Barber shops galore

The December hurricane in Puerto Rico diverted my vacation to Phoenix. My barbershop radar is always on and tuned in quite well. I can smell the aftershave. I can hear the clippers from a good way off. On this trip I was picking up more shops than I have ever seen in any city in America. They were everywhere. I wonder just how many more shops there are here per capita than in other cities. There were shops in all neighborhoods. The usual range was here from very nice, retro/modern places to the old and dingy neighborhood favorites. I wonder if the numbers of retirees makes for more barbers available to work? Although in the shops I visited there were plenty of younger barbers to be found. More research is needed. Likely, during the winter again.

Power Point

I delivered one of the best presentations of my selling career. The centerpiece of the presentation was a power point presentation unlike any I have ever used before or seen presented. I followed some advice I read in a book recently about presentation and persuasion. This was not the first time I have implemented a golden nugget form this particular book. I recently used another idea to score a big win. The book had been recommended by a colleague. The colleague then became the victim of my education and ability to use the information I absorbed from the book. You have to be careful what you tell me to read. I just might learn something… And then I just might use it. Hint: Thank you Jeffrey Gitomer.

Moo!

Do you hear that? No, you didn’t. You might if you listen hard. What are you listening for? You are listening for a “Big Moo”. I just finished the book by that name. It is a follow-up to Seth Godin’s Purple cow from a few years back. Your business needs a big moo if it is to survive. The book is a collaboration of insights from the 33 brightest minds in business management today. There is GREAT stuff there. Get it. Read it… hopefully you get it and your organization can benefit from it.

4 min

I cut a clipper fade on a textured model at a recent class. I even amaze myself most of the time with the speed and simplicity of the Andis 4 min. fade technique. This guy was easily the best fade I have ever cut in front of a crowd… and it almost cut itself. Have you tried this yet? What are you watin' for?

Remember me?

I have not forgotten about all of you and my blog. No excuses. I have been busy and I have been not very busy. What I mean is that the shows and education slow down a bit this time of year. You know that. Salons are way too busy to go out to attend events. This works well for me here in that I get very busy with a lot of end of year wrap-up and next year planning. I have great things planned for 2008. I have written some interesting programs and I am just now getting these things out to distributors for the coming spring show season. I look forward to seeing you on the road and sharing more great Andis information in 2008.

I have no class

I worked a recent show. I did not have a spot in a classroom. I did not cut on the floor. I was there to set, run and manage the booth. We had a great member of the Andis team there to cut. By my normal show standards this was a very easy weekend for me. The hardest part of the weekend was explaining to stylists why I was not the cutter in the classroom. It is great to have developed a following and it is not my or Andis’ intention to disappoint, but, the next generation of Andis cutters has some great skills and passion for sharing what they know. Look for me AND members of the team on the show circuit in 2008.

I have no class

I worked a recent show. I did not have a spot in a classroom. I did not cut on the floor. I was there to set, run and manage the booth. We had a great member of the Andis team there to cut. By my normal show standards this was a very easy weekend for me. The hardest part of the weekend was explaining to stylists why I was not the cutter in the classroom. It is great to have developed a following and it is not my or Andis’ intention to disappoint, but, the next generation of Andis cutters has some great skills and passion for sharing what they know. Look for me AND members of the team on the show circuit in 2008.