When you’re starting a new career, the first thing you naturally look for is the right training. You’ve got the idea, the excitement, the spark – and then reality kicks in. You open Google or ChatGPT, type in your search, and suddenly you’re faced with endless options. Courses, academies, qualifications, promises of success.
Let’s take becoming a personal stylist as an example.
At the beginning, every academy tends to feel equal. You start comparing practical things:
- Length of the course
- Timings
- Location
- Modules covered
- And of course… cost
It’s logical. You’re trying to make the right decision.
The myth of “longer equals better”
One of the biggest deciding factors for many people is course length. There’s a common belief that the longer the course, the more detailed and thorough it must be – and therefore the more justified the price tag.
And I completely understand why people think this.
But this is exactly where my approach with Style ME Training is different.
My 5 Day+ Intensive course often surprises people. The question I’m asked every single time is:
“Is five days really enough to learn everything I need to become a personal stylist?”
And my answer is always the same: 100% yes.
Why? Because those five days are laser-focused and intensive. We cover womenswear, colour analysis, wardrobe styling, personal shopping, menswear, body shapes, branding – all the foundations you need to do the job properly. It’s packed with theory, practical tasks, hands-on experience and real-life scenarios.
But here’s the most important part…
Training teaches skills. Mentoring creates success.
When you leave after that intensive week, you don’t leave on your own. You leave with my phone number and ongoing mentoring for as long as you need it.
A month.
A year.
Five years.
A decade.
Whatever it takes.
Because I know – from nearly 20 years in this industry – that this is the difference between training to be a stylist and becoming a financially successful one.
The course-after-the-course problem
Ask yourself this honestly:
How many times have you done a course, absolutely loved it, felt inspired… and then got home and felt completely stuck?
You sit there wondering:
- “What’s my next step?”
- “Am I doing this right?”
- “Why doesn’t this feel as clear as it did in the classroom?”
So you start Googling.
You fall down a rabbit hole.
You overwhelm yourself with information.
You start doubting yourself.
And if you’re serious about the career, very often you end up booking another course. Spending more money. Blaming yourself for not “getting it” the first time.
Let me be very clear: this is not your fault.
My own experience – and why mentoring matters
When I first trained as a colour analyst almost 20 years ago, I loved my training. The content made perfect sense at the time. I left feeling confident and excited.
But there was no ongoing support.
When I finally got around to practising a month or two later, I felt lost. Confused. Overwhelmed. And quietly ashamed that maybe I just wasn’t smart enough.
I was terrified of doing colours on paying clients in case I got it wrong. I had so many questions and no one to ask.
What I would have given to have someone I could call. Someone to check my work. Someone to say, “Yes, you’re on the right track.”
That experience shaped how I train today.
Why I mentor (even though it’s a lot of work!)
I won’t pretend mentoring is easy. My delegates message me at all hours. They send photos, voice notes, questions, worries, wins, and wobbles.
But the way I see it, my success rate is my biggest advert. I don’t rely on social media. I rely on results.
When my delegates succeed, I succeed.
I support them until the penny drops – and it always does.
Formulas only work when they’re embedded
My training isn’t just information. It’s built around formulas I’ve created, tested and refined over years. They work – every single time – when they’re used properly.
But like anything, they don’t become second nature overnight. They need to be embedded into your subconscious way of styling. That only happens with practice – and practice happens after the training, with real clients.
That’s where mentoring becomes essential.
“I trained elsewhere… and still don’t feel confident”
I can’t tell you how many people come to me after training elsewhere saying the same thing:
“The course lasted months and cost a fortune… but I still don’t feel confident.”
They often enquire about repeating just one or two modules with me. I always offer that option. But because every trainer has a different approach, more often than not they end up doing the full training again.
Not because they failed – but because they don’t want to give up. And that tells me everything. The biggest difference isn’t the length of the course. It’s the ongoing support.
Mentoring beyond styling: building a business
With my training, every delegate also receives a one-to-one business planning session. This is where we go deeper. We look at:
- Who your target audience really is
- Your financial goals
- What success looks like for you
- And how to create a realistic, tangible plan to get there
This is where mentoring becomes about more than styling skills. It becomes about building a business. I’ve been where my delegates are. I can tell instantly which ideas will work, which ones need tweaking, and which “fancy ideas” are better dropped altogether. That clarity alone can save years of trial and error.
Confidence is everything when changing careers
So many of my delegates come from completely different walks of life. Different careers. Different ages. Many have zerostyling experience when they start. Having a mentor in an industry you’re new to isn’t just helpful – it’s crucial. It builds confidence. It removes fear. It gives you permission to learn without feeling embarrassed.
Why WhatsApp changed everything
The one thing I stress to all my delegates is this: Never be scared or embarrassed to contact me. WhatsApp has been a game changer. There’s no need to schedule calls or write long email chains. A quick voice note. A photo. A simple question. When a colour or outfit query comes up, they send a photo. We go back and forth until it clicks. That moment – when the penny drops – is the real key to success.
Quality over quantity, always
So before you book a lengthy course that drags out the time before you can actually start working and earning, ask yourself this:
Do you want more hours in a classroom… or real support when it actually matters?
Because training gives you knowledge.
Mentoring gives you confidence.
And confidence is what turns a new career into a successful one.
Quality will always beat quantity – every single time.
Love,
Nisha x