From Hair Pro to SEO Pro - Part I

Yesterday, while on Twitter (follow me!), I got the most amazing question from Ben Heligman from Kahena Digital Marketing. He asked me to explain how I went from being a hairstylist to running an SEO team at one of the best ad agencies in the world (yeah, I said it!)... let me tell you, it wasn't an easy path.

Hair Pro to SEO Pro

Once upon a time, I was barely graduating high school. I had dreams of being a chef and my mom supported those dreams. My dad, not so much. I was working at a restaurant as a cook, at the time, and my dad watched my sister, Deb, work tirelessly in restaurants until she finished beauty school. He gave me an alternative to culinary arts - he told me to go to beauty school. There was no recommendation. If I wanted help with funding, I needed to get a trade that wasn't culinary arts. So, off to the David Pressley School of Cosmetology. I went to school with such a diverse group of women and men. Seriously, strippers, church wives, a male escort... you get the idea.

I graduated around Thanksgiving time and was ready to take on the world. I passed my state board exam, went on to take care of clients in a salon, worked on photo shoots, I got to work with models... but I needed something more. I was constantly hearing that hair dressers weren't smart. Lemme ask you this: would you let an idiot come near your head with a sharp pair of scissors?? I didn't think so. I gained some SEO experience while working as a hair dresser - only I didn't realize it at the time. I was helping salons build their own websites.

Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie

Still, I wanted more. The economy was tanking. The timing was right, so I moved home to Israel. I got accepted to the Interdisciplinary Center in Israel and started learning Counter Terrorism, Diplomacy, and the like. I got to study on the beach. I met people from all over the world. I became acquainted with dignitaries and powerful people. I also started content writing, editing, and utilizing my American-born ability to speak, read, and write in English. That was a hot commodity in Israel. Not every Anglo can write and, not every English-speaking country speaks the same version of English.

I had lofty dreams - I wanted a job in Israeli politics and government. The problem? I don't like the city of Jerusalem. I also don't like Israeli politics. The more I started learning about Israeli politics, the more I realized I did NOT want to be a part of it. So, while taking 14 classes a semester (that's the norm!), I continued working full-time at various web-based firms. I went from writing content to working in social media, community building, and SEO.


I think that's enough for today, friends. Just wait for part II!