We caught up with the brilliant and insightful James Blizzard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
James , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar your firm earns is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.
My story is genuinely unique. Being raised in a single-parent household, times were tough, and my mom barely had enough money to get my haircut. However, when she did, I would go to the busiest barbershops, sit, and observe everything the barbers did. When it was my turn, I would run out and repeat the process at two more shops. Eventually, I would go home and cut my own hair with clippers bought with my mom’s money and my bag money. I repeated this process every week until I ran out of shops to visit. I used a double-mirror technique to cut my hair, which I saw my uncle use when I was eight years old. So, I have been working towards my barbering career since I was eight. At thirteen, people asked who cut my hair, and I proudly said I did. They never believed me until someone witnessed me doing it and told the whole neighborhood. My first dollar was earned from a kid named Shane in the neighborhood, whose mom asked me to cut his hair. Eventually, I was advised to attend barbering school, but I had doubts about completing it because I had never finished anything in my life and didn’t know many people who had. However, I completed barbering school after two failed attempts. I was amazed; I thought my teacher would fail me. Now, thirty-nine years later, I am a licensed barber teacher in Pennsylvania inspiring others to chase their dreams. When people ask who taught me to cut hair, I say about 40 Barbers ! They just didn’t know ! 😁
Through the power of dedication and an unrelenting desire, you hold the key to unlocking your true potential and accomplishing great things!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is James Blizzard, and my ultimate goal in life is to positively impact others. I firmly believe that my mission is from God. Raised mainly by my grandmother, I didn’t have the typical childhood with both parents present. My mother entered my life when I was 13, and I spent my entire childhood on public assistance, which was challenging, to say the least. If given the chance to do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing, as I now understand that God was preparing me for my purpose. My passion for art, finances, and improving people’s lives led me to the barber industry, which encompasses all three. I took the leap and pursued my dreams relentlessly. Today, I provide an array of services as a licensed barber teacher, certified man unit specialist, certified scalp micropigmentation technician, hair dye expert, and enhancement specialist. With 39 years of experience, I am a happily married man with a family, and I attribute all my success to God’s blessings. What sets me apart is my unwavering love for my craft, and my commitment to continuous learning. My focus is not just on my own achievements but also on paving the way for the next generation. I strive to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to making the world a better place. You can achieve anything with persistence, positive thinking, and an unrelenting desire.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
My most successful approach for growing my clientele has been to remain visible to the public by consistently delivering high-quality work, adapting to changing market conditions, and providing exceptional customer service that exceeds expectations.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I founded a Unisex Hair Salon with a purpose beyond providing exceptional service. It was a platform to empower individuals through training, licensing, and life skills. I believed in giving second chances and extended an opportunity to someone recently released from prison. Unfortunately, they sabotaged the business, forcing me to close it down. However, I learned from that experience and carried the lesson forward, leading to greater success in my next endeavor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/smpphiladelphia?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=1fcccc3a-15b0-4d90-90b3-4be74ccd51fd
- Instagram: https://tr.ee/7OppOnJAA3
- Linkedin: https://tr.ee/ukf7UtWQCR
