Do you get your hair cut every week sir?

‘Do you get your hair cut every week sir?’

‘Yep.’

‘Why sir?’

If I had received a pound for every time I’ve been asked that question in my eleven years of teaching, I’d be a very rich man. If I’m short of time, I’ll respond with a quick ‘If you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready,’ but if I do have the time, I’ll go into a bit more detail on why a weekly trip to my barber, usually on a Sunday, is part of my weekly routine.

I’m a strong believer in always striving to be the best version of yourself and in my opinion, that includes both inside and out. Key word being ‘includes’ – clearly neither the clothes or the haircut makes the man…but it’s a small part of a bigger picture that I don’t underestimate in terms of importance for the following reasons:

1. When I look the part, there’s more chance that I’ll feel the part and it’s undeniable for many, including myself, that my self-confidence and self-worth gets a noticeable jolt in an upward trajectory when I’m freshly trimmed
2. It just so happens that I also have the type of hair (and beard) that look untidy after just a week without a trim, which I’m aware is not the case for everyone, but if I’m looking a bit scruffy outside, I can start to feel that way inside too
3. I believe that taking pride in your appearance creates the impression that you’re the type of person who takes pride in the other key areas of your life too, which can sometimes ensure that doors are opened to you and opportunities offered that might otherwise not be.
4. You never know what’s around the corner…and ‘If you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready!’

In short, when I emerge from my barber shop with that oh so fresh trim…I know the week ahead is going to be a good one!