2025 Begins: A Journey of Rebuilding and New Beginnings

First Newsletter of the Year

As 2025 kicks off, it’s already been an eventful start. The surprise LA fires have brought a wave of emotions—feelings of helplessness, watching people lose their homes, their memories, and the stability they’ve built. And then there’s the unsettling reality of seeing people online dismiss or make light of others’ suffering.

This clash of perspectives hit hard. It’s only the beginning of the year, yet the world feels heavier than ever—whether it’s due to politics, global events, or the fires themselves.

I’ve never been one to follow media outlets too closely. The emotional ups and downs are tough to handle, but this time, I couldn’t look away. I found myself glued to the updates, feeling deeply for those affected. Now that the flames have calmed and people are in the midst of rebuilding, the weight of it all still lingers.

The truth is, it’s impossible to fully grasp someone else’s devastation until you—or someone close to you—faces it. It’s a reminder to approach others with sensitivity, to lend an ear, and to simply be present when people need it most.

As barbers, we walk a unique line between being hair artists and unofficial therapists. That’s something I’ve always felt deeply connected to throughout my career—the ability to listen and support. Sometimes, that’s exactly what people need.

Switching gears: even within the barbering industry, we’re starting the year with new tools dropping left and right. It’s nothing new, but it’s surprising to see how divided opinions can be—whether it’s the brands people swear by or the ones they openly dismiss.

The industry has always been full of strong opinions, and maybe that’s just part of the game.

Entering the Year with Intention

I guess what it really comes down to, and the message I want to set forth for this next year, is to approach it with a bigger heart—more compassion, more empathy, and the ability to tune out what doesn’t serve us.

Social media makes this harder than it seems. While it’s a positive space for creativity and connection, it also amplifies the chaos when the world feels upside down. There’s so much focus on sensational content designed to get reactions, and sometimes it’s overwhelming—even for someone like me, who’s usually pretty good at balancing those energies.

But there are times when it feels like you have no control over the noise being shoved onto you. That’s something I vividly remember from my time as a full-time barber: the mental toll of constantly taking on people’s energies. Beyond the physical exhaustion of 8-12 hour shifts, it’s the emotional exhaustion of being a listening ear and holding space for clients while trying not to bring that home with you.

Now that I’m not behind the chair as much, the energy I take in comes from the social aspect—people online, the constant stream of updates, and the pressure to stay grounded through this phase of my life. With the year starting off so rocky, I’ve been focused on finding the silver lining and getting back to balance.

The Importance of Intention

One thing that’s helped me—and might help others—is living with more intention. It’s easy to lose yourself when you’re using social media to gauge where you’re going. The comparisons, the feeling of needing to “keep up,” the constant race—it all adds up. And even I fall into that trap if I’m not clear on why I’m doing certain things.

This year, I’ve restarted something that’s always helped me: journaling. I’ve used it in the past, but it’s easy to let it slip when you’re stuck between projects or in the middle of a busy season. Still, I’m trying to be better about it, because as a creative, you have to constantly find ways to refuel and realign your energy.

Creativity is draining, but it’s also what drives us. Taking the time to slow down, reflect, and build intention into your daily life can make all the difference—not just in how you create, but in how you show up for yourself and the people around you.

What Do You Want Out of This Year?

Truly think about this: as you step into this new year, what is it that you want to achieve? Is there a goal you’ve been circling around but haven’t fully committed to? Think of it in three parts:

• A safe goal—something achievable and comfortable.

• A scary goal—something that pushes you outside of your comfort zone.

• An exciting goal—something that motivates you and feels worth striving for.

Write those goals down and reflect on them. Then, ask yourself: how can I move the levers to make them happen?

This year, I’ve been using my journal to break things down into quarterly goals. Instead of worrying about the end of the year, I’ve shifted my focus to daily improvements. These small, consistent efforts add up in ways we often underestimate.

Give yourself real, actionable goals to achieve within a month. Work backwards:

• What would it take to make that goal happen?

• What do you need to do daily to become the person who achieves it?

• How do you need to show up in your life to reach the destination you’re aiming for?

When you get clear on the goal, it becomes easier to drive the vehicle to get there. Without clarity, you’re shooting aimlessly, and that often leads to repeating the same cycles, the same experiences, over and over again.

Questions to Reflect On for the New Year

Here are some questions to guide your reflection and help you set actionable goals for the year ahead:

1. Your Goals:

• What is one safe goal you want to achieve?

• What is one goal that scares you but excites you at the same time?

• What daily habits can you commit to in order to work towards these goals?

2. Your Growth:

• How can you improve on a specific work skill this month?

• How can you become more intentional in your personal life?

• What steps can you take to become more self-aware of your thoughts and actions?

3. Your Why:

• Why are you doing what you’re doing?

• What drives you to create, and what do you want your work to mean to others?

• If you became the person you want to be, what would your daily life look like?

Taking Control of Your Life

It’s easy to get caught up in autopilot, letting life steer you instead of intentionally choosing your direction. But as creatives, we strive for something more. We seek meaning in our work, in our lives, and in every decision we make.

Here’s the hard truth: self-awareness isn’t something we’re born with. It’s something we work toward, day by day. Every action, every thought, every decision has a consequence, a result, an effect. And becoming aware of that is one of the hardest, but most important, breakthroughs we can have.

Take control of every moment. Know why you’re doing what you’re doing, and reflect on what you need to do to move forward. The answers are often right in front of us. Sometimes, we even intuitively know what steps to take—but we haven’t built up the courage to act on them yet.

Time is precious. Life is precious. We only get one chance at this, and none of us can predict what’s coming next. So, take the risk. Ask yourself the hard questions. And then, most importantly—act on them.

LFG 2025

As we step into this new year, I want to leave you with this thought: take time to visualize what you want and how you see your life unfolding.

Who is the person you want to become? What does that person do daily? What habits, tasks, and routines define their life? To reach that level, you need to start showing up as that person today.

Think about it this way: the version of you that you’re striving for—what does their life look like? What kind of decisions do they make? What type of systems or routines do they have in place to represent that version of themselves?

We see examples of this all the time. We see it on social media, on TV, in people we admire. But for you to become that version of yourself, you need to ask:

• What steps are you taking now to align with that vision?

• What do your actions, work, and presence reflect about who you want to become?

For example, I often get questions from people on social media about wanting to become educators. If that’s your goal, ask yourself:

• Are you showing up today as the person who’s already an educator?

• Does your work reflect that you’re someone a brand or a community would trust and value in that role?

If you want to work with a specific brand, ask yourself: does your content already align with their message? Does your page reflect the values and work ethic they’re looking for?

Visualization is powerful. When you can see that goal so clearly that it stays on your mind, it’s a sign of your excitement, your dedication, and your commitment to doing the work.

So, I’ll leave you with this thought:

Visualize your future self. Show up as that person. Act as that person. Do the work now that reflects the life you want to live.

Wishing you an amazing 2025 and a great rest of January. Let’s make this year incredible!

SOF!