Hey friends, Kim here! This week on Mr. And Mrs. CEO, I sat down with someone I instantly clicked with the moment we met poolside at a mastermind. Ashley Thomas is a business coach, owner of Six/Ten Salon & Boutique, and one of the most down-to-earth, values-driven leaders I’ve met in a long time. Ashley built a thriving, commission-based salon in a town of under 3,000 people and she’s completely redefined what’s possible for service-based businesses in small communities. What I loved most about this conversation was how honest she got about what the real growth journey has looked like. We talked about the highs, the emotional cost, and the messy parts most people don’t see.

Topics Covered:

• Why Ashley chose to stay in her tiny hometown and open a scaled, luxury salon anyway
• The early days of leadership (with zero experience) and what she learned on the fly
• The turning point when she realized her team was the real client and how that changed everything
• Commission vs. Hourly: how she built a model that actually works (for both sides!)
• How she helps her team grow emotionally, not just professionally
• What burnout taught her, and the $600K buildout disaster that forced her to pause

Ashley’s story blew us away. This conversation validated that sustainable business starts from within, and when you pour into your people, the growth follows. As always, thanks for tuning in. If this one hits home, share it with a fellow entrepreneur and leave a like and review. Until next time, keep building with heart (and don’t forget to take the dang break when your gut tells you to!).

Connect with Ashley:
Website: https://www.sixtensalon.com/
Instagram: @hbic.sixten / @sixtensalon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sixtensalon/

Connect with Mr. & Mrs. CEO!

Darren Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darren.hiebert/
Kim Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert/
Darren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenhiebert/
Kim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert/
Website: https://www.mr-mrs-ceo.com/
Door Gurus: https://doorgurus.ca/franchise
Bubble Bath Boardroom monthly newsletter: https://www.mr-mrs-ceo.com/subscribe

Ever felt like you’re building the plane while flying it? That’s exactly how May felt for us. In this episode of Mr. and Mrs. CEO, we reflect on a month packed with major milestones, steep learning curves, and some hard-earned wisdom. We get into the real behind-the-scenes work of launching our first two franchise partners and share how a cold, windy bike ride with our daughter unexpectedly summed up everything we experienced. From burnout to breakthrough, it was a month that tested and stretched us, but also reminded us why momentum always follows persistence.

Topics Covered:

• What we learned from launching and training our first two franchise partners
• Why structure matters, especially when it’s not your natural strength
• The toll of the “not-sexy” parts of business-building
• Balancing personal energy and business demands as mid-life founders
• Our biking metaphor for entrepreneurship and the hidden momentum that follows hard effort

If you’re building something new and feeling like you're riding against the wind—don’t give up. The wind shifts and the momentum builds. You just have to keep pedalling. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to get a closer look of our business and life in action. See you next time!

Connect with Mr. & Mrs. CEO!

Darren Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darren.hiebert/
Kim Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert/
Darren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenhiebert/
Kim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert/
Website: https://www.mr-mrs-ceo.com/
Door Gurus: https://doorgurus.ca/franchise
Bubble Bath Boardroom monthly newsletter: https://www.mr-mrs-ceo.com/subscribe

Welcome back to Mr. and Mrs. CEO! This one is special because we’re celebrating Darren’s 65th birthday! Yep, 65. The age that once felt like a lifetime away is now right here, and we’re unpacking what it really means to hit that milestone when you’ve spent your whole life building, running, and growing family businesses. From the physical changes and unexpected bee stings (yep, you read that right!) to the mental strength that only comes with decades of all the ups and downs, we’re laying everything out.

Topics Covered:

• The reality check of turning 65 and why Darren still refuses to park in the senior spot.
• How business wisdom evolves over decades and why we don't panic like we used to.
• The power of cycles and how we’ve learnt to recognize economic and personal patterns that help us stay grounded.
• Why being “too old” or “too young” is more about mindset than mileage.
• How we’re staying adventurous, refusing to settle into boredom, and continuing to build our legacy.

If you’re pushing 60 and feeling like you're supposed to slow down,maybe think again. Let us know if this one hit home–we’d love to hear what age has taught you. Remember to stay bold and stay young at heart. We’ll catch you in the next one!

Connect with Mr. & Mrs. CEO!

Darren Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darren.hiebert/
Kim Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert/
Darren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenhiebert/
Kim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert/
Website: https://www.mr-mrs-ceo.com/
Door Gurus: https://doorgurus.ca/franchise
Bubble Bath Boardroom monthly newsletter: https://www.mr-mrs-ceo.com/subscribe