Often as humans grow older, we become too caught up in our busy schedules in this chaotic game of life to slow down and appreciate the smaller things. As a 20-year-old young man, I can count on one hand how many times I have been to a “professional” for a haircut. My entire life my aunt has cut my hair, except for the few occasions when the timing did not allow, and I was forced to resort to going elsewhere. There was no rhyme or reason to my preference; I had always just perceived haircuts as a chore and had never been too picky, so I would just show up and she just cut whatever amount of hair that she felt she need to. Even as a junior in college, I still wait until I travel home to schedule my haircut with my aunt, which has always taken place in the comfort of her house. Until now.

I haven’t been able to travel to my hometown and schedule a haircut appointment with my aunt lately due to my crazy schedule, so I decided to go to Manchester Barbershop, about three minutes from MU. Prior to this, I had never been to a barbershop and I wasn’t quite sure of the difference between a barbershop and a hair salon; I just needed someone to cut my hair, regardless of what the establishment was named. A barbershop traditionally caters to shorter hair, namely men’s hair, so a man greeted me when I entered. As I mentioned earlier, haircuts are just chores for me, so the only expectation I had was that my hair was to be a shorter length when I exit the barbershop than when I entered, nothing special. To my surprise, the barber went far and beyond my expectations, turning my “chore” into a now enjoyable experience.

It wasn’t that the barber owned some special gadget that magically transformed my hair or anything silly like that. From the moment I parked my car, I noticed various little things that this particular barber did that impacted the quality of my day, starting with his hours of operation listed on the door. I had decided to visit in between classes, with only an hour to accomplish my task. It was 9 a.m., making him the only place in town that was open for a haircut at this time, and his hours were 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. that day. After noticing the convenience, I walk in to be greeted with high energy and a smile by the barber, who invited me to take a seat in the small empty building. Continuing to provide excellent service, he somehow understood all my unspoken needs from the moment I walked in. The man repeated my haircut request back to me, notifying me that he actually listened, and then, without me having to say anything he states, “We’ll get you out of here in no time.” The positivity was what appealed to me at first, but for the man to respect my time and understand my needs as a customer so easily, I was shocked. I was shocked because he was genuine. The man treated me like an adult, which is rather uncommon due to my baby face. The man’s price was affordable, especially when considering the service. He performed the haircut very well, and the conversation during the haircut was authentic, kind, and interesting. Halfway through I came to the realization that this man was not in the hair business, but instead, the people business.

I have now found my new barbershop, and I will no longer be driving over an hour just for a haircut from a family member. Prior to this experience, I had never had a good day just because of the outstanding customer service that I received. But, at 9:00 in the morning, for a few minutes, I was not getting a haircut by some guy that owns a barbershop, but rather, a friend. I had never understood why people take so much pride in where they go to get their hair cut or styled, but I now understand why every man needs a good barber. Whether it be a man and a barbershop or a lady and a hair salon, I strongly believe that everyone needs that someone in their life. Going to a quality barbershop where I was treated with respected and great service allowed me to get away from all the craziness and just relax. Being able to stop and appreciate the little things, like a receiving a great haircut from a kind barber, allows one to resume a busy schedule feeling refreshed, confident, and encouraged. So, next time try out the Manchester Barbershop, or at the very least, try to enjoy the small things in life and allow yourself to appreciate the positivity that others spread. 

Nathan Timmerman ’18 is a marketing and sales double major and entrepreneurship minor. Aside from his involvement in the College of Business, he enjoys volunteering in his free time. Lord willing, Nathan’s post-graduation plan is to build his career in the business industry.