In today’s ever changing and evolving world of technology, changing career paths and economic lay-offs, the days of the average worker staying in the same job for a the majority of their working years is a concept seemingly long gone. So when we hear of someone who was laid off after working for a company for several years, we often empathize with our friend and help console them with platitudes about feeling certain she or he will soon find other employment or perhaps even better opportunities “out there”; we also breathe deeply and silently wonder “What would I do if I should lose my job?” In the back of our minds, somewhere there’s a little tiny chirper who gnaws at us, saying “What would I do? Where would I first begin to even look for another job?” This is not a bad thing to do at all. It can never hurt to always have a ‘backup’ plan in the event the unthinkable actually happens.

And so it was for Kim Toll, who having nearly reached her half-century mark, came to work one day to find that by the day’s noon hour, she no longer had the teaching position she loved so much. After seven years, with no explanation, she was thanked for her seven years and basically told “See you later.”

The working world of cosmetology is ever changing. Having worked in a teaching academy for hair styling and cosmetology for so many years, Kim was not all that concerned about finding placement in another salon.

After absorbing the shock and surprise, she sat down to consider her options. Did she really want to jump back into working for someone else, or was this perhaps her time to consider what she really wanted to do?

She knew what her dream job would be, but did she dare go after it? After all, she wasn’t a prime ‘twenty-something’ just starting out anymore. Kim sat down and made a list of all the pros and cons of going into business for herself. After she looked at both lists, she felt she still needed to talk to someone who knew more about how to start a new business than she did.

Kim visited the SCORE office in downtown Fargo, gained invaluable information from her mentors there, and decided she wanted to go for it.

Her next mission was to contact the North Dakota Board of Cosmetology. Kim already had her Outbound License; however, she wanted to know exactly what services she could offer to her homebound clients beyond basic hair styling. Once she learned these things, she sat down and drew up her management plan.

Today Kim Toll is well on her way to offering a premiere service for people who are homebound due to physical and/or mental conditions, offering salon styling that includes: haircuts, styling, some hair coloring and permanents (providing the client is physically capable), as well as manicures.

For people who are not able to manage trips to a salon for reasons of illness, or if they are recuperating but yet not quite strong enough to forge into a zone filled with throngs of people, this is a service they can treat themselves to as they begin feeling better, or something a loved one can offer as a super treat to a person they love and want to do something special for. There is no one who doesn’t feel a vibe of energy as well as a surge of happiness knowing they look good after getting a “new do.”

The caveat is that this is not a service for the able-bodied who can manage trips to a hair salon on their own. This is a service for homebound individuals, be it a temporary situation or a permanent one. The person has to be in need of someone coming to them in their residence.

Both SCORE and the Board of Cosmetology felt, indeed, that there most definitely is a strong demand and need for such a service. And for Kim Toll, this is a dream come true, as it enables her to continue with her career path as a cosmetologist and feeds her need to be with people. Instead of boo-hooing, or having a pity-party for herself, Kim decided to help herself and found a way to combine her two passions in life — hair and people — that will provide Kim the means to become an independent business owner.

Now who believes life can’t begin at 50? Not me. And certainly not Kim Toll. Kim is a living example of what anyone can do once they are determined.

Presently, only the Cosmetology Board of North Dakota has a specific license for this. Kim has been in touch with the state Cosmetology Board in Minnesota, which tells her they will grant her an exemption during their meeting in December that will allow her to provide homebound salon styling.

Congratulations, Kim Toll, for creating a new career path for yourself that will benefit many others!

To reach Kim Toll, please call: 701-866-9702 or email her any questions you have at: kssell@cableone.net.