I
knew one day I might go bald, but I didn’t think at age 53 it would happen.
Blame it on corona. But I am happy for it.
Let
me explain.
Because
all of the barbershops and hair salons in NY are shutdown due to the pandemic,
my hair had been on lockdown too. But then it became time for the buzzer and
scissors to kick in at home.
I
entrusted my 15-year-old son, with zero experience in this area, to do a trim
around my ears and back of the head. My daughter was going to do short cuts of
the hair on top.
He
buzzed my sideburns too high on one side, so I told him to do the same on the
other side, so that it is symmetric. Then he wanted to round out the area
behind my ear and he ended up taking a wrong turn. That was that. I fired him
and my wife stepped in.
But
she failed me too. We decided to just
shave it all off. Yes, everything! Sometimes it doesn’t pay to hold onto what
used to be and just welcome what is.
Suddenly
I was transformed to look like Michael Jordan.
Ok,
not quite. My kids said: “Look, it is Shrek!”
My
wife made a reference to 1970s actor, Telly Savalas of Kojak fame.
“It’s
Daddy Warbucks” said my daughter.
“No,
it’s a bald eagle," chimed in my son.
The
comments and laughter were non-stop.
But
you know, I got used to it fast. Not the snide comments, but the look.
It
won’t be my permanent look, but for now it is something new and different.
Sometimes we just have to embrace change even when it comes to us not as a
choice, but a forced situation.
My
hair, or lack thereof, and all that comes with the corona hibernation, simply
reflects our new normal. Rather than cry, complain, or pine for what used to
be, it is better to just acclimate to things, and one day when this all clears
up, we will welcome back our past life, or what is left of it, and we will
also, possibly, carry over some of the lifestyle changes we had to make now out
of necessity.
Your
book marketing approach should mirror my haircut. Try your best to do things
right, the way you used to, the way they need to be done. But mistakes may
happen or certain avenues may remain closed to you. Find a workaround. Accept
what you can do and not what you cannot do. And know that even if you slip or
fail -- or lose some opportunities and go bald, things will grow back (like my hair). You
will recover and have new opportunities down the road.
Sure
it is frustrating to live like a scared dog in our boxed-in world, but it is
also liberating to know that we can survive this. We are lucky to be alive and
healthy. We are living a nightmare but
it doesn’t have to end this way. We can also dream, and one day, be in a better
position to pursue those dreams. Perhaps we now dream new dreams, having
reflected on what is really important to us.
One
thing I didn’t expect was my wife loving my new look. She can’t stop putting
her hands on my head, rubbing it for good luck. Who knew I had to lose all my
hair for my wife to gravitate to me and find me irresistible?
You
too can find your bald moment and you may just end up better for it.
PLEASE CONSULT THESE
TIMELY RESOURCES
Do Authors Need To Pay Bribes To Succeed?
What Will a Post-Corona book World Look Like?
How Do Authors Promote Books
When The Media Is Corona Centric?
How Are Authors Selling Books Through A Pandemic?
A Book Marketing Pandemic Playbook
What Types of Books Can Get Media Coverage Now?
The Bestseller Code For Book Marketers & Authors
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