We were lucky to catch up with Brendan Libby recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brendan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

What does it take to be successful? And what is the true meaning of success? How much money one has? How many cars and homes someone owns? I think it’s different for everyone but what it takes to get there? I can answer that in so many ways. I can say hard work, motivation, determination, etc…. For some that’s probably true but for me it is a much more complex answer. First of all I wouldn’t consider myself to be “successful” at this time but I truly believe I am well on my way. For me to get to this point took a great deal of hardship and I had to experience failure. When hitting rock bottom i learned a great deal about myself. My strengths, weaknesses, limits, and also it showed me that I could never put myself through this ever again. During that time I learned who I really was and only then I realized what I truly wanted in lifè. So What got me to this point? For starters it was rhard work and determination but it was choosing something I am passionate about, knowing who I am, what I’m about and what I want in this life. My success isn’t measured by dollar amounts and material things. It’s about doing what I love, helping others, and providing for my loved ones and making sure they will be taken care of if I’m here or not.

Brendan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

So i was born and raised in Long Island in NY. My family moved when I was young so I never really had time to think of what I wanted to do as a career. The cost of living was very high and without schooling, jobs didn’t pay well so in other words i was broke. One of the ways i would cut some costs would be to cut my own hair. It only took 2 or 3 times of me having to shave it all Off before I learned how to make it work. Some of my friends would ask me to clean them up and I really enjoyed doing it. So I went to barber school and applied myself and after 1528 hours and two exams I was officially a licensed barber. Growing up I remember going to shops and the consultation was literally a couple seconds and they would cut my hair without asking many questions. I never got what I wanted. I have also seen many barbers have attitudes with their clients and act as if they are doing their clients a favor by servicing them as if they were doing it for free. I believe that is something we should change as barbers. I spent the last few years trying to perfect my craft and trying to give my clients the best service they could have because without them I’m just a guy with a bunch of clippers and shears. My consultations take a while and are in depth to guarantee the best results. I put extra time aside for each new client in case their hair texture requires more care than others. Every one of my clients have my number in case they have any questions about the service they received. Last time I checked I currently have over 450 loyal customers, some of whom are professional athletes and entertainers. I am booked up about 2 to 3 weeks out and that is with me working 12 to 15 hour shifts 5 days a week. I am hoping to start classes shortly so I can try to help other barbers reach their full potential. What sets me apart from the rest? My love for this industry. It changed my life. Many people out there see this as a quick way to make some money and where you are your own boss. I see it as an industry where sky’s the limit, you can shape your life how you see fit, while meeting some really great people on a daily basis. I love my job and my clients and there isn’t any other job I would rather be doing.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Word of mouth and social media has been the best way for me to grow my clientele. Every time I take my time and have a more than satisfied client they have friends and family that will be seeing the finished product. I have had many customers come to me after asking my clients in the street where they get their hair cut. Social media helps as well. I’m honestly not the best with social media and I can benefit from growing in that area but where I am now I still get several people messaging me weekly. Getting clientele is easy. Holding it is something else so to grow your clientele and hold is being consistent is key. I would say 75% of my clients left their previous barber from them “falling off”.. consistency is key. Go above and beyond.. it may seem like common sense but it’s amazing how many times I hear of this happening

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are so many sources of inspiration for my thinking and the way I do things. We live in the age of social media. I believe social media if used properly can be an amazing tool. I am constantly watching the best barbers and stylists in the world on a daily basis. They inspire me to go above and beyond and I love the fact I have all the material I need right in front of me from people who are much better and more experienced than me. If you are the best at something there isn’t much you can learn from others. But surrounding yourself and watching people who are much further along in their journey than you are, now that is where you begin to learn and pick up new tricks. Two examples of who I love to watch is Robtheoriginal and vicblends. They have countless sources of inspiration on all of their social media platforms.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.precisionbarbering.booksy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barber.lib/