25–Kimberly Beckley: Rethinking Beauty School Dreams

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, host Eric Pratum welcomes Simplifying Beauty founder Kimberly Beckley, a lash artist, salon owner, and soon-to-be academy director with 20 years of beauty industry experience. Kimberly isn’t your typical beauty professional: she’s driven by the idea that real success comes from running a human-focused, sustainable business—not just chasing trends or hustling 24/7. Kimberly opens up about:

• Her own journey from corporate environments to entrepreneurship, seeking a healthy work-life balance for herself and her staff.
• The hard truth about the 37% annual attrition rate in cosmetology, fueled by beauty schools that fail to teach real business fundamentals.
• Why she believes enhancing someone’s natural beauty is about far more than aesthetics; it’s a confidence boost that can ripple through every area of a client’s life.
• The parallels between beauty-school promises and the broader higher-ed “sell”—and how a lack of practical training can leave people saddled with debt or a failing business.
• How her new academy will offer not just technical skill-building but also the strategies you need for running a profitable business while maintaining boundaries and sanity.

If you’ve ever been curious about how a heart-driven entrepreneur can rewrite the script for future generations—this conversation is for you.

Topics Explored:

1. From Corporate Burnout to Lash Artist - How Kimberly transitioned from a stifling 9-to-5 life into cosmetology—and why she wanted more autonomy for family and self-fulfillment.
2. Why Beauty Schools Fail Aspiring Entrepreneurs - The reality behind beauty programs: great at teaching state-board skills, terrible at teaching business fundamentals.
3. Building Confidence vs. Selling Trends - Kimberly explains why she’s big on “there she is again” moments—helping women recognize their authentic selves.
4. Cutting Through the Hustle-and-Grind Myth - Strategies Kimberly uses (like 90-day reset periods) to avoid burnout, stay profitable, and set boundaries, proving you can love your work without sacrificing your life.
5. Parallels to Broader Education - How the “bill of goods” about limitless earnings in beauty school mirrors the promises some traditional universities make—without giving students the “blueprint” for actual success.

Links:

• Simplifying Beauty (Salon Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/simplifyingbeauty_salon/
• Email Kimberly: [e-mail]
• Connect with Kimberly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-beckley/
• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://amzn.to/42qGemI
• Traction by Gino Wickman: https://amzn.to/426FxzX

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: [e-mail]