What Does Running a Beauty Salon Have to Do With Running a Blog Network? Guest Post From b5media Content Manager Christina Jones

Although I really have never thought of myself much as a “Biz Chick,” I suppose I must grow up and admit that is what I am.

A little about my history, for starters. I have an almost-bachelors-degree in business management (not graduated — have 13 elective hours left that I will never take). I worked as a nail tech (from pre-college on — 20+ years now), and then as a salon owner (10 years), then when I moved to Texas five and a half years ago, I didn’t want to go through the pain and suffering of building brand-new clientele from scratch.

I started working online writing on beauty topics. My hubby got sick 3.5 yrs ago with MRSA, and I began working on that topic online. Then I fell into writing about beauty with Shai Coggin’s AboutWeblogs.com (Shai is one of the co-founders of b5media), and since we merged with b5media in 2005, I’ve wiggled and squirmed into what I am doing now, which is working as the the content manager for b5media.

Although you would think that writing and managing a blog network and doing nails and running a salon are just about as opposite as they can be, consider this:

1. I have always worked with creative people. While sometimes this can be challenging, the benefits are amazing. I love being around people more creative than me (and most are!) – it is inspiring every day.
2. I have always worked in a service role. Whether it is servicing salon clients and stylists, or 300+ blogs and their bloggers and readers, trying to keep all kinds of people happy in their situations is what I love to do.
3. It is all about community. A salon thrives on its relationships between the artisans and their clients. There really is very minimal difference in blogging – stylists and writers, clients and readers. Managing it all is tons of fun and I learn something new every single day.
4. Attention to detail has always been very high on my priority list. Whether it is scheduling appointments, having necessary supplies on hand and attending to strict sanitation laws or getting blogs up and running without a hitch – attention to detail is a priority.
5. Good old fashioned organization is a must, especially when other people are relying on you. While looking at my scary desk might not give you the impression that I am organized, I am always working hard at Getting Things Done and keeping up with appointments and deadlines (/knocks on wood), and am almost always successful.

There are plenty of plain old business parallels that can be drawn easily from one business to the next, but, well, those are all just dull, and most obvious to brazilliant Biz Chicks such as yourselves. I am so lucky to say that I have never worked anywhere that I didn’t love (well, my very first job at 16, selling clothes at the mall for one month was horrid). I have been very fortunate in the paths that I have chosen, and I have chosen them by following my heart and my love for people and communities.

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You can find Christina Jones, a.k.a. CJ, at MRSA Resources and EBeautyDaily, both on the b5media network. She is also the channel editor for the Beauty & Style Channel.

(photo: CJ’s office, courtesy of the author)