My Take On Independence and Interdependence from 2013

BUILDING & BREAKING with Nina L. Kovner

#Business #Beautybusiness #Salonbusiness #Smallbusiness #Marketing #MBA #Nina L Kovner #Salonowner #Smallbusinessowner

27:29

Gary Sinise is an award winning actor, on the stage, TV and big screen. He is best known for playing Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. Inspired by this role and his family members, Gary is now the head of the Gary Sinise Foundation, which offers support for service members who need help with mental wellness, trauma, physical recovery, and loss. He Also plays concerts worldwide for our nation’s defenders and their families, boosting morale and offering gratitude for their sacrifices as part of the Lt. Dan Band. Jay and Gary discuss the changing needs of American service members and their families, the many services the Gary Sinise Foundation provides, how Gary’s work helped him through personal loss and much more. Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation. Episode Chapters (0:00) intro (1:11) Veterans’ changing needs over the past half century (7:57) Veterans’ appreciation of Gary’s portrayal of Lt. Dan (10:25) By helping others, we step out of ourselves (11:46) The Lt. Dan Band (15:29) How the death of Gary’s son Mac impacts his activism (17:33) Bringing services to American heroes wherever they are (19:45) Accurate portrayals of veterans in film and TV (20:58) How can people get involved with the Gary Sinise foundation (24:24) Goodbye For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation Stay in touch: X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/ Looking for more insights into the world of activism? Be sure to check out Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight , in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠ .…

2 years ago 10:01

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In this episode, Nina share's chapter from their book Follow Your Heart, written in 2013. The chapter is called PEOPLE, and it walks you through why the concept of independence is a myth, and why interdependence is really where it's at still to this day. You can apply this concept to both your business and your life because the truth is, you need people, we need people, and none of us would be where we are today without the people who held us, guided us, and lifted us up along the way. You can find Nina on the socials here and the Follow Your Heart digital and audiobook here. Thank you so much for listening! Have a beautiful day.

123 episodes

My Take On Independence and Interdependence from 2013

BUILDING & BREAKING with Nina L. Kovner

published 2 years ago

MP3•Episode home

123 episodes

#Business #Beautybusiness #Salonbusiness #Smallbusiness #Marketing #MBA #Nina L Kovner #Salonowner #Smallbusinessowner

All episodes

1
Starbucks: How Losing Focus On The Brand Experience Cost Them Barista & Customer Trust 27:07

6 days ago27:07

27:07

In this episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, Nina unpacks Starbucks: the iconic brand that built its success on human connection and consistent experience, and what happens every time it drifts away from that brand promise. From Howard Schultz’s bold 2008 shutdown all U.S. stores to reconnect with the baristas and Starbucks experience, to this year’s decision to cut 30% of the menu, Starbucks follows a familiar pattern: build, overcomplicate, break trust, and then attempt to refocus on their brand and what made them successful to begin with. Nina shares what salon owners, hairstylists, and beauty brands can learn from Starbucks about brand drift, operational alignment, and the myth that “more” always means better. Because it’s about the coffee, or haircuts, or bottles of shampoo, it's about the entire experience. And when that breaks, so does trust. In This Episode: • The real reason Starbucks shut down all US stores in 2008, and what that bold move teaches us about leadership and brand clarity • Why cutting 30% of the menu is about more than efficiency, it’s about restoring the brand experience • How complexity inside the store created chaos, stress, and emotional disconnect, for both baristas and customers • What the new dress code reveals about the disconnect between brand story, business goals, and the experience • What salon owners, stylists, and beauty brands can learn about staying focused, building trust, and aligning the decisions you make with your brand story If you are a salon owner or independent stylist seeking more clarity and simplifying your decision-making, click here to learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, a complete course for beauty professionals. Thank you so much for listening and sharing this episode with your business besties!…

1
Taylor Swift: How Storytelling, Emotional Connection, and Healthy Boundaries Built A Personal Brand 31:57

13 days ago31:57

31:57

In this episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, Nina breaks down one of the most iconic personal brands in the world, Taylor Swift. This isn’t a fangirl episode (though Nina is a Swiftie, duh). This is about a personal brand and consistent leadership, grounded in brand clarity, emotional connection, and healthy boundaries. From how Taylor speaks the language of her audience to how she uses storytelling to build trust and community, this episode explores the exact strategy behind her global impact. You’ll learn how to apply Taylor’s brand genius to your salon, business, or beauty brand, including real-world takeaways for hairstylists, salon owners, and beauty marketers. Nina also shares how Taylor’s music and the Eras Concert Tour helped her heal through deep grief. This one’s personal, and yes, there were a fear tears shed. If you are a salon owner, salon coach or independent stylist, and want to have a deeper understanding on how to not only create a brand story, but also, how it connects to every decision a salon makes in their business, click here to learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, a complete course for beauty pros. Thank you for listening, leaving a rating or review, and sharing this episode with a business bestie who can benefit from the lesson.…

1
Target: How Knee-Jerk Decisions Break Trust and Erode Lifetime Customer Value 27:20

20 days ago27:20

27:20

In this episode of BUILDING & BREAKING , Nina breaks down Target’s trust crisis, not as a political conversation, but as a brand case study. Why did loyal shoppers like Nina, who went to Target every week, walk away? What lessons can salon owners, hairstylists, creative entrepreneurs, and beauty brands learn about lifetime customer (and client) value, consistency, and the cost of making decisions that are totally off-brand? Nina contrasts Target’s missteps with Costco’s long-game brand clarity, sharing real-life examples of how knee-jerk decisions can break trust and shrink long-term loyalty, and lifetime client, team, and tenant (booth renter) value. If you are ready to find more clarity of your salon brand story, which is the foundation for every decision you make, click here to learn more and get started with Creating Your Awesome Brand, A Complete Course for Beauty Pros. Thank you so much for listening!…

1
Aveda: From Salon Experience and Relationship Building Innovator To Fracturing Lifetime Customer Value 37:38

27 days ago37:38

37:38

In this episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, we’re diving deep into the legendary story of Aveda: how it rose to beloved icon status, what fueled its global success, and how it lost its way. Nina Kovner, former beauty brand VP, educator, and lifelong observer of Aveda’s rise and evolution, breaks down the brand’s rise under Horst Rechelbacher’s visionary leadership, its pioneering of nature-powered beauty, wellness, and the groundbreaking experience design that set it apart. We dive into how Aveda’s sale to Estée Lauder shifted its trajectory, the disconnect that followed, and the hard lessons every salon owner, hairstylist, and beauty brand must learn to protect their own brand trust. From brand clarity and experience rituals to salon partnerships and loyalty, this is a powerful lesson in what it takes to build a sustainable brand and what happens when you drift from your core brand story. Whether you’re a salon owner, stylist, or pro beauty brand exec, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways on brand story, staying focused, and rebuilding trust when things go off course. In This Episode: What made Aveda the blueprint for nature-powered beauty brands The role of aromatherapy & sensory experience in lifetime client value (the amount of happiness, joy, referrals, and revenue a client brings you over the lifetime of your relationship with them) How clear brand stories, including brand promises, fueled growth, and where clarity faltered Lessons on brand erosion: leadership shifts, inconsistency, lost connections and broken promises What salons & pro beauty brands can learn (and apply right now) Why clarity, consistency, and care are everything For salon owners & hairstylists: Get inspired to infuse meaning into every part of the client, team, or tenant experience, strengthen relationships, and keep your brand story at the heart of everything you do. For beauty brands: A real-world reminder of how brand trust is earned and how to rebuild when it breaks. If you want to learn more about how to build your salon brand with a solid foundation, click here to learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, A Complete Course for Beauty Pros. Thank you so much for listening!…

1
Costco: A Masterclass in Trust, Brand Promises, and Lifetime Team and Member Value 27:52

5 weeks ago27:52

27:52

In the premiere episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, Nina dives deep into one of the greatest brand loyalty stories of our time: Costco. Through personal reflections as a newer Costco member (yet longtime studier of the brand) and decades of experience in brand strategy, Nina unpacks why Costco continues to build lasting trust, while other brands seem to be breaking it. This episode breaks down the fundamentals behind Costco’s success: their unwavering commitment to lifetime customer value, keeping brand promises (no matter the pressure), investing in their people, and always playing the long game over short-term gains. Nina connects these lessons back to the pro beauty industry, creative small businesses, pro beauty brand execs, offering real-world takeaways on how clarity, consistency, and true care are at the heart of every enduring brand. Whether you’re a salon owner, hairstylist, creative entrepreneur, or brand leader, this episode lays the foundation for understanding what it really takes to build and retain trust. If you want to learn more about creating your brand story and how to connect all the dots in your salon business, click here to learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, A Complete Course for Beauty Pros. Thank you for listening and sharing this episode with your business besties!…

1
The End, The Beginning, and Everything In Between 17:34

6 weeks ago17:34

17:34

Why I’m Ending the PEOPLE PASSION PURPOSE Podcast—and Starting a New One That You Absolutely Need To Hear In this final episode, I share why I’m closing this podcast and what’s next: Building & Breaking with Nina L. Kovner, a new show about how brands are built, how trust is broken, and what it all means for salon owners, beauty brands, and creatives. It’s the end of one story, and the start of something deeper. Thank you for being here, whether you've been a listener since 2018, or are just jumping on this wild and wonderful ride. Episode 1 of Building & Breaking drops May 1! Buckle up. Lol.…

1
ENCORE EPISODE: What To Do When Your Salon Business Is Slower Than You'd Like 26:37

23 weeks ago26:37

26:37

Originally aired January 31, 2024 In this episode, Nina shares some thoughts about the 'everyone is slow' narrative being shared on the salon industry socials. The fact is, not everyone is slow, busy, sad, happy, or anything. This is another example of black-and-white thinking, coupled with remembering the algorithms can be deceiving and distracting. Nina also shares insights on some key areas of your salon business to look at when things slow down and you don't know why, starting with having clarity around your salon brand story which is the foundation for every decision you make in your business. You can learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, a complete course for beauty pros here , and find Passion Squared on the socials here and the web here . You can find examples of post-experience salon client communications here . Thank you so much for listening, and if you know someone who needs to hear this episode, I'd be super grateful if you shared it with them. Thank you!…

1
ENCORE EPISODE: Online Discourse and Its Impact On The Salon Industry 20:30

24 weeks ago20:30

20:30

Originally Aired May 1, 2024 In this episode, Nina revisits a conversation around our collective loss of perspective as an industry thanks to the algorithms on social media feeding into our fears and insecurities by amplifying the most enraging pieces of content. Remember, your content is your marketing, and what you choose to engage with online has a direct impact on your salon business and brand. And when you choose to engage, you are feeding these ridiculous narratives about our industry and causing harm to your nervous system, mental wellness, and salon business. Nina also shares a few tools to help you stay focused on what matters, and less on what doesn’t. You can find us on the web here , and on the socials here and here . You can listen to the 2024 The Year of Perspective for The Salon Industry here and the Instagram post mentioned here . You are so loved. Thank you so much for listening!…

1
ENCORE EPISODE: 2024 The Year of Perspective for The Salon Industry 41:43

25 weeks ago41:43

41:43

Originally aired January 3, 2024 In this episode, Nina proclaims 2024 to be the year of perspective for the salon industry. One viral TiKTok or some comments from random strangers on the Internet is not fact, or truth. The algorithms are designed to feed off our enragement and discourse. Because of that, we are collectively losing perspective around how different salon businesses and models work, how salons make decisions aligned with their brands, and how salons grow. Whether it be overcorrecting and confusing healthy boundaries and walls, connecting the prices you charge and client feedback with your personal worth, tossing out the fundamentals of client retention and happiness, deciding salon business ownership wasn’t for you, having the best year ever, or the worst, we talk about it all to help you regain and retain perspective to have a more awesome, authentic and aligned with your brand year. You can find Passion Squared on the socials here and here , and on the web here . You can learn more about Creating Your Awesome Salon Brand here . Thank you so much for listening. Cheering you on, every day, always!…

1
Calico Hair: Your Salon Brand Content Is Your Marketing 11:45

32 weeks ago11:45

11:45

In this episode, Nina shares a reminder that sometimes it's best to keep the snark in the group chat. Whether it's the latest Calico Hair trend, or things some salon clients do that give you the ick, you need to remember that your salon brand content is your marketing, and everything you post, share, like and comment on can be seen by your current salon clients and potential future clients. Jokes are fun, however, they do not always land well with salon clients, and could create a crack in the trust you've worked so hard to build with them in your salon, which can greatly diminish lifetime salon client value, the amount of happiness, joy, referrals, and revenue your clients bring you over the lifetime of your relationship. The blog from 2015 mentioned in this episode can be found here . You can find Passion Squared on the socials here , and the web here . Thank you so much for listening.…

1
Let's Catch Up: Finding New Rhythms 11:19

33 weeks ago11:19

11:19

In this super imperfect episode, Nina shares a raw and real look at finding a new rhythm after a big move to Park City, Utah. Whether it's pumping gas for the first time in six years, getting into someone else's black Subaru Outback, to working in a super rad coworking space after working from home for the last twelve years, there is nothing clean or perfect about learning new things and finding new rhythms. In fact, it most times is messy and frustrating, and also magical, and empowering. Whether it's change you hoped and prayed for or change that was forced upon you, change is inevitably hard. Our daily tools we use with our clients are; 1. Be where your feet are 2. Slow, steady and strategic 3. Pause, process, proceed If you have the means, please do whatever you can to support those who experienced devastation from the hurricanes. To support beauty professionals, consider donating to the Professional Beauty Association Disaster Relief Fund . Thank you for listening.…

1
Special Guest: David Thurston of Butterfly Loft Salon + Danger Jones 39:12

41 weeks ago39:12

39:12

In this episode, we welcome a VERY special guest, David Thurston, owner of Butterfly Loft Salon and founder and CEO of Danger Jones. David shares his journey into the salon industry, his insightful and inspiring stories about taking risks, and how Butterfly Circus created a monumental shift in the salon industry, building community and the power of independent education. David also shares his recent ventures, including a music documentary and vision for the Danger Jones brand. David also reflects on the importance of personal branding and gives us a vulnerable, behind-the-scenes look at his current 100 videos in 100 days challenge, which ends up as a little therapy sesh for Nina lol. You can find David on the socials here , Alexis Thurston's TikTok here , and Danger Jones here and here . Thank you David for being our VERY special guest. We LOVE you!…

1
Client Shaming, Building Trust, and Your Salon Brand 13:44

43 weeks ago13:44

13:44

In this episode, Nina revisits 'your content is your marketing', emphasizing the importance of creating content that aligns with your specific salon brand and audience. There is a big difference between marketing for local salon clients versus marketing as industry influencers, and to be effective, content needs to be relatable and valuable to your specific audience to build trust, relationships, and ultimately, a local salon clientele. We also talk about the Olympics, duh, and how inspiring it is to see mental health at the forefront, thank you, Simone Biles! You can find Passion Squared on the web here , on the socials here , and learn more about A School here and the Creating Your Awesome Brand course here . Thank you for listening!…

1
Independent Stylist + Educator Insights: Amanda Harsche, Forma Collective Salon + Danger Jones 27:09

44 weeks ago27:09

27:09

In this episode, we welcome Amanda Harsche, an independent stylist, educator, and content creator from Denver, Colorado to the pod. Amanda shares her journey to becoming a hairdresser, despite initial resistance from her parents, how she built a salon clientele in a small town, authenticity and simplicity in creating content, and her unwavering commitment to making hair education accessible to all. We talk about Amanda’s struggles with mental health, her incredible milestone of achieving six months of sobriety, the importance of self-care as a hairdresser, and the value of a strong support system. You can find Amanda on the socials here and at Forma Collective Salon here . Thank you Amanda for being our guest and sharing your insights, experiences, and wisdom. We LOVE you!…

1
Growing Your Salon Business Without Relying Solely on Social Media 19:57

45 weeks ago19:57