Ways of Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur: Allie Derrick

Allie Derrick

Introduction

At the age of 17, Allie made a life-changing decision. She had grown up with dyslexia and was illiterate. She was getting close to graduation but was not going to graduate because she was failing her classes. Since this was the case, Allie's counselor wanted to meet with her. He suggested that she enroll in hair school. So she did!

She attended hair school on top of her regular school and excelled greatly! She found it her passion and had a natural talent for it. She did not graduate high school as time passed but became a hairstylist. She grew to be highly talented at what she did.

Background

Her salon and beauty supply, GG Beauty

As time passed, Allie married and started having kids; she decided to return to school and get her diploma. She was determined to learn how to read and graduate from high school. When she was 29, she graduated high school. However, this wasn't the end for her. Once she graduated and was literate, she returned to cosmetology school and renewed her industry knowledge. Graduating at 32 years old.

Allie never let anything put her down or make it so she couldn't succeed. Once done with cosmetology school, she became manager at a salon. This was an excellent job for a while, but there was always a need to improve and do more within Allie. This led her to open up her salon and beauty supply with the help of her husband. At the time, she lived in Tooele, Utah, and there was no beauty supply.

She went through getting a business license and finding a building to rent. Once done with this process, she picked the name "GG Beauty" and went to work. From the beginning, she made a profit from the business. Their business plan was well thought out and executed fabulously. She continued this business for three years and would have longer if a family matter hadn't occurred.

This family matter was life-changing and required a move. So she and her family closed the business and moved out of town, but this wasn't the end for Allie.

Burning Desire

One of her recent color transformations

Once moved, she still felt that her place was within cosmetology. She had always desired to teach those within her industry her ways. This led her to get a job as a cosmetology professor at a local trade college. She wanted to help people understand how to make money as a hairstylist. You can be talented with this career and not make money! However, Allie had figured out how to be her boss and make a profit and was ready to share it with the world.

Teaching impacted her life more than she could have known. However, the way she wanted to teach, to help people be successful, was not accepted at the college she taught at. This led to her retiring from teaching and continuing with doing hair. As said before, Allie still wanted to improve and grow, which led her to go to college to gain a degree in business. At 43, Allie decided to return to school and get a degree.

She continued working since she had a vast clientele from many years of perfecting the hair industry. While she worked and returned to school, she was also a full-time wife and mother. Helping to provide for and support her family. Allie has done so much in her life and is bound to find so many more successful traits about her. Now graduating college with a business degree this December!

Conclusion

Floral design she did for the Jordan Page Event

Hair isn't the only talent that Allie possesses. She also pursued photography, cake design, makeup design, floral design, and event planning. She has a desire and drives always to explore all parts of life. If she wants to learn a new talent, she goes for it.

This is a very admirable trait of Allies and inspires many people daily. Starting as a young girl, being told that she would never amount to anything because of her dyslexia and illiteracy, and now amounting to more than more people can do in a lifetime. What an inspiration to all who come in contact with her!

As business owners or dreaming of becoming business owners, remember Allie and the example she has set for everyone. No matter what people tell you or the insecurities you have. Allie has proved that if you genuinely want something, you must put forth the effort to obtain that dream. Anyone can achieve what she has done even more if they genuinely want it and are willing to sacrifice their comfort for it.

To grow, we must first put ourselves in situations of growth that make us uncomfortable. I challenge you to look to Allie next time you are second-guessing yourself. Take what she has learned and how she has grown into consideration.