I’ve been debating for a while whether to publish this blog post because it’s a bit off topic and very self indulgent, however lots of people have been asking me questions about these two changes to my life, so I’ve decided why not tell you about them.
Consider yourself warned, this article will not likely improve your life or your business in any significant way, but if you’re curious about what’s going on in my life, read on.
(On a side note, it never ceases to surprise me how talking about your personal life on your blog, no matter how unrelated it is to your blog topic, can enhance relationships with your audience. Voyeurism is alive and well in the blogosphere and is a great traffic technique. So there you go, I did manage to sneak in an on-topic lesson.)
I Finally Got The Chop
You probably know me as that blogging guy with the long hair and the funny name who looks like this –
Late in 2009 I decided, after more than five years with long hair, it was time to go back to the short hair version of me.
The funny name stays, but today I look like this -
As a kid growing up my mum was in charge of my hair. She figured what’s the point of hair cuts so I just looked scruffy most of the time and was often confused for a girl when I was very little.
As a teenager I wanted hair like Nick Carter from the back street boys because I figured he got the girls, but that wasn’t going to happen with my fuzzy curly hair. I tried and went with long hair over an undercut (that’s shaved underneath and long on top – not a good look!) and wore my hat a lot to try and straighten my hair, but it never really worked.
In my early twenties when I went backpacking in Tasmania I cut my hair to the shortest it has ever been. The photo inset is me on top of Mt Wellington near Hobart from that trip.
Making the decision to go back to short hair, surprisingly, wasn’t just a personal image choice, it also forced me to consider my business image too.
Personal branding is important as a blogger, especially in my situation where a unique feature has distinguished me for so long. For the past five years my long hair, which appears in banners across the web promoting my free reports and programs, and on my blog, has identified me.
This may sound strange, but I seriously wondered if cutting of the curly locks would have an impact on my brand.
I’ve had short hair now for several months, and besides not being quite as easy to recognize at live events (sometimes a good thing!), it hasn’t really had that much of an impact on my business. Part of the reason I’m even writing this blog post is to point out the fact that I cut my hair as many people keep asking what happened to the hair when they see things like my Twitter profile pic.
Anyway, enough about hair.
I Bought A New Car
If you followed my tweets during late 2009 you would have seen me debating what new car to buy.
With my father returning from Spain with his girlfriend and my new baby brother, I had plans to give my car to him and get another one for myself. In the end my family did a car swap, with my dad getting the Toyota Yaris my mother had, mum taking my Suzuki Swift, leaving it up to me to find a new car.
The Australian government, to help combat the “GFC”, offered a 50% tax incentive on new cars purchased in 2009, so I had to December to decide what to buy.
After several months searching and lots of questions asked of my friend and car enthusiast, Alborz Fallah (founder of CarAdvice.com.au – you can listen to his blogging story here), I settled on a new car.
Back in 2007 I bought the Suzuki Swift new and moved into my suburban townhouse, and had long hair. This is what I looked like then -
Today I have a new BMW 135i twin turbo inline six, in black with red interior… and much less hair.
In case you are wondering, I’m not a family man, and this is definitely a bachelors car, so I don’t expect to have it forever.
Another somewhat surprising consideration when buying this car was the potential to upset some of my long time followers, who like the fact that despite my financial success, I still drive around a basic car.
I’ve crossed over to the dark side, driving a more expensive luxury car, which could damage my brand as a “down to earth marketer“.
On the flip side, pictures of expensive cars are fantastic social proof tools used by Internet marketers to demonstrate that they really are making as much money as they claim to. However some argue pictures of Ferraris and Lamborghinis etc are faked (rentals for example), and result in many becoming skeptical of the people who use them on sales pages.
No matter what your personal view, marketing psychology tells us that this kind of proof is helpful in conversion.
In the end in my case I wanted a car by December and opted for something in the middle of the pricing range I was looking at. It’s definitely more expensive than my last car (about three times as much), and with much joy I can tell you the BMW certainly zooms around a lot quicker too, which was an important criteria for me.
Despite the new car, I can’t fight the inner greeny in me. In an effort to decrease my environmental impact, I try not to drive too much and generally walk or catch public transport, so the BMW stays garaged for most of the time.
After learning that my new car spits out a hefty amount of pollution because of the powerful engine, I went out and bought this -
So you could say I’m in two minds about my current transportation. The BMW certainly is a beautiful car, there’s no doubt about that and I’m grateful to be in a position to buy one, even though I suspect I won’t be an owner for long.
How The Internet Can Change Your Life
I went from living at home with my mother, to buying my first house and first car in 2007, then in 2009 buying a half a million dollar inner city apartment and a new BMW.
(…and cutting my hair.)
It’s safe to say the Internet, and blogging in particular, has been good to me.
I hope you see my story as inspiration. If you go back and read this blog from start (about January 2005) to finish you can actually see the progress I made to go from where I was to where I am. There’s plenty to be learned in the archives of this blog if you are looking for the kind of success I have had so far.
If you want to follow in my footsteps and use blogging to make money, read my free Blog Profits Blueprint, now well and truly a run away success. You can get your copy in audio and text from BlogMastermind.com
Remember the secret is in the hair…
Yaro Starak
Hair Blogger
I remember in the Little Rascals when a chicken plucked out Alfalfa’s upright hair …
… Alfalfa cried out … “I lost my personality!”
You’re more than your hair, but it’s funny how things like hair or gizmos and gadgets can make a little brand go a long way.
I’m wondering too what happened to your hair. Anyway, it’s moving on. People change, and it’s perfectly understandable. I also want to achieve the level of success you’re in. So the luxury car you bought is simply inspiring.
Change is always a good thing! and posting about something a bit more personal gives any business post a more realistic feel to those who read this.Some people may be able to relate to the situation of back in 2007 and its inspiring on what you can be in a few short years with some hard work.
Not that it’s important, but I got a haircut today and ordered a new car CD player. Little steps, but following in your footsteps!
Till then,
Jean
I LOL’ed a lot in the “secrets of your hair”. But anyway, once again, I say that your story is remarkable and inspiring. I love the way you, as one of my blogging idol, touches my mind and my heart to strive more and give my best shot all the time. Thanks Yaro!
Congrats for your new car. Now you are looking much different but smart…..
I have still been holding off cuting my hair, I usaly wait till I get 13 or so inches then donate the hair to “Wigs For Kids” They make wigs for kids with cancer. But Lately I have been liking my long hair.
I feel so sorry with myself in cutting my hair but with cars shiny head will do the job. LOL
It’s look nice Yaro, your hair cut.
I like the short hair. Makes you look more sophisticated with the car!
Yaro, I like the change … so rock it and see how it goes! And what good is money if you cant spend a little on yourself. Keep doing what your doing, your content is always great as ever, I don’t think a new car and a hair cut will change that!
Hey
Shorter is good and the stubble thing is kinda more grown up !! Has to be with your new car. Your worth it springs to mind !! Might just put the pic on my wall and aim for that with my business
Slogan
If Yaro can, I can
Cheers
Sue
First impression is everything on the web – like the new look
Yaro,
Think you should have kept the long hair – but, hey, who am i?
one tiny, tiny, suggestion… take your photos from slightly above your eye-line (ie not at eye level) and in the morning. Make a big difference – try it!
love the car.
Ivan
Hey man, ye look kinda cute, Yaro! And a hot ride ye got there dude, and not forgetting to mention that bike. Whoa man, ye rock totally!!
Oh come on Yaro, don’t be a wimp. Your hair wasn’t even long yet…
http://www.nunativs.com/location-irrelevant-income/
Maybe it is just me, but I am a big fan of personal posts, it allows me to connect more with the blog owner! =D Yaro, I do feel your long hair was indeed a brand for you, to me it made you really unique. But I think at this point that you’ve got such great followers and influence on the net, that your Name Yaro can stand alone as a brand.
As far as the car, way to go on the purchase! BMW is pretty awesome, personally though I am shooting for an Audi as my car when I finally make it big!
Gotta love the auto, but what about the hair!? lol
Congratulation Yaro, and i hope you to continue what you started.
Cool car Yaro! I’d certainly want a BMW when I hit my financial goal.
No need for apologies – you work very hard for all that you have and you deserve it. You put in a lot of time and effort helping other people achieve their dreams as well. That makes you a rock star in my book.
And shouldn’t a rock star have a hot car?!?
Love the hair too. Rock on.
lol I really like the new hair, Yaro. We must all grow up. The new hair looks like a man version of your former style. Forgive me, but before with the long hair I thought of you as a hippie-ish, guy who probably spent the day playing hacky-sack with his college mates and who grew his own veggies. You are and were credible in your field of blogging, but you kind of looked like you didn’t really want to be because you were busy holding onto the unfettered just-out-of-school lifestyle. Now you look more in tune with yourself. You’re a smart guy, you look like you are more comfortable in accepting that all your work is paying off. Plus I must admit that the new hair as upped your hotness points. The BMW (nice interior) is sweet, but I like that you bought a bike too.
Nice car however it’s too small for me, I like 5 series
what a good looking BMW. Yaro, your success story is so inspiring, its unbelievable. You deserve it as you seem like a classy guy.
Congratulations on your new car. Now you are looking very different, but cool … ..
It’s a very nice car! Your long curly hair, became your signature though. I first seen you on banners with your long curly hair, and it became your trademark (for me) as I learn more about your journey as an entrepreneur.