If you think having the greatest talent will pave your road to success you may be in for a little surprise. While talent is important it could also be your ruin if it's not gently intertwined with these few principles.

Be teachable.

No matter what, you always have something to learn. Take correction as a compliment! Believe me, I've been in so many situations where I could (and passive aggressively did) take someones advice and threw it back in their face. "Don't you know how long I've been doing this?" It doesn't matter. "Haven't we been hairdressers for the same amount time?" Doesn't make a difference. "What could you know that I don't?" More than I could imagine. Being teachable literally puts you on the fast track. It's not easy sometimes but it is imperative to having a truly successful career.

Be better than you were yesterday.

I read this once somewhere and it has always stuck with me. You are only in competition with yourself. You are only able to be truly better than you were yesterday. It's great to look up to people and have inspiration to grow, but true greatness is what happens when we leave our old, destructive habits behind us and reach for who we truly are.

Don't hate! Collaborate.

Being a one-man show is not only lonely, it doesn't last very long either. It's amazing what can be created when we work alongside other creatives--it is magical!

Give back.

Don't be stingy with that talent! Give it away as often as you can. Not only will you help others grow but it will exponentially sharpen your own skills. You never lose when you're helping someone else win.

Have you ever seen the fruit of these mindsets dramatically reward you? I'd love to hear about it.

With all my love and hair pins.

Abby