Three Tricks

Introduction

Life is filled with challenges, choices, and moments where we stand at the edge of possibility. Some people turn their pain into wealth, wisdom, or meaningful experiences—others sink into suffering. What makes the difference?

In this book, I share what I call the Three Tricks:

1. Belief – finding the passion that gives you life and holding onto it with conviction.

2. Positivity – multiplying good energy and refusing to be trapped by negativity.

3. The One – the deep conviction that you are chosen to endure, to adapt, and to rise again.

These are not abstract philosophies—they are practical tools I’ve tested through decades in the salon chair, thousands of client conversations, and a lifetime of personal and professional challenges.

You will see stories from real clients, lessons from iconic salons, and examples from world-class athletes. Each chapter will help you apply the three tricks to your own journey—whether it’s health, career, love, or legacy.

By the end, you will not just know the Three Tricks. You will live them.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Believe – The First Trick
Discover why conviction is the root of youth, passion, and energy. Includes lessons from Vidal Sassoon’s vision and stories of clients who reignited their lives through belief.

Chapter 2: Positivity – The Energy Multiplier
Learn how positivity turns pain into power and multiplies your options. With examples from Toni & Guy salons and champions who turned setbacks into victories.

Chapter 3: The One – Knowing You Are Chosen
Explore what it means to declare yourself “the one.” Features client transformations, the Paul Mitchell brand’s resilience, and Muhammad Ali’s legendary conviction.

Chapter 4: The 1% That Shapes the 99%
Understand why negativity dominates headlines but doesn’t have to dominate your life. With examples from Aveda salons and Novak Djokovic’s battles with critics.

Chapter 5: Prevention, Progress, and the Power of Choice
Why prevention matters more than luck. Lessons from Regis Corporation’s adaptability and LeBron James’ longevity as a champion.

Chapter 6: Letting Go and the Sunk Cost Fallacy
How to quit wisely and stop digging deeper holes. Features JCPenney salons’ decline vs. Regis’ adaptability, plus Floyd Mayweather’s undefeated retirement.

Chapter 7: Philosophy – The Compact Bag of Wisdom
Why philosophy is the art of condensing wisdom into one sentence. Includes Sassoon’s geometric philosophy of hair and Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality.”

Chapter 8: Love, Hardship, and the Meaning Behind Sacrifice
Explores the role of hardship in love and meaning. With Jean Louis David’s service philosophy and Derek Redmond’s unforgettable Olympic moment.

Chapter 9: The Bayesian Prior – Updating Belief
Belief as an iterative process: how to balance prior assumptions with new evidence. Illustrated with Toni & Guy’s constant updates and Tom Brady’s career longevity.

Chapter 10: The Three Tricks in Action – Turning Problems into Possibilities
How to transform problems into opportunities through belief, positivity, and conviction. With Drybar’s reinvention and Michael Phelps’ transformation of pain into purpose.

About the Author

HairProfessor Young—also known as Jack Li or Sai Kuen Li—is a hairstylist, educator, philosopher, and author of more than 40 books. With over 44 years of salon experience and more than 4,000 free haircuts given to those in need, he blends the worlds of beauty, psychology, and life philosophy into one unique voice.