One of my favorite things to do when travelling for business is to check out the beauty buzz at online sites and blogs like Lipstick and Luxury. Given a particularly crazy travel schedule, I’ve had the pleasure of reading quite a few posts recently, but a post about beauty routines and spring cleaning really caught my eye.

Spring is always associated with fresh starts and I just happened to be travelling to America’s Beauty Show where I was thrilled to meet with beauty school students pursuing new career paths. As ambassador for Beauty Changes Lives, a non-profit initiative of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, I was privileged to speak to hundreds of students creating their own “fresh starts” with a career in beauty.

Some of these students will use their beauty school license to become a hairstylist, while others will work as skin care specialists, makeup artists or nail techs. Several of the students attending the show said they dream of opening their own salon or day spa, while others are seeking a career that lets them express their passion and creativity while finding life/work balance.

Hearing beauty school students’ stories and listening to their dreams, I was reminded of my own “fresh start” when I left a job in print advertising to pursue my dream of being a hairstylist. Years later, I had the opportunity to coach new beauty talent when I worked as an instructor at Aveda Institute in Minneapolis. There is something so energizing about making the decision to pursue one’s real calling.

Spring is all about new beginnings. Maybe you’re graduating high school, or you’ve worked in another industry but have always had a passion for beauty. Don’t let this season pass without thinking about what a career in beauty might mean for you. I often say there is something magical about doing work that makes your heart sing.

Visit me at www.beautychangeslives.org and learn more. How will a career in beauty change your life?

by Ted Gibson