Esthetician Adventure: Working at Luxury Country Club

Are you working too hard and therefore suffering from burnout? Or are you just plain bored with your esthetics career? Well, I have struggled with both of those scenarios. I have been in the esthetics business for 25 years, and I feel like I've done everything there is for me to do in this business. And then this happened...

I ran away from home. Here's the story:  

When I was offered the position at The Club at Morningside in Rancho Mirage, my immediate reaction was “No way! Let me tell you all the reasons I can’t do that.” And that was the end of it. Or so I thought…

As I pondered “all the reasons” why I couldn’t do that, I realized that there really weren't any insurmountable reasons. I was being offered the opportunity to skip the cold and rainy weather at home and move to an area for a few months with some of the best sunny and dry winter weather conditions, where I would live with my cousin and work in a luxury private country club. Hmmmmmm…..

And so I began to let go of the stronghold my fear had upon my brain. I told myself “Be brave. Take a chance. It’s an adventure.” And I accepted the job.

A little background. A few years prior, Morningside brought me in as a consultant to help them set up their spa, train the estheticians, bring in a product line, create their spa service menu, and work at their annual Wellness Fair.  I also performed a few facials while I was there and if you've read my book, The Heart of Esthetics, you will recall I mentioned the abundance of confidential information I received from the members which ultimately I used to improve spa operations.

I lived in San Diego back then, so it was an easy drive to the desert and I only stayed a few days at a time. So I was already generally familiar with The Club at Morningside when this opportunity was presented to me. However, this time, I was to be an actual employee. I even had to use a time clock for the first time in my life which initially I was not very good at. (There is a learning curve!)

The Season. I was invited to work for “the season” which in CA desert language means approximately November through May. Most of the Morningside homeowners are not full-time residents but rather are families who own vacation homes there. They are known affectionately as “snowbirds” because they fly in to escape the cold winter at their primary residence. (Side note: Almost half of the owners there are from Canada, and I can confirm for you that Canadians are just as nice as we’ve always heard they are!)

As an employee, my time was split between managing the spa/Estheticians and working as a Concierge at the Fitness Center's Front Desk. The Fitness Director runs the Fitness Center & Spa as well as the entire staff which includes personal trainers, physical therapists, fitness class instructors, MST/FST practitioners, Estheticians, Massage Therapists, Front Desk, and more. And to his credit, that experienced Director knows that to run a spa safely, legally and successfully, it is wise to occasionally bring in an expert. With my decades of experience in the spa business as a spa owner, solo esthetician, NCEA ‘Lifetime” Certified Esthetician, author and consultant in the field of esthetics, I was happy to be that expert. 

As for working at the Front Desk (photo below shows the beautiful view I had), well, that role took the term “multi-tasking” to a whole new level. Besides all the administrative duties (answering phones and emails, scheduling appointments, setting up fitness classes), every day I was moving Spin bikes and fitness equipment, carrying 30 lb. flats of water, running upstairs to the main office, and repeat. Sometimes it was so busy that it was nearly impossible to find a break in the action to enjoy a meal which was prepared daily for all employees by the Club Chef. Needless to say, this was a unintended weight loss program that really worked! 

There was one unfortunate incident which involved my finger getting caught in a very heavy accordion style sliding glass door in the gym. By then I had opened and closed those doors many, many times so I'll never really know what went wrong. But whatever went wrong caused the sort of pain that I later learned sent me into shock, which caused me to faint. Fortunately one of the members nearby saw what was about to happen, and he caught me before my head hit the tile. He may very well have saved my life, and I am so grateful to him.

When I came to, there were several handsome men looking down at me and for a moment, I thought maybe I was in heaven. By the time EMT arrived (with a stretcher...so embarrassing), I was sitting in a chair and relatively back to normal. My vitals indicated that I was fine, other than an injured finger/fingernail and blood everywhere. However, even with that frightening situation, I will forever look back at my time with Morningside as one of the highlights of my esthetics career.   

Although Morningside would like to have me come back this next season, leaving my house for 6 months is not something I want to do again. However, I have agreed to go back for a week or two at a time, as needed. In fact, I have agreed to come back for the first couple of weeks to help train whomever they hire at the Front Desk. (Side note: I wrote the draft job description of that position for them, and that brings me to something I will write about in my next Blog which is "do’s and don’t of submitting a job application.)

So in closing, my message to you is this:

When you are at a fork in the road, and you have 2 choices which are:

• DON’T GO, stay where it’s familiar, predictable, comfortable, and you already know everything (in other words, nothing left to learn).
• Or GO, take a chance, be brave, learn something new, meet new people, experience new things.

Someday, when you are 90 years old, sitting in your rocking chair and reviewing your Life's Resume, you will only regret the things you didn't do. And if you choose “GO,” not only will you have great memories and a wonderful story to tell, you will be very, very proud of yourself.

It takes courage to remove yourself from people, places and things that don't bring you joy.

Be brave, dear one, and see where your joy leads you. 

  Notes from Your Fairy Godmother