What do people see when they look at you?
Initially, they see your physical appearance.
However, I believe our bodies are really a small part of who we really are.
Man is a three-part being. We are body, soul and spirit. The body is just a casing (or an earthsuit as John Eldredge likes to say) to give our real selves something to walk around in during our brief stay on this planet.
And yet we judge each other so harshly based on our physical appearance.
But I delve in far too deep for an entry that is really far more light-hearted...
For nearly fifteen years I wore a mustache and beard (a goatee as it were) on my face.
My wife liked it. I believe she said it "made me look devilish"... proof that women DO like a little "bad boy" in their man. ;-)
When I became a known quantity in the Internet marketing space, the goatee was a trademark. People instantly recognized me because of the trendy facial hair.
Shortly after The Next Internet Millionaire something supernatural took place.
One night while I was sleeping, it happened...
I woke up the next morning, and my goatee and mustache were GONE!
Before...
... and after
I can't say for sure what strange phenomenon occurred, but I've been without facial hair ever since.
I can only speculate as to the nature of this mystery, but I suspect that my goatee is probably off somewhere writing a tell-all ebook about living on my face for those many years.
It wouldn't surprise me if it registered a domain like JoelsGoateeSecrets.com and was planning a big product launch for sometime in the future.
It's fine. If the goatee ever spills more than it should, I have enough dirt on it to scare it back into the five-o-click shadows.
Nevertheless, since I lost the goatee it has been very interesting to watch people interact with me.
Some do double-takes. Others allude to there being something different about me but they just can't put their finger on it.
But there are three statements I hear more than any others.
1) I look thinner.
That's great. I wish it were true.
2) I look younger.
Thank you. I'm not any younger. But I appreciate the compliment.
3) I look more trustworthy.
I didn't think I looked UNtrustworthy to begin with! But I assure you that my moral barometer has not adjusted one way or the other due to the absence of facial hair.
And that begs that question.
Will the goatee and mustache ever return?
Not likely.
The Mrs. has decided that she likes the change. And I must confess, I'm pretty happy without it as well.
Oh, and in conclusion, I've got a special note for my goatee, whereever it may be...
Your days are over, my furry friend. Best to put the past behind you. It was a fond fifteen years. Farewell.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
October 14, 2009 10:52 AM
Joel,
I have to agree with your wife. There is something more vulnerable about no facial hair. Facial hair does tend to me intimidating and you do look younger and more approachable. Love the article. Thanks!
Eleni Liapakis
October 14, 2009 11:00 AM
Goatee or not goatee!
That is the question!
I think it doesn't matter how old or young you are, if you can pull it off, you can pull it off. It's all about tweaking the length and width and even colors.
I can see it now.........
You too can get Joel Comm's Goatee Secrets 1.0 book, a $9.95 value, absolutely free, just pay shipping and handling.
But wait, there's more!
Act now and you get a free copy of iGoatee for your iPhone, where you can take a picture of you, your friends, your mom, or even the dog, and put several different styles and colors of goatee's on them. Send them to your grandparents (to give them a heart attack and speed up the inheritance), publish them around the office (everybody loves a good joke right?), or even send one of your behind with a goatee on it to your boss to let him know just how much you enjoyed working for him those past 19 years (thanking him for firing you a year before you would've collected a full pension).
ROFLMAO!
October 14, 2009 11:01 AM
Joel,
Well, you DO look younger and thinner. I always chuckle at the folks who think people with facial hair are untrustworthy. Loved the old look and love the new look. Thanks for the chuckle this morning.
October 14, 2009 08:25 PM
Hah! Your brand authenticity is a winner with or without the goatee Joel ... no contest.
All the best
Jonathan
October 14, 2009 10:44 PM
Hi,
It's a fun post, for sure. I was just wondering how some not-so-significant things have a real importance in minds of people when they are forming first impressions. Your post makes me even the more curious?
But trust can't be hidden in facial hair for sure!!! LOL!
October 22, 2009 05:59 PM
Yes you look much younger without it and wealthier looking. But, with shaved no one will believe the yahoo games avatar. Haa.
Take care Joel.
October 29, 2009 07:11 PM
Goatees are so old school, 90's, think I'm cool but not, hockey player, hide my smallish chin anyway...so good move. Nobody needs to be wearing a goatee anymore.
November 19, 2009 03:13 AM
Yes I agree that physical appearance adds value to your performace ethics but still at the same time we are aware that this competitive world where all have to work hard to get things.make money online