I’m so pleased to have been invited as a regular columnist & blogger for Scratch. The main reason for this being that I’ve seen first-hand how the past year has affected people within the nail industry and I want to do everything I can to try and help.

Dave Heffernan

Without dwelling on it too much, we all know that 2020 was not fun. Having said this, it’s my personal ethos that there’s always a positive and a learning curve to take from any situation that occurs, so this month, I’d like to put a focus on the good things.

My own story of 2020 is a crazy one. My wife Emma is a nail tech who works from our home in Cheshire. When it was announced in March that she would have to close up shop, despite her sadness, she knew it was for the best, and packed away her things thinking it would be for no longer than a few weeks.

Four months later, when it became clear that many in the beauty industry were being left behind in the opening up of the economy, she mentioned what I do for a living while attending an online beauty seminar, and suggested I may be able to help anyone in the industry who was feeling stressed and helpless with the situation.

Fast-forward to now, and I’ve been fortunate to have connected with many leading lights in the nail sector and been given the opportunity to help a great many nail techs in their journey to feeling more positive.

Over the last few months, I’ve spoken to a number of techs who’ve told me about their own personal journeys throughout 2020; how they overcame some of the challenges they faced and the positives they’ve experienced.

While everyone has their own journey and story pertaining to 2020, I thought it would be nice to highlight some of the most common things, which have made people feel grateful.

1. More time spent with family

This is by far the most common answer and the one I think many people will relate to. When we were banished to our homes for three and a half months last spring, we spent a lot more time with the people we live with. Whilst this caused stress for those with children of school age, it also allowed us time to enjoy each other’s company and spend quality time together; time we don’t usually have.

2. Additional opportunities to learn

Since many were unable to work physically, a great many educators in the sector took time to impart their professional knowledge, enabling techs the opportunity to upskill and offer their clients even better services when able to work again.

3. A new outlook on professional life

Many took time to reflect on the goals and aspirations they had for their careers when they first started out. This meant they gained a greater appreciation for what they had achieved so far. Whilst it’s always great to have ambition, it’s also vital that we learn the value of where we are now.

Although it may not have been the most positive year, it’s worth taking time to reflect on the things that you’ve gained, personally or professionally. I always tell people that the first step to feeling more positive is to learn to be content and grateful for the things we have, and allow those things to change us for the better.

I have a number of ‘life rules’, which I use to set my mind, and the mind’s of others, on a more positive route.

• Control the controllables

Don’t worry about the things in life that you have no control over; instead focus your mind on the things that you do. What can you do, to make a positive impact on your current situation?

• Seek the positive in every situation

As humans, many of us are wired to go straight to the negative in any situation, making it very hard to move past the issue. If you seek out the positives, you’re automatically setting yourself on a better and more balanced platform to move forward.

• Seek the lesson to be learned

Whenever anything doesn’t go to plan in life, there’s always a lesson that can be taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again. As the saying goes, ‘There are no failures in life – just lessons’.

I’m looking forward to the opportunity of helping you find your positive story and I hope that reading this will be the first step on a journey to even greater success as you move through 2021.

MEET Dave Heffernan

Dave Heffernan is a one-of-a-kind coach, speaker and mental health guru. Dave works with corporates and individuals to create awareness, end stigma and educate.

Described as a pioneer for mental health and wellness, Dave has launched programmes to support mental health in the workplace and to create positive, forward-thinking environments that employees enjoy working in.

Dave’s background story is one of a kind; born in Salford, he dealt with extraordinary life issues – death, grief, abuse, homelessness, violence; but this didn’t hold him back, in fact, it created the momentum and passion that Dave spreads today. As an expert in mental health, Dave has moved from the raw, real-life issues that he’s faced, to helping other’s face theirs.