Empowerment in Action: From Athlete to Entrepreneur.
Insights from Nicole Baranowski.
Written by Valiski Bernard
In the world of entrepreneurship, sometimes the best ideas emerge from personal experiences. This is certainly the case for Nicole Baranowski, the founder of Hairstrong, a revolutionary hair accessory designed specifically for active women. It’s been featured on Good Morning America, Allure Magazine, and the 2021 Olympics. This blog post will delve into Nicole’s personal journey, her challenges, rewarding moments, and plans for the future while also offering valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
A Hair-Raising Problem:
Nicole grew up actively participating in sports while maintaining long hair. This dual passion for athleticism and beautiful, long locks presented a unique challenge – finding a way to keep hair in check during physical activities.
“I was balancing a full-time training schedule for the varsity rowing, a full-time course load, and part-time jobs - to say I was busy was an understatement. I truly valued my time and was constantly frustrated when my hair ties would break, slide out, or give me headaches, which meant I was distracted or wasting time adjusting my hair.”
The turning point came during an Entrepreneurship course at university when Nicole realized that the real issue wasn't her hair, but the hair ties themselves.
“My professor asked us all what kind of problems we face every day, and when I brought up my struggles with hair, I noticed that other people also resonated, then a light bulb clicked - My hair was never the problem. The hair ties were.”
Conventional hair accessories marketed as one-size-fits-all didn't perform well during high-impact activities. With a diverse range of hair types, textures, lengths, and thicknesses, a one-size-fits-all solution simply didn't make sense.
“As soon as I realized I had the power actually to solve this problem for myself, I could no longer accept or settle for the products I was using up until this point.”
Creating the Solution:
During the entrepreneurship course, Nicole developed a prototype of an adjustable hair band that provided unprecedented security for active women. This choice not only showcased the product's benefits but also allowed Nicole to connect with fellow athletes and enthusiasts who shared the same challenges.
“I designed a prototype that could be adjusted in my hair, and it was the most secure hair band I had ever developed. I had decided to start with selling to athletes because I was one, and it was a space that I knew. I also thought it would be great visually to immediately showcase the impact that a more reliable tool has on the way your hair can stay up during high-impact activities like jumping, running, skipping, etc.”
Overcoming Entrepreneurial Hurdles:
Starting a business presents numerous challenges, particularly when transitioning from an unrelated field of study. Nicole had to embrace the mentality of continuous learning. Her unwavering curiosity and commitment to finding answers and connecting with mentors played a crucial role in overcoming these initial hurdles.
“Each stage of starting a business comes with its own challenges, and as you grow and learn, you get put in front of a new set of challenges that you need to overcome in order to keep going. In the beginning, my specific challenges involved finding the right manufacturers for this product and learning all of the fundamentals of business since I came from a Kinesiology background.
My drive and curiosity helped me to continuously look for answers to my questions and connect with people who had done what I was trying to do. My openness to just learning overrode the thoughts of failing or something not working because I was determined just to figure it out.”
Proud Moments and Growth:
The most rewarding moments for Nicole have been witnessing people she doesn’t know wearing Hairstrong Bands and sharing their experiences without any prompting.
“One of the proudest moments I've had was winning the Ivey MBA pitch competition nine months into the business. At that point, it gave me external proof that I had what it took to make this work. I just needed to keep putting in the hours. Another proud moment was when I realized that I had created something that gave me the ability to meet some of the world's most incredible humans.”
Meeting renowned CrossFit athletes and entrepreneurs who embraced the product and showcased it during training and competition was another source of pride. These moments validate the positive impact of her creation on people's lives.
“This past summer, I had the opportunity to meet some amazing CrossFit athletes and entrepreneurs at the CrossFit Games, and now, because of that, I have some of the biggest names in CrossFit wearing the product during training and competition. To add onto that, the moments I'm most proud of are the people who also vouch for this brand to their friends or online - it's truly incredible to see something you made benefit so many others.”
Future Plans:
Hairstrong Bands has exciting plans for the future. In 2024, Nicole intends to launch a new product and expand into new markets, such as the firefighting industry, where reliable hair maintenance tools are vital.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:
Nicole emphasizes the power of one's internal narrative.
“I think the story you tell yourself and you repeat in your mind is very important. Your thoughts, whether they're negative or positive, are your reality. The moment I saw the biggest pickup in momentum, clarity, and growth was when I decided not to give as much importance to negative thoughts and just do what was required to succeed. For me, tackling my subconscious thoughts and limiting beliefs brought me closer to just showing up as my best self to push my business forward.”
The Challenge of Consistency:
Nicole says consistency and focus are among the most challenging aspects of running a business. “Remaining consistent and focused is the most challenging part. It's easy to be distracted by a new shiny object or new goal, but committing to a process that you get to choose, day in and day out, is the most challenging part.”
Facing Setbacks:
Nicole shares her experience of facing a financial setback due to unsuccessful events, leading to a loss in 2022. This adversity forced her to be more efficient and find new channels for growth, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and resilience in entrepreneurship.
“At the end of 2021, I had an amazing show selling Hairstrong in person. Within 11 days, I was able to sell 1000 bands to people, which gave me the impression that the events space was a strong direction for Hairstrong. Every other event in 2022 did not turn out that way, and I actually lost money on almost every single one, which had put my business into a loss for 2022. This loss meant I had to be more lean and cash-efficient. 2023 was the year to get out of that debt and ensure that the economics worked to keep the business going and focus on how to make different channels work instead of events.”
Defining Success:
Success, for Nicole, is not an end goal but a daily commitment to purpose, surrounded by valued people. Embracing the journey and enjoying the process rather than rushing toward arbitrary milestones has been a transformative mindset shift.
“Success for myself is the ability to wake up every day and work on my purpose with the people who I value around me. Up until last year, I had the mentality of "once I reach this goal, I'll be happy" or "once I make this amount of sales, I'll be successful." I was always rushing to get to a pretty arbitrary finish line that was not even a substantial moment in my life. Every day is what I want to focus on because that's where most of my time is spent. Not the one-off events that may happen for 2-5% of my life. Because of this mindset shift, I'm able to enjoy the process a whole lot more, and I no longer treat the wins as their own events but instead validate that I'm doing the right things daily.”
Prioritizing Self-Care:
To balance the demands of entrepreneurship, Nicole begins each day with a morning workout. This ritual establishes a routine, encourages discipline, and provides a physical outlet for competition. Engaging in learning through reading and podcasts also contributes to her personal growth and well-being.
“I go to the gym first thing in the morning daily. I do it because it helps instill a routine that I can consistently follow, so I am forced to go to sleep early and then use the other hours of the day towards my business. I also use it as a physical outlet to express discipline and competitiveness. I then translate that same area into other parts of my life mentally. I also like to read and listen to podcasts in my spare time to learn and expand my current knowledge base.”
A Message from Nicole:
“I take extreme agency over my life because I believe that's the path to a fulfilling life. I can control my mindset and my day-to-day actions, so I don't like to complain about external things I can't control. I do the best with what I have so that I don't regret anything when I look back on my life a few years from now. My business isn't my whole identity, but it's a big part because it's currently the vehicle I'm using to fulfill my purpose in this life - which is to bring out the best in others.”
Nicole is an advocate for taking control of one's life. She believes that personal agency is the path to a fulfilling life, emphasizing the importance of controlling mindset and daily actions.
In conclusion, Hairstrong is not just a hair accessory but a testament to the power of personal experiences and the determination to solve everyday problems. This journey from athlete to entrepreneur serves as an inspiring example for women looking to start their own businesses, emphasizing the importance of self-belief, consistency, and a focus on the daily journey toward success. Hairstrong Bands is not just a hair accessory; it's a symbol of empowerment and the embodiment of the phrase, "Where there's a will, there's a way."