PRESENTING OUR SUMMER ISSUE: LEISURE AND LUXURY WITH NICK CANNON

Real Life Beta: The College Years

By Kyle Slavin

College is a beautiful mess.

From the safe and protected confines of their hometown, the college student is plucked from their life-long friends and their regular home-cooked meals. They are then placed in the most chaotic situation conceivable. Legions of lost strangers surround them in an unfamiliar town, with all of the worst influences now available for consumption. Hormones are flaring, and while these young men and women struggle to feed themselves, sleep and bathe regularly, they are also expected to study for the hardest classes they’ve ever taken.

If they make it out alive, they still have to find a job!

There is a saying in the professional sphere: “It’s like learning to drink from a fire hose.” Like throwing a new swimmer in the deep end, our society shocks our new students with more than they can logically handle, just to see what they’re made of. Sometimes, it is necessary to evolve by force.

College is a time to prepare yourself for the rest of your life. And we believe that there is as much to learn outside the classroom as there is inside. Learn from all your experiences, not just your lectures, and you will prepare yourself far better for your future.

For example, here are some parallels between college and what you can expect from the real world:

Your Professor Is Your Manager

There are few of us who will go on to be our own boss. This means that much of your work life will involve pleasing someone else who has authority over you. This is far easier said than done. Think of your classroom as a department that you work in, and your professor as your manager.  Your ability to stand out and out-perform your coworkers - the other students - is pivotal in your own success.  

To accomplish this, make yourself seen. (This is where office hours come in key.) In your work, don't try to perfect the ordinary - your professor has seen the same assignment and papers handed in a million times.  Instead, attempt the extraordinary. The effort will be unique and noted, resulting in a more memorable student profile and better grades.

Besides, your parents need encouragement to keep those checks coming.

You Are The Company You Keep

College is a unique opportunity to start from scratch socially.  You will be inundated with new people, all of whom are looking for companionship as well. But before you start wearing a funny hat and ad-libbing your own personal history (as I did), there are a few checks to run your new potential besties through.  

First, no matter what their intentions are, make sure that their behavior is in line with yours. Even if they are perfect angles during the day, if they are drunken womanizers at night, you will be painted with the same brush stroke.

Next, make sure that they support you as much as you support them.  You will learn that every relationship should be balanced and fair. If they bail on you once, they will most certainly repeat that behavior.

Finally, be yourself.  The sooner you come to terms with what you like, who you are, and what you want to accomplish in life, the more genuine your friends will be. This will forever be true, even in your eventual business partnerships. It's hard to keep up a front, but it's even harder to keep an entire fake relationship.  

Don't Be Afraid

In college, you are thrust into an excessive amount of unfamiliar scenarios. Guess what - that doesn't change with time. Walking into an exam is like walking into a big business meeting, and impressing "that girl" at the party is just like nailing a really important interview.  

No matter the situation, your own confidence and self-assurance will put you in the advantage.  Even as a college kid, you have the unbelievable potential to talk yourself into - or out of - any pressure situation.  Just roll confidently, trust that you will make the best decisions, and "OWN IT!"

Due Diligence is Worth It

A smarter man than I once spoke of taking pride in nailing the little daily chores. "If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"* This is true in your weekly studying just as it is true for eventually paying your bills and your mortgage. The annoyance is small, the task is minimal, but if you don't put out the fire instantly it will burn into an inferno.  

There is always, ALWAYS something you would rather be doing, and if you get in the practice of procrastinating, it is nearly impossible to break out of it.  Even if you do some extra work that you didn't have to do, you still come out ahead.  And the lack of stress will be a welcomed relief for "Future You".

Everything in Moderation

College is the first time in your life that the training wheels are completely off.  You can eat, drink, study, sleep, party, and work out - or, you can do one of these in excess. It is vitally important, a crucial life lesson, that you don't over-do it on your body.  

There are an infinite amount of coping mechanisms. If you study too much, you may feel like you deserve a big night out. Trust me, this will do you more harm than good. As the stress increases, coping mechanisms become obsessions, and obsessions begin to hamper your mental and physical health.  Even if you believe you can handle a really bad meal or a drink-fest once, it rarely ends after that one time.  

Just feel comfortable in your expenditures of energy, time, effort, and comfort.  If you think you've studied too long, take a walk.  If you are tired but your friends are still up and raring to go, feel comfortable in calling it a night.  Don't force yourself into anything, and you'll be far more productive on the tasks you do wish to accomplish.

Finally...

Remember - college, like life, is chaos.  It is up to you to create order and a system that works for you. No one knows you better than you know yourself.  Do what you enjoy, and do your best at it. It is remarkable how often good fortune happens to those who follow their own path.  College is simply your opportunity to branch out and see what works for you, so you can build on “you” for the rest of your life.

______________________________________________________________
* John Wooden

Create Your Character: The G-Point Game

By Kyle Slavin

I propose we play a game.

The game is based upon a points system. The only way to play this game is to think about it. As soon as you think about the game, you are an active player, and you begin building points.

You just earned your first point right now.

Every point boosts your character value. Like in some other Role Playing Games, the goal of the G-Point Game is to accumulate the most value possible before time expires. (Gulp!)

To earn points, you must engage in acts of positivity. They come in two forms: externally positive and internally positive. An example of an External Point is opening the door for someone. An example of an Internal Point is dressing yourself tastefully.

Points have varying weight depending on their influence. Loaning your car to someone is worth three external points, and adds a substantial value to your character worth. Training for and running a marathon is worth five internal points, and is also a great value addition.  (A bad tip is a negative external point.)

Once you have built up enough value points, greater missions and responsibilities unlock for you.  

The easy way to tell if you are gaining points is by your overall confidence ability. A character of great value will be able to handle higher levels of conflict, just as Link or  Mario may handle stronger enemies in later levels.  

There are missions in G-Point, but they coincide with life goals rather than arbitrary tasks. Get promoted, and you level up. Find an excellent partner for you, and you level up again. Unlock access into private clubs, hotel room suites, executive offices and huge houses. Just by accumulating these G-Points.

This is the most realistic and lifelike RPG that has ever been created. You can literally FEEL your character getting more powerful as you build him!

You have a health meter, and if you drink or smoke too much it gets low. You have a charisma meter that builds when things are going well for you.

The only drawback is the lack of cheat codes and power-ups. But, then again, they only hinder you in the long run.  

Since you are now playing this game, you realize the obvious power and substantial influence you can have just by building your character, point by point. You will become a greater player in this game: you will be smarter, healthier, more athletic, look better, and have much more attention from the other players in the game. And as they see your success, THEY start to play the game as well!

Eventually, we will have a culture of G-Point players, all helping each other, all bettering themselves through the accumulation of positive points. Imagine a society full of these players, all contributing in a positive way, all aiding their fellow players as they progress through the game.

You can customize your character to your liking, and enable the world for him. And in return, you grow and succeed, one value point at a time.

Why can’t real life be like this?

The Gentleman Project

By Kyle Slavin

A movement of value.  This is what we hope to accomplish.  A movement of people who wish to bring value and positivity into a world filled with tactlessness.  Whether it is a kind gesture or a well placed compliment, a held door or a “bless you” after a sneeze, we wish to ignite a passion in the men who follow us.

Just by reading this, you have sparked an interest. You WANT to be a gentleman.  You wish to be the classiest version of yourself possible, and you KNOW the endless amount of possibilites that open for you, as a gentleman.

Why not be better?  Why not look better?  Why not feel empowered in your own skin?

We all have the ability to be superheroes, to walk the streets as men of greatness.  To wear the best outfit we have, and to act as the best we know.  To show empathy, humility, and class, regardless of the situation or stress involved.  And to be the best version of ourselves, no matter what may try to keep us from it.

To move as the Gentlemen move, as the great men before us have done.

There is literally nothing stopping you.  You CAN learn the style and class of a well-trimmed custom suit.  You SHOULD learn how to tie a bow-tie.  And you WILL be able to woo your lady by showing the perfect grace and honor that she deserves, because that is the way it has been passed down to us.  

This is how we learn what to teach our children.  A life of value.  A life of success.  And a life with the constant desire and achievement of our highest capability.  

A Gentleman is made, not born, and it starts with you.

* * *

This week, we are recruiting trainees for the Gentleman Project.  

Like a flash-mob of chivalry and etiquette, we are descending on high-populous areas and simply being the best we can be.  We are opening doors, greeting strangers, smiling, helping folks across the street, picking up litter, and doing all the honorable acts that our ideal selves should be doing.  

We are the strongest.  We are the most honorable.  We are the Gentleman Project.

We hope that our acts and good graces will elicit a change in the mentality of the Modern Men around us.  No longer will selfish acts and egotism rule the day.  

We believe that the only way to raise the value of society is as one Gentleman at a time.  Join us in our vision of a better and tasteful lifestyle.  What can YOU do to be a Gentleman today?

You are now a part of this movement.  In a time of chaos and tumult, vulgarity and bad taste, the American Gentleman wishes to begin the greatest movement of value.  

Will you join us, Gentlemen?

Color Commentary: A Complimentary Blog

By Kyle Slavin

It is time to discuss the most important, most abstract, and most objective aspect of a gentleman’s attire - accent colors.

We have spoken at lengths about the quality of fabric, the importance of tailoring, the style, the fit, and the history behind dressing well and looking good. (For example, our contributors could write the detailed lifeline of a high-quality suit, from sheep to shoulders. We just won’t let them.)

But what of color? Matching a man’s palette to their suit tone, pairing their primary color with accents and flair - there are an endless amount of possible missteps that a gentleman can make just by getting dressed in the morning.

Essentially, your overall appearance is a gauge by which others take “you” in. Bland color choices denote a bland character, and bold color choices mirror similar personality traits. For example, a purple tie and kerchief on a slate gray suit can project daring and liveliness in its wearer, but it only “works” if the guy wearing it is in fact lively and daring.

You are what you project. Bold choices denote a bold character, and the stronger the statement means the longer your image lasts.

Let’s get some basics down:

(Disclaimer: NEVER put pattern on pattern, no matter what the color may be. Checkered ties primarily pair with single-color shirts. And make sure stripes never attempt to complement stripes. It won’t work!)

THE BLACK SUIT - A staple of our business culture, this is the staunchest “frame” there is. Color-wise, black is the ultimate base and stands to contrast any bold complimentary color. (Yes, you can get away with a fuchsia or a bright red accent, but you better have a big personality.) And as the suit softens into a slate or metal gray, so too can your shirt and tie soften in hue.

BLUE - Traditionally a calming and soothing color that reflects intelligence and safety. Hence, many corporations’ logos involve blue, as do the clothing choices of those who work there. A safe choice in any environment, blue pairs well with a gray suit, and can be easily accented with a yellow tie (or vice versa). So, you have a big interview lined up? Be safe, wear blue.

PURPLE AND GREEN - These are the classic colors of royalty. They represent power and nobility, as they did back in Ancient Rome. Elegantly understated if worn correctly, the purple must air on the violet/softer side, and the green must be a vibrant and dark Emerald shade. As for suit accompaniment, purple tends to look better with a slate or pinstripe gray suit, whereas the green can be worn with either a blue or black suit. Both colors pair with a deep gold tie, as Rolex and the L.A. Laker uniforms exemplify. Go LA!

RED - Want to live dangerously? Try red - this color projects liveliness, fire, unpredictability, and emotion. It is instantly the most bold shade in the room, and it must be worn by someone who must instantly be noticed (think Jessica Rabbit). As the color red brings such a strong statement, it is difficult to pair with any color but black or white. No other color can hold up.

YELLOW AND ORANGE - As a primary color, stay away from yellow. Yellow elicits anxiety, frustration, and anger. Of all the colors of the spectrum, yellow is the brightest and most difficult for the eye to absorb. Yellows work well as an accent to a variety of blues and greens (see above), but there’s a reason that this color is a synonym for “cowardly”.

As for orange, unless it is late October, we would recommend against it as well. Our sources describe orange as “spontaneous and uplifting”, but it comes across as a weak and reserved color choice. Pairing horribly with most accompanying hues, it is our professional suggestion to steer clear of the citrus.

IN CLOSING, take the time to consider your pairings. Assemble your ensemble. Configure your display. For every man exists the right colors, creating an image that issues a statement long before any words are spoken.

We are all superheroes, and our outfits have power. What should your power be?

 

Not All Savings are Equal: The Importance of Spending on Things That Matter

By Kyle Slavin

Let’s be honest for a second. We’ve all taken a hit over the last few years, and that hit was focused directly on our wallets. Target acquired: bank account eliminated, ramen noodles for a month. Even the most lavish of folks are cutting back on their expenditures, thinking out their financial plans well in advance, and adjusting accordingly to this awful economy. But remember: there is a difference between the frugal and the fiscally anemic, the spendthrift and the downright broke. 

The difference lies in the planning and research behind your purchases.

Use this moment to understand the usability and value in your spending – believe it or not, this affects you every single day of your life. Is it more valuable to save $50 at the grocery store, or to save $50 on a pair of jeans? To eat at a high-end restaurant on one fancy night, or to overspend on drinks every weekend? And when is it prudent to pay more for something of value?

Let’s start in a simple “dos and don’ts” format:

DO map out your monthly payments, and compare them to your incoming funds. This sounds like the simplest advice ever, but you would be surprised at how many folks don’t make a balance sheet. If you bring in $3500 a month, you may think you can afford to buy the satellite cable package on first glance.  (“But it has HBO for free!” No, it doesn’t.)  Tally up those bills, and you may realize that after rent, car payment, gym membership, and your custom laser hair removal, you only have $200 to work with. And you haven’t even eaten yet! Be smart – plan ahead.

DON’T buy out of want, but rather out of need. For example, a certain American Gentleman writer is an avid basketball player. He finds himself with five or six pairs of basketball shoes at any given time, and he knows they each cost $70 or more.  For someone so fiscally responsible, how could this happen?

Well, between sly corporate advertising and our own personal dependences, most of us have a weak spot somewhere. His just happened to be basketball shoes.

To combat this, he first realized his weakness and addressed it: no more shoes until the previous pair were a liability. That means no matter what sales there were, no matter what brands were offered, he  had to stick to his guns. With time and wear, those six pairs of shoes whittled down to two pairs, a much more manageable number, and he ended up saving around $70 every couple months. 

So, whats YOUR weakness?

DO spend more on something that will last longer, or get more use. In the long run, this will save you money.  Do you wear jeans every day? From a fashion standpoint, you shouldn’t, but that’s not the point. If you utilize those jeans regularly, it is worth it to get the costlier brand-name pair rather than the discount pair. Yes, it is more expensive. But they will last longer, look better, and be more reliable in hems, buttons, and inseams than the alternative. What’s the point of saving a couple bucks if you are going to wear them out sooner, and have to buy jeans again?

This same mentality applies to anything you use every day. If you put on cologne every time you step out of the shower (as you should), make your purchase on the right scent and not the right price. If you find yourself constantly in a suit and tie, spend the extra $200 to make sure that the fabric will not wear, and will fit you fashionably. You will feel better, act more confident, and end up saving money in the long run.

DON’T make purchases based on your ideal behaviors, but on your actions. We all have tennis rackets, surf boards, jewelry, musical instruments, and bicycles that only exist to collect dust. We frown at them, wasting away in a corner, never to see the light of day.  Why did we buy that!?

If you want to start a new hobby or a new look, don’t purchase everything first. Try it out for a month, and see if it is something that will realistically enter into your life. If that means borrowing a friend’s trombone for a little while to make sure your neighbors are okay with it first, then go borrow it! The marching band can wait!

DO treat yourself, but make sure it’s something worth the treat! In Los Angeles, we have recently found that a casual night of drinks and appetizers can hit the $100 threshold with lightning speed. And that’s on happy hour!

What we realized is that a night at Mastro’s at $175 is a much more economic and worthwhile expenditure than several nights at Pink Taco at $100.  You are allowed to splurge! Just make sure that it’s not every week, and that it’s something worth splurging upon. 

*             *             *

Spending money to save money may seem counterintuitive, but it is a smart practice. If you are wise in your purchases, you will enjoy them for a longer duration – and look good doing it.

This behavior is available to men in any income bracket, and worth considering. To be his best, the Gentleman must feel his best, and that means taking pride in the clothes, style, and accessories with which he surrounds himself.

Be smart. Buy smarter. And good luck with those trombone lessons.

Geek Chic and Nerd Flair

By Kyle Slavin

Your worst suspicions have come true: like some A/V Club conspiracy, the fashion world is going the way of the nerd. Big black glasses, suspenders, high collars, and bow ties are all making a huge come-back, and even the coolest of the cool can be found wearing plaid. Hey fashion, what gives!?

The meek have finally inherited the Earth, and they’re donning pocket protectors.

“Geek Chic” is definitely the defining trend of the last few years. From rap moguls to NBA superstars, music icons and Hollywood’s A-list, going geek is most definitely in.

For the basics, Katie Lampert states in How Geek Chic Works, “You take key pieces of a typically geeky wardrobe and wear them with purpose and aplomb, to make a point. Not because you're clueless and out of the fashion loop, not because you can't afford Ralph Lauren – [but] because you want to.”

“In the same way that there are people who never thought they'd see a black American president, there are also people who never thought they'd see a black basketball star dressed like a nerd,” says Wesley Morris, from Grantland.com.  “When did everything turn upside down? Who relaxed the rules? Is it really safe to look like Carlton Banks?

Believe it or not, it is.  In the same way the nerd culture has made an impact on social trends– from Apple Computers to Lord of the Rings and Star Wars – the next social fashion movement respects the “think geek” mentality. Successful brands are beginning to promote their leaders, like Richard Branson and the late Steve Jobs. In turn, people wish to emulate that success, and those icons, in their own appearance.

Part homage, part thinly-veiled fashion statement, the geeks now have a badge that they can wear on their (plaid) sleeves. 

So dust off that Pac-Man or 1986 Journey tour T-shirt. With a hot blazer and dark jeans, it works. Feel daring with a bow-tie and suspenders – what once looked like sideshow performer-wear now looks incredibly fashion-forward.

And if you roll confidently, no one can tell you differently. I like to roll subtly in my go-everywhere vest, but Aaron from Klein Epstein & Parker balls all-out in his bow-tie and plaid.

So, men, what’s your favorite Geek Chic go-to?

Life Checkpoints

By Kyle Slavin

As a man progresses through his life, he often creates future checkpoints to measure himself against: the plan to a life successful, a blueprint to all accomplishment.

Figure out the career by 25, we say.

Find the girl by 30.

Kids by 35, house by 40…and just make sure you can find the bathroom regularly after that.

Perhaps we do this to track our achievements, or to make sure our own personal evolution is still progressing forward in some way.  Perhaps we understand where we wish to go, and the steps necessary to get there.  (Or perhaps there’s a little OCD in all of us.)

Either way, as each checkpoint passes, there is a moment of quiet recognition – a look back, a pause, and the realization that absolutely none of our carefully-planned checkpoints have happened at all how we intended.

*             *             *

I turn 30 years old today.  Though I have lived most of my life with the intent to be the perfect gentleman, I have realized that I couldn’t have taken a more haphazard and backwards path to my current situation.  I have had my share of trouble and triumph, sticky scenarios and golden ceilings.  Like all of us, I always tried to make the best out of whatever situation I was in, with mixed results.

My plan was perfect.  The checkpoints were true.  But if planning ensured success, we’d all be wearing top hats and monocles by now, diving into pools of gold coins – and we’d all have far less interesting stories to tell.

We have a saying here at American Gentleman: that the gentleman is made, not born.  This means that our individual plans, no matter now intricately they lay before us, may crumble in a pinch.  Our riches may become ruin and our foundations may fracture, but if you work to cultivate your class, integrity, and bravado, you can never lose your status as a Gentleman.

As men, we need war stories.  There is character within them.  Our scars show worldliness, and the sweat of our journey comes through with integrity.  No matter your social status or origin, you become a gentleman the day you start giving a damn.

Now, at 30, I realize that had I followed my checkpoints to the marker, my life would not have been nearly as interesting as it was.

I would not have had the experiences that define me, I would not have laughed nearly as often, and I definitely would not have met the love of my life and had the confidence to propose to her.

So I ask of you, what are your future checkpoints, and have you met the ones from your past?  How important is it to live your life to a schedule, and how important is it to deviate from your original plans?

Would you have met your girlfriend or wife had you kept to your plan?  Or would you have been more successful in your career had you not strayed?

Do you favor your spontaneity, or your steadfastness?

What makes you, as a man?

Gent Motivation 101: Interaction for Motivation

Last week I test drove this....

470 Horsepower

V12 Engine

MSRP: $210,915.00

Now I don’t make anywhere near enough to afford such a vehicle but that’s not the point. I went on the test drive for one purpose; motivation.

Is it crazy that I test drove a car that’s well beyond my means? Not really, my aspiration of owning an Aston Martin is a long term goal.  Material goals are desired possessions, and like any material object, someone already has it. Of all the visualization and goal setting exercises there’s nothing like physically interacting with one’s goal for a boost in motivation.  So I stopped day dreaming and browsing Internet photos of the Rapide and took myself to the one place that has it, the dealership.

The end result? The test drive lit a fire under my ass and I’m motivated  more than ever to continue striving and grinding so that I may one day own it.

Let’s face it, we all have goals. Big and small, idealistic and materialistic, short and long term.  As the rapper Nas once put it “No idea’s original, there’s nothing new under the Sun, it’s not what you do but how its done.”  This is especially true of goals  regardless if its something you dream of one day doing or owning. Chances are there is another human being who is living your dream or has acquired your desired object.

Of the few people who actually create  a goal and the fewer who’ve set a time frame and have begun working towards it, the number of those who’ve actually interacted with their desired outcome is minuscule.It comes as no surprise that goal abandonment is common as time elapses and conditions change. That “I can conquer all” spark is extinguished once time, money and life get in the way. That is why motivation through interaction is so critical.

Pictures will NEVER motivate you like sitting in the driver seat of your dream car. The same goes for all you entrepreneurs, athletes, and future moguls. Watching from the sidelines is cool in the beginning, but a conversation with an already established person in your desired field can provide insight and motivation you never knew existed.

As a Gent you should be building a network of individuals who inspire and motivate. You may not know a millionaire, astronaut or mogul but ask yourself this, have you ever bothered even trying to locate one? Dreams without action is just sleep. Get off the computer, go outside and start interacting with your goals. The motivation and insight provided will serve you well on your journey.

Be sure to send your questions to GentLifeMail@Gmail.com or @GentLife on Twitter.

Putting in Work - The Follow-Up

Last weeks response to A Hard Days Work was overwhelming. The message of putting in work and having something to show for it resonated with a lot of readers.

In a day where the path of least resistance is often the first choice, I was pleasantly surprised to see that so many people like doing hard work. Anyone who has lifted weights for any period of time can tell you that the results really begin to show once you start pushing the really heavy weights. Your body rewards you by becoming stronger, bigger, and tougher as a result.  And while many products proclaim a shortcut, time and hard work are the most important variables in any workout regimen.

It comes as no shock that the path of least resistance is the path to least reward. The big bonus, promotion, corner office, recognition and accolades overwhelmingly go to the individuals who forego the easy projects and assignments in favor of the difficult ones.

That is not to say that doing hard work for the sake of just doing it is efficient. There is merit to the cliche "Work Smarter, Not Harder".  Think of it this way, difficult tasks shouldn't be avoided, but approached in a systematic/strategic way.

The most common forms of work, busy and boring, are misconstrued as difficult. Students and workers take on these tasks, knowing their difficulty is low but through mindless adherence fail to automate or delegate them so that they may focus on the difficult and more rewarding tasks.

A bunch of easy projects don't deliver the same satisfaction or reward that one big, hard project will. Using a framework like SMART keeps things in check and ensures that you aren't just running in circles. Choose your hard work wisely, prioritize what's important and reap the rewards.

I'll see you all in the winner's circle.

"These hands ain't never seen a hard day's work" my grandmother so eloquently remarked while examining my hands. As she studied the lines of my palm and fingers I wondered what exactly was she looking for. She's not a superstitiious woman by any means so I immediately dismissed the notion of her attempting to "read my palm''. The comment however did stick with me. I was only 12 at the time, and had climbed my fair share of trees, played quarters with my cousins until our knuckles bled and had fielded pop fly's bare handed. Sure, I had never actually worked with these hands but they were anything but soft.

Looking back, I now know what my grandmother had meant by saying hard days work. At that tender age of 12, I hadn't yet gripped the handle of a hammer and created something uniquely my own. Nor had I lifted a dumbell and completed countless reps until my arms and fingers ached with pain. My hands see, could tell my grandmother things that I couldn't. She could tell if I was as crafty as my father and grandfather from the nicks and scrapes on my fingers. Badges, if you will, earned through trial and error, time and patience, hardwork and dedication.

The callouses that have hardened where my fingers met my palm are evidence of me having toiled with an instrument of some kind. It may have been a bat.Gripped, choked up on and gripped even tighter in anticapation of a homerun. Or maybe it was the aformentioned barbell, whose textured iron rips away flesh from the hand with every unrelenting set. Whatever the method may be, my hands told a story that only those whose hands had experienced similar could appreciate.

The conversation between man and hand takes place in a matter of seconds during the initial handshake. That handshake, when exectuted properly (or poorly), lets others know what lies beneath your dapper appearance and immaculate grooming. You see, more than just a friendly gesture between strangers, the handshake is a power move. And aside from getting a firm grip, 2 second squeeze, while maintaing eye contact, the handshake from a gentleman's hands that can tell a story goes further than what any superficial conversation can hope to.

The hands are one of the only body parts that can communicate all on their own. A weak, soft, daintly hands suggests an individual shys at rolling their sleeves up and getting down and dirty. Such a person rather delegate the work to others. Contrast that with the strong, meaty yet limber fingers of my grandfather. A man who wouldn't hesitate to lend a helping hand, forearm or elbow. His hands told stories, of days long gone by, things built years ago and of work whose only reward was the satisfaction of completion.

So go outside and pick up something. Build something with your hands. Destroy something with your hands. Greet a hard days work as an oppurtunity to earn your mits their stripes. So that one day your hands too, can tell a story.

New Year, New SMART Goals

Ahhh, the first week of a new year, a week filled with so much potential and many aspirations.  If you’re like most American’s one of this year’s goals likely involves your personal finances. Be it making more money, getting out of debt or just saving more, becoming financially fit should be a priority for everyone. Fortunately for you, there are a number of resources to achieve those goals.

If you haven’t already, try creating a SMART Goal.

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely.

Get Specific!

Okay, so you want to get out of debt. Great, so how much debt do you have? You don’t know? Pull out those credit card statements and collection notices you’ve been avoiding and check the balances. Be sure to account for auto, personal and student loans. The grand total of these represents your debt load. The number may be shocking, but it makes a lot better sense than saying “I want to get out of debt”.

Measurable

Taking control of your finances doesn’t have to be the migrane-inducing task it’s hyped up to be. Budgeting and analytic tools like Mint.com make creating a budget and tracking your spending a breeze. Knowing your spending habits and how it effects your goals is 50% of getting out debt. The other 50% is being disciplined enough to modify those habits to your advantage.

Attainable

A common financial goal for the new year is to make more money. People making $30,000 will say they want to make 100,000.00 before the end of the year. These people are dreamers, not goal-setters. All goals, financial or not should be realistic. Sure, they should stretch and challenge you but keep them within reachable limits.

Relevent

Having fleshed out the original statement “ I wanna get out of debt” into something specific, measurable and attainable, we must ask ourselves the all important why. Using the debt example there are a number of reasons for wanting to accomplish the goal.

-Less Stress

-Improved Credit Score

-More discretionary income

All your goals should have a WHY component. Without the likelihood of accomplishing it shrinks drastically.

Timely

With the what, how, and why of your goal figured out, let’s get to the when. Setting a target date for its completion helps keep you accountable and motivated. Tracking your progress with analytic tools like Mint ensures that you will know when to up the ante or dial back on your consumption or saving.

So there you have it, a SMART plan to aide you in achieving your goals.

The Premier Issue of American Gentleman Magazine will feature some additional financial tips and resources.

For those looking for additional resources on improving their finances check out the following.

www.GetRichSlowly.com

www.IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com

http://www.dinkytown.net/

Yes, the names sound like scams but I can personally attest to their validity and methods. Check them out.