Written by PBA Visionary Plus Member, Milady
Learn more, make more.
Billionaire Warren Buffet has famously said, “The more you learn, the more you’ll earn.”
And sure—that sounds nice. But is it true?
While quantifying the value of education can be challenging, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the data suggests that investing in your education can indeed deliver a solid return on your investment (ROI), particularly regarding your take-home pay.
This makes total sense when you stop and think about it. Your beauty school education gave you a fantastic base, but the beauty industry isn’t static. Social media drives trends in ways that didn’t exist even fifteen years ago. So if you’re not constantly challenging yourself to learn new skills, you could leave money on the table, be overlooked for a promotion, or make poor decisions if you’re starting your own business.
Let’s illustrate this point with an example: A prospective client contacts two beauty pros about a hot trend. The first pro has already learned the skills required to achieve the trend, regularly performs the service, and shows off the awesome results on places like Instagram and TikTok. Meanwhile, the second pro hasn’t done any homework.
We don’t have to tell you how this story ends: The prospect will choose the pro with the greater skills.
Bottom line: If you’re unwilling to learn, you’ll lose out. Or to put a more positive spin on it . . . the more you embrace lifelong learning, especially in your discipline, the more marketable you’ll become, the more job security you’ll have, and the more money you can make.
Keep in mind that learning involves more than developing technical skills. Smart beauty pros also learn soft skills, like marketing or conducting effective client consultations.
The benefits go beyond money.
More money is always welcome, but you’ll experience several other key benefits if you embrace lifelong learning.
- People pursuing continuing education cite an expanded professional network as one of the many perks. [Source: Pew Research Center]
- People who regularly learn new things enjoy positive cognitive effects and improved mental health. [Source: Psychreg]
- People dedicated to lifelong learning help make society better. This article wisely notes, “Learning is the key to advancing society and making new things. Lifelong learners help the community grow by developing new ideas and improvements.” [Source: University of Florida]
About that last point . . . if you’ve ever wondered how you can make a difference in your community as a beauty pro, check out the Milady RISE Certification in Client Well-Being and Safety. This certification covers practical infection control standards while raising awareness in the areas of domestic violence and human trafficking. Beauty pros are uniquely positioned to recognize when a client might be at risk. Taking the time to learn about these issues can have a significant impact.
You get to choose where to focus your continuing education.
When you attended beauty school, you were beholden to the program’s curriculum. With continuing education, you can focus on topics that interest you and choose how, where, and when you learn.
Options include . . .
- Online continuing education courses that fulfill licensing requirements. Always check with your state to see if the course you’re considering satisfies state guidelines.
- Online courses for upskilling—and more. You don’t have to limit yourself to content based on improving or learning new skills and techniques. You can also take courses about the business side of beauty, like finance fundamentals or marketing.
- Live or on-demand webinars. Watch on-demand webinars when it’s convenient, or experience the energy and excitement of attending live.
- Conferences. Broaden your network, get industry insights, and maybe even find a mentor.
Best of all, you can find excellent continuing education opportunities with a few clicks. In fact, you’re already in the right place. The PBA offers many fabulous benefits, including ongoing education and training to expand your technical skills, financial literacy, and everything in between.
Milady Training is another great place to discover excellent continuing education offerings, including online courses, webinars, certifications, and articles.
Remember, a little learning every day goes a long way.
Lifelong learning is a lot like exercise: You get out what you put in, and a little every day can go a long way. Also, keep in mind that continuing education is a marathon, not a sprint. You don’t need to learn everything all at once. Carve out time in your daily, weekly, or monthly schedule (you decide what works) and dedicate it to learning more about your craft, the business side of things, or some other aspect of the beauty industry that interests you.
Think of how quickly all this knowledge will add up if you attend a webinar every month, take a continuing education class once a quarter, or attend a conference a couple of times a year.
So, go ahead—lean in and learn.
About Milady
Every day, Milady-educated students prove that a career in the beauty industry can lead to professional success and personal fulfillment. We’ve helped tens of millions of students get their professional licenses and start fulfilling careers. Yet despite our rich history, our focus is on what’s next. Together with our students, educators, and professionals, we lead the pack—and are changing the beauty industry for the better. Learn more at www.milady.com.
