Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Blalock
Hi Diane, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
At 25 years old was when I became a business builder. I opened an Upscale Ladies Clothing Store. This would be one of the three stores I would have in the Raleigh area. I built each store from ground up. I knew nothing about the business or how to run a clothing store. I started with an empty shell and turned it into a successful business. I designed the stores and oversaw the construction of it.
I was a self-taught business owner! I learned the good, bad and ugly side of being a small business owner! I also learned that this would be my passion for the next 43 years and more!
Building businesses became my deep passion and it still is! It is not my intention to stop! I love new adventures and building businesses that I have never built before!
I went on to build more businesses, including receiving my Real Estate Broker license and becoming a Broker with my own firm. Out of that business, we owned rental properties, built neighborhoods and custom houses!
In 2000 I designed and help build a 14000 sq ft Shopping Center! In that shopping Center, I moved my clothing Store, “Diane & Company.” We would own a tanning salon, 18 hair studios, furniture and accessories stores and restore a 1910 National Historic wedding venue and an airbnb at “The Blalock House.”
Each business taught me so much, it taught me to not listen to my fears and take risk after risk! What you see today does not tell the whole story! It doesn’t show the fight I have has as a business builder! I call myself a business “builder” because I have had to get up every morning and build! It has not been an “easy” choice but it has been my only choice! I thrive on it! I eat, sleep and live my businesses 24/7. This is what I was born to do!
A couple of years ago we went through the process of getting my retail building zoned for a North Carolina Cosmetic Arts School. We did the up fits during covid, putting every piece of the equipment together, painting, construction of walls and putting in place all the requirements that the state had for a Cosmetic School. I went through a written approval process with the board during Covid in my home office. Covid delayed us from opening, but in 2021 my school opened its doors! This has been my hardest, most rewarding business of all!
Everyday I get to witness young people and people of all ages realize their dream of building their business! This has also been a tough learning process, I have had to learn when to be tough but motivating students to finish the 9 month program at the same time!
At “The Beauty School” we don’t just teach to pass the test, we teach students to have a business career! Earlier this year we opened the esthetic department at “The Beauty School,”. November 12th we will have an open house celebration three years in business. This has been my most successful business yet! I am realizing the fruits of years of the struggle of being a business builder!
At 67 years old, I am not done! I never plan to retire! I would like to offer franchises of The Beauty School and I am working on that now!
What is next?? It has always been my dream to be a motivational speaker! I am taking steps now to get there!!
In my story you will see that many times I would say “we” my husband was the most supportive person I could have had for the last 33 years of this business building! He listens to my wild, created ideas and has always pushed me to do my thing! He helped build the businesses by my side! He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself!
What is the secret to building businesses? Never, never give up and never stop!! Go after your dream with everything you have!
Diane Ward Blalock
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes many many too many to mention! It has been the greatest learning process anyone can go through ! A hard fought education!
We’ve been impressed with The Beauty School, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At “The Beauty School, LLC” we differ from other school because we help student build their career. My students have one hour and a half in the classroom and the rest of the day on the clinic floor, learning the day to day process of being a business owner! Working with clients learning how to get new clients and dealing with the public. We teach them how to get clients and we allow them to take the clients with them when they graduate.
We also partner with salons to start the students careers! When they leave our school we want them to have the confidence it takes to own a business !
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Keep going! Continue to build even if you are the are alone! Create a new ways of getting it done!
Never never let anything stop you! Learn to go with the punches and look for the good in every situation!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebeautyschool.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.beauty.school/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeautyschool.llc
