Summary

The web content provides insights into the realities and personal growth experienced when transitioning from a corporate job to a freelance barber career.

Abstract

The article reflects on the author's journey over a year and a half since transitioning from a 9-to-5 executive position to becoming a freelance barber. It emphasizes the importance of being perceptive to clients' preferences, the value of building trust and friendship with clients, the necessity of finding routines to fill downtime productively, the patience required to establish a stable clientele, and the significant lifestyle changes that come with the pursuit of personal freedom and self-reliance. The author highlights that while the transition involves trading job security and benefits for control over one's life, it is ultimately a rewarding experience that fosters resilience and personal development.

Opinions

The author suggests that being a freelance barber requires more than just technical skills; it involves understanding and aligning with clients' energy levels and avoiding personal questions to maintain a comfortable atmosphere.
Trust and friendship are crucial components in retaining clients, which can be cultivated through honest and meaningful conversations.
Filling pockets of free time with productive activities is important due to the erratic nature of client appointments.
Building a stable clientele base is a gradual process that may take longer than anticipated, necessitating financial planning and reserves.
The author poses a reflective question about the willingness to trade the comforts of corporate life for the freedom and accountability of freelancing.
Despite the challenges, the author believes the transition to freelancing is worthwhile for the self-reliance and character growth it fosters.

5 things you should know before you become a Freelance Barber

Or a hairstylist

It has been a year and a half now since I started into this trade. From life as a 9–5 salaried executive to a 10-hour service job, I realized that there are some things which I could have factored in before making a switch.

If you’re mulling over a career switch to a freelance barber, here are a few things that you should take note before you decide.

1) You need to be perceptive.

Be perceptive when you break into small talk. You have to align yourself with your client’s energy level instead of simply blabbering away. There are clients who prefer quietude and enjoy the ambience.

Also, never ask personal questions. Sometimes, these can lead to awkward silences.

Having the tendency to think about what you are going to say is a good thing since you allow for thoughtful responses that could lead to meaningful conversations.

2) Clients value trust and friendship.

Apart from having a quality haircut experience, clients want someone they can rely on. Trust and friendship is something that people value aside from being a subject expert.

These take time to build and engaging in honest, small talk is a good platform to find common ground.

Clients naturally open up to discuss deeper subjects once we establish ourselves as someone trustworthy.

Every conversation has its place. It is all about how we use them to build relationships.

3) Find a routine to fill up pockets of time.

Ideally, we want to have clients all day. But the reality is that the work duration is erratic. Clients usually arrive after work hours or during lunchtime.

Try to find a routine that you can fall back to whenever you have some time to kill. I’d definitely recommend something productive rather than mindlessly scrolling your phones, which I am guilty of doing until I realized it.

4) Building a stable clientele base takes time.

Although I knew that to build a following of regulars takes time, I realized that it takes way longer than expected. I raked in a few hundred dollars shy off my expected income for about 9 months before finally seeing my income grow to stability.

Every change requires resource. Prepare yourself with some cash reserves to sustain you during this period.

5) You trade everything for freedom.

Are you willing to trade your office welfare and benefits for absolute control on your life?

This is the question that I have struggled with and will always recur in the back of my mind.

Freedom comes at a price.

And that comes with taking full accountability on yourself. There is neither any cushion for you to fall back on, nor are there anyone you can point fingers to.

Looking back, it makes you learn more about yourself and toughens you as a person.

Thoughts

Of course, there are a few other factors that you need to take into consideration as well. Regardless, we all come from different circumstance and background.

Was it worth it at the end of the day?

After all the contemplation, I would still say yes.

While pursuing the freedom to make a living as I choose, becoming self-reliant is the end outcome.

You learn other things as well in order to bounce back on your feet. Going freelance is a good character building experience, which I would never have learned in my former corporate days.

-Han Hamid