The Barber

I know a barber

He was born in Ondo state

Could barely read or write

He moved to Lagos to live with his older brother at the age of 6

He didn't take to education that well but he loved to barb

His uncle supported him by sending him to an established barber to learn his trade

He was an apprentice for three years and then he began to barb as a stylist for his former boss and then at home for all his friends

In 1999, at the age of 24 he traveled to the UK

He settled in a Nigerian community and began to barb Nigerians and other Africans for a low fee

He was at this time sharing a flat with 12 other guys who were into various businesses 

He worked hard and saved hard 

After ten years, he had enough money saved and a vision in his heart 

He traveled to Nigeria and opened two barber shops One at Olowo-Ira and the other at Mushin

He got already trained stylists and created an automated system of payment and got a manager for his two barbing outlets 

He stayed in Nigeria for two months until he was sure his system was working effectively then he returned to the UK to work for another year

While he was working, his two shops in Nigeria were generating monthly income for him

He replicated the same process for five years and the number of his barbing saloons totaled 10 

The income from the saloons varied because he charged based on location 

At Olowo-ira, he charged 500 Naira for a haircut but in Magodo phase 2 he charged 5000 Naira for a haircut

He understood his business, scaled it appropriately and ensured that each of the businesses made profit while providing jobs for struggling stylists who would sometimes leave their own shops to work for him when they need a quick cash

I share this to encourage some of us who have degrees not to close our eyes to other opportunities available to us to prosper 

Most of us have learnt to sell our time and not our value 

Selling Value makes you do more and gives you more worth 

Selling time diminishes your worth over time 

Once you have learnt a skill, master the art of teaching it to others and helping them grow 

You can only get better than them by teaching them 

Even if they have more skill in it than you do after teaching them, you will have more experience and you have more management skills 

David started by managing his father's sheep 

He killed a lion and a bear, then he killed Goliath and started managing men but his other skill with music was not neglected 

He invented musical instruments, organized choirs and composed songs all his life

His skills, experiences and ability to learn (He learnt a lot about politics and rulership in the land of the Philistines and under King Saul) helped him build a dynasty that is still standing today 

There is no knowledge that is wasted or obsolete, you must learn to adapt old

knowledge into current knowledge using wisdom principles Remember this and prosper 

-GSW-