In this episode of CABELO – The Root of It All, I sit down with barber, hair replacement specialist and business owner Lesley Reay for an honest conversation about changing careers, taking risks and finding the courage to go all in.

Lesley takes me back to a moment that completely changed the direction of her life. After being sacked from her job in retail and then finding out she was pregnant just two weeks later, a series of unexpected events eventually led her to retrain as a barber at the age of 29.

We talk about starting again, becoming a single parent, being told she was too old for an apprenticeship and entering a traditionally male-dominated industry where not everyone believed she would succeed. Rather than letting those experiences stop her, Lesley used them as motivation to prove what she was capable of.

After building a successful career and becoming fully booked as a barber, Lesley found herself looking for her next challenge. That's when she discovered hair systems.

What initially began as something she planned to offer alongside barbering quickly grew into a completely new direction for her career. Eventually, Lesley reached a point where she knew she had to take the leap, leave traditional barbering behind and build something of her own.

We talk about creating a private space where clients experiencing hair loss feel comfortable, the deeper relationships that come with working in hair replacement and how the move has changed Lesley's life both professionally and personally.

Lesley also opens up about the financial impact of moving into hair systems, working smarter rather than simply working more, overcoming burnout and gaining something incredibly important to her — more freedom and more time with her son.

In this episode:

• Getting sacked and unexpectedly starting again

• Becoming a mum and retraining at 29

• Breaking into the barbering industry

• Proving people wrong in a male-dominated profession

• Going from fully booked barber to hair replacement specialist

• Discovering the opportunity in hair systems

• Finding the courage to go all in

• Starting her own business

• Building deeper relationships with hair loss clients

• Working smarter and overcoming burnout

• Creating more freedom and time with family

• Saying yes to new opportunities and what's next

This is a conversation about starting again, backing yourself and having the courage to take an opportunity when you know it's time for something more.

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