Letter To My Younger Self By Adam Vassallo

Dear Adam,

If you only knew now what I know in the future...!

Mate, you’re going to leave school and become a mechanic thinking this is the cool thing to do. It’s OK for a little while don’t worry. You will then realise after a year; you have no passion for this, except maybe driving cars, but definitely not fixing them.

You do have an interest in fashion and hair though, and one of your mates will say, ‘how about trying out with us in our salon, what have you got to lose?’ Bang! you will be hooked and not only that, you will also find you have a natural talent and even start competing within your first year. (You find your true love around this time, be prepared for that young friend and for your world to change forever in the best way you can ever imagine.)

Loyalty is in your blood, and you will stay with that original salon for 5 years and then take the major step of going out on your own. You open your first salon in Sydney and run that for 3 years, eventually selling to explore other directions.

You will continue to be self-employed, and you will decide to buy a truck and see what truckin’ life is all about, travelling Australia you will discover many things about this amazing country, and about yourself.

You will, after 10 years truckin’, realise you miss the interaction and creativity of your first calling. You sell the Trucks. You would have fallen in love with Queensland by this time, very much so in fact, as you decide to relocate with your lady love to the Sunshine Coast and open a Barber Shop. A big move away from women’s hairdressing, but one that will will tick all your boxes, being socially interactive and creatively satisfying.

Barbering will be at next level at this stage and will keep you on your toes on multiple levels and very happy with the choice you made. You will pass on your knowledge and train many young minds and help set them on their own journey well equipped with Barbering skills and life skills. Passing this knowledge will be very rewarding for you…enjoy that!

Life on the Sunshine Coast will continue to deliver you challenges and joys and you even dream up an idea with your beautiful partner and design and open an ultra-trendy high- end women’s salon/blow bar/cocktail bar which will instantly take off and be recognised for its uniqueness. This will garnish you both much praise and recognition for your efforts…. you even do some time on the floor doing women’s hair again, but you take way too long and quickly decide to leave it to the pro’s… Stick with Barbering mate!

Life will throw you many challenges, but Adam, you will always get through and excel, enjoy the ride my young friend.

Adam Vassallo @themadbarbers