What Switching Barbers Taught Me About Personal Growth
Recently I changed my barber for the first time in 7 years. Think about that for a minute. Think about it for over 3 million minutes, that’s how long 7 years is.
To be honest, my decision to switch actually caught me by surprise. I never had any problems with my old barber. I actually think he’s very skilled at his profession.
After all, you could never keep a client for 7 years without being talented in your craft. In the time that he was my go-to guy, I never any issues that made me want to change.
My barber was good, he gave good hair cuts.
The only reason I tried a new spot was because a friend recommended me a place. I figured it might be good for me to at least see what else is out there.
I was hesitant going into my experiment. I’m not somebody who is adventurous when it comes to hair and I try to stay loyal to my guy.
I know it sounds crazy, but loyalty to a barber is like loyalty to a spouse for me. Hair is something that I can control. I have a great deal of respect for my barber. Plus you build a rapport together over the years.
You take comfort in knowing that he knows you. You figure that he must care about you, at least enough to not mess up your hair.
The last think you need is a botched fade.
To me, dating and barbers are not that different. You’re both looking for something mutual. Besides, how many couples do you know that have been together for 7 years?
Unfortunately, just like relationships, it’s easy to get lost in the comfort that comes from abandoning concern.
My barber was good, but he was never great.
Even though I never had any problems, I realize now that I was never fully satisfied. Looking back, I liked my old hair cuts, but I never loved them.
I was just comfortable with the process. The hair cuts were never noteworthy, but they were solid and I knew what to expect.
I spent 7 years chasing comfort.
It wasn’t until I tried the new barber that I realized that my comfort led me astray. My barber now is just plane better. He takes a lot of pride in his work.
He listens more when I ask him to make changes. He takes more time when it comes to answering questions and he pays more attention to detail.
I’m a lot more confident thanks to the switch. My hair has leveled up and I’m more cheerful when I leave the house each morning.
I feel bad for losing the relationship I had with my old barber, but I also feel more satisfied with my hair now. Even though hair is a relatively minuscule part of life, there’s a serious lesson to gain from this experience.
Comfort can lead you to mediocre results.
Despite not being satisfied, I never did anything about it. Without even exploring, I accepted that I couldn’t get what I want.
It wasn’t until I got a new barber that I realized that I am not as tied down as I once believed. I always have the option to try new paths.
Trying new things helps us become more aware of who we are. It also teaches us about what we want out of life. It’s insane to think that one tiny change can have such a large on the future.
I think comfort is good but too much can be a problem. I learned that without exploring, you’ll never know what’s out there for you.
Maybe you’ll find a book that changes your perspective, maybe you’ll find a new coffee shop. You may even find a barber who makes you feel like you belong on the GQ cover.
Opportunity is endless. You just have to start looking.
Ifyou found this interesting, you may like this piece I wrote about the Nike Slogan.
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