3 Feet From Gold.
- Jen Martinelli
- Jul 5
- 9 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
"You'll never know if you were three feet from gold unless you keep digging."
🖤 From Jen: 3 Feet From Gold.
Hi BEAUTISTA Fam.
A few weeks ago, Heather Bagby, Vice President of Summit Salon Business Center, released her new book, Beautiful & Balanced. Heather has spent years helping salon owners build stronger businesses, stronger leaders, and stronger cultures. In the book, she shares the stories of beauty industry leaders and entrepreneurs, then reflects on the leadership lessons behind each journey. When she asked to dedicate a chapter to Matt and me and our BEAUTISTA story, we felt incredibly honored.
I was so excited when her book arrived at my doorstep. I flipped through it, smiled, put it on my desk... and then life happened. Meetings. Emails. Deadlines. Kids. You know how it goes.
This week, I finally sat down and reread our chapter and it instantly brought me right back to the beginning. Back to leaving our house. Selling our cars. Leaving our jobs. Moving across the country with two little kids and sleeping in one bedroom while we tried to build something we believed the industry needed.
It reminded me how hard those years really were. The nights where I wondered if I was crazy. The months where success felt so far away that you couldn't even picture what it looked like. but knowing that i was too far in to back out now.
As I was reading, I remembered one of the mantras that got me through some of the hardest seasons of building BEAUTISTA - 3 feet from gold. It's from the book Think and Grow Rich. The story they share in the book goes something like this:
A man bought a gold mine convinced he was going to strike it rich. He dug and dug. Day after day. Month after month. Eventually he became discouraged, convinced there wasn't any gold, and sold the mine for a fraction of what he paid and moved on.
The new owner bought the mine for a fraction of the price, brought in an engineer, and moved the drill just three feet from where the previous owner had stopped... and struck one of the richest gold in the area. Three Feet from gold.
The first owner had quit Three feet from gold. I can't tell you how many times I thought about that story over the last few years. Every time a partnership didn't work out. Every time we questioned ourselves. Every time money got tight. Every time we heard "no." I'd always come back to the same question... What if we're only three feet from gold? That one question was enough to get me through one more day. And sometimes, one more day is all you need.
The truth is, none of us know. You don't know if the next interview is the one that changes your career. You don't know if the next client becomes your biggest advocate. You don't know if the next conversation leads to the opportunity you've been waiting for. You don't know if you're three feet away... or three years away. You just keep digging.
Reading Heather's book reminded me that every partnership, every milestone, every person we've been able to help only exists because we kept digging on the days we wanted to quit.
Don't stop three feet from gold. You may be a lot closer than you think.
xoxo,
Jen Martinelli
🚀 The Shift: Weekly Mindset + Strategy Upgrade.
Find Your Mantra.
One thing I've learned over the years is that your mindset needs something to hold onto when life gets hard. Mine was simple. Three Feet from Gold.
Every time I questioned BEAUTISTA... Every time a partnership didn't work out... Every time we heard "no"... I'd repeat it to myself. Three feet from Gold. Not because I knew we were close.
Because I didn't know. That's what made it powerful.
Psychologists have found that the words we repeatedly tell ourselves influence our resilience, confidence, and ability to persevere. A simple mantra can interrupt self-doubt and remind us what we choose to believe instead.
Maybe your mantra becomes Three Feet from Gold. Feel free to steal it.
Or maybe yours is...
"One more day."
"Keep showing up."
"Progress over perfection."
"I can do hard things."
Whatever it is, write it down. Put it somewhere you'll see it. Because on the days when motivation disappears, your mantra can remind you why you started in the first place.
🎙️ In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
Missed a class this week? Don't worry—we've got you covered. Here's what our educators tackled:
🎨 Color Confidence
From Redken's new Shades ALK system and Blonde IQ, to L'Oréal Professionnel's Dia Color and Dia Light, this week was packed with formulation strategies, glossing techniques, blonding, grey coverage, and dimensional color services.
✨ Healthy Hair & Shine
K18, Olaplex, Malibu C, and L'Oréal Professionnel shared science-backed techniques to repair damage, boost shine, protect hair from summer stress, and create healthier results behind the chair.
💇 Cutting & Styling
Learned new approaches to layered summer haircuts, curl definition, wash-and-go styling, and creating effortless movement and texture for every client.
💅 Nails & Seasonal Trends
Gelish-Morgan Taylor explored playful summer nail trends, fresh seasonal color palettes, and creative designs clients are asking for right now.
💼 Grow Your Business
From adding smoothing services and scalp wellness treatments to expanding retail conversations and premium service offerings, this week's education focused on helping beauty professionals create more value—and more revenue—for every guest.
Every class is designed to help you become a stronger artist, a more confident professional, and a more successful business owner.
If you missed one, 👉 Catch replays + explore more anytime at beautista.com/classes
(And if you’re a salon owner or educator—send your team. One class can shift performance fast.)
💻 Tech-Forward:
Where tech meets beauty (and your next big move begins).
What we're learning from Hiring Funnels:
The Resume Is Easy to Fake. The Portfolio Isn't.
There's a term we've started using for a pattern we're seeing more often: getting catfished on a resume.
Here's how it works. A salon posts a job. A candidate copies the job description, drops it into an AI tool, and gets back a perfectly tailored resume — the right keywords, the right experience, the right structure. It looks exactly like what the owner asked for. They get the interview. And then they walk in. The person in the room has nothing to do with the resume that got them there.
This isn't a future concern. It's already happening. A 2025 hiring report found that nearly three in four employers say they've noticed more AI-generated resumes in their applicant pool. The resume — already an imperfect way to evaluate talent in any industry — has become even easier to manufacture.
In beauty, the gap between a polished resume and actual ability is especially unforgiving. Because the work is physical. A colorist either knows how to formulate or they don't. A stylist either has the technique or they don't. No resume tells you that. No AI-generated cover letter tells you that.
A portfolio requirement changes everything. You can generate a perfect resume in sixty seconds. You cannot generate photos of real clients you've actually worked on. You cannot fake a video of yourself demonstrating your process and your craft. The work either exists or it doesn't.
And here's the part salon owners tell us surprises them most: if a candidate won't take the time to put together a portfolio, that's information too. Either they don't want the role enough — or their work ethic is already showing itself. Either way, you found out before the interview.
🔥 What’s Happening:
Virtual Live Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Next Live Virtual Classes
This week's lineup has one theme: mastering the fundamentals. Whether you're looking to strengthen your color knowledge, increase retail sales, or build a more profitable business, these classes are designed to sharpen the skills you use every day.
🎨 Color Confidence
📅 Monday, July 6 | 11:00 AM EDT
Redken – Haircolor Pro Connect
📅 Monday, July 6 | 1:00 PM EDT
Matrix – Blonding for All
📅 Monday, July 6 | 3:30 PM EDT
Matrix – Haircolor For All
📅 Tuesday, July 7 | 11:00 AM EDT
Matrix – Super Sync & Tonal Control 101
📅 Tuesday, July 7 | 11:00 AM EDT
Redken – Lift & Tone Pro Connect
📅 Tuesday, July 7 | 1:00 PM EDT
Redken – Shades EQ Pro Connect
📅 Wednesday, July 8 | 11:00 AM EDT
Redken – Shades ALK Pro Connect
📅 Thursday, July 9 | 11:00 AM EDT
Redken – Shades EQ Pro Connect
📅 Thursday, July 9 | 1:00 PM EDT
Redken – Shades ALK Pro Connect
Whether you're perfecting blondes, glossing, toning, or learning the latest demi-permanent innovations, this week's color education will help you create more consistent results and greater confidence behind the chair.
💼 Grow Your Business
📅 Monday & Tuesday | 11:00 AM EDT
OLAPLEX – Transform Your Business: The Business of Backbar
📅 Tuesday, July 7 | 4:00 PM EDT
Matrix – Make Bank With Retail
Learn practical strategies to increase service revenue, elevate consultations, and create authentic retail conversations that clients actually appreciate.
✨ Product Knowledge & Styling
📅 Wednesday, July 8 | 11:00 AM EDTBiolage – Volume & Versatility: Hairstyling For Every Client
📅 Wednesday, July 8 | 11:00 AM EDTKEVIN.MURPHY – LEARN.ME
📅 Wednesday, July 8 | 2:00 PM EDTPulp Riot – Pulp Alchemy: Intro to Pulp Riot
📅 Thursday, July 9 | 11:00 AM EDTMatrix – Haircare: Features, Benefits & Solutions
Discover new styling techniques, brand philosophies, and product recommendations that help you create better client experiences both in the salon and at home.
👀 Looking Ahead
📅 Monday, July 13 | 10:00 AM EDTScruples – Blazing Highlighting
📅 Monday, July 13 | 11:00 AM EDTMatrix – Acidic vs. Alkaline Toning
The beauty industry is evolving quickly, but one thing never changes: the professionals who continue learning are the ones who continue growing. We'll see you in class.
(And if you’re reading this as a salon owner or educator — send your team. One class can shift an entire culture.)
👀 Watch This Space
(Jobs Worth Seeing)
👀 Watch This Space
RLo Salon| 📍Wycoff, NJ
OPEN ROLES
There are salons where education is something you attend... and there are salons where education is part of the culture.
At RLo Salon, owner and Redken Educator Rebecca Lopes has built a salon around one simple belief: great careers don't happen by accident—they're developed through mentorship, coaching, and continuous growth. That philosophy has helped earn Best of Bergen County honors two years in a row, but perhaps more importantly, it's created a place where stylists know exactly what their next step looks like.
If you're looking for more than your next salon... if you're looking for someone willing to invest in your future... this one is worth a look.
Why you'll love it:
💛 Led by Redken Educator Rebecca Lopes
🏆 Best of Bergen County — Two Years Running
📈 Clear career path with coaching & mentorship
✂️ Advanced education, PTO & 401(k)
🤝 Supportive team culture built around long-term growth
👉 Apply with your portfolio + watch the video to experience the space for yourself
🎤 Educators Wanted: Your Dream Role Just Went Live
Ready to teach, inspire, and represent iconic brands?
💥 Educator roles at Pureology, Matrix and Kérastase are now LIVE on BEAUTISTA.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a rising educator, this is your moment.
🔦 BEAUTISTA Spotlight
Marina Abreu
📍Kernersville, KY
🎓Aisling Institute
Every beauty professional has a first client during cosmetology school they'll never forget. For Marina Abreu, it was her mom.
Watching Marina's BEAUTISTA video is like watching the very beginning of a career unfold. You can see the excitement and the pride as she performs her very first service in cosmetology school on the person who's probably been cheering her on long before she ever picked up a brush.
There's something incredibly special about that kind of trust. Her mom didn't just come in for a service—she became part of Marina's story. Her very first client. Her very first opportunity to turn a dream into a profession.
It's a reminder that every accomplished beauty professional started exactly where Marina is today: one client, one service, and one person who believed in them enough to sit in their chair.
Want this for your students?
Reach out to hello@beautista.com and we’ll show you how to make it happen.
💫 WE WANT TO FEATURE YOU
Have a story about how BEAUTISTA helped or inspired your career? Email us at hello@beautista.com to be spotlighted in an upcoming issue.
💡 BEAUTISTA Tips & Tricks
Don't Leave Scholarship Money on the Table.
Did you know there are 21 scholarships available right now on BEAUTISTA through our friends at Beauty Changes Lives?
Whether you're a current student, newly accepted into beauty school, or looking for advanced education, there are opportunities from some of the industry's biggest names—including amika, L'Oréal Professionnel, Wella, Dermalogica, Hydrafacial, European Wax Center, OPI, Hand & Stone, Sola, Borboleta, and more. Scholarship awards range from $1,500 to $20,000, with applications open through July 31 for many of this season's opportunities.
Our tip? Don't wait until the deadline. Start your application now, gather your materials, and take time to create a thoughtful video. Sometimes one application can change the entire trajectory of your career.
👉 Browse all 21 scholarships on BEAUTISTA and see which opportunities are right for you.
💌 Pass It On
Know someone who needs this kind of real talk in their beauty journey?
Share The TRIMM with a fellow BEAUTISTA and help them grow, too.
If you like this page, you could check out last week's issue.
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