So you were ready to fulfill your New Year's resolution of becoming a barber, but then you began to experience push back from some of those close to you. Perhaps there are some who believe you should go to college while others want you to stay in a career that you despise because it pays well. If so, here are a few facts you can give them that may help turn their thinking around. 

Barbers Will Be in Demand

Unless they're bald, most people require at least an occasional haircut. And that is probably why barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists are projected to be in demand in the coming years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for these professions is projected to grow approximately 10 percent between 2014 to 2015. That is faster than the average for occupations collectively. 

Job Openings in Other Areas

Even if you have to move, chances are your new locale will have openings for a barber. That is not true of all professions. For example, a coal miner is highly unlikely to find a job mining if he or she decides to move to New York City

Fewer Years in School

If you want to get a degree from a college or university, you'll typically have to spend between two years for an associate's degree and four years for a bachelor's degree. But full-time programs in barbering are around nine months in length. 

You Can Be Your Own Boss

Once you graduate from barber college and obtain the appropriate licensing, you can find employment in a number of different locations, including in a shop or in your own home. You could also open your own shop. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost half of barbers, cosmetologists, and hairdressers are self-employed. 

Opportunities for Growth

Are your loved ones against your becoming a barber because they believe you'll have limited room for career growth? Well, they'd be wrong. There are several ways you can grow as a barber. You can, for example, open your own shop and lease space to other barbers. You could also offer a higher level of service, including straight-razor shaving, and cultivate a customer base willing to pay more to feel pampered. That is what Craig the Barber— also known as the Barber to the Stars—did.  

So if your dream has been to be a barber, don't let others stand in your way. People are always going to find some reason for you not to fulfill a dream, so sometimes, it's important to set their opinions aside and move forward.