In this episode, we sit down with Carrie Scott, Financial Advisor with Cetera Investors, to talk about building real, sustainable wealth as a creative business owner. Whether you’re a hairstylist, solopreneur, or growing your side hustle, this conversation is packed with approachable tips on setting up financial systems, the biggest mistakes creatives make with money, how to plan for slow seasons and long-term wealth, shifting from hustle mode to intentional money moves. Carrie breaks down complex topics with warmth, clarity, and zero judgment. This is the episode every creative didn’t know they needed.

Carrie recommends you read this book

Our 6 figure stylist guide here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/622541789b7136a9e313da40

Key Take-aways:

1. You can open a RothIRA for your working child to help them get started with their long term wealth building.

2. As a small business owner, look over your spending and income month to month & start with an emergency fund.

3. Set yourself up for success by putting yourself first and start investing for your future plan.

4. Would you rather pay yourself or the IRS?

5. The average age that someone starts to invest in their future is 40. Imagine what it would look like to start earlier.

6. Start with the end in mind. Have the final number you want to retire with and get clarity on what you should be putting away.

7. Monthly installments can help over the one lump sum to accrue interest over

8. Get the mindset of how you’ll start your investment; short, medium, or long term for the best success.

9. Debt accrual is a financial killer and can hold you back from moving forward. Do you want to sacrifice now or later?

10. Index means the money is split between all companies.

11. Investing into a mutual fund or ETF is a safe way to invest.

12. A Simple IRA maxes at $16,500 for the year 2025 if you’re under 50 & have at least 1 employee. There is no cost to set it up, and the employer has to match up to 2%.

13. SEP IRA is for a solo $70k per year or 25%.

14. Both Simple & SEP IRA’s have matching as well as separate requirements.

15. If you put $300 away in an investment account, you’re not actually putting away $300 because $80-100 would have been counted toward taxes, so your check looks like it drops closer to $200 instead.

16. Financial advisors not only help you with choosing how to invest in the right type of account to fit your needs a goals, they also help you come up with a plan to pay off debt, save, and get to your goals faster.

17.Short term typically don’t have fees & don’t pay much, intermediate (5+ year goal) mutual funds which compounds over time, but you don’t have to be 59 ½ before you can touch the money. Long-term don’t touch until you’re 59 ½

18. IRS charges a 10% fee if you take money out prior to 59 ½

19. Annuities you don’t have an age limit when you want to take money out of an account. You only pay taxes for the income, and it’s a nice way to build a legacy and pass over the generations.

20. You have to take income at the age of 73 on your IRA.

21. CDs and HYSA (high-yield savings account) interest payments and terms change all the time.

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Struggling to market your creative business or attract high-quality clients? In this episode, we join Jodie Brown who walks through the exact steps to define your ideal client, clarify your brand message, and choose the right marketing channels to grow your business. Learn why niching down helps you stand out, how to stop overthinking your content, and how to use repetition to build reputation. Whether you're a hairstylist, salon owner, or creative entrepreneur, this episode will help you simplify your strategy and create marketing that actually works.

Get FREE access to our profit making webinar: https://small-kiwi-98108.myflodesk.com/ao7u0l0qzq

Our 6 figure stylist guide here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/622541789b7136a9e313da40

Key Take-aways:

1. When you find there is a need to solve, that’s what shapes your marketing message.

2. Some people get confused with the type of clients they want to have vs the type of clients they’re already attracting.

3. You attract what you project.

4. Identifying your ideal client is a fundamental must do.

5. Who are you talking to and what problem do you solve or what desire do you want to facilitate?

6. Why you? What is the unique way you’ll solve your clients problems?

7. When you get those answers defined then you can choose your marketing channels.

8. Most businesses get hung up because they don’t get specific enough. Niching down will always help you stand out.

9. A common mistake businesses make is thinking the can’t post the same thing twice.

10. Marketing isn’t about saying 100 different things, it’s about saying 1 thing 100 different ways.

11. Repetition equals reputation.

12. Marketing yourself as a generalist can be harder, focus on the experience.

13. Three areas of focus to be successful in marketing your business are: website, Instagram, and email list.

14. The first step before coming up with a strategy is gaining clarity on your brand story.

15. Add a CTA (call to action) in your bio with an easy & structured way to guide visitors into clients.

16. Pinning a post with all of your important information is helpful as well.

17. Once you have clarity in your brand, have a structured way of funneling visitors into clients, then create your content plan.

18. Content is about bringing the foundations to life.

You can find Align Creative Co on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aligncreativeco?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email & text marketing is the quickest way to increase your income and GlossGenius has AI support to make this as simple as clicking a button! Try it out for 2 weeks FREE: https://glossgenius.biz/AmbrosiaCarey

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In this episode of the Successful Stylist Academy Podcast, we sit down with one of our Business Collective attendees, Vanessa Gross, to share her real, raw journey from working behind the chair to opening the doors of her very first salon. We dive into what inspired her leap, the mindset shifts she had to make, and the systems that helped her scale. If you’ve been thinking about salon ownership or looking for motivation to grow, this is the conversation you need to hear.

Get FREE access to our profit making webinar: https://small-kiwi-98108.myflodesk.com/ao7u0l0qzq

Our 6 figure stylist guide here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/622541789b7136a9e313da40

Key Take-aways:

1. Apply your years of growth as a form of service toward others.

2. The beauty of being in a salon environment is passing along your knowledge and paying forward as a mentor.

3. Growth doesn't go without it’s challenges, lean on others who want to help you, which is why Successful Stylist Academy exists.

4. Take your learning lessons as your strength.

5. Learning new tools and adding technology can introduce another branchs of creativity, revenue, and growth.

6. Focusing on your client growth and retention also supports your communication skills, confidence, and leadership.

7. Recognize when you’ve graduated to the next level and align with those who are at the same frequency.

You can find Vanessa on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/vanessagrossstyle?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email & text marketing is the quickest way to increase your income and GlossGenius has AI support to make this as simple as clicking a button! Try it out for 2 weeks FREE: https://glossgenius.biz/AmbrosiaCarey

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What separates a good stylist from a great one? In this episode, we sit down with industry educator Katie Alm to talk about the unspoken habits and mindset shifts that set top stylists apart in today’s competitive beauty industry.

We cover everything from discipline, professional growth, and being of service — to why collaboration will always outlast comparison. Whether you're a salon assistant, an independent stylist, or a beauty educator, this episode dives deep into the leadership skills, daily discipline, and client-first mindset that fuel long-term success behind the chair.

If you're looking to grow your beauty business, avoid burnout, and build a sustainable career in the salon industry — this one's for you.

If you missed part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/successful-stylist-academy/id1584273127?i=1000702210150

Get FREE access to our profit making webinar: https://small-kiwi-98108.myflodesk.com/ao7u0l0qzq

Our 6 figure stylist guide here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/622541789b7136a9e313da40

Key Take-aways:

1. If you want more opportunities, be willing to be available and be of service. Let no task be below you.

2. As an educator or leader, the person who is helping you is the most important person while under your care.

3. If someone challenges you when learning, let them. For every stylist that challenges you, there are 2-3 that won’t.

4. How someone approaches learning is often how they’ll approach their career.

5. If you want to grow in this career, all it requires is discipline.

6. You don’t have to be a salon owner to be the final boss. You have to have the passion to feed your fellow community.

7. If you are giving 30% of your time to something, how can you expect 100% return?

8. The biggest thing that can kill your career is boredom.

9. Instead of hating on someone, collaborate with them.

You can find Katie on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/katieealm?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email & text marketing is the quickest way to increase your income and GlossGenius has AI support to make this as simple as clicking a button! Try it out for 2 weeks FREE: https://glossgenius.biz/AmbrosiaCarey

Get 15% off Pharmagel, our favorite skincare line with code SSA15: http://www.pharmagel.net/discount/ssa15?redirect=%2F%3Fafmc%3Dssa15

In this episode, we join Katie Alm, getting real about what actually moves the needle in your beauty career, and it’s not chasing the latest trends. From posting with intention to fully understanding the brands you align with, we’ll cover mindset and strategy shifts that can change everything.

Get FREE access to our profit making webinar: https://small-kiwi-98108.myflodesk.com/ao7u0l0qzq

Our 6 figure stylist guide here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/622541789b7136a9e313da40

Key Take-aways:

1. Posting with intention, sharing your knowledge, and aligning with a brand you love can change the trajectory of your career.

2. Experimenting with the full line of a brand you love and getting really knowledgeable about the full line, makes all the difference.

3. Forget the trending, use the tried and true: posting consistently, come from a place of gaining more experience, and get to know the culture behind the brand.

4. It’s all about perspective baby! Do you look at what you’re losing or what you’re gaining?

5. Where can you volunteer help in an area that might be needed?

6.If you’re juggling more than one career path at the same time, communicate and accommodate your clients. By setting the tone in the beginning and letting clients know how you operate, there won’t be surprises when it does happen.

Email & text marketing is the quickest way to increase your income and GlossGenius has AI support to make this as simple as clicking a button! Try it out for 2 weeks FREE: https://glossgenius.biz/AmbrosiaCarey

Take 15% off our favorite skincare line, Pharmagel with code SSA15: http://www.pharmagel.net/discount/ssa15?redirect=%2F%3Fafmc%3Dssa15

In Part 2 of our leadership deep dive, we’re tackling proactive leadership strategies to create a thriving salon culture. Learn how to set clear expectations, communicate with confidence, and lead by example—not just in action, but through clear communication. We’ll cover holding your team accountable without micromanaging, addressing issues with clarity and kindness, and creating systems that drive long-term success. If you’re ready to shift from reacting to leading with confidence, tune in!

Want the full script? Download it here: https://small-kiwi-98108.myflodesk.com/i4lkgeeq3r

Get FREE access to our Creative Service Profit Maker Webinar now! https://small-kiwi-98108.myflodesk.com/ao7u0l0qzq

Key Take-aways:

1. Leading vs Reacting: reaction comes from a place of fear and defensiveness.

2. People may think they’re leading, but we need to understand more about the individual to know what works for them.

3. Is the way you’re perceiving love or acceptance healthy?

4. There are reactive and proactive listeners. Reactive leaders wait until a problem explodes to address it.

5. Never complain about a team member behind their back.

6. As a leader, pull anyone aside to hash out issues and listen.

7. You can’t hold team members accountable for what you yourself are not practicing.

8. Proactive leaders set clear standards up front, have it in clear writing, and reinforce them.

9. Proactive leaders address small issues before they become big.

10. Leading by example isn’t only about the task, it also needs to be communicated.

11. Explaining why creates purpose behind the task.

12. A script example is: “I’m restocking the backbar because I noticed we’re running low, when we stay ahead of this we don’t run out in the middle of a service.”

13. “Hey (name) I’ve noticed a pattern where (address a specific issue), I want to check in with what’s going on.” Then pause.

14. Be short and sweet, and direct and kind.

15. Create a framework that surrounds the issue not the person.

16. When you create clear systems and you create consistency, it becomes a ripple effect.

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Email & text marketing is the quickest way to increase your income and GlossGenius has AI support to make this as simple as clicking a button! Try it out for 2 weeks FREE: https://glossgenius.biz/AmbrosiaCarey

Running a salon team isn’t just about great hair—it’s about clear expectations, accountability, and strong leadership. In this episode, we break down why stylists ignore responsibilities, how to get them to care, and the key shifts that turn frustration into teamwork. Learn how to lead with confidence, and create a culture where everyone takes ownership. If you’re tired of repeating yourself or struggling with follow-through, this episode is for you.

Get FREE access to our Creative Service Profit Maker Webinar now! https://small-kiwi-98108.myflodesk.com/ao7u0l0qzq

Key Take-aways:

1. One of the biggest reasons a task isn’t done is they just don’t see how it can benefit them.

2. Rather than should’s or shouldn't's, focus on tying responsibilities to personal success.

3. Creating a culture of salon leadership brings up future leaders, making your business more sustainable.

4. Be firm but kind

5. Another reason someone doesn’t take responsibility is because they assume someone else will take care of it.

6. When addressing, keep it short and simple, and pull them away privately.

7. When someone owns a task, they’re more likely to do it.

8. Create a sanitation list and introduce it at a meeting.

9. Another reason something isn’t done is because someone doesn't feel accountable.

10. Try a nomination box to bring team morale together, give a gift card to the most nominated employee.

11. Personally thank and publicly recognize when someone goes above and beyond.

12. Come up with solutions during team meetings. Ask your staff if they have ideas.

13. Focus on clarity over assumption

14. Have policies like this written in a team handbook or policy guide.

15. Address issues 1:1 and not in a group. Calling someone out publicly is a form of public shaming.

16. If you have high turnover, it’s time to take a look at how you’re leading your culture and environment.

17. Frame your approach as collaboration so that you can work together and bond as a team.

18. The bigger picture is to create a team that builds a sustainable business, and therefor creating opportunity and freedom to make choices or take risk.

Email & text marketing is the quickest way to increase your income and GlossGenius has AI support to make this as simple as clicking a button! Try it out for 2 weeks FREE: https://glossgenius.biz/AmbrosiaCarey

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Entrepreneurship is full of highs, lows, and lessons you don’t see coming. In Life Lessons of an Entrepreneur, Ambrosia Carey shares unfiltered insights on business growth, boundaries, and the mindset shifts that make success sustainable. Whether you're a hairstylist, salon owner, or creative entrepreneur, this podcast delivers real talk on navigating challenges, scaling with purpose, and building a business that works for you—not the other way around. Tune in for honest conversations, actionable strategies, and the lessons Ambrosia learned the hard way so you don’t have to. Subscribe now!

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Key Take-aways:

1. Slow down, you could actually get more done because it allows you to be efficient.

2. No one is coming to save you, rather than resenting the feeling of being held back, make different choices and take authority of your life’s outcomes.

3. Perfection is just fear in a fancy outfit. Done is better than perfect.

4. Ask yourself, what can you launch messy today?

5. Boundaries are your freedom, not your punishment.

6. Boundaries don’t push the right people away, they push the wrong people out.

7. If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.

8. People will show you who they are…believe them.

9. Money is a tool and not a trophy.

10. Your energy is your most valuable currency.

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