meghan Houle (46:19.246) Wow. Yeah, cause what is the process usually like, I mean, I guess you hire a wedding planner, but they only take it so far. So where did you see the gaps in that to then create and like bring due to life? Yeah, yeah. Lauren Kinton (46:29.358) Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (46:34.222) This is. life. So at that point, like during COVID, it was really just an idea. And I was, I wasn't even thinking like, this is, this is going to be my business. Like it was just like, oh, this sucks. Like, why isn't there something else? I was looking constantly, like there's got to be something out there. And then I kind of like got married, had a baby, didn't really think about anything else, other than like, survival through it all. And then I started talking to Kara and was like, actually, this is wild. Dew was gonna be a blow dry bar. I'm like, let's start there. Let's start getting brides in here for like their rehearsal dinner hair and start making like touch points that way. And then I was like, no, that's not what I want. Meghan Houle (47:28.906) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (47:34.818) And I actually started talking to Jillian from Blueprint. And Jill's actually been a friend of mine before Blueprint. And she was like, oh, girl, like, I'll get you in touch with my real estate, like my commercial real estate girl. And I started exploring that avenue and I was like, you know, like, no, this isn't this isn't for me. We're going to we're going to know that's not that's not the avenue I want to go down. And I started just exploring the whole tech and software piece of it and started talking to my network. Meghan Houle (47:55.277) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (48:04.318) Again, this is pre blueprint and started talking to my network about like, if anybody knew of a software developer and somebody that they trusted and really just wanting to start talking about a project scope and what this product could look like. And so then I just started putting pen to paper and getting things on written down. And again, I was like, Tripp, my son was three months old, four months old. I don't know. It was such a blur, but I just started putting my ideas down and having like consult calls and ended up landing with a local developer and web designers out west and just started doing it. We just do it. And yeah. And I really did think I am still. Meghan Houle (48:52.266) You just did it. Just do. You're doing it. Oh my gosh, I love that. Yes, girl. Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (49:03.334) figuring it out as you go. And I'll never forget having that first consult call with this team and shutting my laptop and walking over to my husband and being like, Mike, I think I'm gonna do this. And he's like, you go girl. And he's so supportive and I'm so, so thankful for him. And you know. Meghan Houle (49:05.386) Yeah. Yep. Meghan Houle (49:21.139) Heck yeah. Lauren Kinton (49:31.614) My whole family is so supportive and my friends too, just like, you're freaking crazy, but you go girl. Meghan Houle (49:39.43) No, I mean, amen, because you're so passionate and they see that. I think that believing comes in seeing what you have been capable of and the things you have felt already and seeing the white space. I mean, next to me on my desk, my awesome vision board from a little vision board party, Journey on and honestly, Lauren, I'm doing the same thing in kind of like my recruiting world of. Lauren Kinton (49:43.938) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (49:53.803) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (49:58.99) I love that. Lauren Kinton (50:03.47) Thank you. Meghan Houle (50:05.614) And I cut out this little thing that says create what you wish existed. And I know it literally is on, I'll have to take a picture and send it. But like, it is so powerful when you can see that. But then what you did is you take action because as we probably all have, maybe friends or coworkers or things like they have all the ideas, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do that. And you're like, okay, that sounds great because there is just never any action follow-up, like. Lauren Kinton (50:14.574) police and its police. Mm-hmm. Meghan Houle (50:34.898) in that fear, in that moment, like you just have to do it and be like, people need this, I need this, if I need this, like can you imagine? And you're in that day in and day out of that ideal client that is surrounding you all day. So that is so incredible and I am just so proud of you for taking the action and for seizing it because why not you? Lauren Kinton (50:38.107) I was doing this! Oh my god. That's... Lauren Kinton (50:49.442) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (50:55.694) Thank you. Meghan Houle (50:59.446) Like we can't be waiting around for other people and not that everyone's gonna have ideas and things like that, but no one's you. So putting the action, the intention, the brand identity, your personality behind it, what, so tell me before, because I wanna get into like what do is and then how people can like really work with you, but like what was the process of bringing that together? And do you feel like being a part of Blueprint has like. Lauren Kinton (51:00.158) Right. Lauren Kinton (51:18.05) Yeah. Meghan Houle (51:24.002) helped you with other coaches and mentors because we do we talk about all the time. I'm like, if you're making a decision, yes, please, like, let's get away from asking mom, dad, husband, and Sally, all the people that are going to tell you, oh, you should be doing this or like, that's a cute idea. Lauren, but maybe not in this lifetime. You're like, I'm gonna show you and I'm very much like you too. I'm like, tell me you can do something. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna trademark it. I'm gonna have the shirt. We're gonna make a Netflix series out of it. So like what Lauren Kinton (51:25.322) I'm out. Lauren Kinton (51:33.518) Thank you. Meghan Houle (51:53.674) Stay tuned. You're going to be on it. But what was that process like for you, just committing and bringing it to life? And do you feel like you've had a good amount of support over these past few months in other ways too? Yeah. Lauren Kinton (52:07.762) Oh my God. So first and foremost, it's like, I feel like every single entrepreneur, it's like you have to believe in yourself. And like, then when you have supportive people around you, like I am, I am lucky. I have such incredible people who are supportive of me and my freaking crazy dreams. And in the speech that my dad made at my wedding is, he's like, he, It was very poetic and after every line that he said was, you go girl. And I feel like even if you don't have it, or if you feel like you're alone, because entrepreneurship is so isolating. And I feel like with something like the blueprint being a part of something bigger than yourself is like surrounding yourself with people that Meghan Houle (52:43.335) Aww. So nice. Yeah. Meghan Houle (52:55.893) Yep. Lauren Kinton (53:05.11) like you know nothing about and like asking for help. And so like a part of this process, it's like I was so excited to get going. I really didn't give myself the time and it was on purpose. I didn't want to give myself the time to second guess it because they gave myself the time to second guess it, especially with like being a new mom and like going through postpartum, it's like, no. Meghan Houle (53:23.298) Yeah. Meghan Houle (53:31.134) We can make up a million excuses easily, right? Yeah, yeah. Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (53:32.894) 1000% and it's like, yeah, start even by starting putting pen to paper. And I think like starting the process and just believing in yourself and just knowing like you said, like, I'm going to do this. And I'm not going to wait for somebody else to do it. And so hiring this team. And it was, it's a whole, it's all males and then me. And again, I'm like, how do I explain this? I knew nothing. Meghan Houle (54:06.739) Yeah, yeah. Meghan Houle (54:15.01) The tech jar, the tech jar gets coming back down to you again. Yes. That's gonna be me. Lauren Kinton (54:18.778) Holy moly. Like, I if I'm like, I don't, I don't, I'm trying to explain the bridal business to somebody who has never experienced it and is male. Which is sick. I'm like, I'm trying so hard to explain what I'm trying to build here. And it took months. Like it was where I'm like, no, why aren't you getting this? Why aren't you understanding? How can I explain this differently? And so like, it was definitely. Meghan Houle (54:32.978) Right. Yeah. Right. Lauren Kinton (54:54.506) Relationship building 101 it was like okay. We are married. We are married in this like help me help you How like let's just? I'm like what aren't you understanding? Can you please help me with what I'm not understanding and um it probably took like three months to really? hone in on exactly what do is and Because like we had started Meghan Houle (55:10.798) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Meghan Houle (55:19.637) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (55:23.478) the process and the developer, it's a complete, it's a custom application. And so it was being built from the ground up, you know, with just like a simple framework. And so everything had to be intentional or it's like, you just did all of that work for nothing. And so working with them, it was like, okay, my expectations are like here. Meghan Houle (55:33.972) Right. Meghan Houle (55:39.213) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (55:51.418) Not that I lowered my expectations, but I was like, okay, we just need to go back to basics. And so the process was really hard. And I was just like, that's when the doubt started. I'm like, what did I get myself into? And obviously, like the financial piece too, it's like, Meghan Houle (55:59.774) Uh huh. Right. Lauren Kinton (56:11.742) It's hard. Meghan Houle (56:11.791) Mm-hmm. Girl, don't even get me started. My personal P&L looking back on all the years. But I mean, again, you do and you take the risks. And this seemed like extremely wise investment where we have to pay for people that can take us on the path that we have never been on before. Lauren Kinton (56:24.652) off. Lauren Kinton (56:27.79) here. Lauren Kinton (56:32.426) Yeah. Then on. Meghan Houle (56:35.47) So but I know I mean, I laugh because the first feeling of your life that you're an ATM system is a wedding, where just money is flying constantly out of the door. I don't know if you saw I think he did on Instagram, but like, it was like a fighter jet landing on like a landing strip, and then like flying back up with like the top gun thing of like money coming in and on my account, like the fighter jet comes in, it doesn't even like sit on the Lauren Kinton (56:47.371) Uh huh. Lauren Kinton (56:56.586) and then the full. Lauren Kinton (57:03.851) It doesn't even touch. Meghan Houle (57:03.862) the runway that like goes back off again, because like, literally, that's been my entrepreneurial life for like the past like four years of like, building a website, hiring coaches doing this doing that, but I feel like at some point, you start to like niche down, you're like, Megan, stop spending all the money on this craziness and the noise. You don't need all this shit. God, if maybe there is a 30 must do list of like something we put out there after this podcast of like, invest in this, not that and everybody needs something differently, but Lauren Kinton (57:09.035) Yes. Lauren Kinton (57:19.362) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (57:29.706) Not yet. Meghan Houle (57:32.486) Plus, I feel like with AI now coming through, I mean, unfortunately, in some creative spaces, like some blog writers or copywriters, like some of that is kind of going away. But I think people can pivot in there. So I'm not, you know, trying to say like that world is going to be forever gone. But I feel like it is being smart about what you are investing in, because, girl, people love taking our money. And I just feel like I like love spending it. And I'm like, wait a minute. Lauren Kinton (57:34.958) Hopefully. Lauren Kinton (57:47.278) This is it. Lauren Kinton (57:57.444) Oh my god, Meg. Oh my. Meghan Houle (58:01.622) At some point this has to be reciprocal. At some point, like it's coming back in. So did you feel like an ATM? Cause like number two, ATM is creating a business. You're like, bye money. Goodbye. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (58:03.914) Yeah, absolutely. I felt like an ATM. I absolutely, yes, I felt like an ATM. And like, they love spending your money. We love spending it. And so there were two pivotal moments throughout this process of due on the tech side of things. That really made me be like, oh, wow, no. I need to like pull myself up and. Meghan Houle (58:17.902) Oh yeah, they're like, oh, but we did this. Yeah, yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. Lauren Kinton (58:36.622) take control again because I felt like a little out of control at some points. And I'll never forget, there was one moment when I had opened up an email from the developer and he was like, Lauren, I think for this project to move forward, you need an investor or a few investors. And I was like... Meghan Houle (58:40.799) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (58:57.062) my I felt like my world was like crashing in on me because again this was like pre blueprint and I knew guys like when I say I knew nothing I was learning every single day it's like Meghan Houle (59:12.586) Yeah. And that investor world is like a whole nother conversation, which we have been learning, but it's a lot. It's a lot of information. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (59:15.554) Oh my God, I'm like, I didn't know where to look. I was just like, oh my God, it's over. Like this is over. I just spent thousands of dollars for nothing. And now this guy is telling me, yeah, no, sorry, you need an investor to move on. And I just remember being like crying and like. really feeling that low point, you know? And then again, the next morning, I'm like, you know what? No, we're moving on. We're gonna figure this out. And so, and we were still at that point of like just figuring out what do is. And I'm like, I'm not, I'm gonna continue with just being self-funded here. And so what do we need to do? Meghan Houle (01:00:01.652) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:00:13.462) Like, do we need to pivot? Like, what's happening? And we were able to figure it out. And honestly, it feels like light years ago at the point. So we just moved forward. And again, like we just had to get back on the same page. And I'm like, okay, maybe we don't make it as big as the knot because that's like what my dream is. Like, and we can get there, but yeah. And... Meghan Houle (01:00:33.406) Right, yeah. Will you get there? Mm hmm. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:00:39.894) Then the second pivotal moment was when the designer was like, so you need to hire a product manager. And I go, you're looking at her. Nice to meet you. I. I'm like, no, I'm not there. We're not even launched yet. So I'm like, you need to communicate with me what you need and I'll make it happen. But like by you just saying you need to do this. Meghan Houle (01:00:59.07) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:01:10.162) No. Like, what do you need from me? And what they needed was a task manager. And so that's when I learned JIRA. And we put all of the tasks in a sprint. Normally you work in two week sprints. We worked in weekly sprints, which was wild. But that's how we got to launch. And we were just able to measure so well. Meghan Houle (01:01:10.686) No. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:01:39.766) I actually was like, I wish I did this from the get-go, but again, a learning point. Cause I'm like, could do have been out by now. And I was like, okay, we're not going down that road Lauren. Like no, no. Exactly. We're here. Meghan Houle (01:01:44.605) Yeah. Yep. Meghan Houle (01:01:50.278) No, no, you're picking up all the learning. So you're here now. So is that an app where right you throw like project deadline timelines on and then you can kind of manage it from start to finish? Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:02:00.414) Yes. Yeah. And like set the priority level. And then like you can also, the developer would put like a timestamp on it, like notes a time point system on it. Like, okay, if it's going to be more than four hours, like I think we need to recollect. Let's hop on a call and see like what is needed because his time also, like he only has a certain amount of time in every single week. Meghan Houle (01:02:07.466) Awesome. Notes and stuff, oh okay, yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:02:29.71) So I'm like, let's just recollect, see what, you know, are there bugs involved? Like what's going on? Does this issue need to be a sprint within itself? So it was just so much easier to track what was going on because I feel like in our calls pre-Jira, it was so hard to track of and like, but now that we have that, it's... Meghan Houle (01:02:51.69) really all over right yeah Lauren Kinton (01:02:59.074) been such a game changer. Yeah. Launch. Meghan Houle (01:03:01.746) Awesome. And now here you are launched and out there. So what does do do? What does it stand for? Like how can someone come on the platform? Obviously, we're gonna link everything in the show notes everybody. So off this podcast, go follow Lauren her businesses do everything. But what can somebody expect getting on the platform? Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:03:13.666) Thank you. Lauren Kinton (01:03:22.094) So there are two avenues, one being the bride and the second being a beauty vendor. So let's start with the beauty vendor. So Do is specifically for bridal hairstyles and makeup artists and they can join for free. We have three subscriptions. Meghan Houle (01:03:23.931) Yeah. Meghan Houle (01:03:30.422) Ooh, okay. Lauren Kinton (01:03:47.93) One is free, which you can have a custom-made profile and we will, Do will manage your inquiries for you. So what that means is when a bride inquires with you, Do will automatically send your pricing sheet. And then the vendor will have an email waiting in their inbox saying, hey, congrats, Meg has inquired with your services. Be sure to follow up with her within 24 hours to lock in the date. And then the second tier being we manage the inquiries and their availability. So do will automatically send their pricing sheet and then we will contact the hairstylist and say, Hey, Meg is getting married on this day. At this time, are you available? So the vendor is always in control of their decisions. We basically just communicate that back to the bride. We're like the middleman. Meghan Houle (01:04:24.594) Okay. Oh, wow. Meghan Houle (01:04:40.966) like broker the medium. Okay, wow. Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:04:45.074) And then at that point, we will virtually connect the vendor with the bride and say, Hey, congrats. Um, this bride is a hot lead. She is waiting to book you. Um, so again, be sure to respond to her within 24 hours to lock in the date. And then the premium subscription is we manage everything day one to day of for the vendor. And so it really is a white glove service. We manage everything from inquiries to their availability. We will send invoices on their behalf, service agreements on their behalf. We will send day of schedules. And then we also will communicate like two to three, you know, six months out for the bride to book their trial, like two to three months before their big day. And so it really is just like a premium service. Lauren Kinton (01:05:47.583) Mank. Lauren Kinton (01:05:57.959) Oh no. I think I lost you. Lauren Kinton (01:06:22.254) Meg, I'm gonna try calling you. I don't even know if you can hear me. One, five, eight. Lauren Kinton (01:06:45.654) Hey, what, what? No! Lauren Kinton (01:06:55.206) Yes, yeah, I'm here. Lauren Kinton (01:07:02.901) Oh no. Lauren Kinton (01:07:13.37) No, no, I just, I have an appointment at five. Lauren Kinton (01:07:27.615) How friggin dare them. Lauren Kinton (01:07:39.923) Yes, yeah, no, I'm here. I'm here. Lauren Kinton (01:07:49.591) No, it's, I'm still in the recording. Lauren Kinton (01:07:55.69) I'm out. Lauren Kinton (01:08:17.11) there you are. I see you. Or I don't see you yet. But I see you trying. There she is. meghan (01:08:24.589) Hold on though. Let me look in, cause I'm like mega, I'm like mega nervous now that because this fucking all just like shut down. Let me see if it has like our old. Whoa girl don't tune my slot today. I thought Mercury wasn't in retrograde. Hold on, let me, because it just says 99 upload, Lauren. And then, OK. OK, so no, so just keep that going. And then I think then maybe this is click. So. Lauren Kinton (01:08:50.754) I see an hour and eight minutes. Is there something I can like? Lauren Kinton (01:09:05.894) Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:09:16.147) Oh no, Meg. Lauren Kinton (01:09:22.882) Hello? Lauren Kinton (01:09:30.91) You poor thing. Ugh. Lauren Kinton (01:09:46.56) It's like the computer is like. Oh no. Okay. Lauren Kinton (01:09:51.854) to the recording? Yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:10:12.334) Maybe like at another point like this week or next week, because it'll be a couple weeks before this comes out. Yeah. Instead of like acting around, let's just like figure what we have in space. Yeah. And then maybe we'll just like jump. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. No problemo. Lauren Kinton (01:10:52.638) And Meg, honestly, if it's gone, we'll just redo it. It's not. Lauren Kinton (01:11:00.78) Hahaha Lauren Kinton (01:11:13.35) What does the button say? It says Mark, Clip, Mic, Cam, Speaker, Share, and Leave. Lauren Kinton (01:11:58.902) Mm-hmm. Lauren Kinton (01:12:03.33) safe internally in like a year. Lauren Kinton (01:12:16.142) back in and then like upload it. So I think we can do it at like another point. It's like this computer like has the name attorney back on. No. Oh my God. Okay. You just hit like leave and then I'll take you to say like you know maybe if it's first thing for all you would need to do is just literally like turn on your computer and then like have like the rest of it uploaded. So. Lauren Kinton (01:12:43.606) I don't even know why I'm excited or not. That's, I feel so bad. Lauren Kinton (01:12:56.487) Yeah, yeah. Lauren Kinton (01:13:08.076) Okay.

Meghan Houle (00:01.655)
where we're going to come in and cut into where the computer cut off. Yay. So take, take five. So Lauren, tell us a little bit more because I know we've talked about your journey. We've talked about the pivots. We've talked about the highs and lows and navigating all the things that you're doing, bootstrapping this application and offering that you're putting out there, launching all of it. So like, tell us a little bit about do like, where are we catching you right now?

Lauren Kinton (00:04.76)
Thank you.

Lauren Kinton (00:14.263)
Thank you.

Meghan Houle (00:31.723)
How is it going? What's going on? That's like super exciting. Like tell us all the things about the app and who's a four too, yeah.

Lauren Kinton (00:39.394)
So, so many things and thank you again so much Megan for having me. And so, Dew is an all-in-one platform that connects the bride with her bridal beauty team. And so, it's a vendor marketplace as well as a bridal beauty concierge. So, it's basically like serving two audiences in one place. So, being a bride or a past bride, I was just like,

felt like there was a need in the industry as well as being it. I was doing hair and makeup as well. And I'm like, I wanted this like sense of community and also just thought that like, it just had to be easier and an easier process of booking hair and makeup because it is such an important part of the day, no matter if you like are a really easy.

no makeup type girly or super glam girl. Like it's an important part of the day. And especially where like hair and makeup artists are the first vendors pretty much on quote unquote scene to kick off your day. I was like, I just wanted to make the process easier because wedding planning is stressful as it is and it should be fun and you should be celebrating. You should be so busy celebrating.

Meghan Houle (01:42.999)
Yeah.

Meghan Houle (01:58.1)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (02:04.618)
like your love for your partner and not having to be like so stressed and everything. And then on the flip side, the vendor, like the bridal beauty pros, our hairstylists and makeup artists are booking. I mean, you can be as booked as you want. And I feel like as a small business owner, we have so much on our plate. And I just figured that having this platform and building this platform, being a hairstylist,

and knowing the pain points of the bridal beauty industry of not only like running your business, but having to be the face of your business as well and showing up. And that's where our, one of our slogans is show up and show off. Like let do handle all of your admin back office work so you can focus on doing what you do best, showing up and showing off.

Meghan Houle (02:47.055)
Yeah.

Meghan Houle (02:58.187)
Wow. Yeah. And what is the onboarding like? Is it across just a certain territory right now or are you putting this out there and then how are you getting these service amazing beauty hair providers, all the things on the app and onboarded? What does that look like?

Lauren Kinton (03:17.77)
So we're mainly focused in New England currently, and we're slowly making our way down the East Coast. We have a couple of girls in the Charleston, South Carolina area, which is super exciting. And really just like word of mouth has been huge because I feel like when bridal hairstyles and makeup artists are like, oh my God, somebody can do this for me. Like there's a service out there that can do this for me.

Meghan Houle (03:20.776)
OK, yeah.

Yes!

So nice. Yeah.

Meghan Houle (03:36.021)
Mm-hmm.

Lauren Kinton (03:46.914)
they like light up and there's like this, so much stress has been lifted and.

Meghan Houle (03:53.811)
Yeah, it's so many different levels and layers, like trying to book everything, all the vendors, and then you got to focus on you too. So yeah, it's a lot.

Lauren Kinton (03:56.478)
Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (04:00.11)
Exactly. So brides can find us at dayone to dayof.com and they can essentially shop, literally browse right on our platform and they can inquire with as many hairstylists and makeup artists with one form, which I'm like, that right there takes away...

having to track, okay, did I reach out to so and so via DM, text, email, call, like email, their own inquiry form. So brides have been loving this too, because they're like, and right when they inquire, when they hit submit on the form, they get all of the pricing. So if they're inquiring with one hairstylist and makeup artist, or if they're inquiring with 15,

Meghan Houle (04:50.38)
Oh, nice. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (04:57.43)
They're getting all of that pricing instantly, which is such a pain point for brides because they're a waiting game. It's okay, I reach out to this many people, but I've only heard back from two, but I really, really wanted to hear back from this person and I haven't heard back yet, but time is running out. And then the onboarding process for the vendors is there's a little signup sheet and they go through an onboarding.

Meghan Houle (05:00.49)
Hmm... Mm-hmm...

Meghan Houle (05:10.723)
Right.

Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (05:26.002)
process where we learn so much about the ins and outs of their business. We go over everything from do they like working with a co-artist? Do they need an assistant? How many services do they like to have? Is there a service minimum? Is there a financial minimum? Travel. I mean, so many people are like, oh, I love to travel. And then there's so many people that are like, no, I don't want to leave my town.

Meghan Houle (05:47.331)
Mm-hmm.

Right. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (05:51.846)
Um, and so we just go over so much learning about their business. So we can essentially communicate on their behalf and they have full confidence that, okay, the do team knows exactly how I like to run my business, but also speak, um, upon their business as well, because that's so important knowing.

Meghan Houle (06:11.634)
Yeah. Yeah, everyone's different. And then I'm suing too, do they have to like upload their like, you know, personal like business bio? Do they help you like with like staging kind of the framework of what their offerings are? Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (06:22.926)
Yes. So they build out their profile. So they create their own bio. You're able to upload as many photos as you want as well. And then that's client-facing. And then on the back end, we have all of the ins and outs that they fill out. Their brand voice, like all of it, their pricing, their contract.

Lauren Kinton (06:51.282)
Anything they want us to know there's even a section like hey, what did we leave out? Well, how can we help you further? How can we help support you? and There's three tiers of so there's three subscription tiers one being free and that is I Think honestly like every single hairstylist and makeup artist should jump on this. It's a network It is a network where

Meghan Houle (06:51.307)
Awesome. Yeah.

Meghan Houle (07:07.279)
Mm-hmm.

Meghan Houle (07:14.391)
Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (07:17.214)
I mean, we've had a hundred in our first month, 167 brides inquired on the platform. Yeah. So, and that was just in our first month. So brides want easy. And if you are on the free version, if they inquire through do on free and they want your services, they're sent your pricing automatically. And then you take it from there.

Meghan Houle (07:22.047)
Yeah. Oh wow. Damn girl. Yeah.

Meghan Houle (07:28.426)
Mm-hmm.

Lauren Kinton (07:45.65)
you still have all of the control. It's just taking one step off your plate and off the bride's plate as well. And then, yes.

Meghan Houle (07:48.419)
Hmm. Like brokering the connection. And then, yes, and then the conversation flips like between the two. Got it. Yeah. Hmm.

Lauren Kinton (07:58.782)
Exactly. So then they take it over from there. And then our middle tier is basically handing over a hot lead. So we handle the inquiry availability and we manage, sorry, we manage their inquiries and their availability. So when the inquiry comes through, I'll say, Hey Meg, are you, you know, this bride is getting married on such and such date. Are you available? Or do you want, do you want this wedding? You say yes or no. And then we say, Hey bride.

Megan is available. Hey, Megan, meet bride. And then we're handing over a hot lead. So then you take it over from there and, um, send them your contract invoice. Whatever. It's already sold. We're like handing it to you on a silver platter. And then, um, our third tier is where we handle everything day one to day of. So we manage your inquiries and availability. We'll send your contract invoices, um, depending on your fee structure. Well, um, you know,

Meghan Houle (08:35.403)
Right, so it's like already like sold pretty much. Yeah. Wow. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (08:55.158)
For example, some vendors like having a 50% upfront and then 50% do like a week or two before the wedding. Like we will manage all of that for you and we'll get direct deposit rate into your account. We will figure out the day of schedule. And the vendor is in control the entire time. We're just.

Meghan Houle (09:22.383)
Mm-hmm.

Lauren Kinton (09:24.143)
the middleman so you don't have to handle all of the emails back and forth. Yeah.

Meghan Houle (09:29.267)
Thank God, right? No, it's such a blessing. Well, who's the handling it on your end? Because you are mama, you're a full-time stylist, like business owner, operator. What does your team look like now on the back end for this, Lauren? Is it like more responsibility on your plate? Or like, do you have like a team that's like helping you? So what's going on? And how has it been to with this like first month? Are you? Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (09:54.194)
So you're looking at her. You're looking at the team, which I was actually just speaking with a wedding planner earlier today where I will be onboarding a couple of assistants because there, I mean, literally, Megan, like the amount of brides that are inquiring daily, which it's an automated process, but...

Meghan Houle (10:08.047)
Mm-hmm. Good, yeah.

Meghan Houle (10:18.179)
Good, yeah.

Lauren Kinton (10:23.314)
it's a handheld approach. Like I think that, not to go on a tangent about AI and a bunch of automation, but like weddings are personal. And I think when things are so automated, we lose that connection and that touch. So this is definitely like a very personal, handheld approach to booking your hair and makeup. And it's, I have a streamlined process.

It's not like we're not planning the entire wedding. It's hair and makeup. So like we have an SOP, we have, I mean, we have many SOPs, but we have a very structured, the inquiry comes in, this is our response. We send a custom quote, they, bride either wants to move forward or not. And the other cool thing about do is when the bride inquires, we know they,

Meghan Houle (10:57.835)
Right. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (11:22.466)
um input what their budget is. Yeah.

Meghan Houle (11:24.415)
Right, I was going to say, do you have that threshold? Because I feel like that's where a lot of people get stuck. And sometimes when you're not, I mean, and how amazing is this application and platform now. But I've even seen in real life conversations where it kind of gets awkward, right? You know a friend is a hairdresser, and they have a salon, and maybe they're trying to cut you a deal, but it's also a little over your pricing still. And then you're sort of embarrassed of like, oh, thank you very much for this on it. So it also kind of takes that.

Lauren Kinton (11:47.45)
Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (11:51.819)
business.

Meghan Houle (11:54.283)
you know, those maybe awkward conversations off your plate where like you immediately can see like, okay, but here's my budget and being matched with like the right person. So it's like a no brainer right away and like no awkward like I'm sorry, but I can't afford you because that I mean, weddings are expensive. Hello, you know, yeah.

Lauren Kinton (12:02.219)
Yes.

Lauren Kinton (12:07.186)
Exactly. Yeah, they're expensive as it is. And so before the bride even inquires, when they can, like I said earlier, they can go essentially shop for their hair and makeup. There's custom filters where they can utilize all of them, or they could just utilize the budget feature or the location feature, or if they're looking for just hair or makeup. But if I was a bride, I would go on do and I would utilize those custom filters. So I know exactly.

If I'm looking for just hair in this area, in this budget, I know whoever's showing up is checking all those boxes off for me. And it's taking like, it's also like that disappointment away too.

Meghan Houle (12:48.003)
Yeah, oh, awesome.

Right? No, of like thinking that you can like make this work and then you're like, so what are you most excited about in this pivot for yourself? Like I know you've been working really hard. You've been working behind the scenes. You've been also investing a lot of money in yourself. Like what are you most excited about in the here and now? And then looking into the future of this, like seeing it grow further. I feel there's so much opportunity. I know it's so early on too. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (12:55.314)
Exactly.

Lauren Kinton (13:04.238)
Thanks.

Lauren Kinton (13:17.118)
I know. And that's like, that's what's so hard is like, there's so much that I just want to, I want to do it all. Like I was just, I'm like, it's so hard to be like, no Lauren, like we've only been launched for not very long at all. And just wanting like, to just be like, no, trust the process. You didn't build this in a day. You know, Rome was not built in a day, but I am just so excited to build community.

Meghan Houle (13:24.274)
I know, yeah.

Meghan Houle (13:31.58)
Yeah, yeah.

Meghan Houle (13:45.697)
Mm-hmm.

Lauren Kinton (13:46.438)
I know you know exactly what I'm talking about, like having a group that you share something with. And I mean, it's not just about like, streamlining the process for bridal beauty. It's so much more than that. And it's so much bigger than that. And I have so many goals for do that I want to build out like a mighty network or some sort of community where like...

Meghan Houle (14:12.387)
Mm-hmm.

Lauren Kinton (14:14.602)
we can talk about pain points because most hair and makeup artists are, they're not just, that's not their only role. They have so many other things going on. And so just not feeling alone and not feeling like you're, because I can guarantee you it's like another hair and makeup artist is probably thinking the same thing or has gone through something very similar, have had tough.

Meghan Houle (14:14.841)
Yeah.

Meghan Houle (14:24.594)
Totally.

Meghan Houle (14:31.001)
Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (14:43.298)
brides or have had like really, I don't know, like trying, they're going through trying times. Like I remember when I was pregnant and I had to let go of 15 weddings and that was so stressful. But if I had this network to be like, hey, I have 15 brides that I unfortunately can no longer serve who can help me. And it's just like helping one another and just.

Meghan Houle (15:10.228)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (15:11.85)
have to go through it alone. Like it's just not, it doesn't have to be like that. And I feel like too, the bridal industry can be a very tough market. It's competitive, but I think rising above that. And I think community, I know it's such a buzzword right now but like I truly do believe that like community over competition and that, yeah.

Meghan Houle (15:23.755)
Yeah.

Meghan Houle (15:35.807)
Yeah, well, that's what it is. Yeah, somebody always just has something to offer. They could be doing something similar, but no one's gonna do it like you. You know? Yeah, so no, I think that's so fantastic. And I also know too, I mean, a lot of these, especially makeup, are freelance, and they're bopping around. I mean, so I feel like to have a place where, yeah, you can be vulnerable, and like share what you're struggling with, and having others, and knowing you're not alone is like really cool. And I just feel like,

Lauren Kinton (15:43.24)
Exactly.

Lauren Kinton (15:52.494)
Mm-hmm.

Lauren Kinton (15:58.478)
Great.

Meghan Houle (16:06.563)
gosh, there's so much. I'm like, here comes Megan who will PR. I'm like, okay, next year we're taking you to the four seasons, like wedding event, getting you high Boston comment magazine, like Lauren needs to be a part of it. I mean, because I think in showing up, like you are part of the wedding planning experience. So I even feel like there's so much more, you know, and what a great time of year too. I know we're like transitioning spring, summer's coming up, like the peak of all the wedding seasons like are just like upon us. So I feel like

Lauren Kinton (16:17.355)
I'm sorry.

Lauren Kinton (16:22.443)
Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (16:30.144)
It's good.

Meghan Houle (16:35.855)
probably even from this podcast, there's gonna be lots of hits, lots of brides still catching up from COVID weddings. And, you know, yeah.

Lauren Kinton (16:42.134)
I was just gonna say, yeah, the industry, whether or not we want to admit it, COVID has changed the game. It has changed across the board. It's not the same. I mean, there's still this like, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, I am behind in playing catch-up and rides. I feel like...

Meghan Houle (16:50.763)
Everything, yeah.

Lauren Kinton (17:11.766)
Sometimes I can almost like hear in their voice this like sense of urgency that like, oh my gosh, I don't have my hair and makeup yet. Because also like the knot, it just ain't it anymore. And I just feel so bad for brides that like read in their books or their, I don't know, there's like a wedding planning.

Meghan Houle (17:14.574)
Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (17:36.822)
book that they say that book out your hair makeup three to six months in advance and it's like that could not be farther from the truth. Which I think like brides are getting a lot more educated and listening to the you know speaking from the horse's mouth like no you got to book out far.

Meghan Houle (17:50.638)
Yeah.

Meghan Houle (17:54.462)
Yeah.

even further, right? I was like three to six months, no way for a good person. I mean, I know my best friend got engaged last January and I think the minute she did, she texted like the makeup artist we used, her wedding is in November of this year. So it was like almost a year and a half in advance. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (18:00.362)
Yeah. No.

Lauren Kinton (18:11.246)
Mm-hmm. Yeah. I was going to say 12 to 18 months. If you know who, like there is no, I mean, and that goes across the board, like florists, photographers, bands, planners,

Meghan Houle (18:20.243)
Yeah. Oh yeah. People are booked and busy. Yeah.

Meghan Houle (18:29.323)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. Unless something falls through and like amazing too, like to have you, you know? So I think like you're going to get so much traction on so many, the proactive people but also the people like that sometimes get screwed. And I'm sure you've seen that too, you know? Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (18:34.862)
Mm-hmm.

Lauren Kinton (18:43.622)
Yes, and that happens. Yes, and that happens. And I, a future feature of Do that I, it hasn't been built out yet, but something that I feel like is so needed and so important is that other artists looking for co-artists or assistants to help work with them. Because these

Meghan Houle (19:04.235)
Right, to help. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (19:06.658)
you know, there's bridal parties that are like 12, 14, 16 deep. And it's like as much as you think that you can handle that. And if it's like a Catholic ceremony, they need to be done by like 10 a.m. Yes. Yeah.

Meghan Houle (19:11.66)
Yeah.

No.

Oh yeah, like the crack of dawn, truly. I know. Yep, been there. Yeah. Oh my gosh. So amazing. I mean, out of all that you've built and I'm continuing to build and I know you have such a beautiful community and such a beautiful salon and this is amazing and it's just getting started. What do you feel like you've learned the most about yourself in this process of like...

Lauren Kinton (19:32.119)
Thank you.

Meghan Houle (19:38.719)
self-awareness, like you obviously have the aha moment of like, okay, I got something else in my soul that I want to bring to life. Like what do you feel like you've learned the most about yourself in the process of pivoting and like bringing this new offer together, which is like so incredible. Yeah. I know so many things, right? Where do we start? This is a whole nother podcast.

Lauren Kinton (19:51.911)
Oh my god.

Lauren Kinton (19:58.147)
Um, it's at the end of the day, like, you have to believe in yourself. Like I, and I know that probably seems so cliche, but it's, you are the point of difference. And I just, so speaking for myself, like, I mean, there were some moments where I wanted to throw in the towel. Like, I was just like.

Meghan Houle (20:09.327)
No, it's even to that, yeah.

Lauren Kinton (20:25.486)
Who the fuck do I think I am?

Meghan Houle (20:29.751)
Yeah, especially dealing with tech things. I know we're talking about before, like how, you know, push back from the people that were helping you design it. I mean, there's all the different ways we can just tap out and be like, we're good, everything's going good, but you keep going, right? When it's the dream is big enough and you can see that.

Lauren Kinton (20:39.826)
Yeah, exactly. Yes, you just keep going. And when people ask me like, how do you do it? And I'm just like, you just do. Like you just go, you just, like if you don't believe in yourself, then who will? And I just knew that this was so needed and I believed in that too. Like I believed in this vision so wholeheartedly that I was like,

Meghan Houle (20:53.103)
Mm-hmm.

Lauren Kinton (21:10.526)
I'm doing it. I'm doing it and no one can stop me. Like whether it takes one day, a year, five years, like I know, like I just know that this is so needed. Um, and so I feel like my biggest takeaway from it all is just to believe in yourself, like truth, like really.

Meghan Houle (21:11.759)
Mm-hmm.

Meghan Houle (21:29.859)
Uh huh.

Lauren Kinton (21:34.671)
I don't know how I'll still like... Yeah.

Meghan Houle (21:35.591)
Yeah, see the white space, we'll see it. And then, but believing and then also taking action. Because I talk so much with individuals across the board. I mean, I know we share so much in common. I know we're talking about our mastermind that we are a part of with the blueprint. And in general, it's so easy to tell ourselves or someone else in our lives to tell us that we're crazy and why are you doing this.

Lauren Kinton (21:40.747)
Yes.

Lauren Kinton (21:48.064)
See you for now.

Lauren Kinton (21:56.814)
Thank you.

Meghan Houle (21:58.603)
As you know, and I shared with you the book worthy from Jamie currently, I'm like, it's like you're not crazy. You're just first girl, you're just first seize that white space opportunity because someone else will get there. And you'll forever be like no one wants to live in regrets, like no one wants deathbed regrets of like should have cut a water. So anyone inspired? I mean, I know, and I've just seen all of your amazingness, but anyone for a business owner thinking like should I do it? Should I go for it? Yes, do it.

Lauren Kinton (22:01.335)
Yes!

Lauren Kinton (22:09.535)
is it?

Lauren Kinton (22:14.46)
No, oh my gosh.

Lauren Kinton (22:26.658)
Do it. Yes.

Meghan Houle (22:27.651)
believe in yourself and you're gonna change lives. And especially in a moment where you're in an industry where it can be so cutthroat, so stressful, where people get so overwhelmed in the resources and a special, beautiful day that, you know, shouldn't be all about stressing about the logistics. It can be, cause I've been there, but what a beautiful service that you've really brought to life. And I can't wait to see.

Lauren Kinton (22:36.652)
Yeah.

So, and extremely.

Lauren Kinton (22:45.783)
right?

Lauren Kinton (22:52.814)
Thank you, Meg.

Meghan Houle (22:53.591)
further, you know how you can continue to expand to grow this. I know you're just getting started Yeah, so I'm so proud of you. But where? Where's the best place for people to find you and we'll link everything so?

Lauren Kinton (23:00.283)
Thank you.

Meghan Houle (23:07.075)
tell us about do like where's the platform how people can find you and then also to I mean, you're like, No, Megan, I'm not taking on new styling clients. But if someone's local and wants to come to your salon, like where's the best way to engage with you? Not like filling up your DMS, but we'll link everything but like where do you live? Where do you play and then where does like do live and play as well?

Lauren Kinton (23:23.32)
Thank you.

Lauren Kinton (23:27.702)
You can find me at by laurenkinton on Instagram and I am accepting extension clients. I'm not accepting. Yes, I am not accepting new color clients, but happily taking extension clients. And I also, I have to say like heard it here. First, I am flying to Missouri over Memorial Day weekend. I'm taking this class. It's the comb line technique. And

Meghan Houle (23:34.987)
Oh, extensions, yeah.

Meghan Houle (23:44.855)
Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (23:57.554)
If you haven't heard of it, go look it up. I'm like, I can't even describe it through words. It's life-changing. If you think that K-tips are incredible, this is like, almost looks like a fanned out hair and not just one point of attachment. It's like, you can do it on part line, around your face. It's gonna be incredible. So, you heard it here first.

Meghan Houle (24:14.135)
Right, like a touch, yeah. Mm, okay.

Meghan Houle (24:23.252)
Okay, so I'll be Googling that after we hang up. Sounds great from extension lover to another. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (24:27.111)
Um...

Lauren Kinton (24:30.45)
love. And then you can find Dew at the Dew Network on Instagram. And then our web platform is dayoneodayof.com. And that is for both brides and bridal beauty pros.

Meghan Houle (24:46.035)
Yeah, so you can go on there, learn more, submit, get your services up there, get your inquiries up there, get matched, get everything booked. Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (24:54.866)
Yep. And if vendors or even brides, like, but mostly vendors, if you have any questions, they can email me. I am glued to my email. So please email me, lauren at day one today of.com. Happy to answer any and all questions. Feel free to DM the do network as well. We'll always answer you there as well.

Meghan Houle (25:07.181)
Yes.

Meghan Houle (25:15.647)
Yeah. Well, before I let you go, what are you most excited about looking into the future and all, you know, that you built but I don't know what's still like lighting you up right now and or that you're just really, I mean, besides your amazing education extension, education class that you're going to, which I can't wait to hear more about that. But anything else that you're really excited, we can like cheer you on or otherwise, yes.

Lauren Kinton (25:34.178)
Thank you.

Lauren Kinton (25:39.49)
Honestly, like I'm taking this time to really focus on do and building it out and I really just can't wait to see like where it goes. Like there is so much opportunity left. I there's like you said, like white space. I want this to be a full fledged incredible community where anyone can in the hair and makeup industry.

can come and not feel alone and just, I wish that you could, I'm like, I want, it's coming out of my fingertips, yes.

Meghan Houle (26:18.067)
You want to hug, now like bringing everyone together. Cause you've been there and you're like, obviously you're creating this out of a need and a space and a pain point and you know, years and years and years of, I'm sure discussing all of this with people and you're just like, there has to be a solution and you're, you have one, yeah.

Lauren Kinton (26:32.726)
There has to be a solution and I am, if you know me, I'm like, is it a strength? Is it a weakness? But it's like when I want to do something, I not only just go and do it, but I have a hard time sitting with it and not wanting to go onto the next thing. And that's like my perfectionist. I wanna do it all. So.

Meghan Houle (26:50.159)
Mmm.

Meghan Houle (26:57.367)
Yeah.

Lauren Kinton (26:58.318)
really, really like personally just being super conscious of just like Focusing on this is my next step like I Really want the do network to Grow and I mean we're coming out with a reviews feature within the next month so brides can be Reviewed their bridal hair and makeup artists And I mean there's any

Meghan Houle (27:25.442)
Oh, awesome.

Lauren Kinton (27:26.39)
so many other features, but like super open to feedback. I just, this is my next step. This is, this is it.

Meghan Houle (27:28.151)
Yeah.

Meghan Houle (27:32.975)
Cool. Yeah. Awesome. Well, I can't wait to keep pulling you into like more things and promotion. I mean, it's an industry that is not going away anytime soon. So if anything, it just keeps getting bigger and we innovate and you got to do it with ease. And I think that that's what makes the whole process so much more enjoyable and less stressful. So congratulations, my friend. Again, I'm so proud of you. I know you've been through…

Lauren Kinton (27:39.32)
Please.

Lauren Kinton (27:43.003)
No. Definitely not.

Lauren Kinton (27:55.926)
Thank you.

Meghan Houle (27:59.851)
We've been through so much. It's definitely a ton of freaking work to like do all of this and, you know, having a family and showing up, you know, for your business and your clients and all of it. So I'm clapping you behind the scenes and I know our listeners are going to love learning more and I'm sure and hope there's some people out there getting married and maybe some engagements coming up. So you can come back and listen to this podcast again, but.

Lauren Kinton (28:01.462)
I love you.

This is...

Lauren Kinton (28:12.61)
Thank you.

Lauren Kinton (28:21.787)
Yeah.

Meghan Houle (28:25.207)
Thank you, Lauren, for being here, and thanks for being in my world, and I'm so proud of you.

Lauren Kinton (28:26.923)
Thank you, Megan.

Lauren Kinton (28:30.978)
Oh, thank you. I'm so proud of you and thank you for having me.

Meghan Houle (28:33.367)
Yes, it's my pleasure. Bye, girl, bye.

Lauren Kinton (28:36.943)
Bye.