I like the goatee just cuz I can't grow one haha

Goatee definitely. However, I usually don't have a preference in other MEN's appearances (LOL).

But since you asked.....

Go for a goatee!

Joel,

First I have had a mustache since I was 15 and have never shaved it but once. For over 20 years now, I have had either a full beard or goatee. So, that being said, I think you should grow your goatee back (that is if it is what you want).

As for the honesty thing, that is bunk. I think the goatee makes you appear more knowledgeable, sincere, distinguished, and trustworthy.

Also, people are used to you with your goatee, but if you decide you want to not grow it back, then they will just have to get used to the new you. But, you asked for our opinion, so I vote that you should grow it back!

Hope this helps,
Edward Moore from Dewy Rose, GA
www.ibithost.com

Like the new look!

You do look younger - and yes, slimmer too!

I always thought that with the goatee, you reminded me of the devil - oops! Now its out :)

Nothing personal, it's just my "stuff". I probably watched too many Vincent Price movies growing up?

I think you look more approachable clean shaven.

That's my 2cents worth...
Steve

After thinking about it, I think it makes you look younger, and boyish
like you are ready to have fun.
BUT rule of thumb is > Do whatever keeps the wife happy!!
Now you do have a problem with all your ebooks out there with your
goatee..

I had a goatee on and off from 1997 until around 2001 or so. I shaved it off because too many people had one, including my brother-in-law!

Around 2002 or so, I grew just a billy goat or Amish type of beard that's just the chin.

When I grew it very, very few people had these as well. I knew I was onto something when a guy yelled at me at a stoplight as told me "that is the strangest F-ing beard he had ever seen!" I thanked him and told him to have a nice day. I still have my billy goat today.

My wife likes the goat and says it makes me look thinner and younger, but I too have been struggling with either "to goat, or not to goat."

Joel, I think you look fine either way, but maybe a bit thinner with the goat.

Joel,
I was actually going to leave a comment here last week when I noticed you without the porn star goatee in your twitter pic! lol got busy and forgot.
I think you look better for all 3 reasons you stated. In general, I agree with the "trustworthiness" issue as well. BUT for those that know you, it will not matter one way or another. When I shaved my head last summer on a dare, I was completely surprised with all the "you look younger" compliments. Younger is a good thing! :)

You look more distinguished with the goatee.
You look nicer and more approachable with clean shaven.

My husband won't shave his beard, even though I prefer him in a goatee or mustache only. He has this crazy idea it makes him look slimmer. It doesn't.

I think you look good both ways. What does your wife think? Her opinion should matter the most!

I say you split it down the middle and go with just a mustache for awhile!

Robbin

Joel Comm Goatee Debate -my two cents: With = larger-than-life biz persona 4 TV. Sans = down-to-earth know,trust, like gotta know dude.

@Nez That's why we respect you.
The goat has nothing to do with your integrity.

Joel, I've had a beard of different types on and off forever.

YOU have to look in the mirror, and be aware of what you feel.
The only consideration outside of yourself, might be your
wife and children. And we know they love you for being the real Mcoy
no matter what.

I think you look good either way. Really.
However, I don't think all your photos are equal.

I for one absolutely like and prefer facial hair (on a man that is). I never thought of it as someone trying to hide something.

I just bought your newest resell templates package (yes even the upsale products) and it really had nothing to do with your looks. It was all about the product and your reputation (and good sales copy).

Go with what ever makes you happy - or better yet, what your wife prefers!

Loved the title for this post! So Creative!

I have to say Joel, you do look younger 'without' the goatee.
BUT! You looked far more 'distinguished' and 'accomplished'
with it.

You look more like 'the chap next door', rather than 'the chap
who lives up the road in the mansion'. Does that make sense?

I couldn't grow a goatee to save my life, so I'll never have
that dilemma.(Bad acne as a teenager)

Fred.

Looks good Joel. I'm going to do the same when I lose some weight this summer.

Hey Joel,

Grow the goat!

While I haven't gone the way of the goatee, as a 'netprepreneur, I don't believe in regular shaving.

Some scruff is evidence that you are not working at a "real job" and it's social proof that you can do whatever you want.

My shaving schedule is roughly every 10 to 14 days and that's only due to the fact it starts bothering me at that point :)

Colin

PS. Joel, I will be in Denver at the beginning of June and would love to hook up with you at some point while I am there.

Will call you sometime this week...

I really like your new look :)

Well, I always like the clean look myself but, if you miss the Goatee grow it back,.. I always feel that for them guys people that have a goatee is trying to look older than they are, or they trying to hide something or just dam lazy to shave..

Women love men with smooth skin... Just like,. I like my women to be smoooooooooooth skin from the face down.. If you know what I mean... :)

I am just wondering Joel when I will receive your email with the eBay auction link for the goatee ;)

No seriously, you look great!!, Hope to see you in Boston @ ASE 2008 without goatee....

Cheers!.

I always liked the goatee because it was a unique look for you. Without it, you do look younger and thinner and so forth, but I still liked the goatee anyway. Of course, my husband has a gray beard and maybe I'm just biased towards facial hair.

I like the new look. I think you're right about looking more trustworthy. You also look happier! :)

Hey, Joel, I like you either way...

However, WITH the gotee you are more unique and memorable -- from a visual perspective.

Without the gotee, you look like just some guy. More trustworthy? I don't know but more of a face in the crowd who doesn't particularly stand out. Whereas, the gotee makes you stand out. That's good for a marketing business where you ARE the product. That's the way I see it.

I think you are a Cutie either way. I'm sure your lovely wife does too and would approve of what ever choice you make.

You don't look thinner being clean shaven, although you do look more boyish.

You should grow back the goatee and just make sure it's very trim. The goatee provides definition to your chin line.

Ah Joel,

I was one of those people doing the double take. :-)

You're cute, beard or no, but I like the beard. It's totally sexier and you look smarter. Why? Not sure. There's something Freudian there.

I will admit to being partial to dark-haired men with facial hair. I married one, 35 years ago.

Not to worry. You rock, either way!

--Pat

Well Joel, I wouldn't want to go so far as to call you a "traiter to the fold".....if you look "more honest" Ha! Just think if you went and shaved the TOP of your head how really honest you'd look then!

Grow it back.

Goatee - distinguished!

I vote for no goatee. When I saw the "new" you I thought you must have dropped a bunch of weight. =:)

For the people who are saying things like, "I don't think facial hair looks less trustworthy - who cares what others think?" -- that's a strange thing for a marketer to say.

If you're talking about your look and how it relates to marketing, what you *think* about the subject means as much as what you *think* about a certain headline. Unless you test it, you don't have any idea what the results will be.

If you test one look against another and the look you like tests worse, that doesn't mean you can't go with that look -- it just means you have to decide whether your individuality is worth making fewer sales.

For those of you who know what I look like, the first time I did it I was told to get rid of it or I'd lose my job -- after six years with that company and climbing the ladder, I walked.

Now that I work online I've tested my current look against the "conservative" look and lucky for me and my wallet, my current look actually converts a full percentage point better. =;)

Hi Joel,

I like the shaven look myself. Think you could convince my hubby to shave off his mustache? He's been sporting it since he was 16ish and has never shaved it off since--and he'll be 51 this year. Although I love him dearly, I'd love to see what he looks like without the mustache.

I'd say this change was for the good.

Cindy

Hi Joel, It's all up to you, what makes you feel good is right for you. You are the same person on the inside, with or without goatee. Just keep on producing brilliant products. By the way, I think that with goatee, you have a resemblance to "Joe Polish".
Kind Regards, Jim

Joel, I with you on this one... I'am headed
for the razor... Why? to much gray hair

There is a touch of 'deja vu' here. A couple of years ago Armand Morin shaved off his beard and found that he had created a little controversy by so doing. Now Joel does the same!

Personally I think the beard and moustache are part of the "package" to which your clientele has become accustomed, so when you make a change that makes such a visual difference then yes, people will comments.

Hey, imagine Gandalf removing his beard just because he fancied a change. Think that might upset a few people??

At the end of the day, it is what is inside the person that matters and Joel won't change just because he has lost two pounds in weight by shaving off his beard and moustache :o)

Gotta keep the wife happy, Joel!

Is the wife still around? stop straying and keep the goatie back on :-)

Tim

Looking at the two pics side by side, you did look a bit shady with the goatee ( :{|])

...but don't worry, I've got a full beard!

Hi Joel,

it seems like you are copying my style. I just got rid of my goatee last week, its glad to know that we think alike. :-)

As for the goatee Joel, you look all 3: younger, slimmer and more trustworthy. Way to go Joel.

dude, do what the lady likes best:-) It's a win win situation (if the lady is worth it:-))

I really can't believe I'm giving my opinion on this but since you asked... I never liked the goatee on you. I think you look much more trustworthy without it. I've nothing against goatees (my husband has one) but it didn't work for me on you. Much better now.

Well Joel.

You asked for a comment so here it is...

I had seen the distingquished hairy face many times on the Internet, but when i saw a product i thought to purchase and i saw this fat looking guy who said he was Joel Comm, i immediately left the site and didn't purchase the offer.

I have since come to realise that the guy i saw was a naked Joel Comm and now i can see many resemblances to the other Joel.

No doubt there were many other people who thought the same as i did.

It really isn't anybodies business as to whether you shave or not, but it is amazing how a person is seen but not reconised.

P.S. I purchased your 30,000 dollar offer both 1 and 2 but a computer crash prevented me from going futher with the monthly account.

A full beard would make you look much more distinguished and younger! And your wife will love it.

Hey Joel.......who said we liked you in the first place? lol :-p

Vanity is not a virtue, and it doesn't look good on you (the vanity).

This is a personal decision, you shouldn't have to ask people if they like you.

Humility is a virtue, and it would look good on you.

Hi Joel,
You know goatee or not goatee, you will always be Joel Comm.

But I must recognize that you appear slimmer and younger and the most surprising... happier!

I must say the removal of your facial hair makes you more youthful. But to be honest you looked more of a hunk with the hair. You had more presence and looked like a man of means......without you look a bit of a softie!

It's not so much the beard as the style of it. I'd either grow a fuller one or keep naked.

Personally I think you look better without, but I still only date women. Thank you for inviting me to your site. I am going to return to see what you do next. Have you tried toenail clipping, or hand washing, or parting your hair on the other side? There now you have 3 more days of blog content and I haven't done mine yet. I need to get busy.

Bill

Hi Joel,

I like your new look. You look younger and fresh. I believe by making some change in our look like change our hair cut or shaved can be some kind of motivation to us.

Rie

Hi,Joel,one thing you really have to care in life is your good mood.If you feel good without goatee and mustache keep shaving.If not...
For me Joel is Joel and I embrace you without second thought about your face.I like your achievements.I like your honesty.I like you share your knowledge with me.And nothing else matters like sings Metallica.

It's just funny that you should get rid of your goatee when I have decided to grow one! I do not think perceptions do matter to me really. I have lived my 34 years on this earth with a great deal of controversy. Shoot, doing my blog was controversial in some quarters, can you believe that?

I hope to see that goatee when you go gray....

Hi Joel,

It does not really matter. Your quote says it all below :

"A couple months so ago, I decided to shave my face. Perhaps it was signifying a new beginning for me. Or perhaps I just wanted a new look. I'm really not sure why I did it. It just seemed like it was time.

To my surprise, my wife said that she liked the change.

I had to confess. So did I."

PS: You 've got a lot of 2cents. Grow/shave it whenever you want. I think 'Joel Comm' is your Brand not your 'goatee'. I still remember 'Joel Comm' in 'The Next Internet Millionaire' but I don't remember 'goatee' in The Next Internet Millionaire.

PPS: It's still 'Joel Comm' whether to goatee or not to goatee.

Cheers..
Frankie

Had an immediate impact on me..I thought younger and thinner.
I'm a New Englander and do six months with and six months without.It's always just fun to keep 'em guessing.

I think everyone has a personal preference with regard to their like or dislike when it comes to facial hair no matter who is wearing it.

Well as a professional, but long time goateed fellow, I have to say I have recently battled with the same concerns but have remained with goatee.

Ironically the same people that said I looked "mean" or less trustworthy with it now have told me that I should keep it. People don't know what they mean so no reason to fall into the shaven trap. :)

Remember people don't realize that a goatee takes more work to maintain than to be clean shaven, as you still shave, but you have to manage the goatee as well.

We need to keep our goateed brethren so our numbers don't fall and only weird people keep their goatees

Hey Joel,

I hadn't visited your blog until today and was led here by your TNIM show. The study of face reading or the emotions that are invoked when someone sees your face are very interesting indeed. Awhile back i purchased a book titled, "Amazing Face Reading: An Illustrated Encyclopedia for Reading Faces," [http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Face-Reading-Illustrated-Encyclopedia/dp/0965593126/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210193373&sr=1-3]
which I would recommend to anyone who is serious about changing his or her own personal appearance to change the way others see and feel in his or her presence.

I agree with you on your thoughts on the change that you have made, but I think there is more to be observed... Your previous facial hair projected a status and authority. It makes your entire face triangular which is more abrupt.
Your new look does in fact make you look more outgoing than with facial hair. I feel that it gives you a look of joy, happiness, and you also look generally approachable.

Just my thoughts.

haven shaved mine off since highschool.....the mrs likes it, but not as much as me.

Hi Joel,
I'm new to your site but like the info and comments.
I looked at the pictures and I like the goatee. But I'm partical, to facial hair. I like the ruggid type.
I ride my own cycle and am kind of a trail blazer so it speaks for it
self. I am in tuned to do as I like and dont care what others think as long as I keep it clean and ride for fun. I say walk in your own shoes and do as you like. I dont mean to sound tough but in the end we all have to answer for ourselves.
chins up chris