Stop Counting Haircuts
+ the strange art of human craftsmanship
If this resonates, would you share it with others? Ie. Drop a link to your favorite barber? Forward along via email or add it to your stories on the gram? 😁
Stop Counting Haircuts
Allow me to paint a picture.
Six men standing approximately 8 feet apart with razor blades in their hands.
Strange smells. Empty bourbon bottles lining the walls.
Electrical outlets everywhere. And a 7th man fervently cleaning the aftermath.
All others in the room have never met.
Sound like the set to a Hollywood horror film? Close, but not quite.
Rather, this is Homewood’s finest barbering establishment: Single Barrel Barbershop + the location for today’s #KeepImpacting newsletter.
Enter Barber (Kellen Mata'afa).
Kellen is committed to his craft. Very committed.
Listen to his words below.
“The day I begin counting haircuts, is the day I’m no longer a barber.”
Do you understand what he’s saying? He’s telling you, and me, and everyone… to stop counting haircuts. Meaning…
—> If you’re a salesperson, stop counting your deals
—> If you’re an artist, stop counting your pieces
—> If you’re a teacher, stop counting your lessons
I could go on. Yet, the point remains.
Whatever IT is… that you’re called to do. Do it with craftsmanship in mind. Do it for the outcome, not the paycheck. Do it for impact.
The lesson you can learn from Kellen (and those like him) are quite numerous and I’ll share additional quotes from him below.
But the point of today’s message — is to remind you your craft matters. And to PUSH you to find a craft in which you NEVER have to ‘count the haircuts’ to make it through the day.
#KeepImpacting,
- Josh
PS. Avid reader and friend @JoelLedbetter offered some killer advice last week on sharing practical tips. So… Here we go with my first video message: taking the topic at hand & unpacking it in a short 60-second video format here:
Check out this video: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/xT8Bt7vjKoJQJtPSa9L6gG?
Additional quotes from Kellen:
On clients & his chair.
I want my chair to be an outlet for people to talk about their lives, families, passions, and what makes them tick. I also want my chair to be a place where the drained, overworked, and stressed can just sit, rest and not talk at all. Come all.
On the big picture
I enjoy my job. I get to build confidence in others through my work. Financial security is just a temporary thing. You can’t take it with you when the book closes. It’s all Gods money and I am just a steward of what he decides to give me. Big or little. My job is simply just to serve others while I’m here.
On asking questions:
It’s all about asking questions. I study it. Setting me up to learn and engage and connect with the people in my chair. Some people want to talk. So we do. Others want time for quiet. And I honor that too.