PASSIONEERS 12

Passioneer: Someone who loves the talents & gifts they have been bestowed & strives to become the best when it comes to sharing those talents &  gifts with others.

The first Passioneer featured in Eclectic Bouquet is my husband, Mark Smith. 

Mark is a local barber who creates wonderful hair-cuts at Express Yourself Braids & Beauty Salon @ 6102 Jahnke Rd in Richmond, Virginia.

Take a look at a few of his haircuts (see more cuts on Instagram @markluthersmith):

 

 MOHAWK

MOHAWK

MOHAWK

LADY AFRO

TEEN AFRO

 

Take a look into the mind of this very passionate barber:

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Eclectic Bouquet: How did your childhood attribute to you becoming a barber?

Mark: I’ve always like the art of cutting hair.  It was something I’d always wanted to do.  I used to cut some of my friends’ hair and I used to let them cut mine. It was something I was always interested in.

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EB: What are some of your other passions?

M: I like to chill with my family. Go to the movies & travel with my family.  I like the Redskins and going to their games with my family.

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EB: Usually, the skills acquired to fulfill a person’s passions are either, natural, learned or a mix of both.  How would you describe how you acquired your barbering skills?

M: It was a learned skill.  I learned it.  I didn’t know how to do it when I first started barber school, but I learned the skill and kept practicing it and became pretty good at it.

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EB: When did you decide that barbering was what you wanted to do for a living?

M:  I guess, after I got into barber school and realized how much I enjoyed it and how it made people feel. It made them feel good if they had good haircuts.

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EB: How long has barbering been a “money-maker” for you?

 

M:  Thirteen years.

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EB: Would you do this for free if you were wealthy and did not have to work?

M: Yes.

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EB:  I know you don’t have branding for yourself at this time. Have you thought of it? What would it be & why?

M:  I haven’t thought of it. You thought of one for me (to be revealed soon) and it was pretty good.

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EB:  If someone saw a sticker/sign/flier/t-shirt with just your (new) branding on it and they had no idea what it was for and asked, “Hey, what is that?”  What do you hope the answer would be?

 

M: I would hope that they would say that this is an exciting, new refreshing shop and barber who cares about his clients and who listens to his clients. And who basically helps his clients to gain the style that they want.

 

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EB: Give me some one-word emotions that you would like for your customers to feel when you have provided them with a hair-cut.

M: Exciting. New. Refreshing.

 

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EB: Is there one hair-cutting session that sticks in your mind and makes you swell with pride when you think of it.

M: No, it’s not one. To me, I’m only good as my last cut, so that last cut has to be the one that makes me swell with pride.

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EB: What advise do you have for young, aspiring barber?

M: Always treat people the way you want to be treated. Be honest and up front with the client. Be helpful to the client. Learn as much as you can while you are in barber school. Get licensed. Be patient.

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EB: What are some of your future goals?

M:  Continue to grow my customer base & increase my income from where it is now to where I want it to be.