We were lucky to catch up with Ryan Manuel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ryan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

It was back in 2011 when I held my first pair of clippers. I never knew that holding a pair of clippers would open so many opportunities for me. The only reason why I picked up a pair of clippers was because I was trying to fix my own haircut. I was preparing for a homecoming dance and at the time I didn’t know what local barber to go to, so I looked around until I found one. I went to this barber and they did a decent job, but it was not what I really wanted. I decided to take matters into my own hands and try to fix my haircut myself. I remembered that my dad had these cheap but efficient clippers that he kept at our house. Going back home, I locked myself in the bathroom for about two hours working on my hair. I went back to school the next day and was asked by my friends and family members who cut my hair. So I told them I did it. From there I would get requests from friends and family to give them haircuts. I went from cutting my household, to cutting the neighborhood, to cutting the whole city.

I was 17 years old when all this happened. It was not till I was 23 years old when I truly decided that becoming a barber was what I wanted. Between the ages of 17 and 23 cutting hair was a hobby. I was a college student between these times and I didn’t invest too much of my time into cutting hair. I honestly didn’t think cutting hair was profitable at the time. I was only taught that going to college and getting a degree was what made you successful in life. However, the more people I started cutting, the more I realized I had a passion for this craft.

I then decided to enroll into Barber college. Now I own an operate two barbershops with six barbers and a tattoo artist who work under my business.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was 17 years old when I first held a pair of clippers. That was over a decade ago. At the time being a barber wasn’t on my mind. I was focused on graduating high school and going to college to play sports. It wasn’t till a bad haircut that I decided to cut hair. Mine specifically.

It was my high school homecoming event that I was getting a haircut for. I wanted to look my best so I visited a barbershop. The haircut I got didn’t satisfy me. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I remember my dad kept a cheap barber kit that he bought from Walmart. I went back home, locked myself in the bathroom for 2 hours, and worked in my hair. I went back to school the next day and received a lot of good feed back from my friends and family.

From there I slowly started cutting other people’s hair. Preparing everyone for small events. Like birthdays, weddings, and other get togethers. At this point it was only a hobby. A skill that I enjoyed doing.

After years of treating it as a hobby would later become my passion. I loved cutting hair. It never felt like work for me. From there till now, what once was a hobby became a career. I currently own and operate two barbershops, with 6 barbers and a tattoo artist who work in my business.

I feel I am only getting started. I’m learning everyday and I love learning and growing. I hope that my story is a testimony to believing in yourself and never giving up.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

To become a barber, I needed to first aquire a barber license. And to get this license, going to barber college was the only option I had to make. This was a challenge for me because financially I wasn’t able to. However I still believed that I needed to do it.

I went and tried applying for barber college. They accepted me after get my approval from certain student financial aides. The financial assistance only went so far before I was dropped from my first barber college. My financial admin stopped coming in so I was dropped from the one place that I thought would get me to my dream.

I didn’t give up though. After 4 months of finding ways to get back into school, I finally came across a solution. The found a second barber college that accepted me because the Mony I had collected was closer to their tuition amount.

I basically had to restart at this new barber college. it takes 1500 hours to graduate. Technically 10 months if gone everyday. I was about 900 hours in before the first school dropped me.

It was discouraging at first but I continued to believe. I kept searching for ways. Asking around and looking wishing my network of people. Not allowing myself to give up.

I finally finished and got my license. Now I own and operate two barbershops.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Rich dad, poor dad was a powerful book that I’ve read. This was a book that was recommended by friends and entrepreneurial pod casts. I decided to purchase the book and see what the hype was about. The book shifted my perspective on how money is seen. I gained a certain value for money and the way it is made.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tipoffbarbershop.wstd.io/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ryan.the.barber_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.manuel.90?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCD9M9JxKdGMU1csdib97xfQ
• Other: http://www.tiktok.com/@rythebarber