Chapter 2: The Great Salon Hunt: Chasing the best Transformation partner

As I step into the barbershop, I'm all set for a Hollywood-worthy hair transformation. But hold onto your hairpins, because the story takes an interesting twist. Meet Majed – a name whispered among salon enthusiasts and my personal stylist who knew all about my hair . Settling into the chair, anticipating 'Majed Magic', Ali the salon owner drops the bomb: "Majed? He's gone chasing his rockstar dreams."

"Seriously? I was all geared up for the Majed mojo!" I mutter. Ali suggests the 'Majed Remix', like swapping a rollercoaster for a carousel. My Majed obsession made me think about all the life transformation promises made beyond the haircut when I bought the salon annual subscription, and that none of them really happened. Now, with Majed gone, I felt cheated. Forgetting the fact that I actually got the best haircut that I paid for anyways in the last year, I went salon-hopping like a squirrel on caffeine. And just to be clear...I was not aspiring for the simple haircut alone... but the life transformation that I never realized I needed, nor missed it last year...but now I knew for sure I wanted it !!.

I met Srini in Salon one, Bala in another, and Subbu in the third, and they all spout the same lines about the thought leadership they bring, their analyst rankings, and risk-free transition from my existing Salon. Oh and I forgot the new GenAI technique to regrow lost hair...they all have an identical lab for that....It's déjà vu in a hairnet.

"Why not give Ali a shot?" my friend suggests. Ali's a magician too, knows your requirement and ultimately what you need is a haircut GODAMMIT. I switch it up, and my hair turns out fantastic. The epiphany hits – it's not just Majed or Ali. It's the entire salon ensemble and well for the life transformation we need to really figure out what we need!!

Next time you're unhappy with your IT services partner, don't bother hopping or juggling endless RFPs too soon. After the frenzy, you'll barely differentiate. Look within, nurture the partnership, and uncover the real magic. It's not about finding the next 'Majed'; it's about transforming to sync seamlessly with your needs.

To be continued...

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article represent my own opinions and are intended for good humor. They do not reflect the views of my current or previous employer.