Listen To This If You’re Overwhelmed With Tech

So, you know when you are dealing with tech, maybe tech that you've never done- dealt with before. And you're trying to make something happen, and it just is not clicking for you. And it's just hitting a wall, and you're like, "Why the f- is this so hard? Why can I not figure this out?

Everything is trash, I'm gonna rip it all down, I can't make it look as pretty as everybody else's is. I'm over it. I'm done!" Jodi, have you been there before?

I have. When I first got into online business, there was a lot of different things that I had to learn that I - would really throw me off for, like, for, like, a day plus. I have this happen to me all the time. Maybe at a more advanced level than it used to do, because- Mm-hmm.

I'm a nerd and I'm trying to figure out how I can create, like, 10 different automations with, like, two AI steps and one code step, right? So I'm trying to figure out crazy s- ... And so at my level even, there's always going to be some sort of next level of challenge, right? And you can consider, like, you doing hair, right, like, you learning a new technique.

Like, maybe you've had some fundamentals of hair, but now you have to learn a new way of doing it. There's always going to be a next level of challenge whenever you're approaching a new tech tool or a new anything, right? I mean, even from the very beginning, gaining those foundations and fundamentals. Like, the very first time that I was learning how to cut hair, it was driving me nuts that I kept cutting holes in around the ear whenever I was doing layers.

And I was like, "Why can't I- wh- why am I doing this?" Right? And it was user error, BTW, which unfortunately, my friends, 80 f- I would say 90% of the time, it's user error. I would say.

Mm-hmm. And normally I am very quick to be like, "Oh my God, this software, they're trash," and maybe they should make it more intuitive, right? Maybe they should be making their, their user experience more intuitive. But the software works, okay?

It would not be as large as it is, they would not have the users that they do if the software didn't work. The software works. You need to know how to work the software. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. Right? So, it's the same as anything else. It's something new, and it is going to be extremely frustrating to you that you can't get it right.

And your inner child is like, "Girl, if you don't get this right, you're gonna die." And it's also telling you, "You're trash. You're stupid. You don't know what you're doing."

It's also telling you, "You don't have time to waste on this. You're s- you're- this is very urgent. You have this- you- this has to be perfect." Right?

And literally, like, your entire brain is up against you when it comes to working with tech, especially tech that you're unfamiliar with, or even tech that you're revisiting that you haven't visited in a while, right? So today, I wanna talk about what happens and how maybe we can think about it whenever you're getting overwhelmed and you're getting stuck with tech. Right. So you teach a lot of different tech tools, right?

For stylists, like, it's almost to the point now where if you are not utilizing some of the automations and software that's available, like, you are probably spending twice as much time on the backend stuff in your business as you need to be. But with that, there is that new skill set, right? Like, that learning and that umpf- upfront setting it all up. So, in that process of, of learning and of doing the setup with the tech, with the things that are unfamiliar, what do you say to someone when they come to you in, you know, one of your students or, or s- one of your peers and they're just, like, struggling?

Like, they are stuck on one specific thing, they have hit a roadblock, and they are just like, "I cannot do this. Like, it's not working for me." So, I think there's validity to taking a step back and taking a breath. I think there's absolutely- I think that is very valid, and I think it's something that is essential sometimes.

Taking a step back, taking a breath, and revisiting this when- from a fresh slate of no exhaustion, fresh energy when approaching something like this, right? When you come back, lean into resources so you do it right the first time, right? Right. Um, in today's day and age, there are a million resources out there, whether, whether it be native to the platform or third-party resources that teach you exactly how to use these tools, right?

I would say, you know, you know what? Have you ever, Jodi, have you ever taken education, like, a demo class, right? And, you know, from the educa- from a brand educator side of things, when I was a brand educator, like, a lot of the time, the way that educators will approach a class and are taught to r- approach a class is you'll create this, like, really avant-garde, like, crazy hairstyle that you'll never do on anybody, right? But the theory is, "I'm going to make this crazy hairstyle with all these different techniques that actually are applicable by themselves," right?

Mm-hmm. And so, a lot of the time when it comes to cr- trying to create, like, the avant-garde, crazy hairstyle, you need to actually have the fundamentals and the foundations of the individual techniques first, right? It's like you need to know the rules to break the rules, kind of. Yes and no, not really.

I don't know if that was a good metaphor. Mm-hmm. But, like, basically, like, you have no idea what you're doing with this brand-new software that you have no experience with. How do you expect to create this final product that has so many different facets that you aren't even familiar with yet, right?

And so, let's say that tech is, like, seriously, like, it's very non-intuitive to you. Like, you genuinely don't have that, like, natural skill set. Then I recommend just going on this platform and just see, like, what is possible. See what would happen if you click this button.

Have fun with it. Like, why can't we have fun with, like, the pixels that we're moving around on a screen? 'Cause nobody's seeing it besides you.And I get it.

Maybe this is, like, you're the only reason you're doing this is because y- it's you just wanna do it for your business, right? "I don't have time to be doing this. I don't even wanna be doing this in the first place. What do you mean I have to have fun while I'm doing this?"

Well, you can either try to have fun or just be miserable about it. I don't know what to tell you, girl. Like, 'cause it's not working for you when you're trying to go on here and you're trying to make it perfect and you get a roadblock, right? 'Cause you don't know how to use the software.

It's not working for you then. So at least give it a shot and just try to have fun, and just, like, screw around on a platform for, like, a second. Just, like, give it a chance. Yeah.

So that way you can at least see what happens when you click a button. I cannot even tell you how many times I have, with softwares I've been using for years, I never clicked that button and then I just, like, decided to click it one day, and then I was like, "Holy sh- I just unleashed a whole world of possibilities." Right? And, you know, on the flip side of all of this, like, I, a lot of the times, like, they'll...

uh, people will ask me, like... I literally just got asked this the other day, like, "Did you take a class for this," right? Because I'm just so... I'm just so, honestly just good at it now.

Right. Like, I'm very good at tech. Like, I'm very, very good at it. Somebody asked me, "Did you take a class for this?"

I was like, "No. I wanted to see how I was gonna make it, how I, if I could make it happen, and then I figured out how to make it happen," right? Right. And I wouldn't be able to figure those things out i- I couldn't...

I wouldn't have been able to figure out if it was possible if I didn't already really know those fundamentals and if I didn't already play around with those platforms first. Like, now I know, can I make a form that does X calculation and that makes this happen? I know th- if it's possible or not, and I know how to make it happen only because I've screwed around with those features before when I was just trying to have fun and see if... what's possible and what's not, right?

Yeah. So sometimes you just need to, like, not take it so seriously, friend. Yeah. Like, it's pixels on a screen.

Like, it's not even, like, real. Like, on a real level. I think, honestly, in business in general, the more we can adopt flexibility into our, like, mindset and, like, a little bit more of that experimental approach, th- it can stop things from turning... like, frustrations from turning into such a spiral.

And I think this is one of the things with tech in particular, is, like, a lot of the times it'll be, like, big projects, right? Like, whether it's, you know, for what you teach your students, like, rolling out new systems and rolling out new automations, or even, like, what we do in our businesses, like, rolling out new programs or trying new software. And I think that there's so much pressure sometimes that we put on ourselves because we're in the midst of these big projects. And one of the things that I try to do is step away before it turns into, like, an, a spiral of frustration.

Like, 'cause once you're there, it's so hard to get out of it sometimes. Yeah, and even, like, on a long-term basis. Like, I've heard of people being like, "I really tried, and then it was so frustrating that I just didn't... I just gave up on it," right?

Right. Right. Like, I love that tip. Like, before it gets there, maybe you should take a breath and take a st- like, take a step back.

But also, going back to the beginning of my rant, like, get resourceful, girl. Like, ask for help, you know? Yeah. I- I mean, in my program, like, I gave, I give step-by-step tutorials.

I have AI chatbots that are trained with my brain telling you exactly how to do... And there are so many resources out there that can help you understand these tools and how to accomplish what you're trying to accomplish. Totally. I mean, particularly even, like, a finished project.

Like, I'm teaching you a finished project and I'm teaching you exactly how to get there step by step. Like, all you gotta do is follow the tutorial, right? The TAs. Go ahead.

Oh, no. If you have something, I have a question after, but go finish your thought. The TAs, and I was saying this to Jodie before we got on this call. Resourcefulness, I believe, is one of the largest indicators of whether you will have long-term sustainable success or not.

You have to be resourceful. You have to know who you can talk to, where you can go to get the information that you need, or the help that you need to be able to move forward. 100%. I don't think any CEO has gotten to where they are without being scrappy and resourceful.

Mm-hmm. I mean, the amount of times that I will see posts, places, questions, places. Not my students, not calling you guys out. I'm talking about, like, anywhere, of any s- topic.

Right. And they'll post something and I'm like, "Literally, why did you not google that?" Right. 'Cause I just googled it, got the e- answer immediately.

And, by the way, pre-AI summary from Google, right? Mm-hmm. Like, you can find these answers. Th- I will...

Okay, now I'm gonna call y'all s- my students out. Y- same situation. A lot of the time, I will answer your questions by googling it. Like, literally.

Like, I will, like, find... 'Cause I'm just gonna go find the JotForm article. Right. 'Cause I know there's one.

Right? You're asking me a question about JotForm. I'm just gonna be like, "I'm not gonna a- answer this question when I already know that there's a JotForm article that will-" Right. "...

answer it way better than I can." Like, I know the answer. Right? Right.

But guess what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna literally copy your question, put it into the Google search, and find the exact article for it and then paste the link. You could- Right. have done the exact same thing.

Maybe it comes down to lack of language possibly. Right. Because of lack of experience. But again, like, then we need to do some...

around or, like, having some fun with the platform, and just, like, getting familiar with it first. Totally. And, like, I think it's... uh, you know, there's never a time where you know absolutely everything that's gonna happen.

And I would say that I figure out, like, on a small scale, at least one thing I don't know, like, that, at least once a week. Probably, like, daily actually, when I'm, like, doing things. Like, eh, so that re- resourcefulness, I think, is massive. I agree.

And when you're, like... I just, like, don't want y- uh. I don't want you guys to t- I wish, I wish that we didn't take it so seriously. And now, I, I...

uh, here's wh- here's what I'll also say, you guys. Like, I, for real, like, I get, I get... I see red too. Okay?

Like, I absolutely see red.... and, like, I'll complain to, like, my friends, and, like, my, like, I'll complain to my friends about it. And then I'll, I'll go, "Oh, my God. This is pissing me off."

And they'll be like, "What is pissing you off?" And I'm like, "This is a stupid tech thing. I'm trying to make this automation connect," and they're like, "What is wrong with you, dude?" Like it's literally, like- ...

this is so not something you should be getting worked up about. But I'm like, "But I really want it to work, and, like, there's no reason why it shouldn't be working," like yada, yada, yada. Like, I absolutely get frustrated as well too, especially, you know, recently I'm trying to figure out... I'm trying to figure out how to create, like, an app, okay, and even as techy as I am, dude, it is really not clicking for me and it is driving me up a wall, particularly because I'm like, "I'm smart," like, "I'm experienced.

I should be able to figure this out." So then it's making me, like, second guess my- myself, right? And that does not feel good. It does not feel good to not be good at something.

And I think that's a lot of the time, particularly, I mean, even for, like, experienced hairstylists- Mm-hmm. they've been in this 10, 15, 20 years, like, you know, a lot of the time when we get to that level, it's difficult for us to want to learn something new because we feel like we put in so much time and effort and energy that being new at something again is very uncomfortable, and it doesn't feel good to the ego and it also does not feel good to just our- our energy because it takes energy to learn something new and get good at something, and it normally takes 10 times longer than you think it's gonna take. Mm-hmm. So- Hmm.

let's say that you're listening to this because you just were trying to create something on tech, okay? You're like this. "I'm over it. I'm gonna go listen to Hunter's podcast 'cause he told me to listen to it 'cause I got frustrated."

Your feelings are 100% completely valid, okay? That tech, screw it. It's trash. It's garbage.

Whatever you're trying to create is garbage. We don't wanna do it. I feel you, sister friends. Like, trust, believe, okay?

So I'm gonna give you permission to take a step back, take a deep breath. Tomorrow, I want you to DM me, be like, "This is where I'm getting stuck," and I'll tell you how to get unstuck. But before you DM me actually, I want you to Google it, girl, and I want you to put it in the AI. I want you to tell ChatGPT, "This is what I'm trying to create.

This is where I'm getting stuck. Why is this happening?" Now, ChatGPT might put you in a worse spiral, girl. Like, trust, believe.

Like, I've tried to get it to help me with this stuff, and sometimes it, like, fully makes it worse. Well, 'cause it just invents things. Mm-mm. Yeah, no.

It will literally say, "Oh, yeah. Go click this button." Mm. I'm like, "This button-" Yeah.

"... literally does not exist." It's not Untested. But, you know, like, of course.

Take that, take that stuff with a grain of salt. But again, like, there's... Uh, I have had many, uh, uh, successful, uh, cases of being able to troubleshoot with AI, right? Totally.

Totally. But even just start with Google. Reach out to the support from the software or the company. Like, they have a customer support situation, do they not?

Like, reach out to them and get help. Ask for help, I think is my... Get resourceful, is my true overall situation. And I think that you just hit the nail on the head because what it comes down to when we get frustrated and when we get, you know, overwhelmed with these things is it's not actually that we think this tech is the end of, end all be all and that the world will end if we don't actually figure this out right now.

It's that imposter syndrome and that feeling of like, "Why can't I figure this out?" So I think you've hit the nail on the head there. And then there are some tangible things that we, you know, can do as well. So let's talk about...

So if you're frustrated, you take your break. You, you know, start to feel better about it. You get out of your spiral. You touch grass, whatever.

Um, how can you set yourself up for success when you get back to attacking whatever task it is? Yeah. So a huge mistake or thing that can make it harder for yourself, and also make it take longer as well too the majority of the time for psychological reasons, is trying to build it and create it at the same time. And what b- I mean by that is, let's say you're creating a form, okay?

We're coming up with the questions at the same time that we're building the form. And so what'll end up happening is, is your creative brain is kind of fighting, because you have to, like, write out the words, how you're gonna write the words, right? Maybe this, uh, for another example, like you're writing an email, right? So you're writing the words to the email versus, like, actually putting it into the software, making it pretty and fonted and, and all the things, right?

You're using two different parts of your brain. You're trying to accomplish two different tasks all at the same time, and it's very hard to switch between those tasks, especially if you're not great at one of them, you know? So I always, since the very beginning, I've always taught my students in my programs, like, write out all the questions you're gonna do first. Write out the work first.

Whether that be on a piece of paper or, makes it even easier for you, way easier, if you do it digitally, then you can just start to copy and paste things over. So you write, you do all your work, you do your draft in a Google doc first, free, easy, there. Then you copy and paste it into the software, and then you build out the actual software, like, all in one go. So one step and then the next step and trying, in- instead of trying to do both steps at the same time because I, you have to switch in your brain.

That takes a long time, and it's bit, much, much more energy draining and it takes... There's a lot of different factors going on. And I'll even go as far as to say, a lot of the times with these things that we're building out, like, you may be even, like ... also be making decisions as you go along.

And decision-making by itself will overwhelm you as well too, and then you'll start to think, "Oh, but I need this one thing done before I do this, and I need this other thing that needs to be in place before I do this." That's a big thing that my students run into. Like, they'll be trying to build something out, but then they're like, "Oh, my God. But, wait, I have, also have to have this in place first because I'm about to link it into the form, so I need to go create the link first," and then it gets really overwhelming, right?

Like, we need to prioritize. We need to create drafts, and we need to have everything in place step, by step, by step, so that way, you can just get the one thing done all in one run, and it will be much more easy for you.Yeah, having, like, a good project plan is huge so you know what you're doing. And I feel like the beauty of doing it in that way, uh, everything in my life and business starts in a Google Doc also.

I'm an evangelist for Google Docs. Um, but then that thing is already done still. Like, even if you run into issues with the tech and setting it up, like, you still have all your copy. All you gotta do is go back to this other thing, right?

Versus, I've got nothing, if you get frustrated and have to start again. Ugh. Such a good point, because then it's, like, stuck in the thing that you- Yeah. maybe start, you may have to start from scratch with, right?

And then you have to, like, move things around in a weird way. I love that. That's a great point, Jodie. Yeah.

So overall, I'm, also just wanna tell you, like, I, this is, like, this is honestly, like, so you guys, like, this idea for this episode was like a shower thought. And I was thinking to myself, I was like, I was thinking to my... Okay. I'm gonna, I, uh, I'm t- we, I'm just gonna, we're not gonna edit this out, okay?

You have to share it. Uh, y'all know, y'all know when you have a shower, shower thought and you're just like, "I just need to write this down, like, fast," you know? I was trying to, I was tr- okay. So this is what I wrote down, okay?

Your job is one in which you mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially exhaust yourself for many hours every day, meticulously, meticulously turning small bunches of circular matter into something visually appealing. Are you really gonna let clicking a few buttons on a screen frustrate you that much? So, Jodie... So Jodie and I were going over the notes together, and she read, "Small bunches of circular matter," and then she just started cracking the, cracking up.

And then it did not click for, like, five minutes while we were cracking up and we couldn't stop laughing, that I was referring to hair, and maybe you didn't get it either listening to this. I would doubt that you would with the way that it was said. It makes so much sense now that you explained it. I was trying to, to emulate the depth of the that you deal with every single day, right?

Sure. Hmm. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially, you put up with... There is no way you have not built some sort of resilience at this point, and maybe you just haven't built resilience in this s- particular sector of your work, and you need to get to that point, and you will only get to that point through experience.

So don't give up, get resourceful, keep doing it, and eventually, making the form, building out the email, connecting the automations, m- it'll be just as easy for you as turning small bunches of circular matter into something visually appealing. If we ever do podcast merch, uh, I'm gonna put, "Small bunches of circular matter into something visually appealing" on there. That would be sick. I will buy 10.

Okay, my friend. Thank you so much for tuning into the Modern Hairstylist podcast. I know tech sucks, but you got this my friend. Like, if you, what we, if you have gotten to where you are today, if you've gotten through all that you've gotten through today, if you've learned how to do haircut and you can do it well, you can do this too, I promise you.

So much love to you. Thank you so much for tuning into the Modern Hairstylist podcast. Peace out, girl scout. Bye-bye.

End of transcript. © 2025 Hunter Donia LLC.