I am not a
person who has ever been good at saying goodbye. I have had too many times in
my life and for many different reasons, but I do not like it. I have lost loved ones and had to say
goodbye…I have ended relationships and had to say good bye. I do not like it. I
have quit jobs and moved to other places and had to say good by and I do not
like it. I do not even like to say goodbye to my parents after Sunday dinner
with them. No, I absolutely DO NOT like saying goodbye.
Last week a
chapter ended in OH SALONS history as our much loved front desk manager,
Brandon Payne left us to pursue his studies in England. While I understand that
this is the opportunity of a lifetime for Brandon, and while I believe it is
always important to always encourage others to seek out what their true purpose
is while walking this earth, I am still somewhat saddened by his leaving us. He
has been an integral part of this salons formation and operations from
providing the artwork that separates the rooms to developing the system that we
use to keep up with clients and pretty much the entire method of balancing the
daily cash flow. Yes, he has been vital to this business and he will be greatly
missed.
I wanted to
make this post a thank you card for Brandon. I want to thank him for everything
that he did for us…keeping me on time, going to get our lunch on busy days,
cleaning the salon and particularly my station. I want to thank him for always
making our guest feel welcomed and for never complaining about having to go to
events that really didn’t even benefit him but because of his loyalty to the business,
he went. I want to thank him for his input and for driving to my house to let
my dog outside when I couldn’t. For never…NO NOT ONE TIME…calling in sick and
for always being on time…for keeping the hundreds of sales people who call on
us at bay and for addressing the occasional complaint or encouraging someone
who came to us with a heavy heart. Thank you for watering the plants and
changing the light bulbs and for running the errands and for the many many
times you rinsed out our colors so that we could stay caught up. Thank you for
babysitting on Saturdays and for making me coffee when you saw I was getting tired.
Thank you for your opinions and your ideas on branding us into what we have
become…for keeping flip flops off of my feet and for helping to set the
standard that we knew our business could and would become.
Honesty,
loyalty and great expectations coupled with hard work are a rare find these
days and we are better because of the time that Brandon spent with us
here. And so, I will not say goodbye…I am sure we will meet
again and until then my dear friend, take care of yourself and we will see you
very soon.
LOVE
All of us at OH!
