BUILDING & BREAKING with Nina L. Kovner

Latest Episodes:

What We Can Learn from New Year's Day Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to the podcast, lol! It's been a minute. In this episode Nina shares some wisdom and thoughts around the feelings and hopes of new days and how that can translate into any day of the year. Whether you spend your New Year's Day in silence and reflection, or out playing in nature, or binge watching your favorite show, prioritizing your self-care is essential to feeling more grounded, present and intentional as a leader, small business owner and human. If feeling more grounded and intentional and self-care is on your 2023 list, this episode is for you. You can find Nina and Passion Squared at passionsquared.net and @passionsquared on all the socials. Thank you so much for listening, and Happy New Year!

Making Decisions and Creating Awesome Client Agreements Jul 12, 2022

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In this episode, Nina shares their frameworks for both decision making and creating awesome client agreements, two critically important tools for you to simplify your life as a leader and creative small business owner. The truth is you likely spend way too much time, energy, and stress not making decisions, avoiding problems, and feeling resentful when clients show up late, cancel at the last minute, or not show up at all. Clear, detailed agreements, along with a framework for making decisions and solving problems are your bestie. You can find the Decision Making Framework here and the Creating Awesome Client Agreement Framework here. You can find us on the web here and on the gram here. Thank you so much for listening.

Where You Stand As A Brand and How You Decide Jul 05, 2022

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In this episode, Nina share's some insights into why some brands stand up publicly and fight injustices in our world and why some choose not to. This episode is not about politics, it's about clarity of brand story, vision, and values. It's about the choices you make as a brand in relation to what your people value, whether it be clients, team members, or tenants if you are leading a lease-based business. It's about aligning your actions with your brand promises. Thank you so much for listening with an open heart and brain. If you would like to keep the conversation going, you can find us on the gram and on the web. NOTE: This is our first episode after 6 months, and there were some glitches, lol. We decided to keep the glitches in the episode to honor being perfectly imperfect. Perfection is a myth. Repeat as often as needed.

The Not So Great Cancellation, Focusing On What You Can Control + Being Where Your Feet Are Jan 15, 2022

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The awesome news is your clients are respecting your Safe In Our Salon Agreements + Protocols and canceling their reservations if they feel ill or have been exposed, the not so awesome news is you may be having a trauma response to your 2020 experience. If this feels relatable, you are not alone.

In this episode, Nina shares some thoughts on how to navigate the current cancellation surge you may be seeing in your salon, some resources, and tools to care for your mental health and wellness, taking a look at your lapsed client list, and reaching out to the people who've been too busy and forgot to make a reservation who are healthy and would love to hear from you. Thank you to @hairbrained_offical and to @flamingoloungehair for inspiring this episode. You can find us online at passionsquared.net and on the gram and Facebook @passionsquared Thank you for listening. And remember, do your very best to be where your feet are.

Getting Back To What Matters On Social Media Jan 04, 2022

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In this all-new episode of the pod, Nina shares their experience with the recent 33-day social break they took. At Passion Squared, we've been sharing with our clients and community for years about the importance of taking breaks, however, during this break, Nina saw the need for even more time off, and when you are on, remembering your purpose for being there, focusing on who you serve and the solutions you have for those you serve. It's time to get back into a healthy relationship with the socials, stay aligned with your brand purpose, promise, and people and prioritize your mental health and wellness. Thank you so much for listening. You can find Nina and Passion Squared online at passionsquared.net @passionsquared If you are a salon owner, you can learn more about A School here.

ENCORE: Nina L. Kovner On Holidays + Boundaries + Britney Spears Nov 18, 2021

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(This episode originally aired on December 24, 2019)

In this episode, Nina shares her experience around navigating the holidays when you struggle to find joy in them, a little but super important rant on Britney memes and mental health, along with reading a few pages from her NEW My AwesomeAF Boundary Book that touches on clients demanding to be squeezed in and talking politics with family. You can get your copy of My AwesomeAF Boundary Book in the Passion Squared Shop here and find Nina on the gram @passionsquared Thank you so much for listening!

ENCORE: Danielle Green On The Hair Love Book + Animated Short Film + The CROWN Act Nov 11, 2021

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(This episode originally aired on February 13, 2020) In this episode we sit down with Danielle Green of Radically Curly to talk about the Hair Love book, the recent Oscar win for the Hair Love animated short film, and the CROWN Act. It is currently LEGAL in all but three states (now 14 as of this encore episode) in the US to discriminate against Black people who wear natural, protective and braided hairstyles both in schools and in the workplace. This is racism. Period. Danielle shares her experience as a hairstylist, educator and leader in the movement of not only embracing natural hair texture but falling in love with the hair you were born with. After you listen to this episode, we invite you to join us in signing the petition to get the CROWN Act in all 50 states. Visit bit.ly/CROWNAct to be part of the solution and end this form of discrimination. You can find Danielle on the web @radicallycurly and radicallycurlysalon.com Thank you Danielle for sharing your heart, wisdom and passion with us. We LOVE you.

Fifty Five Lessons + Wisdoms from 55 Years of Living Oct 09, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of the pod, Nina shares fifty five life and business wisdoms and lessons on their 55th birthday with special guest and bestie Gordon Miller of Hairbrained. Grab your favorite beverage and snack, get cozy, take a listen and if you feel inspired, share some of your wisdoms and lessons with us on the socials. You can find Nina + Passion Squared on the gram @passionsquared @ninakovner and Gordon @gordnm @hairbrained_official Thank you so much for listening and for you trust, support and LOVE. We're gratefulAF for you. Some Causes Close To Nina's Heart

Black Trans Travel Fund Marsha P Johnson Institute

Trevor Project Dress Code Project

Best Friends Animal Society

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group

Some Causes Close To Gordon's Heart

PAWS Chicago Your Local Food Bank

Nina L. Kovner On Business Integrity & Agreements + No Shows + Lifetime Client Value + Venmo Drama Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

In this What's On My Mind episode we are back with Nina sharing what's been on their mind the last couple weeks. Nina share's their thoughts on business integrity and ethics, business agreements and how they align with your own brand vision and values along with your brand purpose, promise and people. This applies to all aspects of your business and the daily decisions you make as a leader and small business owner. We talk lifetime client value and could not help but talk about the the recent Venmo drama and some things to consider before you make a decision for your own business. You can find us on the gram @passionsquared and on the web at passionsquared.net To listen to the recent episode with Dr. Nancy on Mental Health, click here. To get your copy of My AwesomeAF Boundary Book, click here. To learn more about A School, click here. Thank you for listening and for your trust, support and love.

Kristin Rankin on Pride + Creating Inclusive Salons + Pronouns + The Dress Code Project Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

In this episode we talk (again!) with Kristin Rankin, hairdresser, owner of Fox & Jane Salon in Toronto + Founder of Dress Code Project. As we celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride this month, our discussion with Kristin is super relevant as you reflect on how you can be a more inclusive, affirming salon for both your clients + team members. We talk about all the things; salon closures, mental health, pronouns, pricing, the simplicity of removing gender from your services, creating safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ communities, a graceful way to correct misgendering someone, Pride + more! Thank you Kristin for coming back to the podcast, sharing your passion and for all you do for our communities. We are so grateful for you and your work. You can find The Dress Code Project online at dresscodeproject.com, on the gram @thedresscodeproject and to see gender free pricing and services in action visit Fox & Jane Salon Toronto. To download the Passion Squared 2021 Pride Guide, click here. With love + Pride- Nina @passionsquared

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