SPEAKER_01 0:00

I think the the being genuine, genuine and like, um if your work is hollow, people can tell. So like be genuinely care, you know, care about other people. You know, and and I think that will go a long way.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

All right, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter, where we tell the stories of Colorado's best networkers and find out some of their tips to their success. Today I have a special guest. Uh, he's my personal barber, uh Noe the Barber uh from Sanctuary Barbers on the show. Welcome. Hey, thank you, Andrew. Thank you. Well, uh I always tell my people, Noe, that you gotta network with the personal services because you know all the T. You know who's fighting with who, who's starting a business, but you have a captive audience with the people that come through your chairs. And um uh share a little bit about a story that you've heard on the chair from a client.

SPEAKER_01 0:59

Um I've heard all kinds of stories, right? Good and bad and and um wild stories and on their way to funeral stories, so it's like all of it. Um let's come back to that question though, because I think in here in a little bit, it's just gonna the most random story will pop up. And it's like because I've really heard it all, right? You're like, oh, that's some tea.

SPEAKER_00 1:20

But uh it's been it's all good and bad. Right up. Well, and you're you're a younger guy, but you've written a book. Yeah, um, you've got a lot of experience. How did you get into barber and man?

SPEAKER_01 1:31

So I I just picked up some clippers, man. My sister's clippers. Uh she went to beauty school, um, and it's just something I did, and then um, right, you got someone's gotta line yourself up. I have uh pictures from seventh grade and wrestling. My lineup is all jacked up, my hair's all jacked up, but I you know, I was had the most confidence because I uh you know groomed myself and stuff like that. So by freshman year, it was when it was like um that's when I picked up my sister's clippers and full send it. And then uh by 2017, I was in barber school. And it's just it's been a constant learning.

SPEAKER_00 2:05

But you're like an artist too, like right, like good with your hands, like you make your visual, like stuff can come to life. Um how is a head of hair uh like a canvas for somebody who's not a barber?

SPEAKER_01 2:18

I would say it's a canvas because you know, as long as they don't come in jacked up, you get free game and they have um, you know, like there's it's it's it's really nice because you can change not only their hair, but their perspective on life and and their view. Um, and that's the most important part, you know, I think like of the craft um and of the canvas, right? Because it's it's the it's like your touch, right? Your haircut, so yeah. You look good, feel good, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:48

People walk out ready for an event, uh ready to go on a date, uh ready to go take on life. Uh but it's that that confidence boost when they get freshened up, uh so to say, um, is powerful. And you also like will will share um like wisdom in the chair, right? Like you're not just creating small talk, you leave everybody with some uh, you know, I guess healthy advice or encouragement and and uh joke or something, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Learn a new joke or something. How do you carry all the conversation? Because you're right, like in the course of a day, you have somebody who's getting a haircut because they're headed to a funeral, and the next one might be ready to go on a date, and the next one has just got a big business meeting. Different priorities, different things that are important to them, high energy, low energy. How do you how do you just take their lead?

SPEAKER_01 3:39

No, no, no, no. I I think um you have to take the lead because that's why they come in, because they feel like it's a it's a safe place. Um and I think with that being said, it's also like playing relaxing music because the world can be chaotic and loud. So, you know, keeping it soothing, and of course, on the weekends or if you know there's kids and families and stuff, you can you play some rock and roll and you guys have a good time. Um, so and then and learning to like listen and just a little bit accommodate. And sometimes maybe they need that booth, so you gotta play some hype meeting you know, playing some their favorite songs and just just you're catering to them. So it is uh it is uh it's a very interesting piece because um in that transition you have to be you know present and intentional with your conversations. I think uh there's this book it's called uh Change Your Questions, you'll change your answers. You know, if you just ask the the same question, you're always gonna get the same answer. Um sometimes when I ask people what they've ate for lunch and what they ate for dinner, that's a genuine question, but I know it's gonna give me the same response, you know, just oh nothing or something. So ask good questions and and what are what are some of your favorite questions to ask on the barber chair? I uh uh an intentional one is like something they're doing in their personal life and something they're working on in their business. And and that opens the door for like just the rest of the haircut they're talking. You know, just what's something in your personal life you're working on and something in your business?

SPEAKER_00 5:06

I think there's some probably powerful parallels to networking as well, because you're carrying conversation, trying to be interested, trying to listen. Um, and you know, when you're in a networking situation, people want to talk about what they're interested in. Um any advice you would give to a networker of how to ask better questions? Um what advice would I give to a network?

SPEAKER_01 5:30

Networker who wants to ask better questions. Um I think the the being genuine, genuine and like um if your work is hollow, people can tell. So like be genuinely care, you know, care about other people, you know, and and I think that will go a long way.

SPEAKER_00 5:48

Well, and in no way, watching you two, uh, there's a lot of depth to you. I I I think I probably discovered a lot, but you like serve on the board for the Boulder County Fair, you uh serve in nonprofits, you have a farming background, uh and you know, I guess how how are you mixing that into all stool? Tell us a little bit more beyond the barber stuff about um you know what you're doing to serve your community.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

Um, so currently I am the secretary for the Boulder County Fair. Um, it's awesome, right? We just had uh a good time this uh August, a couple weeks ago. Uh prior to that, I was on a nonprofit, which was uh we uh raised money for scholarships, Hispanic Education Foundation. And that was good, right? It was like that first leap to helping the community. And I feel like I've done other community events before that, right? But these are more the non-help nonprofits I've helped. Um, but I think juggling all that together is just, you know, I think that's what makes life. It's more it's work, but that work is intentional, it's purposeful, and uh it's it's a lot of creativity and free roaming of like, you know, just doing whatever you want, but just getting it done.

SPEAKER_00 6:59

Well, those are some big arenas. Uh I imagine there's a lot of going on and being a part of a board that's putting it together. Um what's the networking that happens in those kind of situations?

SPEAKER_01 7:11

I will say though, like with with um all the awesome things I do, I try not to take credit because I think it's a collective. Yeah. Right? Like, you know, like it's teamwork. So with that being said, the things we talk about the room is really planning strategically, looking at data, um, and how do you get better? Because it's not just shooting the moon with you know, you gotta have like attainable targets and just tangible targets. There you go. Right. Um uh and yeah, just just how we can make better uh serve uh the community better. It's a free event. How can we give more and you know, be better?

SPEAKER_00 7:49

And I think when you come from that place of just wanting to serve, it makes people want to do business with you. I mean, I know uh people have found you at those events, and that was never like your intent is to go prospect, but you're in a place, you're a part of your community, and that as a business growth strategy, um it's a powerful way uh just to be a good human being and serve all those. So, how'd you get pulled into uh those kind of yeah?

SPEAKER_01 8:16

So I I will say you're right because uh and I see it, right? All the support from the community that you know I didn't um intend to get, just right the giving, um, all my new friends, right? Met some cool people. Uh but I got brought into the Boulder County Fair through the president. Uh he's my client. So I guess, right, you have these conversations with your clients, and it's like, hey, you should help. And he he recruited me. He recruited me and uh all from behind the chair.

SPEAKER_00 8:45

And uh, so yeah. Well, and uh how do people find your chair? Is it referrals? Are they finding you uh through other um networking? I mean, tell us how do you how you get new clients. Yeah, I really I really would say I think it's you are the brand.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

You are the brand, and and if you're not who um you say you are, people will cat catch on and stuff. So it's always been knowing the barber, um, and then just recently a couple of years ago is sanctuary barbers, right? So we're building the brand within a brand, uh building brands, right? Connections that matter, right? And and helping others push their brands and and I think the most important part with that is knowing who you do business with and having integrity and having core values with yourself, or else you'll find yourself in a mix of like, oh, you know, now now they can smear your name for just trying to be helpful.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

I'm thinking of like your clients that come in once a month, or what however frequency they they come in to get a touch up. But there's there's part of your brain that's got to remember the last conversation you had, and you probably have a book of the next chapters for everybody, right? But it's very similar in a networking system where let's say you and I connect and we met at an event, we had a conversation, and then I see a month later at the next event, be able to keep track of that in my mind. What did we talk about? Did we commit? Did we follow up with anything? How do you how do you keep it all straight? Do you have a CRM? Is there notes, or how do you keep every everybody's files or whatever? Yeah, no doubt.

SPEAKER_01 10:15

I think um back to intentional. You have to have a CRM, right? You have to have uh data, but then being intentional, right? I would just run into Travis and you know, I'd just painting, right? Yeah, so it's like, hey, what's you know, you remember their face, and and um, you know, I talk I talked to them a little bit. So just being intentional. Um and then sometimes, man, like I will butcher someone's name. I'm like, yo, you know, and it's like your name is not, you know, not Ryan, or or yeah, it's just it's bad. So, but I think you know, same thing. It's like, hey, but I remember this of you, and then you're like, oh yeah, and then we're cool. But you know, you don't remember everything, but you you try.

SPEAKER_00 10:57

And uh and then some clients, you know, as they grow with you, um, you know, you're you're on their hundredth haircut at this point, you know.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

No, they they'll open up, man, and when you least expect it, now you're like, oh man, like, got you. I got you, brother. So you just gotta, I guess, give an ear to, you know, so you can also have someone to listen to you. Build those, build that mutual friendship.

SPEAKER_00 11:21

Yeah, yeah. Well, let's talk about like, you know, because as a as a guy, uh, there's not a like unlike like with women, where there's pressure about what they look like, or some guys will just show up and their hair's not even done, or so that you know, they um they maybe aren't as groomed as as uh but in a networking, a first impression is so valuable. So give give us dudes that maybe uh need some grooming tips, uh how to how to just uh freshen up, create a look, create a fit a little bit better. So it ain't what you got, it's how you rock it.

SPEAKER_01 11:55

It ain't what you got, it's how you rock it. So um, same thing, you know, you just gotta try your best and be intentional. Um, because same, if if if you don't, I've seen an older gentleman actually recently, um, and he's all shaved, right? He's got some neck hairs and he's got like down here neck and ear hair. But you know, it's like, all right, like he tries to put himself together, and then you can just tell the effort. Okay, maybe you don't got enough money for a haircut. How's your outfit? Are you punctual? Do you tuck in like it all? And then same thing, you can have the freshest haircut, but you know, how's your outfit? How's your attitude? How's your perspective? How's your handshake? Is it firm? So um, but anyways, with that being said, I think you should visit your barber and I think you should build uh good friendships um that will also help you um around that, and and your barber can help you, right? Um I I I believe that.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

Take care of him, he'll take care of you. Well, and what is it like some people some guys just have their hair the same way their entire life or for most of their life? Like, yeah. How many people need to change it up though? Like you're like, if if you just let me do this, you would look better.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

Like, is there no? So I yeah, so I guess I said like how women feel. I think men feel this way too, because just the other day I shaved this guy, and I'll see him on Tuesday, I'll see him tomorrow. I just saw him on Thursday, but I sold him on this package and and he's coming in. So he's he's he's locked in, first timer. But I didn't want to shave him bald because I was like, hey, look, like you still have a lot of hair. He was his perspective was like, I'm bald in. I'm like, dude, no, you just gotta we gotta fail on the sides, and and so we made him look good though. So now he's rocking the shave, and that's why I gave him the package deal so he can come back. So he can get a shave every week. Um, so try to help him transition to his new look. Yeah. And stuff. So and I've done toupees as well. So yeah, yeah, I don't know if you knew that, but I've done some toupees as well.

SPEAKER_00 13:48

And uh it's a skill. Do toupees well, it's blending, right? Like uh they probably don't need to be cut ever so often unless you're changing the the hairstyle, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:59

So but but it is uh it's all part of the craft in the industry, and it's like yeah, I know what you're doing, and be intentional because or else you'll just be make you you'll you'll make the industry look bad. And and you have to educate yourself. And um, I guess real quick, um that goes to say with my barber teacher, he was 91, he taught Paul Mitchell, and I feel like his his theory was if you want to be great, you know, it's a it's a choice. You'll be great if you choose first. So um you know, if you invest in your education, you can then do something. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:33

I love it. Well, let's talk about the book. Um because the book's powerhouse and there's a pack full of wisdom. What how do you even um where did that inspiration come from and what do you hope your readers take away after reading the book?

SPEAKER_01 14:47

It really came from like journaling and um Do you know just just putting cre so the whole manifestation and the law of attraction, right? It's all correlated. So I've done my homework. I didn't do my homework in high school, but in the real world, you have to do your homework, you gotta do your due diligence. Um, so a lot of journaling and then I mushed that together and it came into a book. And it's awesome. But I've actually told this story how because it got edited and you know, some things got get cut out, and it's also been a couple years now, so then perspectives change. So it's actually very funny because now this book is we're in 2026, so in a couple years, right? I have to keep writing books now, or else it's like it's it's it's a weird, it's like a movie or a series. You're like, ah, they just made one episode, you know. Yeah, it was a good one, but it was never seen, you know, one hit wonder, whatever, like the song. So you almost gotta keep creating as an artist. Do you got book number two in your head? Is it our yeah, the blueprint, man? The blueprint. Is that what it's gonna be called? Yeah, it might be allegedly. Uh uh, no, but uh powerhouse, man, it's just uh achieving success through uh purpose and uh passion and entrepreneur spirit. I think we as entrepreneurs control culture, and it's important for us to do a good job for the next generation and to to lead by example. So yeah, and you gotta mush that again become a powerhouse.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

Do you um like I know you got kids in your chair, like is it like a mentorship thing? Um, has it helped open some doors uh to get you introductions, or how has the book helped your business?

SPEAKER_01 16:30

Um recognition, publicity. Um, I think you know it it's profited, right? And it's it's I think it's also been a game changer for my mind. It's like, wow, you can do this, and then you do it. Yeah, yeah, the belief, and then you do it, and you're like, oh, what's next? Actually, just put some books in the mailboxes for the for the free libraries around the neighborhoods. That was super cool. But it wasn't just any book is my book, so yeah, that was super cool, and just like being able to give back.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

Yeah. Um well, so cool, uh, Noe. So I would still love that one story from the chair. Uh, either wisdom or something that happened that uh, you know, helped helped your business or stuck out to you. What was the question? Sorry. What is was the story of something that happened in the chair? A conversation that you had, or um a piece of wisdom that you were given, um, or interaction that you had that uh transformed your business?

SPEAKER_01 17:24

Um, so funny story, real quick, actually. So my good client Alex uh Shepler knows Sandra Harper. And so then my my friend connection was referred to Sandra. Sandra referred me to you, and then now we're here, and I've actually made some some good uh good relationships through your behalf, and I'm I'm grateful to be here. Um but yeah, it was it was right, like my ale, my friend Alex was like, hey, don't call her if you're not serious, because same thing, we're busy men. And and when you told me to be here on this episode, I was like, hey, I gotta be, you know, it's like it's priorities, right? Because you know, you um so same thing. He said, Don't work with her if you're not serious. She then referred me to you, and same thing. It's like, hey, we gotta work and we have work to do and we gotta be serious. So, and then now we're here, man.

SPEAKER_00 18:11

It's and it's an honor. Right on. Well, one thing when we talked earlier, you're I'm like, where do you network? And you're like, everywhere I go. Everywhere I go. What is what does that look like? Is there any arenas? And when you have this, I network wherever I go mindset. Like, what does that look like? What does that feel like in reality? That's a really good question.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

Um, I actually try not to sell myself now. Before I was like, hey, I'm gonna try cutting your hair, right? It was like, and it did really good to get me here, but now it's like I want to have a genuine conversation, not just sell. You know, and so then I almost sell like the Boulder County Fair. I'm the secretary, I tell people that, or or I'm an author, you know, and they're like, Oh yeah, you know. So you just try to pivot, and and if it's meant to be, you know, and the connection matters, it's uh it'll go. It will sell itself almost.

SPEAKER_00 19:01

Well, people are super loyal to their barbers, or at least some are, right? Like uh my barber uh before I found you retired, but he had cut my hair, my dad's hair, my grandpa's hair, uh, you know, and then um you know he he finally retired. But uh they're sticky, right? I mean, you you get people who are super loyal, or or maybe it's one bad haircut and then they switch. But um how do you break into having somebody choose you as their barber when it's such like a loyalty kind of thing?

SPEAKER_01 19:34

Um you that's that's uh that's a good question. You have to win them over, and then uh I've I've heard actually people say it's easier to get new clients than try to get old clients back because they're gone, you know. And if you said you mess up or something, we're human. The one time you tell them no, you can't get them in or something. Like I always say yes, but one time I couldn't. I was at a funeral or something.

SPEAKER_00 19:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

Um so yeah, it it's it's yeah, just you take care of your people and then take care of you. And then I think um being professional. If you're all over the place and you have no CRM and you have no structure, you're you're you're not gonna keep your retention's gonna be low.

SPEAKER_00 20:13

You're not gonna be, you know, it's gonna be a hot mess. Well, what what hairstyles are in? Uh my son is trying to grow a mullet out in a way, like, and he's uh, you know, it's a process and you're helping shape it for him. But um what's in and what uh what are the the cool kids doing these days? Oh man, they're riding scooters, right?

SPEAKER_01 20:32

We know they're riding scooters. Um mole some longer hairs, right? The the some moms would call it the mob heads or or you know, just just like if we uh not the Justin Bieber, it's just you know the fringe, it's covering the eyes. But uh yeah, it's just I think hairstyles come and go. So like the old hairstyles of the longer hair coming back, and then they just they wave. Toupés are in, man. Like, so it's like finding your niche in the market and what you're doing. Shaves are in. We do a lot of shaves, uh bald guys and just uh beards, and you know it's it's yeah, they're the the guys are embracing the baldness too. That's in. Let's go. There you go. And it's like, hey, dude, you still got hair, bro. Well, my buddy, we're doing it together.

SPEAKER_00 21:18

Like, okay, man. So support. Right on. Well, Noe, if people are watching this, maybe they're getting ready for a networking event or another big event. They just want to look their best. How can people book an appointment or come meet you?

SPEAKER_01 21:31

Uh sanctuarybarbers.com or noethebarber.com. They'll be uh same link. You can give me a call at 720 726-1776. Uh, or just come find us at Sanctuary Barbers in Lawmont, Colorado.

SPEAKER_00 21:45

Right on. Well, very cool. Well, Noe, thanks for sharing. Um, and if you check out a free library, there might be a powerhouse book in there, so check that out. Yeah, uh, but man, it's been awesome networking with you. Thanks for the fresh styles, and uh, we'll see you around Northern Colorado. Hey, see ya. Appreciate it. Yeah. Hey all, thanks for watching. I love networking and building relationships with other Northern Colorado business leaders. So if you want to come meet some of these podcast guests, meet me, or meet some other amazing entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado, I would love to have you attend one of our next events. Uh, go in the podcast description. There's a way so you can see our upcoming schedule. And maybe you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.