Michael Towns | My Mentor

I didn’t just stumble into the beauty industry. I navigated it like a maze where the walls keep moving. Along the way, I realized that for young adults or anyone pivoting into a new field, mentorship isn't just nice to have. Mentorship is the GPS that keeps you from driving off a professional cliff. The real head-scratcher is: how do you actually find one?

Ideally, a mentor spots your potential and swoops in like a corporate fairy godparent. In some cases you have to be the one to do the approaching. As you become more seasoned and your growth becomes more about refining your power than learning the basics, the pool shrinks. Suddenly, the people you look up to don't see a protégé; they see a competitor. They stop offering hands up and start keeping their cards close to their chest.

Then, the stars aligned in the most unlikely of places: a political debate on the internet.

The Michael Towns Effect

For years, I had been engaging in digital discourse with a stranger named Michael Towns. We went back and forth online until a sidebar conversation finally graduated to a phone call. Michael wasn't just another business owner; he was a respected educator at Columbia College Chicago, a leader in the faculty union, and a true entrepreneur who launched multiple ventures. He also happened to be a Virgo. Bonus!

Michael was my professional blueprint for and here are the three major lessons he taught me during our sidebar-turned-lifeline.

1. Polarizing Personalities Create Clear Paths

We’re often taught to be agreeable to get ahead. Michael taught me the opposite. Being polarizing isn't about being rude; it’s about being so firm in your stance that people are forced to pick a side. When you stand for something specific, you filter out the noise. As Michael believed, once you start believing in the power people have to change the world, everything becomes clear. You stop wasting time with the lukewarm crowd and start attracting the people who actually align with your vision.

2. The Gut Is Your Best Consultant

Data is great, and spreadsheets are pretty but you still need to trust your gut. If a deal, a partnership, or a client relationship doesn’t feel good in your bones, don't move forward. We often try to logic our way out of an intuition that is screaming at us to run. If the vibe is off, the ROI usually is, too.

3. You Don't Have to Dance on Every Set

In an era of FOMO, there is a frantic pressure to be everywhere, on every panel, and in every room. Michael helped me realize that it is perfectly okay and actually preferable not to be part of everything. He understood that everyone has a story to tell, but the real question is how to best build and engage an audience. If you’re everywhere, you’re common. If you’re selective, you’re a specialist. Being discerning makes you an outlier.

Mentorship from an infectiously curious giant like Michael Towns reminded me that while the beauty industry is built on aesthetics, the business of living is built on character. I may not have entered this field for the glamour, but thanks to his guidance, I’ve managed to keep my foundation solid and my vision crystal clear.

So, stop trying to fit into every room you’re invited to. Build your own room, lock the door when you need to, and remember that the best guidance usually comes from the people who approach a problem like it's their very own.

Michael Towns 1966-2022