朱先生的肯夢學院正在招生，招收第二屆髮型設計師養成課學生。請幫我讓更多人知道，他們也可以成為２１世紀最重要的創意文化階級。
大學畢業，才是做自己的開始
讓我們先接受一個事實：在目前台灣的社會價值系統裡面，「讀大學」是每一個父母對子女的期待，「讀大學」也是每一個子女善盡責任的方式。讀大學好像是人權的一種，於是我們有了大量的大學畢業生。四年的學生生活，不管學到什麼，即使畢業後，並不保證找的到理想的工作，但基本上，我不認為有什麼不好。
真正重要的是，我們有沒有開始建立一個新的人權觀念：
「任何工作，都是神聖的工作，
不以工作來判斷人的身份、地位、價值
不以收入多寡來判斷人的成功與否。」
手藝的新時代 The Age of Craftsmanship
知識工作者在全球化的衝激下，是最容易被取代的一群人。因此有文化素養，美學創意，擁有不可取代個人特色的手藝，又成為２１世紀最重要的創意文化階級。
大學畢業，僅是一個開始。因此大學畢業生，在新的人權觀，社會價值觀，可以開始做學徒，學習手藝，可以開始做木匠、水泥工，可以流浪天涯、出走世界，可以無所事事、過滿足基本要求的生活，可以學演戲，可以再回頭念醫學院、法學院，可以學習成為服裝設計師、廚師、麵包師傅、甜點師傅、瑜加老師、按摩療癒師、芳療師、美容師、美甲師、有機農夫，可以學畫畫。當然，也可以成為髮型設計師及染髮設計師。
肯夢學院，正在招收第二屆髮型設計師養成課學生：
- 2008/12/15開課，共10個月，僅收15位全職學生, 即日起開始接受報名。
- 學費NT$300,000，或是分期付款共NT$320,000（頭期款95000，之後每期25000共九期）
學成後，經過甑選後可參加肯夢團隊，與肯夢一起成長，共同改變台灣的美髮美容經營生態，也可自行創業，創造自己理想的生活與工作。
招收對象：有經濟能力（能負擔學費及10個月的生活）
- 大專畢業，有工作經驗
- 喜歡美，並相信環保跟美是不可分開的
- 喜歡讓人美麗
- 喜歡讓人快樂
- 喜歡英文、服裝時尚、?美術美工、動手實做、音樂、表演藝術
- 想要轉行從事跟創意，美感生活及手藝為主的相關的行業
台灣美髮行業需要更多不同的人來參與，尤其需要有美學背景、對fashion有敏感度、英文能力強的人來參與。（要不怕英文，不依賴翻譯，才能國際化，才能獨自出國學習）
肯夢一直希望能創造另一種成功的模式，用不抽成、不抽佣的方式，建立一個擁有自己時間的工作及生活方式。在肯夢，您不會賺到大錢，但您一定會找到私有時間、找到自我、找到意義、找到快樂。
如果有興趣，就先google「肯夢公司」，上肯夢公司網址，肯夢學院部落格，看肯夢學院設計師養成課學習紀錄video, 然後再到肯夢美髮沙龍：
-Third Place大安店：台北市大安路一段117號1樓 / 電話02-2740-1038
-Third Place信義店：台北市松壽路9號3樓（新光三越A9）/ 電話02-2723-2448
-Dream Place 微風店：台北市復興南路一段39號GF樓（微風廣場復興店）/ 電話02-8772-1936
投資自己，預約一次純香洗髮造型服務，親身考察體驗後，再撥打專線02-2772-1727，預約時間參觀肯夢學院。
Dear Christine:
You will never know if it is what you want in life unless you actually work on it.
The only regret you will have is not to pursue your dream while you are young. Yes, too many choices sometime will paralyze you with the opportunity cost.
However, I always believe that mew door will open when you are engaging with good intention and higher purpose.
Life is short and there is no dress rehearsal in the real world.
If you check my blog and follow me for a while, you will know that I advocate a No Lose philosophy. Anything you do, you’ll never lose.
The real lose is the inaction and stay status quo.
If you don’t like what you see, go ahead, make something happen.
Life favors those who see things differently and do things differently.
Love,
Ping
Hi Ping,
Your blog is wonderful. The conversations here clarifies my life goals and focuses me on important things. I am fortunate to read your blog today.
I especially like what you shared with Jason.
“Assume that you want to change your life no matter what. You should drastically reduce your living expense and move to a small house in the countryside so you can handle your finance better.”
It reminds me money is important but it shouldn’t limit our dream. We should have a vision first. Then think about how to realize it practically.
One question. When you have a dream or a career goal, how do you know it is what you want and you won’t feel regret once you start to pursue it? It feels life has so many possibilities and we can dream about so many different things but we only have one life. How do you make your life choices?
Thanks
Christine
Dear Kimmy:
I have not read this issue of Elle yet. I admire them to do a special issue on reading and traveling though. Elle is indeed a fine magazine.
You are my daymaker today. I am happy that you finally realize that you are your own architect of life. You can create the reality you want.
If you build it, they will come.
Thank you for taking time to embrace me. I need it.
Love,
Ping
Dear Chu 🙂
I want to share a “story” with you …
The very first time i tried to mail one of my favorite is around one year ago.
By the timing , i felt totally confused about my future.(Although it obviously looks great by others.)
I just cant make choose about what i really want to do after graduating from university.
Thanks for all your advices about “love what i do” and “do what i love” from the mail you reply for me 🙂
As time goes by , i believe that i finally got the point that you tried to tell me from the mail 🙂
or at least i finally “move on” to the next stop of my life ~
I already started my first full-time job since this Aug (i choose the job related to my major from university, cuz it looks like a little “professional”), i met lots of nice people and experienced lots of my “first time” , such as practice the knowledge from textbook into the really case ….
I have to say , i really learned lots from the past few months 🙂
Right now , about my next step , i start to collect some ideas from my daily life and gain more confident about what i really want to learn 🙂
I believe i will get my obviously goal after i experiencing more from my work , my case and so on.
by the way , besides ppaper business and monocle , the “ELLE” is one of my favorite and so happy to see your article in ELLE this month 😀
thanks for all you help
take care ,
Kimmy
Dear Chi:
I am not a good disciplined blogger. i prefer to answer questions from readers. I never want to create a blog based on my writing. I want more interaction and user generated contents blog.
My monthly updated writing is just a bait to fish out more questions from readers. 🙂
Be inspired, get involved, take action.
Without action, you really did not lean anything.
Thank you for taking action to write to me.
bye for now.
Ping
I am actually amazed that I got reply so fast! Thanks a lot for your kind and warm encouragement. Looking forward to seeing the update on your blog and wish you all the best.
Dear Chi:
You are still young. Learning Engineering will help you see things differently. It could be an asset in anything you decide to do when you are more confident of being a true you.
In Canmeng Institute, we have students like you working at CitiBank or accounting, they decided to change their career and enrolled in Canmeng Institute. They are doing superb now. They told me they finally can control their own destiny by working with their hands and be a daymaker to their clients. They all love fashion and beauty. Now, they also realize that they can integrate their work and life with environment friendly lifestyle.
You don’t see this kind of change in normal beauty school or any apprenticeship program. Canmeng Institute is not a school to teach skill only. It is a place you can find your calling and live a creative life with like minded people.
Please finish your engineer degree and work a few years related to engineering. If you still like fashion, beauty, craftsmanship and making people happy, you know where to find us. Canmeng is a changemaker to re-invent beauty industry. We want to transform beauty salon/spa to a lifestyle center that will provide guilt free and environmental friendly shopping so we can repair our earth.
You are still young and you have plenty of time to find what you really want. In the mean time, you should get to know us better.
Be the change,
Ping
Dear Jason:
I am so sorry not be able to answer your question earlier. I must miss out your comment before.
I want to thank you for asking this great question. If your survival were on the line, how you can welcome the discontinuity in your life.
1. How strong you really want to change your work and your life? Only you can answer this question.
2. Assume that you want to change your life no matter what. You should drastically reduce your living expense and move to a small house in the countryside so you can handle your finance better.
3. In my case, i am lucky to save enough money before I decided to quit dental school and find myself after my father passed away. I decided to explore the world more after my father’s death. This is where I got the courage finally. I just know if I don’t do it now, I will not forgive myself. I was in the disillusion for being a dentist for the rest of my life. I know there must be something waiting for me to explore.
Yes, money is important. This is why I encourage you to save money now so you can have enough savings to finance you one year of exile.
I decided to hit the wave of PC business in early 1980. From there, I got to know Paul Mitchell, the professional hair product company. Paul asked me to distribute his products in Taiwan. Here you are. I become a businessmaker first.
When student is ready, teacher will show up.
You just have to be ready and be there.
Be the change,
Ping
Dear Mr. Chu,
I am really glad to find out your blog. I cannot agree you more that people should pursue what they are interested in, passionate about, dreaming of. I would love become to a hair dresser when I were young, however, our culture does hold me back when you have to make the choice as you mentioned in one of your replies.
Instead of the possibility working with in beauty industry, I am now still a student in Engineering. It’s hard to see there is any chance for me also with my age… I am just hoping that this nightmare is going to end soon and I can also start what I really love.
Best wishes
Chi
Mr. chu：
我看了您在ppaper business的擁抱人生的中斷，不瞞您說，我現在正面臨的就是非自主的中斷(失業)，我嘗試著放空自己，試著重新認識並找到自己想做的事情，但是我的生活沒有辦法因為這樣子的中斷而過下去，坦白說，就是”錢不是萬能，但沒錢卻萬萬不能”的一種中斷代價，我想請教您我應該怎麼做？在目前這樣的一個狀態下根本沒有辦法用一個中斷認識自己的理由來告訴自己，我能理解您所說的正面能量，但無論要做啥的前提都是”錢”，希望能夠獲得您的一些啟發，也想因而了解您文章中提到的”一年時間尋找自己人生的方向”，那是如何開始及如何尋找？
god bless ,jason
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. – George Bernard Shaw-
Yes, it is one of my favorite quotes too. Charles Handy’s “The Age of Unreason ” book has a great influence on me too.
Let all the unreasonable men stand up in the room. I hope we will see more people other than you and me.
It is my secret that you can only be an unreasonable man by not counting on other people’s money, especially the government money. 🙂
Thank you for your visiting my blog. As you can see, there are lots of young people engaging with me and wanting to be a better person so we can make this world a better place too.
Let’s keep in touch.
Ping
Dear Lillian:
Can I hug you?
Thank you for embracing me with your eloquent and emotionally connected words. I need it. I also think you have a talent in expressing your feeling in writing. It is a rare gift to be able to write such a gracious comment.
I read and re-read your comment and was touched deeply by your generous comments. I think the credit should also go to Henry, Cherry, Maggie, Wendy, Peggy, Sylvia, Winnie, Vickie, Rachel, Annabelle…They are the one who made everything possible in Canmeng Institute.
Well, soon, you will also realize that the world is not so kind for people who cannot meet challenges. You will face lots of speed bumps in your learning. There is reason that these speed bumps are there. You need to find out who you really are only when you face these challenges.
Please continue your learning and surrending yourself with postive mindset people.
With you and many friends here, how can I feel lonely?
Thanks.
Ping
Dear Carrie:
Thank you for the Buddha’s quote.
I recently saw a beer’s advertisement : Life favors those who sees things differently.
Yes, please be a daymaker to all service providers. I, especially, want to thank you to be the guardian angel for different hairstylists in Third Place. Imagine how happy these stylists could be. They are free from the commission based pay which lock themself up for the abundant belief. In a salon, everyone is working on only one goal: To provide the priceless and memorable experience to every guests. There is no competition for the highest request rate and most money maker.
Our guests will also be free from the hairstylist chasing and following. Clients and hairstylists are each other’s hostage. It all comes from the fear based self interest.
As you can see, I treat my business as a social experiment. I want to bring back the good nature in oursleves by creating a healthy and holistic ecosystem first.
You, the guests, are the critical member in this ecosystem.
Many hugs,
Ping
hello dear friend,
Of course you will succeed; never give up the objective of The Dream. “A reasonable person will adept himself to the world; the unreasonable person will adopt the world to himself; progress are succeed by the unreasonable One” Look at form the perspective of History; many greats from the pass was consider as crazy now we live with their creation with great treasures. Don’t let this twisted country screw up our head. Keep positive with unreasonable friends; good ideas are often sound unreasonable but it always lead ahead never the follower. Let’s catch up after the new year. God Bless Mao
Mr. Chu,
I have come to realize the gift that the institute truly is. Along the way it is natural to doubt and to rethink the choice that I have made. But in the end the core of the industry is giving, and that’s what you have provided. A space where giving comes first. The instructors are free to give to us with the kindest hearts I have met and we in turn have the skills and heart to give to our clients. This experience has been life changing.
Just graduating from high school, it is easy to be affected by the people I meet a long the way. And on my way here the cynicism and narrow mindedness I have met left me confused. My time at the institute has instilled in me an insistence to give and to uplift; to take care of the world, which will in turn take care of you. There is kindness beyond I had imagined here. That to me is the biggest miracle.
For everything you have given us, hopefully this will give back some of the confidence lost along the way. You are not alone here.
Happy new years,
Lillian
Dear Ping,
Thanks for your message on my blog and here as well.
YOU MADE MY DAY TODAY!
I’d love to accept your suggestion which is also my honor to enjoy more services from other stylists. I do believe that I can have more by taking different chances.
Let’s be the guardian angels to enlighten the world with love, hope and peace.
Here is the quote of Buddha that I’d like to share with you.
“If we could see the miracle in a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”
Love,
Carrie
Dear Carrie:
Yes, let’s become the Daymaker to all service providers in this holiday season.
Sylvie and Duncan are lucky to have a client like you who want to make people’s day by sharing the positive energy and generosity.
Of course, you made my day too. I will ask my team to relay your kind words to Sylvie and Duncan.
I would ask you to do me a favor.
Please ask Sylvie to recommend you another stylist to do your hair at Third Place on your next visit. As you know that I want to create a positive and selfless working environment in all my organization.
You can become many stylists’ guardian angel to boost their confidence. Everyone in my team will also know you name because of your generosity and daymakging.
The reason you are welcome to help me to do this is that Sylvie is not paid by commission like all other salons in Taiwan. She understands our philosophy in Canmeng. We want our guests to feel at home with any stylists. Once you become a hostage of one stylist, you need to accomodate your time with her time and won’t have the opportunity to trust anyone to do your hair.
With this abundant love, you set yourself free.
I know it is hard to ask someone to switch hairstylist and trust someone you don’t know. However, like everything is life, you will find more joy when you are willing to take chances. Besides, I believe Sylvie would recommend a stylist who has the same skill level and experience as hers.
Of course, you can still go back to Sylvie’s service. The other stylist will not feel bad if you decide to switch back to Sylvie because he/she knows that they could be your stylist when Sylvie is busy or on vacation. You should at least to have two to three stylists who are familiar with your needs and your style at Third Place.
Carrie, I have visited you blog and was impressed by your commitment to seek the truth. As you will find out, this is the best way to build Sylvie’s self confidence and the abundant mentality. She should feel proud to introduce her colleague to you. Imagine, what this lesson will inspire her.
Thank you for being an angel to so many people.
May the year of Ox be a year of renewal and re-invention for all of us here.
Happy Chinese New Year.
Love,
Ping
Dear Ping,
First of all, happy new year!!
中午我去大安店，雖然還是找我很熟悉的Sylive做剪髮服務，但是我這次有大膽改變髮型喔…..
今天幫我做基礎服務的是Duncan。在肩頸舒壓按摩時，我深深感受到他與客人一體的用心。從推薦純香開始到整套的流程。我完全放鬆的閉上眼睛，放鬆的享受著，冥想著。
吹髮時，他的手法輕柔而緩慢。讓我再度繼續，第二段的冥想。
今天，給我另一種全新(心)的體驗。當然，Sylvie剪出的髮型，也出乎我意料的完美。
我要特別謝謝: Duncan，今天給我另一種全新(心)的體驗。有機會請給他鼓勵。當然，Sylvie的手藝也讓我驚艷，滿足了我內在孩童的夢想，我們已經拍照留念當作紀念與鼓勵了，哈哈!
May peace, prosperity and abundant love be with you all in 2009!!
Carrie
PS. By the way, I love the fragrance of Chakra 7. But it’s out of stock now, too pity. But don’t worry, they will leave one for me when arrival in the end Jan.
Dear Anton:
I have to admit that your email has stirred up my emotion.
I sometime have doubt about my vision and my dream. I don’t know if I am strong enough to follow through. I even have nightmare when I realized that I have risked my team’s future with my own mission.
Whenever I decided to get into a business, I always think about the re-invention of the industry and what the future could build on with what we have started.
Your generous comments made my day and re-enforced my belief that people want to vote with what they buy.
Canmeng Institute is still losing money but I know it is the only way to re-invent an industry grounded on authenticity, sustainability and social responsibility. We are not even near where we want to be. However, with your friend joining us, we are starting a movement.
We are all in this together. Ultimately, we are learing how to be dayamaker to each other. Service receivers and service providers should be daymaker to each other too. The world will become a better place when we all become daymaker to each other.
You are my daymaker to day.
Love and many hugs,
Ping
I must say that at first glance this seemed like a very long and difficult road to take for anyone.. but I have been in love with AVEDA’s culture ever since I tried it. I often share my experience with friends and family my “third place”. Everyone is amazed at what an eye opening experience a simple ‘hair cut’ can be if you are doing it the right way. Many of my friends have come to love your services and some to the point that one of my best friends have joined your 2nd Class and has my full support. I envy him for being able to do what he loves and aspires most.
It is great to see that you have created such a good environment for future stylist and daymakers to work and grow in.
Do keep the good work up and God bless in the coming 2009!
Dear Ru-Ling:
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Love from Taiwan
Ping
Merry Christmas to you all!
Dear Freda:
You just made my day.
“Life is all about choice and fighting for that choice.” -Freda-
You said it well. We all made our choices that determine our life. Coming to the University of Oklahoma has made us a life long friend and change our whole life history. 🙂
One thing I have learned: my way is only a different way, not the best or the worst. People will decide what they want to do. My role is only to make it available.
Thanks for the Jia Yu. I need it.
Big and tight hug,
Ping
lonely are the brave, 自古英雄多寂寞!! you are such an amazing leader. i totally understand how hard it is. hang in there. life is all about choice and fighting for that choice. your vision/mission is the trend in new world. it will be popular in the near future.
Dear Freda:
You are the first one who made a comment on my plea. 🙂
As you may know that my daugher, Brandy, has just graduated from Aveda beauty school in Houston and now working at a hair salon in Houston. She is the one that I will never worry about. Because I know she is doing something she has passion and she will never get layoff or cannot find job. She can also work anywhere in the world as long as she has her scissor with her.
She loves fashion and using her hands to create things. She also loves to make friends. She said she is so happy because she gets to help her friends look pretty and making their day at the same day everyday.
Unfortunately, Chinese culture still looks down on people who works with their hands and serve people. As you know, I, first, change the way hairstylist works, the economic engines of salon and the envrionment they work at. After I have created this unique work and life envrionment with team based pay ( instead of the fear based and commission based reward system ), profit sharing, open book management and 2 days off workweek, now all hairstylists can have a normal and social life. They are not a prisoner of commission based pay and hostage by their clients.
I am so pleased to see they can have family life with time to go to museum, instead of working at chairs all the time.
Hairstylist is a rare profession that can integrate work and life. They are in the best position to practice daymaking.
This is why I beleive hairstylist will be the hottest profession in the 21st century.
Thank you for the positive energy. I am really lonely here.
Hugs,
Ping
i wish i could do that, be a student of beautician. i remember how i loved to cut hair for all friends who needed help during our college years. that was super fun. with some professional training, i think i could be a designer. i encourage young people do follow your heart, if you enjoy 創意 and love fashion. a great opportunity to start a beautiful life journey.