Maija Aallas, the founder of the CHOICE Finland series, worked as a beautician in Helsinki in the 2000s. One of his clients was the wonderful and successful Kirsti Paakkanen. Read Kirsti Paakkanen's lessons towards success. ❣️
It was the beginning of the 2000s. At that time, I was a girl in my early twenties who had moved from a small town to Helsinki. I had started a business and had my own small beauty salon on the Boulevard in connection with a hair salon. One day, a wonderful woman - Kirsti Paakkanen - drove into our shop's yard with her dark green Jaguar. That day he became my client, and I got to listen to his wise and funny thoughts for almost two years.
When entering my nursing room, Kirsti was the first to ask me: "In addition to this job, do you also work as a model when you're so beautiful? Under no circumstances should you not use your beauty.” At the time, I was mostly embarrassed. I didn't understand what he said at all. I think at that time I came from a bit of an ugly country and mostly found faults in myself. I didn't feel beautiful at all. When I look at my photos from that time now, 20 years later, I understand Kirsti's message completely. Lesson: Don't forget to say out loud the beauty and virtues you see. Words matter. Kirsti Paakkanen taught me this.
One morning, while Kirsti was waiting for her turn, the philosopher Esa Saarinen walked past the shop, and he noticed Kirsti and waved happily. A moment passed when Esa Saarinen entered the store with a huge bouquet of roses. He handed the roses to Kirsti and said that Kirsti is an absolutely incredible woman and that he appreciates her very much. I watched and listened in the back room and learned again how much it means to say and do good. Kirsti was bursting with joy and hugged Esa Saari for a long time.
Once Kirsti asked me where I was from when I was doing the treatment. Again, a little ashamed and uncertain, I told the name of the small town in eastern Finland where I spent my childhood. I think it was kind of embarrassing to talk about my hometown, being from Helsinki would have been much nicer. Kirsti told me: "What I regret most is that during Womena I was ashamed of my roots. I didn't dare to say that I was from Saarijärvi." Kirsti had said in a polite manner that she was from Jyväskylä. At that time, he also thought it was somehow more believable. Lesson: Be proud of your roots and make them your strength. Kirsti Paakkanen taught me this.
My most embarrassing situation in the nursing home came when I mistakenly put Kirsti's luxurious black handbag on the floor. Kirsti roared at me: "Never put a woman's handbag on the floor! It means losing money!” Sweating my hands and apologizing, I fixed it right away, and that moment was deeply etched in my memory. Later, I always knew how to act correctly in this matter, and Kirsti was satisfied. Now I decide that I will apply this doctrine immediately. My handbag is never on the floor again. That wonderful and warm Kirsti Paakkanen was that successful.
Kirsti also knew who she was and what she wanted. With the power of three women, we made Kirsti beautiful for the Independence Day Castle Festival. I took care of fair skin and light feet. Someone took care of the hair, someone did the makeup. In the end, the two of us stayed in the treatment room with Kirsti, and she asked to close the door. Topakka Kirsti dug out her own thick, black kajal pencil and her strong pink lipstick from her handbag. She made herself into a personable Kirst, lined her eyes strongly with black and reddened her lips with lovely pink. Now he was satisfied. I remember watching Kirsti's confident nature on TV in the evening. He knew who it was. Lesson: Trust yourself and dare to be personal. Kirsti Paakkanen taught me this.
Fly high and free, the wonderful Kirsti Paakkanen.
- Maija Aallas