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There are plenty of books on the
market about “Barbering 101.” Perhaps you have your books from barbering school
sitting in a corner collecting dust? Lets face it, barbering books can be
boring to read. Between measurements, boring and rather irrelevant history,
outdated material, and poor writing styles, these usually make reading into the
barbering industry a rather dreadful task. Say no more, fam. Our friend Vic The
Barber has you covered. Recently, Vick Damone released his works, “The Barber
Bible,” a collection of first hand barbering experiences and lessons learned
(some the hard way!). I had the pleasure of sitting down with the 120 page volume
recently and caught a glimpse into the life of Mr. Damone, his success in the
industry, and the goals he is currently working towards. Understanding that we
are all dealt a specific hand of cards in life, Vick tends to explain that is
what we do with that hand that matters. YOUR life matters, and YOU have the
ability to turn it into something great, or you can choose to bypass the
opportunity set before you no matter how great or unfortunate your
circumstances may be.
The
opening chapters provide valuable insight for the aspiring barber. If you or
someone you know is considering the profession, this might just be what helps
decide between the various paths of licensing: Barber school or apprenticeship?
What tools should you immediately start out with, and what tools should you
save for over time? Vick also explains his take on barbering ethics and values
that he believes each barber, whether just beginning their journey or those who
are well aged, should possess. These tips help ensure that clientele will keep
returning week after week. By asking these four simple questions, Vick
encourages the reader to develop themselves relationally and professionally: Am
I being the type of barber I would want cutting my hair? Am I providing a
service that I myself would appreciate? How is my appearance and hygiene? And
how is my attitude? As matter a fact, the major theme within The Barber Bible
is attitude. According to Vick, an individual literally has the ability to
alter their reality by changing the way they think, which will dramatically
alter the way that people think about them.
Vick continues to describe the 10 steps required for attaining a
“winning” attitude, but you will have to get the book to discover these 10
principles for yourself!
When
you decided to become a barber, there was more than likely three deciding
factors involved: (1) The enjoyment of working with people, (2) the enjoyment
of developing your artwork, and (3) the ability to make GOOD money! As a
barber, you have the ability to make $20,000 a year, or $100,000 a year, and
because of this Vick wrote an entire chapter dedicated to money and saving.
Pulling from Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University,” Mr. Damone elaborates
on the importance of saving and establishing your finances so that you can live
and retire in comfort. Smart money making techniques also requires smart
spending habits, and Vick certainly hits the topic square on. The majority of
barbers came into the industry without knowledge on healthy spending, so even
though you might make an average of $35,000-$40,000 a year, you might still
find yourself struggling when bills are due. If this is you, I highly suggest
grabbing this book to learn healthy spending habits. Your wallet will thank you
for this later in life.
The
later chapters in The Barber Bible deal exclusively with individuals who are
established within the trade and are seeking to grow further with their
businesses and potential brands. Reaching into his wealth of experience and
knowledge in developing the trade, Vick engages with the reader and encourages
those who are interested to set attainable goals. According to Vick, these
goals need to be SMART: Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time
bound. In order to fully understand the role each principle plays, you will
have to get the book! If starting your own shop is your goal, then chapter 8
and 9 are dedicated to you! Establishing your shop and developing your branding
are essential in barbering success. Sure, you can come out with your own
private label merchandise, but if you do not have the tools or knowledge in
branding, then your products will simply gather dust on the shelves, just like
those barbering books from school! If you want your brand to do well, then you
need to do well. YOU are your brand! Vick goes into fine detail into tricks and
tips to help establish your shop and branding, so I will not elaborate further.
This
book reflects quite a bit of Vick’s religious and philosophic interpretations
and perceptions. Even if that is not what you were hoping to get out if the
volume, fear not, for there is plenty of valuable information and encouragement
within the pages outside of his personal beliefs and convictions. If you are interested in starting your
barbering career, developing your existing career, or even finishing your
career strong, then you might consider adding this volume to your shelf. There
is so much that I would like to share with you from this book, but that would
spoil the surprise! At 120 pages, this is not begging for an excruciating
amount of reading time. Actually, you might be able to finish the entire volume
within a slow afternoon or morning at your shop! Sit back in your chair and
enjoy an engaging read which may offer you valuable information and/or
encouragement to help you along the way to success within your trade.
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