Years ago, I was 23 years old, I had nothing under my belt – no companies, no money, no rings (still none). But, I had a dream. I wanted to run my own wedding planning studio.
I spent months to decide on a business name, design a logo, and make a website. It’s done, it’s called Beautiful Gatherings.
I had to convince people to trust me with the most important day of their life, their wedding. And pay me for it.
I can’t tell them my gender – every other person in the business is the opposite sex.
I can’t tell them my age – they would think I’m too young.
I can’t tell them I’m not married – they would think I don’t have experience.
So, I came up with the idea to keep a goatee. It worked, it gave me confidence. This is me, Bryan the wedding planner with the goatee.
I became one of the top 10 wedding planners in town.
Onwards, I proceeded to give the wedding studio away, founded an animation studio, started a podcast, and a Youtube channel.
At 28 years old, I want to start dating. So, I sought advice from my female friend. She told me to shave off the goatee.
I said to myself, “Not the goatee! I love it, I became a great wedding planner because of it.”
I asked another friend. And another. They all said the same thing.
So, I shaved it off grudgingly.
I finally realised that it’s an identity that I’ve been defending but it is no longer serving its purpose. I have no reason to keep my goatee, it became useless. What got me here is stopping me from getting me there. I had to keep my identity small. The plan is to hold on to as few things as possible.
Do you have an identity or label that you are holding on and it is holding you back?
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The photo was taken in at a house party where I was couchsurfing in Oakland, California.
