Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Diaz.
Rob, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was 12 years old, I wanted to change my style and decided on a new haircut. My mom who had trimmed my hair in between visits to our local barbershop convinced me that she could do it. I wanted a fade with some spikes, sounds easy enough – right? She got into the haircut, and it ended in a trip to the barbershop. It was embarrassing I got laughed at, and they said what happened to your hair?
I told them the story, and their reply was no problem, they could do it. It sounded familiar; it’s the barbershop they got me – right? Long story short, I left with a military flattop, and in one day I had two of the worst haircuts ever. It was that day that I decided if anyone’s going to mess up my hair it would be me. So I started cutting my own hair weekly eventually turned into an everyday thing. Like clockwork, I would wake up, wash my face, brush my teeth, and cut my hair. Followed by a shower then off to school, on weekends I’d cut my hair twice a day!! I always wanted to become an architect and was really good at it; I even had it on my class ring. As I grew up, I made decisions that weren’t the best, and it detoured life as I knew it.
Without getting into too much detail, I almost lost everything worth living for. I was in a bad place my wife was ready to leave and want to take our two children with her. As I sat alone with time to think I knew on the inside that I was created for better! It’s hard to explain, but I knew on the inside there was more to life than I had experienced thus far. I made a decision as a last resort because I had literally tried everything else, to say God take my life and do something with it. Anything was better than losing.
It’s so crazy, but with those few simple words and a decision to do whatever it takes to succeed, things began to change in my favor. My marriage was restored, my family was back! It didn’t stop there. We had financial issues that began to seemingly disappear as we united because with God anything is possible! I started working at a barbershop because it was one of the only options I had. I had never taken barbering seriously, but it had always been a passion since I was young. From twelve to twenty one I had always cut my own hair, and somewhere in there, people started asking if I could cut their hair.
My response was “No” I didn’t know how but they saw what I could do on myself and gave me a shot. I always cut on as a side job, but it was now becoming a career. My life didn’t look like I had imagined, but it was better than it had in the past. So once again I knew there was more, I started working as a mentor and life coach giving back to young people in school districts all over Houston and surrounding areas! Letting them know that they could do great things if they would only put God first! It became much more than a speech, but a lifestyle and I found myself again knowing there was more!
This time I wasn’t in a bad spot I was actually pretty good, I just couldn’t shake the fire on the inside. I eventually had outgrown the shop I was working at because my vision was different, it was bigger! I went to a new place, and it didn’t last long the other barbers were concerned that I would take all their clients, so I was asked not to cut anybody that wasn’t coming specifically for me. I thought how can I survive like this, rather than quitting- because quitting isn’t in me!! I choose to pursue opening my own barbershop, I spoke to investors and even had a meeting set up to discuss details.
As I worked the numbers, I was shocked that I would have to ask for someone to invest this small amount of money. We took a step of faith and chose to go at it alone. Gulp. We had such an amazing opportunity in front of us, and so many came out to help and be apart of what was coming together. I was still working at the other shop all day, and at night I would go paint in the dark and do all the other build out stuff to get ready to open. We had so much help from so many people it was like destiny taking place right in front of us! We finally open Next Level Barbershop, a lot of people ask me how I came up with the name.
My response,” it’s not just a name- it’s a mindset!” As time went on, I began to challenge myself to attend hair shows and other events to grow myself as a barber and business owner. At the very first event, I saw things that made me say I can do this! Then I looked for ways to improve what I saw and heard. I eventually set up some educational classes of my own that had 50-60 people in attendance. I thought it was pretty good, but it wasn’t the more. I had some guests come in who talked to me about possibly connecting with them in the future for a bigger opportunity.
About a year later, I get an email to try out to work for Esquire Magazine. I thought it was one of those spam emails, you know the ones they send to you to put your kids on the Disney Channel or modeling. I went anyway, and it was nothing like I expected, I wasn’t sure of everything, but I knew that I could do it! That was about three years ago I went from beginning interviewed to the Brand Ambassador of the United States of America for Esquire Grooming! I travel all over the world cutting hair, meeting new people and getting to challenge them to step out in faith for more!
I’ve had my work featured on some of the biggest hair magazines in the world, done photo shoots with celebrities, interviews, product development, sales, trainings, you name it. I never forget where I came from and always remember where I’m going! My wife Teresa is my best friend and greatest supporter I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to do it without her! She’s amazing!! In addition to having a family, running a business, being a brand ambassador, we also a young adult pastor at Dwelling Place Church in Houston. We are still motivating young people (like us) to greater levels of excellence in all that they do!
Some are musicians, photographers, ninja warriors, actors, lawyers, politicians, and etc. we all have one thing in common nail matter the field we all desire to make the world a better place! There’s so much more I could say about my kids and my life goals, but I’d rather let the results do the talking. As a pastor, I can literally talk forever about how good God has been to us! We are BLESSED!
Our goal is to spread that BLESSING to all the world, we are working globally to do just that, and the funny thing is we haven’t seen anything yet. There is still more waiting for us, and there’s more waiting for you! What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? You never fail until you quit – so don’t give up on the greatness that’s inside of you! There’s always more!
Has it been a smooth road?
I’ve lost almost everything at least twice in my life, and it’s never easy. I had to move my family to my mom’s house, and we slept on an air mattress. We had no vehicle, no money and no way out. All we had was God and each other, and that’s all we needed. I always say you have two ways to look at a situation; it can either break you down or make you stronger. I always choose to learn and get stronger from every situation I encounter.
There are a million reasons to quit I just choose to keep going. There’s no one that had a perfect road to success; it’s said that the difference between a winner and a loser is that the winner does something that the loser refuses to do. If you get knocked down get back up, once you been down so many times it becomes harder to knock you down! You’ll succeed – just don’t quit!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with NEXT LEVEL BARBERSHOP – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Like I said earlier, Next Level Barbershop isn’t just a name it’s a mindset. We have a great team that is known for some of the best grooming services in the world! From haircuts, beards, facial services we do it all- and we do it well!
What sets us apart is the adoption of that mindset that calls us to greater levels and keeps us at the forefront of the hair industry. I don’t have employees I have a family, and those guys are truly the best! It’s my honor to work alongside them each and every day!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Texas is home! I’ve been all over, and there really is no place like home. Sometimes it’s too hot, and sometimes it’s too cold. I could also do without all the traffic on 45 (lol), but it’s so diverse here, and it has so much to love.
Southern hospitality can sometimes be taken for granted, but sweet tea on a hot day- come on now!! #DON’TMESSWITHTEXAS
Contact Info:
- Address: 22559 Aldine Westfield Spring Texas 77373
- Phone: 8327640668
- Instagram: Nextlevel.barbershop
- Facebook: Next Level Barbershop
- Yelp: Next Level Barbershop
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
