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Your Second Act isn't just about starting over; it's about starting smarter. You’ve left the safety of a structured career to follow your passion, and while the opportunity is exciting, the uncertainty is real. You have the vision and the drive, but without a roadmap, that leap of faith can quickly feel like a freefall.
Welcome to Second Act Business Owner, the podcast dedicated to ensuring your new venture lands on solid ground.
Hosted by Lee Gray—an award-winning ActionCOACH, certified executive trainer, and serial entrepreneur—this show is for the courageous professionals who are trading corporate stability for entrepreneurial freedom. Lee understands that being an expert in your field doesn’t automatically make you an expert in running a business.
Each week, we strip away the fluff to provide the real-world MBA training you need to turn chaos into clarity. From navigating the emotional rollercoaster of ownership to mastering the mechanics of profit, Lee brings the structure and strategy required to build a legacy.
Hit follow and let’s get to work.
Ep13
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Welcome and Intro to Kristin Kienzle
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[00:00:00]
Lee Gray: Welcome everyone to the Second Act Business Owner podcast. Today we are on episode lucky 13, and it's guest day. We have a special guest. I'm very excited to be interviewing one of my coaching clients, Kristen Kenzel, who is the founder, CEO, rockstar- ... of Utopia Modern Salon Suites. She also has a podcast. You'll have to check that out. I'm looking forward [00:01:00] to you meeting and hearing her second act story, because she's, she's a second actor, like many of you are, or many of you want to be. So let's get right to it. Kristen.
Kristin Kienzle: Thank you for having me.
Lee Gray: You are welcome.
Kristin Kienzle: This is really fun.
Lee Gray: So welcome. I know, isn't it fun being interviewed-
...instead of interviewing all the time?
Kristin Kienzle: Yes.
Kristen’s Second Act Story
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Lee Gray: So for people who may not know yet, tell us a little bit about yourself and your business journey.
Kristin Kienzle: I was doing hair for my whole career after high school. So went to cosmetology school right out of high school. Worked behind the chair in every single kind of salon setting there is, from my home to a commission-based salon to suites, everything.
And when I was turning 50, I started thinking, you know, how much longer can I physically do this, and psychologically? It's hard, carrying the weight of my clients and stuff.
So I kinda started thinking about maybe, what could my second act look like? What kind of pivot do I need to make [00:02:00] to get from here to retirement successfully?
So I decided to create a space where I could work behind the chair and finish out my career behind the chair, while also providing space for other people to work. So I opened our first location and didn't intend to go beyond that.
I just wanted to open a place for me to work, and it went really well, and it went so well that I think I was about 10 or 11 months in, I gave you a call.
I said-
Lee Gray: You sure did. ...
Kristin Kienzle: "I need help. My suites are going really well. They're in high demand. I think I need more suites. I don't know how to do that." So, working together, you and I got to our second location, then our third location, and now we're expanding our third location.
That's my story.
Lee Gray: It is such a great, a great second act story. Remind me, how old were you, 51?
Okay, so those of you that are watching, listening that are 50, 60, it doesn't matter. I even say in my book you can have a second act at 80. You really can. Because remember, you're never as [00:03:00] smart as you are today, and the information that you carry with you in life is worth so much.
So thank you for, for sharing that, and congratulations on your second act success.
Kristin Kienzle: Thank you.
Lee Gray: And I know, I know that you're gonna be second acting and acting and acting and acting and continuing second acts, because we, we get addicted. We don't just wanna do one. So-
Kristin Kienzle: Always thinking of the next thing.
Becoming a Business Owner
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Lee Gray: Yeah, You gave us that great story about how you got here today, but did you always see yourself as a business owner? When did that happen for you?
Kristin Kienzle: I never saw myself as a business owner. I saw myself as a service provider, a hair stylist.
I completely identified with that.
Even when I opened, we're here in our first salon that we built- and even when I opened this one, I was working alongside the other beauty professionals in the salon space, and I still didn't view myself as a business owner.
Lee Gray: Yeah.
Kristin Kienzle: It, it really wasn't until you started coaching me to perceive myself that way, to act that way, to take on the roles- and, and do all the things. So I'm gonna say it was [00:04:00] a good year, year and a half in before I realized, oh, okay, I'm a service provider anymore solely. I mean, I was still doing hair- for a couple years, but I am now a business owner and I need a different-
Lee Gray: You don't do hair anymore.
Kristin Kienzle: I don't anymore.
I don't- Yeah,
Lee Gray: and that was a really big step for you.
Kristin Kienzle: Yeah.
Lee Gray: Big shift that you had to make here.
Building Support Systems
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Lee Gray: And then you did some physical things, and you were worried about your clients. "Oh my gosh, what are they gonna do if I leave?" "What happens if I go? Can anyone do it as good as me? And oh my gosh." So I think for people starting their second act, getting the people on board to help you do what you wanna do is so important.
And, and you have a team of people now. You have y- your attorney, your accountant, that, that group of people, your coach, all those people that are gonna support you in your business. And, and you did that early on, and I think that that's really, really important, that it's ask early.
You know, get the help that you need early.
Kristin Kienzle: And, and not to give you an obvious plug, I'm not trying to do that, but-
Lee Gray: Oh, no ...
Kristin Kienzle: one of the things that-
Lee Gray: Don't give me an obvious plug to [00:05:00] my business coaching business or to my book Second Act Business Owner.
Kristin Kienzle: Those are things that I didn't know that I learned from coaching. So I think I get frustrated with people sometimes when they're close-minded to furthering- their education, whether it be reading a book going to a seminar, networking, whatever, and especially hiring a coach. I didn't know anything. I didn't have a business degree.
Lee Gray: No.
Kristin Kienzle: I didn't have business experience. I mean, I had a little bit. Doing hair, you know, you are running a s- tiny little business, and- it's- large scale is just very different. Like you said, that's when you have to bring on help-
Lee Gray: Exactly,
yeah
Kristin Kienzle: ... and support for the business. So that was new.
Lee Gray: And you can do more better cool things and be strategic, so.
Fears Capital and Naysayers
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Lee Gray: What fears or doubts did you have before you made the leap?
Where- wherever you wanna start with the leap 'cause you've made several leaps in your second act.
Kristin Kienzle: Yeah.
Lee Gray: What fears or doubts did you have at the time?
Kristin Kienzle: Every single time, whether it was from opening the first one, the second one, even up to the [00:06:00] expansion that we're doing now, I've thought, "Where will I get the capital?"
Lee Gray: Yeah. I remember
that.
Kristin Kienzle: And- ... you taught me that capital is available.
Lee Gray: It's everywhere.
Kristin Kienzle: And it is everywhere. Sometimes it takes a little more work to acquire it. Sometimes it comes easier. I found that real interesting, the times that it comes easy, when my model wasn't proven, versus another time- when I was refinancing a very well-proven loan. Like, it- so I would say my, my biggest thing that held me back was wondering where I would get the capital to do so. Another thing that I think is so important, and I know you see this all the time with your second act clients, is being careful about who you're listening to.
Because your friends- your family, the people closest to you who love you the very most, will tell you all the things that will probably go wrong if you take this leap.
You know, they'll tell you 101 reasons why- you shouldn't do it. And I finally learned, and, and this is probably something you taught me, I finally learned to think, "Okay, you're telling this because you love me [00:07:00] and you wanna protect me from bottoming out.
But have you ever done it before?"
Lee Gray: Right.
Kristin Kienzle: And so then when I started to watch people who were half nuts, like myself, who had done it and succeeded, I thought- you know, I'm, I'm gonna go follow them, listen to them-
Lee Gray: Right
Kristin Kienzle: ... hear, take on their mindset and their habits.
Lee Gray: I love that you said half nuts. So I think most people in, in their second act are half nuts.
And we have to be to get over the hump of the, you know, what we're comfortable with, because out there in the land of the uncomfortable is where all the great stuff happens. I've, I've seen that with you. Everything you've done... But I also think you've always said yes to the things you're not even sure of.
And that's the thing, builds confidence, doesn't it? Con-
I've seen your confidence, on a scale, just catapult. And I love that about you and your business. You're not only more confident in what you do in business, but just in life.
Kristin Kienzle: And again, I think a lot of that is you pushing me- [00:08:00]
out of my comfort zone- making, not making me do it, but-
Lee Gray: Yeah, I made you.
Kristin Kienzle: Pushing me really hard. And then sometimes I do things so that I can say, "Okay, Leigh, I did it."
And then it works out the way you say it'll work out.
Lee Gray: It's fun, isn't it?
Kristin Kienzle: So,
Lee Gray: Oh, I appreciate all that about you.
Mindset Focus and Confidence
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Lee Gray: So what do you think, now that you're on the other side, what do you think stops other people from taking the step to starting their second act?
Kristin Kienzle: I think a lot of times it's age, and I've, I've said that. It's come out of my mouth. My runway's not that long anymore. And gosh, if I start now, by the time it's profitable, by the time it's paid off, all those things, you know, I'll be so old. But I think what I wish people would think- is because you are now older, more mature, you've had more life experiences- you know more, and you probably, you're financially more capable. And yes, it's risky to leverage the finances you've built, you know, your equity in your home- your retirement, whatever it may be, your [00:09:00] savings, whatever you've built- Yeah ... that's gotten you to this point where you can leverage it.
It's very scary to leverage it, but you have it, you know? And if I was 25, I probably couldn't have done this.
So.
Lee Gray: That's what I think is the best about the second act- Yeah ... is that, you know, you bring all that age and experience. Even if you're in your 30s, you're still- further along.
You also said something about not having a, a formal education in the very beginning, and I, and l- you know, unless you need to be a neurosurgeon or an accountant or an attorney or something, a, a degree isn't all that helpful in business. You have to learn about business. And that happens doing business-
Kristin Kienzle: I agree
Lee Gray: and learning business and reading about business and being around other people and masterminding like we do with our clients, you know? Each month we get together and mastermind as a group, and, and there are resources for people- who wanna be in their second act. Just have to go out there and find them, like you did.
So you think financial. What about mindset for-
Kristin Kienzle: Oh, boy. We worked hard on mindset, didn't we?
I, I think that's everything. I work on it
24/7. I, I have a sticky note [00:10:00] on my computer monitor that says, "What you focus on, you create more of." And so when I find myself focusing on something negative, I think, "I'm just heading down that path right now."
Ooh, that's- "I gotta shift."
Lee Gray: What a great nugget of advice. What a great nugget of advice. Focus on what you want more of.
Kristin Kienzle: Oh, for sure.
Lee Gray: Love that. Love that.
Kristin Kienzle: And every time I've done it, it works. You know, every time I've come to you and said, "Le, I can't," because you say, "Well, yeah, you can because of this."
And oh, and then you focus on that direction. Sure. You move that direction. I kinda, I like to equate it to, for anyone who's ever snow-skied, I remember... I'm not a big snow-skier. I don't even like it. But when I was in ski school the first time I ever went, and someone asked, you know, "How do you turn?" You know.
And they said, "You just look the direction you wanna go and you automatically, when you're skiing, you automatically go that way."
And it's true. I remember getting out on the slopes for the first time and thinking, "Huh, that's weird. If I look right, I turn right." And I've, I feel like that's how it is in business too.
Oh. Whichever direction you look-
Lee Gray: That's really great
Kristin Kienzle: ... you will go. Yes. If you [00:11:00] look towards crash and burn, you will crash and burn.
And if you look towards-
Lee Gray: Well said ...
Kristin Kienzle: "This is gonna go big"- it'll go big as long as you keep your eye on that north star.
Lee Gray: Yes. Oh, I love it. So let me ask you another question.
Grit and Trust Yourself
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Lee Gray: What did you have to believe about yourself in order to move forward?
Kristin Kienzle: I had to trust myself to have the grit to do whatever- it took not to fail. I had to really... I had to look at the things that I've been through in my life before that were hard and scary and didn't have good, I'll say, prognosis and see that I've succeeded in those things.
You know, we're still here. And then trust myself to think, "You know what? Whatever it takes, I will do to make this if not successful, at least sustainable." It, we won't fail.
Lee Gray: Yeah, absolutely. Ah, such great advice for all of us, no matter where we are. And it- And you're doing something new all the time in your business.
You're growing, now you're expanding again. You didn't know how [00:12:00] to do that before. But
you're doing it.
Kristin Kienzle: No, but again, back to the second act, that's the thing when we're older, you always pointed out, you've pointed out to me a million times, "Look what you've already been through." You know, I've been through some stuff personally-
Lee Gray: You have, you have
Kristin Kienzle: in my family with- with health, and, and you're like, "You did that. This is nothing." And every time I put that perspective in place, I realize, oh yeah, this is nothing compared to what I did before ... and we survived that. So again, when you're older, you've had, you know, a lot of people have been through divorces and losses- and even businesses. I bet you have clients whose businesses have failed three and four times over. They've already, they know how to prevent it now.
Lee Gray: That's right. it is, and everything you live through makes you stronger anyway. And that is a great reminder that you have already lived through- way more than you're worried about.
Kristin Kienzle: Oh, yeah.
Lee Gray: The fear of the unknown, false expectations appearing real. You remember that? Oh my gosh, well this is gonna happen, and that's gonna happen, and this is gonna happen. Well, maybe not.
And how about we not focus on. 85% of what we worry about never happens, and of the 15% of the things that do [00:13:00] happen, people say that it wasn't nearly as bad as they thought.
Isn't that an interesting thing?
Kristin Kienzle: Or there's a lesson that comes from it- ... that's valuable and serves you- ... down the road.
Lee Gray: Yeah, absolutely.
The Glamour vs the Grind
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Lee Gray: So what do, what do people see from the outside that looks glamorous but they don't realize there's work behind it?
Kristin Kienzle: I think this goes for every business owner.
Yeah. Definitely not just me. I think that people from the outside thinks everything looks glamorous.
I think they think that business owners are just... And maybe this is in my head, but th- that we all just are we have a lot of money. And we're so busy out there spending it, because they don't see us working on our business.
They don't see us in our office, in our home office in a lot of cases-
Lee Gray: Yeah, yeah
Kristin Kienzle: ... at 6:00 AM or 11:00 PM. Or, you know, 3:00 AM like, "Oh, no. I just- ... realized this is gonna happen," or whatever. They don't know the fires we're putting out behind the scenes. If they don't physically see us in the business, I [00:14:00] think they assume we're not working, and we're always working.
Lee Gray: Always.
Kristin Kienzle: So-
Lee Gray: And thinking about it anyway, for sure.
Kristin Kienzle: And I hear that a lot among business owners that we're perceived as- not working as hard as we are.
Lee Gray: Yeah. Must, must be nice. Must be nice. I mean, you're, you're in three and a half years now, right?
In this.
Kristin Kienzle: Mm-hmm.
Lee Gray: I, I can think of how many times you've said, "I worked on this a- all night," or, "I worked on this all weekend."
Whether it was taxes or looking at your finances or the drawings for your business, you, you did all kinds of things- ... that, that no one saw.
You know, it's kind of like the athlete. No one sees them until they're on the track.
Kristin Kienzle: Game day.
Lee Gray: Yeah. And then they're out there exercising every day, every day, every day, which you've, you've really done that.
So you are I would call, a successful second actor.
Just Do It and Stack Wins
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Lee Gray: For those thinking about second act, what do you recommend that they do first?
Kristin Kienzle: Just do it.
Lee Gray: Just do it.
Kristin Kienzle: Yeah, not to sound like Nike, but-
Lee Gray: But right,
Kristin Kienzle: I see a lot of people just think about it, talk about it. They have a great idea, and they just don't execute.
[00:15:00] You know, my daughter, I didn't intend to bring this up, but she has a big dream of being, of having an equine therapy business. Yeah. And it's been so fun. I haven't helped her a lot. She's educated. She's done all the things. But she's catching on. She'll say, "Mom, I just did the next thing."
She said, "I did this. You know, I just did the LLC paperwork online." When you do one thing, it leads you to the next, and before you know it, you turn around and you're like, "Look, I've done this, this, this." It's all stacked. And, and you're there. But so many people just don't do the thing.
They don't do anything. They talk about it. They think about it. They come up with 101 reas- reasons why they shouldn't.
And another thing I think that's important is to put it out there. I know there have been times I've kept secrets because I think, "Just in case this doesn't happen." Even with our expansion that we're doing now- I thought about it. Talked to you about it a lot.
This was in the works for a long time before I was brave enough to tell anybody. But now once I've told people, now I have to do it or I'd look like
Lee Gray: Right, yeah.
Kristin Kienzle: And [00:16:00] so telling people does hold you accountable.
Lee Gray: Yeah, it does, doesn't it?
And, and, and I think the second, in the second act, you just have to do that. You have to find someone to he- help hold you accountable-
and have someone to challenge you.
And it doesn't necessarily have to be a coach, but someone who has your best interests.
Kristin Kienzle: And someone to cheer you on.
I have to say-
Lee Gray: We celebrated a lot ...
Kristin Kienzle: you-
are my biggest cheerleader. You and my husband, top two by miles. You celebrate everyone with me. And I love having someone I can call. And it's not bragging. You know, "Oh, my gosh, this just happened. You know, we leased all of our suites," whatever it is.
That you can't tell other people because they're not- ... they're not that interested.
Lee Gray: No. So- And they, you, you might think it feels braggy to them. I like what you said about your daughter, the stacking effect. I think I'm gonna add that- somewhere in what I say, because it is the stacking effect- in a second act that gets you where you wanna go and gets you over the hill.
And I love that. And isn't it fun seeing her be successful?
Kristin Kienzle: It is fun.
Lee Gray: Oh my gosh, it's contagious. Entrepreneurial, [00:17:00] being a business owner, and doing all that is, it's- it's contagious.
Kristin Kienzle: Which I think-
is the best part.
Lee Gray: It is.
Kristin Kienzle: I think if... I mean, I know I can't imagine your job when you are, you're an entrepreneur and you're- helping people succeed. So you get... All those wins are your wins too. So if my daughter-
Lee Gray: They are
Kristin Kienzle: ... does this successfully, I'll... it's all her. I mean, I'm not gonna take any credit.
But it's just fun to be able to support that-
Lee Gray: It, it is ...
Kristin Kienzle: and be her cheerleader.
Closing Gratitude and Takeaways
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Lee Gray: Well, what a great way to end our conversation today. I really appreciate you taking time to tell our listeners about your second act, because I've been talking about the second act and, and now you, you're living it and walking it, and you just shared this story.
Rewind this. Listen to what Kristen said, because at Utopia Modern Salon Suites, what she owns and what she has started is she- she was a trailblazer in this industry. People have watched her, have seen her, have tried to copy her. It's been really quite an amazing, amazing story, and she started out with the thought.
So if you're thinking about it, now is the time to take action.
[00:18:00] You may wonder why at the end of my podcast I always tell you what I feel like expressing, and then I ask you what you feel like expressing.
One of the things we do in coaching is we ask people what they feel like expressing, and what that does is it grounds us, it tells us we're getting started, we're right here, and it lets us in on what's going on behind the scenes, if you will.
So Kristen, would you share what do you feel like expressing?
Kristin Kienzle: I feel like expressing my gratitude to you as my coach. I mean it when I say you are a very large part of the reason I've come as far as I've come in business, and if my second act story inspires even one person, that gratitude will just explode.
Lee Gray: Oh, thank you for expressing.
I appreciate that very much.
Kristin Kienzle: You're
Lee Gray: What I feel like expressing is gratitude.
Again, the highest level of vibration is gratitude, and I'm very grateful to be a part of your story. I'm happy to celebrate with you, and I'm [00:19:00] looking forward to celebrating with you, and that's what I feel like expressing.