'i'm so proud of my achievements'
Everyone thinks travelling is very glamorous; let me set the record straight - overseas projects are very hard work.There is certainly no glamour in the travelling itself - just lots of early starts and late nights. You do get to stay in nice hotels, but most of the time you just want your own bed and your own things around you. The whole time I'm away, I'm very conscious that I'm representing Saks and the British Hairdressing Industry and have to act accordingly. However, I don't want to sound like I resent the travel. It is always a great thrill to fly the British hair flag and I love the way we are received around the world. One of the interesting things is learning the personality of each country we visit. Sometimes we present and everyone is really excitable, so we know we have been appreciated. Other nations are a bit more reserved and you have to wade through and see that the client is happy because that is always the most important thing. I fly back to the UK on Thursday at midnight Bangkok time; land at 6.30am and head straight into the salon for my day on the shop floor. Sometimes it gets exhausting, but you can keep going as long as you are well prepared and keep yourself fit. I do that by spending an hour everyday doing something for me - be it the gym, swimming, yoga or meditation. It can be difficult to fit in, but I have learned the value that it brings to my life so I always find that time. Besides, the one thing that has been drilled into me since my childhood is that the best epitaph a Yorkshireman can have is 'well, he worked hard' - and that is exactly what I do! I really enjoy being in the salon with my clients on a Friday, but I'm very busy. My next available appointment is February 2008 and I have a 150-person waiting list. Sometimes I think about it and I can't believe what I've achieved. I'm a lad from Yorkshire and all those people are waiting for me. It makes me very proud of what my team and I have achieved and I just feel blessed to have done so well in something I love so much.Until next time...
