INSPIRATION OVERLOAD

Is social media destroying our creativity?

Do you know the difference between inspiration and creativity? 

Creativity - The use of imagination or original ideas to create something. 
Inspiration - The process of being mentally stimulated to do something creative.

I have watched the industry grow over the last 15 years and the past 5 years have seen it become a tighter community, where everyone is available at a click of a button.

A blessing? Social media has enabled us to reach far and wide and speak to fellow nail techs on the other side of the world, making new friends instantly. It has expanded our businesses, allowed us to network and learn. We have had our eyes opened to new styles, products and application methods. The changing trends from different continents has given us knowledge we wouldn’t have had access to before. Social media has opened other avenues of awareness to help us build our own empires, like marketing and the beauty, hair and make up industries collaborating to expand what we offer to our clients and students. 

Social media and our need to share and show the world what we know has opened up a whole new way of gaining information, expanding our knowledge and learning from others for free, instantly.  

There is an influx of FREE video tutorials in abundance on the Internet. I have not only watched them, I have posted my fair share and I will continue to do so. I’ll be honest with you here; for me, posting free video tutorials is all about marketing my brand and getting my message out to you. I’m guessing this is the case for other people who post their videos too, but who cares its for free right?  

Learning online for free is something we all do in general whilst traveling, watching TV or waiting at the Doctors surgery. However this  new information and inspiration is all lost the moment we browse onto the next video.

So in reality, we learn nothing at all. We just watch a nice video and think to ourselves, 'must try that one day' or, 'I wonder where she got that brush from?’. 

What we think and feel about other people’s nails, products and even the attitudes towards clients is shouted at us in big bold capital letters, with different social media groups for just about everything.

There’s a battle to be noticed, to shine brighter than the rest of the posts, to be innovative and come up with something new and different  in order to stay ahead of the competition. 

Because of this fight to be distinctive, our timelines have been filled with so many different things, the attention span of an individual constantly being diverted and tempted towards something else more exciting and glittery.

Nail technicians are getting drowned in self doubt as they look at art work and video tutorials they hope to recreate by watching a quick 2 minute video, with no practical step by steps on how to succeed.

There are so many new avenues to education today; when I started there was limited internet, no YouTube and definitely nothing like Facebook. My only source of new information was magazines, workshops and shows. With videos and images coming up on our news feeds everyday, are we at risk of inspiration overload? We are suddenly caught like a deer in the headlights not sure where to start when it comes down to doing the work. The mixed messages and techniques floating around our heads making no practical sense at all. 

The questions I ask myself are, “Is our own inner creativity being stunted, are we loosing the ability to come up with our own unique ideas, style and be inspired by whats around us? Do we rely on our newsfeed and YouTube subscriptions to stimulate us and inspire, running the risk of not developing your own style?”

You will never be innovative or unique if you can’t learn to listen to your inner creativity. We all have it, the source of that creativity will not come out unless you’re sat in front of your nail desk, and not in front of your computer.

Stop looking to be innovating and different. Start looking for the right tools and information to build your own style, enhance the fundamental applications and develop the skills you need. That is what will make you unique and distinctive, standing out from the social media crowd. 

I would love to know what you think about this article and how you find your inspiration? Does this translate to being creative? 

The Inspired online learning

So it has happened...

The launch of the first on line video workshop happened last Sunday, and I have to say the response in the members forum and the nails they have been producing have been amazing.

Looking for creative input in today's on line culture,  nail professionals can be found visiting you tube for a quick fix,  trying to figure out how someone has created the latest look or nail application.  Peering at their screen waiting for the  outcome of some complicated nail, without fully learning the basics or the detail on the application, is this you, do you get frustrated with the limited information available.

Let me ask you a couple of questions first...

Are you looking to up date your nail art skills?
How much would pay for a days training?
Do you see the benefit in in-depth training and feedback?

The most common problem I have found when people are trying to book  workshop is the issue of;

• Time

• Money

• Schedules

• Travel

What if you could; 

• attend a workshop in the comfort of your own home

• watch and re watch the weeks lesson in your own time

• tutorials which are supported with additional materials and steps

• 24 on line lessons, and as the member ship grows so does the amount of lessons 

• to have access to me to give you feedback and pointers on your application and designs

• Benefit from additional discounts and offers through the year.

How much would you be prepared to pay for this...??

 Be inspired On line with me Sam Biddle will cost you just

£96

this is NOT per month or even per sessionthis is for the 12 months of tutorials and access to the members page, plus a whole lot more.

Seems like a good deal...maybe too good a deal?

Yes it is an affordable subscription, just the cost of 1 days workshop with me, however my aim is to provide affordable on line learning which is accessible to everyone, This cost will give you the very best learning at your own pace.

Interested?

then visit the website now and sign up for the next tutorial - scheduled alternate Sundays at 4pm

CLICK ME TO VISIT WEBSITE

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN IN THE 12 MONTHS?

The workshops over the course of 12 months will cover most areas of nail art and design. The difficulty levels of each workshop will vary, but the aim of this program is to develop your creativity and skill set and push your limits. I will guide you every step of the way and the aim is for you to learn the new applications. Each film will vary in depth and will have all the information you need. Plus with the on line group for feedback we can iron out any issues you may have.

Not quite ready to sign up - no problem.

If you want to register your interest but don't want to sign up today - then please add your name to the list, and we will keep you updated as the year progresses. 

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 PAY AS YOU GO VIDEO TUTORIALS

Currently we do not accept monthly payments, the cost of this on line membership is just £96 as a one off payment. If you prefer to pay monthly we do have an option to purchase each tutorial on an individual basis here: -

http://www.sambiddle.co.uk/beinspired/video-tutorials.html

These video's will cost between £8-£12 depending on content. You will not be able to access the online members group or benefit from the discounts and offers.

On Line learning

There seems to be a feeding frenzy for on line learning lately,  looking for creative input nail professionals can be found visiting youtube for a quick fix,  trying to figure out how someone has created the latest look or nail application.  Peering at their screen waiting for the  outcome of some complicated nail, without fully learning the basics or the detail on the application. Disregarding product knowledge and not learning the potential of the tools and materials they have in their hands.  With step by steps and images posted daily on all forms of social media to share the knowledge or just sell a product,  most nail techs would admit they have based their on going education through Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram. I hold my hands up, I am one of those people that say "if I don't know how,  I you tube it".

I love technology, I love education this is no secret and I am right at the front of the queue when there is something available which combines both - but value for money is  must, we don't just want the same old 3 min films we see on you tube, we are looking for information we would only get on a class.  As a nail professional if I am going to watch a film, I want to seem like i am there right next to the educator sucking her dry of all the information I can.

Paying for a subscribed service which gives you a monthly or weekly learning tool has to benefit you in some way, payment to long to an exclusive group comes with benefits, there is always the option to pay as you go, but the added bonus of discounts, direct contact with your educator for feedback and critic and other informative information just not available on line has to be the plus side, all available right in your own inbox.  The last thing we need is to be  inundated with even more news letters, promises of being rich when you follow this or that program, and a lot of sales patter and offers.

 Online learning should solve 2 problems;

1. in-depth learning which is inaccessible due to distance or time
2. in depth learning which is on hand night or day, with continued feed back and critic.
   
   

• on line learning should give you something new to improve your business and general nail knowledge. 
• on line learning should give you a different insight into something you might already know, making you look at a nail application differently or give you a new method. 
• on line learning has the potential to revolutionise the industry if it is done properly, with a dedicated team to support the members and give them what they ask for. 

On line should be value for money, every one is running a business and a healthy flow of funds into dedicated education, which is sought after and available regardless of the country you live or the time zone. I would personally be willing to pay for something that is  available and accessible day or night, depending on my own schedule,  I don't need to travel and I can attend a class in my PJ's, no make up with a big bar chocolate and a glass of wine.

With 2 online video workshops available today....you can see for yourself how you can update your skills without sacrificing time, money or other commitments which prevent you attending a real life workshops....don't stop your self from growing with the industry; check out this link for more info... http://www.sambiddle.co.uk/beinspired/workshops.html

As you can tell I  am  an avid supporter of on line learning, in fact any education in our industry is a must and I feel we should set aside hours to invest in our craft. updating skills and building our knowledge. I have been working on a solution which might just be just what your looking for too.
I can't say too much, but the launch is right around the corner, we tried with the NAIL-inar in November, which was a resounding success in some ways but highlighted problems in other areas.  So I went back to the drawing board, and have come up with something stronger, simpler and more accessible, regardless of the time zone or our work schedules and finances.

Launch date is not planned until Funerary 2015, but I shall keep you updated, if you can't wait and want to be one of the first to find out what is going one, then please enter your details below and I shall add you to the list.

Please send me info on THE INSPIRED

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