In the barber world of Mateusz Zarod
6-08-2021
The task seemed simple. Enter the world where everyone is a pal and there is no such thing as distance. Sounds like a cliche, doesn’t it? Well, not for me. Some of us are just like that, even from a distance they send the message “I am serious”. And the distance appears by itself. So how to discover the barber world?
This is the moment when a miracle should happen. And it did. The miracle’s name was Mateusz. Mateusz had a beard, which right away made him credible (and competent). But the thing that instantly eliminated any form of distance was the way he acted. The freedom of a person with extraordinary internal balance, a person organically unable to put on masks and create appearances. But there is more –a person who can see genuineness in others. Irrespective of their facial expressions, job or shoelace colour.
I was not running away from something. On the contrary. I was running towards something. I was looking for a business where I could be myself. And I knew from the very beginning that it was going to be a barber shop.
We do not cheat, we do not pretend. We are all on a first-time basis, but it is not because ofvanity. We are not a world for the chosen few. It just happens that once you enter the shop we are pals. This makes two things possible. First, we can build a business based on mutual respect and trust. Second, we can work in a nice atmosphere. We want the quintessential manly experience and fun. In our shop you will feel like at a guy-only meeting. With the jokes and the language which can sometimes be a bit naughty.
Communication here is men-like as well, no one beats about the bush. We just place a premium on truth and simple honesty. Barbers will only offer clients those cosmetics that they use themselves. They will not try to persuade you that all you need to turn into Jason Momoa is the right scissors. Sometimes you will hear: “Sorry, that can’t be done. But I’ll come up with something”. That’s what friends are for, right?
“Brzytwa” is a business project which is about something more than money. Something much greater and much more important. The feeling of fulfillment, a belief that what you are doing is meaningful, that you are in control of your life and live each minute to the fullest. Making money and building personal happiness at the same time? Turns out it can be done
This is a business built on understanding and trust. I can honestlysay that this job changed my life. For better. Well, not for better. For happier.
I ran away from the world of business –for a long time I had owned a PR agency. But my story is not news material. It was not a life-changing event. It wasn’t a story of leaving it all behind and going to the Bieszczady Mountains to paint icons. I only moved from one business world to another. But between these two worlds there is a gulf. PR people often build an image of a product that they have not had the chance to test. I could not find happiness in that world. Not because I was bad at my job. I was not. I just missed genuineness in what I was doing. I was not running away from something. On the contrary. I was running towards something. I was looking for a business where I could be myself. And I knew from the very beginning that it was going to be a barber shop. I do not cut clients’ hair but I still have enormous satisfaction because I can see visible concrete effects of the job. I feel great reading comments from happy clients. We have created strong bonds. People are important in my life. I have a great team, but we are also friends in a sense. Both the staff and the clients. This is real business. Based on understanding and trust. We just talk. I can honestly say that this job changed my life. For better. Well, not for better. For happie
Soon Mateusz will be opening a new barber shop, this time in Sosnowiec. Is it about making more money? We all know that’s not why. He just loves movement and change, like a city person. He likes travelling but not to see something when he arrives at the destination, but in order to keep moving. There is always something interesting waiting to happen when you are on the move. The same goes for a barber shop. A new person with a new story can come in any time. For example with a story that they want to leave it all behind to go to the Bieszczady Mountains and paint icons.
Justyna Tworek-Hernik
