Sick leave is never easy to manage. But how you handle it says more about your salon culture than you might think.

In this Mini Moment, Samara and Jen unpack how to handle sick leave without burning out your team. From setting boundaries with staff, to managing client expectations, to recognising when sick leave is really a sign of deeper cultural issues, they share lessons every salon owner can use.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to handle sick leave without burning out your team
• Why sick leave can reflect the health of your culture
• The boundaries that make sick days easier to manage
• Why supporting staff well encourages loyalty
• How to manage client reschedules with care and clarity

This isn’t just about staff being “off”, it’s about creating a salon culture where your team feels supported, your clients feel respected, and your business stays steady no matter what.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

01:01 Discussing Sick Leave

01:06 Personal Experiences with Sick Leave

02:57 Impact of Sick Leave on Business

04:51 Handling Sick Leave Effectively

08:46 Final Thoughts on Sick Leave

12:20 Conclusion and Farewell

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 A HUGE Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors - Timely

We’ve partnered with Timely to bring you something special:

➡ New customers get 50% off their first 3 months.

If you've been thinking about levelling up your salon systems, this is your moment. Timely is designed specifically for salons — helping you manage bookings, clients, staff, and more with ease.

Use the code SALONRISING at checkout to claim the offer. Click the link below to join 👇

Timely

💛 Ready to Join Samara LIVE and Transform Your Business?

This August, join Samara LIVE inside Solo Rise Online and Rising Finances Online.

If you’ve been craving more connection, more accountability, and real time coaching with Samara, this is your chance. You’ll tackle the challenges holding you back so you can step into clarity, confidence, and a business that truly supports your life.

➡ Starts August 27th.
➡ Limited spaces.
➡ Weekly and monthly payment plans available.

Click below to Join Now 👇

LIVE Programs

What happens when life throws you the unimaginable and you’re still responsible for a business and a team?

In this raw and deeply moving episode, Samara sits down with Brodie, owner of Smooth Hair in Alstonville, who opens up about the most challenging year of her life.

What began as a five week family holiday turned into a nine month stay in Perth after her 2 year old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. From that moment, Brodie was thrust into balancing motherhood, cancer, and running a salon from 4,000km away.

She shares how she kept her business not just afloat, but thriving. The loyalty and dedication of her team, and the perspective shifts that have transformed how she leads.

💡 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Brodie's salon stayed afloat while she was away for nearly a year
• The raw reality of parenting a child through chemotherapy
• Lessons in leadership, loyalty, and letting go
• The importance of building a business with deep roots and real relationships

This is more than a business conversation, it’s a powerful story of resilience, perspective, and the strength it takes to lead in your hardest season.

Timestamps

00:00 Episode Summary

01:27 Meet Brody from Smooth Hair

02:20 The Journey to Smooth Hair

07:12 Building a Supportive Salon Family

12:52 The Decision to Move to Perth

15:10 Maxie's Health Crisis

19:50 Facing Leukemia: A Mother's Perspective

24:05 Navigating Business and Personal Challenges

28:10 The Struggles of Parenting a Sick Child

29:01 Finding Community in Unexpected Places

30:31 Returning Home and Resuming Normalcy

33:00 Balancing Work and Personal Life

37:08 A Surprise Engagement

38:24 Expecting a New Baby

41:56 Managing a Business Through Personal Challenges

47:57 The Importance of Support and Resilience

52:00 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 A HUGE Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors - Timely

We’ve partnered with Timely to bring you something special:

➡ New customers get 50% off their first 3 months.

If you've been thinking about levelling up your salon systems, this is your moment. Timely is designed specifically for salons — helping you manage bookings, clients, staff, and more with ease.

Use the code SALONRISING at checkout to claim the offer. Click the link below to join 👇

Timely

💛 Ready to Join Samara LIVE and Transform Your Business?

This August, join Samara LIVE inside Solo Rise Online and Rising Finances Online.

If you’ve been craving more connection, more accountability, and real time coaching with Samara, this is your chance. You’ll tackle the challenges holding you back so you can step into clarity, confidence, and a business that truly supports your life.

➡ Starts August 27th.
➡ Limited spaces.
➡ Weekly and monthly payment plans available.

Click below to Join Now 👇

LIVE Programs

Timely

In this powerful Mini Moment, Nicki from Salon Purpose returns to talk about the early lessons that helped her grow from a solo operator into the leader of a 19 staff salon.

If you're still doing everything yourself, from stock to scheduling to xero, this one’s for you. Nicki shares how she finally got out of her own way, why hiring a bookkeeper was her first move, and how letting go of perfection created space for business growth and personal freedom.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• How to delegate with intention
• The power of hiring before you're ready
• Systems that support freedom, not just structure
• Why you must know how to do the task before offloading it
• How letting go of control opens the door to real growth

You’ll hear honest insights about control, burnout, systems, and self worth. It’s the kind of advice you wish you had when you started, and might still need to hear today.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Inner Sanctum

00:22 Starting Out: Nicki's Journey

03:00The Importance of Delegation

05:00 Balancing Personal and Professional Life

06:50 Practical Tips for Salon Management

11:05 Empowering Your Team

12:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 Ready to Join Samara LIVE and Transform Your Business?

This August, join Samara LIVE inside Solo Rise Online and Rising Finances Online.

If you’ve been craving more connection, more accountability, and real time coaching with Samara, this is your chance. You’ll tackle the challenges holding you back so you can step into clarity, confidence, and a business that truly supports your life.

➡ Starts August 27th.
➡ Limited spaces.
➡ Weekly and monthly payment plans available.

Click below to Join Now 👇

LIVE Programs

💛 A HUGE Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors - Timely

We’ve partnered with Timely to bring you something special:

➡ New customers get 50% off their first 3 months.

If you've been thinking about levelling up your salon systems, this is your moment. Timely is designed specifically for salons — helping you manage bookings, clients, staff, and more with ease.

Use the code SALONRISING at checkout to claim the offer. Click the link below to join 👇

Timely