I worked for a pharma company and grew a goatee over Christmas. Middle idiot manager, as most are idiot "yes" men in the corporate world, told me to shave it. I asked him if he was serious. He said customers can't take a person with facial hair seriously. I told him that was the stupidest thing I had ever heard and that thought processes like that were a reason why their market share sucked and they were focused on the wrong things.
So I had to turn in my company car on Monday.
That was @ '95 and I've had some form of beard or facial hair since. That little company is out of business and my @ 100 customers don't have a problem with my gray/brown/black/white beard.