The #1 Mistake Most Barbers & Creators Make

I used to think that being skilled in a category meant you automatically earned a place in the market. But I was wrong.

We live in a time where skill can be gained in two ways—through years of experience or fast-tracked education thanks to accessibility. With the right intention, focus, and dedication, people can become “good enough” very quickly.

It doesn’t matter your age, location, or years in the game—what matters is your attitude and outlook on growth. Some people choose to be teachable, while others do not.

I’ve realized that ego is not always a bad thing. If used correctly, it can fuel ambition, make you relentless in your pursuit of success, and push you further than most. But the trick is knowing when to control it and when to let it drive you forward.

Today, I want to share how shifting my mindset around this changed my career—and how it might change yours too.

The Phases of Mastery in Barbering & Creation

Think of your journey in phases—whether in barbering, content creation, or business.

Phase 1: The Grind (Years 1-5)

• You’re in the trenches.

• You’re proving yourself—to your co-workers, clients, and most of all, yourself.

• You deal with tough customers, bad reviews, self-doubt, and a lack of support from those around you.

• Every mistake feels massive, but you learn through repetition and resilience.

I remember in my early years, I had to take every type of client—kids, walk-ins, people looking for the cheapest cut.

At that stage, you don’t really have a choice but to say yes.

Those first years were filled with mistakes, miscommunications, and tough lessons.

I was still building confidence in my consultations—learning how to ask the right questions before a cut even started.

But at the time, I didn’t see it as my responsibility. I thought clients would automatically trust me and communicate everything upfront.

But they don’t.

So every mistake I made, every difficult client I dealt with, came down to one thing:

I didn’t take control of the experience.

Phase 2: The Refinement Era (Years 5-10)

• You become more level-headed—you’ve dealt with worst-case scenarios and learned how to navigate them.

• You start narrowing your focus and can be more selective with clients.

• But early on, you still take every client that comes in—even the ones who make your job harder.

• Your consultations improve—you learn that most problems happen because you didn’t ask enough questions.

I remember this vividly. I was too focused on cutting hair rather than controlling the experience.

I learned the hard way that the client experience starts before the cut, continues during, and still extends throughout the end—it’s in the conversation, the questions, and the awareness of their body language.

Phase 3: The Crossroads (10+ Years In)

At the 10-year mark, something shifts. Things start to click—but whether that’s a good or bad thing depends entirely on your perspective.

I’ve seen it go both ways.

For some, experience becomes a tool—they use everything they’ve learned to refine their craft, expand their skills, and evolve with the industry. They stay teachable. They find ways to stay challenged, to keep learning, and to elevate their work beyond what they thought was possible.

For others, experience becomes a crutch. They believe they’ve “seen it all” and “know enough,” so they stop pushing themselves. Instead of using their knowledge to grow, they let it hold them back. They fall into routines, dismiss new approaches, and become stagnant—not because they aren’t talented, but because they stopped learning.

The Real Question at 10+ Years

At this stage, the choice is yours:

📌 Do you use your experience as a foundation to build on—or a ceiling to stop at?

📌 Do you lean into growth—or get stuck in comfort?

Because at 10 years in, your skill isn’t the question.

Your mindset is.

Overthinking Instead of Taking Action

With social media today, it’s easy to feel behind.

You watch others grow, trends shift, and suddenly, you feel like you’re not doing enough.

But here’s the thing:

Content should amplify what you’re already doing—not add more stress.

The biggest mistake barbers and creators make is spending too much time thinking rather than doing.

How to Fix It:

✅ Action Over Thinking.

• If you’re new, this is the best time to experiment. You have the freedom to test ideas.

• Don’t worry about perfection—just start.

• Use Instagram’s “trial reels” feature if you’re hesitant to post publicly.

Where I Failed: My Mistakes as a Creator & Barber

I chased trends for too long.

I got lost in 7-second Reels and viral formats that didn’t actually build my brand.

When I started making more in-depth content, something changed.

• I started thinking better.

• I became more intentional.

• I felt less anxious.

The same principle applied to raising my prices.

The Long Game: What I Learned From Blue-Collar Clients & How It Shaped My Career

When I first started raising my prices, it wasn’t about trying to “make it.” It was about proving—to myself and to the market—that I was worth it.

But the biggest lesson I learned wasn’t just about pricing. It was about people.

At $150 per cut in 2015, my clientele wasn’t made up of celebrities or influencers.

❌ They weren’t ultra-wealthy people dropping money carelessly.

✅ They were regular, hardworking, blue-collar individuals—electricians, mechanics, truck drivers, construction workers, grocery store employees, front desk clerks, small business owners—who worked for every single dollar they spent.

At first, I wondered why they were willing to spend their hard-earned money on a haircut from me when they could easily go somewhere cheaper.

Then it hit me—they weren’t just paying for a cut.

They were paying for the way they felt walking out of the shop.

They understood the value of skill, consistency, and hard work because they lived that every day. They saw something in me that mirrored what they believed in—the effort, the attention to detail, the pride in craftsmanship.

And that’s when I realized:

Pricing Isn’t Just About Skill—It’s About the Whole Experience

The reason those clients paid me my asking price wasn’t because I had the best fade in the city.

It was because I had built value beyond just the service itself.

To charge more, I didn’t just get better at cutting hair—I had to elevate everything around it:

📌 Execution – The quality of my work had to be consistent, no matter the day, the client, or how I was feeling.

📌 Experience – I had to make every appointment feel like a personalized service, not just another slot in my schedule.

📌 Proof – My work had to be visible—through my portfolio, my social media, and the way my regulars spoke about me.

📌 Professionalism – Showing up on time, being reliable, and treating every client with respect.

📌 Investment in My Craft – I upgraded my tools, my shop setup, my education, and my branding.

Every single detail had to reflect the price I wanted to charge.

This experience taught me something I’ve carried through every phase of my career—whether it’s barbering, content creation, brand partnerships, or mentorship:

📌 People don’t just pay for a product or service. They pay for trust, consistency, and the feeling they walk away with.

The blue-collar workers I served weren’t paying for luxury—they were paying for reliability.

They weren’t looking for the “hottest barber in the game”—they were looking for someone who took their craft as seriously as they took theirs.

How This Applies to Everything I Do Now

This same lesson applies whether you’re behind the chair, creating content, or working with brands.

✅ Clients don’t just pay for a haircut. They pay for how it makes them feel, the trust they have in you, and the professionalism you bring.

✅ Brands don’t just sponsor content creators. They work with people who have built trust with their audience, proven their value, and consistently show up.

✅ People don’t just follow you online. They engage because they connect with your process, your work ethic, and the value you provide.

It’s never just about being the best.

It’s about making it undeniable that the price—or the opportunity—you’re asking for makes sense.

And bottom line—if someone isn’t paying you what you think you deserve, it’s because they don’t see the value. I know I’ve been there before, thinking, “This is my worth, and they should pay it,” and just blaming the person or company. But in reality, that mindset only hurt me. Instead of shifting the narrative and putting in more work, I was stuck in a limiting belief.

This was a hard pill to swallow, but I’m grateful I learned it early on. If they didn’t see it or feel it, it meant I wasn’t doing enough to be undeniable.

Opportunities exist, but the great ones are harder to compete for—and that’s where this lesson really applies.

What This Means for You

So if you’re sitting there wondering:

❌ Why aren’t people paying me what I want to charge?

❌ Why isn’t my content reaching the right audience?

❌ Why aren’t brands reaching out to work with me?

Ask yourself this instead:

✅ Am I doing the full scope of things necessary to show the market my value?

✅ Am I making people feel confident in what I provide?

✅ Am I showing up in a way that makes my price/opportunity make sense before I even ask for it?

Because when you build trust, proof, and consistency, the price, the audience, and the opportunities all follow. It’s the weirdest phenomenon—it’s like you don’t even have to ask for it; it just flows to you.

So what’s the biggest mistake I see barbers and creators make?

They wait.

📌 They wait to raise their prices until someone else validates their worth—while only focusing on the cut, neglecting everything else that enhances the experience, presentation, and environment.

📌 They wait for brands to notice them instead of proving their value through action.

📌 They wait for clients to come to them instead of proving why they’re the best choice—by being available, showing up early, or staying late.

The truth is, you don’t get hired, respected, or paid what you want because you exist.

You get it because you show up before anyone asks you to.

You may not be perfect at it yet—but that’s not the point.

The point is becoming the type of person people want to hire, work with, and pay—before they even realize they need you.

That’s what separates those who grow from those who stay waiting.

So my final question to you is this:

Are you showing up like the person you want to be—or are you waiting?

Final Thoughts: What’s Your Next Move?

📌 What’s one thing you can do today to move forward?

📌 Where are you overthinking instead of taking action?

This can be your year. Let your actions speak for themselves. Show up for yourself fully, and watch how the world gravitates toward you.

Sof!