Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/224814
… You Have a Prison Record My parents were 16 when I was born, and my mother died of leukemia two years later. There were some issues with my father refusing to relinquish his rights, but ultimately I was placed in foster care. But my new mom died when I was 13 and my new dad died two years later. At that time, I moved from New York to Delaware to live with a family relative, suffered abuse, and spent my teen years running away. I became pregnant at 19 and had two kids by the age of 24. I turned to having relationships with drug dealers and found ways to make fast money illegally. I was caught and went to prison for theft and forgery offenses, a combination of misdemeanors and felonies. When I was sentenced, handcuffed, and shackled, I realized I would be in prison and away from my kids for up to seven years. That was an a-ha moment. I knew I had to do things differently. In prison, I studied self-image psychology books to help myself, and I documented each part of my process, which I later dubbed the "Prison Break Success System." I now share this system with others through coaching (www.nailingdownsuccess.com), especially with other salon owners who are in "prison" without realizing it, whether they're struggling to overcome unfulfilled dreams or bad relationships. Once released, I was determined to be productive and successful. Of course, having crimes of dishonesty creates a barrier for pretty much any type of work you can think of. I overcame that issue by being upfront about my record and giving individuals an opportunity to accept me just as I was. My first salon job came four months out of prison and was with Currie Hair Skin and Nails in Kennett Square Pa. While the owner Randy Currie was impressed with my resume, he wanted to know what I had been doing for the past few years. I decided to be honest and share with him where I came from. I expressed my fear of what clients may think. His words — "We can't worry about that now, can we?" — were life changing. I didn't work on my mobile spa business while I was working in a salon as it would have been a conflict of interest, but Pamper Perfect Mobile Spa was a business that was started and failed years prior to my prison sentence. I have great business sense but had never been responsible enough to make good decisions to have a successful business. When I was able to focus on Pamper Perfect again it was a great business because it had such little overhead (just supplies). I built it one gig at a time. I went to friends and family to host spa parties and little by little it grew tremendously! Pamper Perfect Mobile Spa now operates in 11 markets in the U.S. I don't regret my time in prison. It provided me with a time of isolation. I call it freedom. Without the experience I wouldn't have been guided in the direction that led to having a successful life in all areas. It has created such freedom and liberation not only for me but for my entire family. I would love for people to know that no matter where you have come from or what obstacles you are confronted with, opportunity is on the other side of every one of them. After a prison sentence, Allison Moore Allison Moore turned her life around and now runs a Pamper Perfect Mobile Spa, Wilmington, Del. 188 | NAILS MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014 successful mobile spa business that's both financially rewarding and provides an amazing experience for her clients.