The Biggest Day EVER!!!

What is more New York than eating a Junior’s Cheesecake under the Brooklyn Bridge? (and yes, I did eat it!)

I'm Officially a New Yorker!

They say you aren't a true New Yorker until you've lived in the city for 10 years. 

Today, that time has finally come - and if you believe in lucky numbers or Numerology, it's 10/10/20 of all days! Way back in September of 2010, I was getting ready to fly to NYC to begin my new life. I was invited to speak on a panel on October 17th, so without giving it much thought, I chose Sunday, October 10th as my fly-in date because "it was an even number" (shrug). It took me an embarrassingly long while to realize that it was also...
 

10/10/10!

P.S. Did you know? My first salon job was also at TenOverTen - a salon named after ten fingers and ten toes.

That's a lot of tens ;) 

Anyways, as glamorous as moving to the Big Apple sounds, it didn't come with more than my fair share of tribulations. But instead of the negative, I wanted to share with you the lessons I learned, in hopes that you can learn from them too!

10 NYC Lessons in 10 NYC Years

Lesson 1: 2010

Go after what you want, even if you have to live in a closet to start.
My first place in NYC was on the UWS of Manhattan - inside a family's classic brownstone and cost $1k a month! My entire room was the size of a queen bed (I'm pretty sure it was an air mattress to boot - I had to prop it up on the wall to do anything). Thankfully it was just short term - just one month - but I was never happier. 
 

Lesson 2: 2011

You will lose friends when you move, and that’s ok.
People grow apart, and it’s just a part of personal growth. Keeping your “old” friends in the loop when you make new ones will make them feel included. And remember - there’s no limit to the number of friends you can have. :)
 

Lesson 3: 2012

If he doesn’t make you a priority, you're just an option. 
Also, be sure he is who he says he is when you’re talking online, always make sure someone you trust knows where you are when you're on a date, and keep your personal info personal until you know he’s legit. 
 

Lesson 4: 2013

It’s not about who you know - it’s about who knows you. 
Connections, networking, call it what you want. I’m all for natural networking - not in a forced networking setting (I always skip them in lieu of a more personable dinner or coffee). Book recommendation: Never Eat Alone. 
 

Lesson 5: 2014

Travel. As much as you can afford.
Travel opens up your mind to the world of people and teaches you more than any schoolbook can about how people really live their lives, how to be empathetic, opens your mind, expands your tastebuds, and creates memories worthy of sharing for a lifetime. I'd been traveling a decade before '14 - but I was finally making enough money to start really traveling this year. 
 

Lesson 6: 2015

Delete toxic friends. 
I had a very good friend who was so incredibly selfish - one day it just became too much and I never looked back. (Bonus: blast "Independence Day" by Martina McBride and paint your kitchen, as I did!).
 

Lesson 7: 2016

Don’t be afraid to fall in love, even if they're not your “type”.
You may find that they were exactly what you need after all. Trust the process. 
 

Lesson 8: 2017

Find a workout you love and stick with it.
My one-time trainer told me something that really stuck with me: "The more frequently you go, the faster you’ll see results". I never thought of it that way. This was the year that I conquered something I never thought I'd even be able to do once: SoulCycle. 
 

Lesson 9: 2018 

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. 
During a trip to the Maldives in March of 2018, I found myself in desperate need of a pedicure and sat down to a very expensive one by a very under-skilled nail tech. I truly felt for her. So instead of complaining, I offered to teach she and her spa colleagues a nail class on polishing, gel removal, and nail art. The beginning phase of Masterclass Nail Academy was born. 
 

Lesson 10: 2019-present

Life happens fast and nothing is for sure. 
But sometimes, big life changes can be a good thing - especially when every single person on this planet went through it too. In the words of Gary Vee, this year woke us up on many important topics. We were exposed to new opportunities and finished up projects we started many years ago, (like my NEW Nail Art Design Book, $24!). We learned more about social issues than we ever knew before. And hopefully, lots of positive changes are soon over the horizon. 

Don't forget - Please VOTE like your lives depend on it - because they do.