Live long enough and you learn a very important lesson, one that once embraced will change your life for the better. What is that lesson? We spend every day of our childhood trying to grow only to reach a certain point in our life where trying to hold on to our youth becomes our daily focus. The happiest people are those that know and accept that “The journey IS the destination”.
I bring this up here, on a The Shaving Cadre, a wet shaving & Gentlemanly interest’s forum, in hopes it will make YOUR journey a little more enjoyable and add value to The Shaving Cadre forum. Because I am an owner of The Shaving Cadre i should point out that, while this post is informed by my experience as an owner and an active member of the Cadre, the views and opinions expressed are my own and do not (necessarily) represent the forum or its owners.
I don’t recall exactly when it was that I decided to jump head-long into the wet shaving hobby, or when it became such a big part of my life but I can honestly say it changed my perspective on life and business. Maybe it was the Pinaud Lilac Vegetal…or maybe it was the Tabac lather, I don’t know. Whatever it was, I woke up one day and realized that daily shaving was a metaphor for life; if you are only going through the motions you might see it as a chore that brings you little enjoyment. On the other hand, if you embraced it and allow yourself to enjoy the experience you will find great enjoyment and even look forward to the opportunity a new day brings.
As I see it, wet shaving’s (life’s) experiences fall into 3 main categories. The first are those that are enjoyed by the senses such as the sights, smells, textures and feel of everything involved in the shave itself. The next are emotional, the sense of personal accomplishment you get from mastering the blade, the camaraderie and friendships you might find on the TSC (or a ‘lesser forum’) and the excitement you get from the other aspects the hobby exposes you to...things such as find & collecting new gear or exploring new products. Those who fall deep enough into the wet shaving hobby will no doubt have the opportunity to broaden their experiences through interactions with various vendors, artisans and retailers while they explore and play. It’s the interactions with vendors, artisans and retailers I wanted to spend a moment highlighting.
For some, like myself or the other vendors/artisans who support the shaving cadre, BEING an artisan who makes or sells the products wet shavers enjoy is an enhancement of our own experience...a way to make our own journey that much more enjoyable. For the rest of the wet shaving community, vendors, artisans and retailers are a means to an end...a way to feed the “acquisition disorders” and enhance their own experience. But for the dedicated enthusiast the buying experience itself is as meaningful as experiencing different soaps, brushes and razors.
The Shaving Cadre forum is unique because we recognize and embrace the idea that the artisans and vendors are part of the experience the most enthusiastic members seek and enjoy. Many of the more popular artisans understand this too, and they endeavor to make visiting their website, engaging them on social media, interacting on the TSC, and buying/owning/using their products as enjoyable and engaging an experience as possible. What we are talking about here goes beyond ‘good’ customer service, every good business person strives to give good customer service. This next-level experience is a result of the artisan making us all feel like we are part of his/her business, allowing us to feel like they are in business to serve our individual desires.
Wet Shaving (life) is very personal, artisans tend to offer a more personalized experience many in the wet shaving community find appealing. Whether it’s the ability to get to know an artisan or retailer on a more personal level by engaging them on The Shaving Cadre or the ability of artisans to be responsive to the needs and desires expressed by customers (or potential customers), many in the wet shaving community credit artisans with enhancing their journey.
As for me, whether it’s shaving or life, it’s all about the experience. I could get buried in the weeds, being worried about the things that aren’t perfect...but that would be a distraction from the experience. And if today’s experience was underwhelming, God willing I’ll get a re-do tomorrow.
So how deep into the wet shaving hobby have YOU fallen? Are you just going through the motions or are you living each shave to the fullest? You caught in the weeds...or are you enjoying the experiences for what they are?
I bring this up here, on a The Shaving Cadre, a wet shaving & Gentlemanly interest’s forum, in hopes it will make YOUR journey a little more enjoyable and add value to The Shaving Cadre forum. Because I am an owner of The Shaving Cadre i should point out that, while this post is informed by my experience as an owner and an active member of the Cadre, the views and opinions expressed are my own and do not (necessarily) represent the forum or its owners.
I don’t recall exactly when it was that I decided to jump head-long into the wet shaving hobby, or when it became such a big part of my life but I can honestly say it changed my perspective on life and business. Maybe it was the Pinaud Lilac Vegetal…or maybe it was the Tabac lather, I don’t know. Whatever it was, I woke up one day and realized that daily shaving was a metaphor for life; if you are only going through the motions you might see it as a chore that brings you little enjoyment. On the other hand, if you embraced it and allow yourself to enjoy the experience you will find great enjoyment and even look forward to the opportunity a new day brings.
As I see it, wet shaving’s (life’s) experiences fall into 3 main categories. The first are those that are enjoyed by the senses such as the sights, smells, textures and feel of everything involved in the shave itself. The next are emotional, the sense of personal accomplishment you get from mastering the blade, the camaraderie and friendships you might find on the TSC (or a ‘lesser forum’) and the excitement you get from the other aspects the hobby exposes you to...things such as find & collecting new gear or exploring new products. Those who fall deep enough into the wet shaving hobby will no doubt have the opportunity to broaden their experiences through interactions with various vendors, artisans and retailers while they explore and play. It’s the interactions with vendors, artisans and retailers I wanted to spend a moment highlighting.
For some, like myself or the other vendors/artisans who support the shaving cadre, BEING an artisan who makes or sells the products wet shavers enjoy is an enhancement of our own experience...a way to make our own journey that much more enjoyable. For the rest of the wet shaving community, vendors, artisans and retailers are a means to an end...a way to feed the “acquisition disorders” and enhance their own experience. But for the dedicated enthusiast the buying experience itself is as meaningful as experiencing different soaps, brushes and razors.
The Shaving Cadre forum is unique because we recognize and embrace the idea that the artisans and vendors are part of the experience the most enthusiastic members seek and enjoy. Many of the more popular artisans understand this too, and they endeavor to make visiting their website, engaging them on social media, interacting on the TSC, and buying/owning/using their products as enjoyable and engaging an experience as possible. What we are talking about here goes beyond ‘good’ customer service, every good business person strives to give good customer service. This next-level experience is a result of the artisan making us all feel like we are part of his/her business, allowing us to feel like they are in business to serve our individual desires.
Wet Shaving (life) is very personal, artisans tend to offer a more personalized experience many in the wet shaving community find appealing. Whether it’s the ability to get to know an artisan or retailer on a more personal level by engaging them on The Shaving Cadre or the ability of artisans to be responsive to the needs and desires expressed by customers (or potential customers), many in the wet shaving community credit artisans with enhancing their journey.
As for me, whether it’s shaving or life, it’s all about the experience. I could get buried in the weeds, being worried about the things that aren’t perfect...but that would be a distraction from the experience. And if today’s experience was underwhelming, God willing I’ll get a re-do tomorrow.
So how deep into the wet shaving hobby have YOU fallen? Are you just going through the motions or are you living each shave to the fullest? You caught in the weeds...or are you enjoying the experiences for what they are?
