Welcome to THE BALANCE PROJECT: a series of relevant and refreshingly candid interviews featuring inspiring and accomplished women talking about balance. I’ve always been curious—and maybe a little obsessed—about how women I admire manage the tragically glorified “doing it all” craze. So I asked them. As I suspected, no one really does “it all.” Everyone’s making sacrifices somewhere. And that should make us feel a little better. I hope the conversation will be steered toward that reality rather than toward the flawed and dangerous assumption that we should try—or even want to try—to perfectly do “it all.”

2015 marks the second full year of The Balance Project! And there’s lots in store: First, The Balance Project is celebrating its first birthday. Read all about how it got started and what I’ve learned from it here. Second, my second book, THE BALANCE PROJECT: A NOVEL, will be published in April. It’s women’s fiction and it was inspired by these interviews. More about that here. Third, in preparation for the launch and because these interviews have received such tremendous response, I will publish new interviews two or three times per week, not just on Fridays. Thank you for your continued support!

No. 49: Cozy Friedman, Kids’ Hair Expert

Age: 49
Where I live:
 New York City
Job: Kids’ Hair Expert
Kids: Two boys ages 14 and 16

Meet CozyIs the job you have now the same one you had before kids? If not, how and why did you change directions?
Yes, plus more! I continued with Cozy’s Cuts For Kids (children’s hair salons) and now have a company called SoCozy Professional Hair Care for Children.

Do you think having “it all” is realistic or overrated and why?
I do think it’s realistic, and I don’t think it’s overrated. I believe that people can have whatever they want and if they (truly) want it, it’s not overrated.

What part of “balance” can you just not seem to figure out?
I know people talk about balance a lot, but I don’t think it’s an issue for me. I love my family, I love  my career, I love my free time and personal interests. I do my best to make time for all, and I recognize that there is a natural ebb and flow of things. The only thing I can’t figure out is how to find more time to travel.

What part of “balance” are you getting better at?
Tree pose in yoga :-).

What was the best advice you ever heard on balance…
From a mentor/co-worker? 
“Everything doesn’t always need to be perfect.”
From your mother? “Do each day’s work each day.”

If you had one extra hour in each day and you couldn’t work or be with your family, how would you spend that hour?
Exercising. I actually began waking up an extra hour earlier each day so that I can go for a run or do yoga, and it’s guilt free because there’s nothing else I can be doing at that early hour….

What do you wish you’d known when you were 20?
Nothing. Ignorance is bliss.

What do you hope to know by the time you’re 60?
That my family is happy and healthy. Nothing is more important, as corny as that sounds.

What one part of your home life do you wish you could outsource?
Scheduling.

Whose job do you wish you had?
Restaurant critic.

Whose job are you glad you don’t have?
An accountant’s job is frightening to me.

Favorite books?
I could never answer this question.

What are you reading right now?
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker.

Biggest vices…
Activity? Running. 
Food?
 Pizza and french fries.
Website? Shopbop.

How many hours do you generally sleep at night during the week?
6.

What do you read every morning?
TheSkimm, Wall Street Journal, and Women’s Wear Daily.

Complete the following sentences:
I think I: am extremely lucky.
I wish I: had a masseuse.
My kids: make me so proud.

Do you have a personal motto or favorite saying?
Yes! I love this one: “You are either green and growing or ripe and rotting.”

Anything else you’d like to add?
I recently launched the NEW SoCozy Salon Formulas For Kids, and it’s growing like crazy! It’s basically an entirely new business and we just won a very prestigious award from Women’s Wear Daily: The Newcomer of The Year Award.  It took me 20 years to be a Newcomer—ha ha!!

SoCozy Line ShotAbout Cozy:
Cozy is married to her college sweetheart, Joey Friedman, and is the mother of two teenage boys, Riley and Shane. She is the Founder & CEO of Cozy’s Cuts For Kids salons in NYC and SoCozy Professional Hair Care For Kids. She is also the author of Cozy’s Complete Guide To Girls’ Hair and a frequent contributor to The Today Show. Cozy’s hobbies include running, yoga, spinning, snowboarding, movies, theater, traveling, cooking, and finding new restaurants.

Find more about Cozy here:
www.socozy.com
Twitter: @SoCozy_
Facebook: SoCozyForKids
Pinterest: SoCozy_
Instagram: SoCozy

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