6:50 a.m. First alarm goes off. Screw it, I showered last night and I shaved yesterday. Hit the snooze button.
7:20 a.m. Second alarm goes off. Do I want to get up and cook breakfast or do I want to savor this glorious moment in my bed? Hit the snooze button.
7:50 a.m. Third alarm goes off. I have to leave for work within 40 minutes. Plenty of time to get ready. Hit the snooze button.
8:20 a.m. Fourth alarm goes off. I have to be ready for work in 10 minutes, but this isn't my first rodeo. I brush my teeth while applying deodorant, quick face wash, splash on some Burberry cologne and out of the door by 8:30 a.m.
I have tried numerous times to become a morning person but failed. Ironically, I feel at my best when I wake up early, workout, cook breakfast and actually put an effort into what I'll wear for the day. I've read, "How to Make Yourself A Morning Person," and "Why Morning People Rule the World," and "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast," and on, and on, and on. But I still hit that snooze button.
But this week, I've discovered two important workings. First is Marcus Aurelius' The Emperor's Handbook. This book is a new translation of Aurelius' Meditations. By far the best book I have ever read and that's a profound statement. I plan to apply this book not only in my personal life, but also in my career, and without a doubt, I will become a better person. Second, I discovered Two Weeks in Hell, a Discovery series that documents the grueling process to become a U.S. Army Green Beret. Never again will I complain about a workout.
So as I'm nonchalantly drinking a nightcap bourbon drink, I come across Two Weeks in Hell on Netflix. Intrigued, I started the series and was immediately captivated. Forget Marshawn Lynch, these dudes are true beast modes. Within an hour of arriving at camp, the candidates are taken to a sand pit. Anyone who has ever conditioned for a sport knows anytime someone mentions "sand pit," your stomach begins to turn. Precisely why one of the instructors outwardly demanded, "No one throws up in the sandpit! Understood?" Within the hour, candidates were voluntarily withdrawing from the program, throwing up, and becoming so delirious one candidate was asked by a medic, "Do you know where you are?" and the candidate dazedly responded, "Hash browns." Yes, he was that deranged.
Anyways, back to my comfy couch where my legs are propped up, drinking my delicious bourbon drink, while watching these brave men pour their hearts and souls into a program that has an over 60 percent failure rate. I'm watching these men suffer in order to be a part of a cause he truly believed in. These men put everything on the line to become part of an elite group of soldiers that are (to put bluntly) paid crap and are constantly fighting in enemy territory so that I can casually sip my bourbon and watch on as if I am Commodus himself. Indeed, I was abashedly entertained.
Then yesterday I read this quote from The Emperor's Handbook. "In the morning, when you can't get out of bed, tell yourself: "I'm getting up to do the work only a man can do. How can I possibly hesitate or complain when I'm about to accomplish the task for which I was born? Was I made for lying warm in bed under a pile of blankets?
But I enjoy it here.
Was it for enjoyment you were born? Are you designed to act or to be acted upon? Look at the plants, sparrows, ants, spiders and bees, all busy at their work, the work of welding the world. Why should you hesitate to do your part, the part of a man, by obeying the law of your own nature?"
It should be reiterated again and again that we are here for a purpose. We were not placed on this earth to be lethargic. Yes, of course, relaxation is needed. In fact, it is just as important as working diligently. However, as Marcus Aurelius said, "Like eating and drinking, rest has it's natural limits." I was not born to lie in a bed. It's time to get up.
Last week I had to make an important decision. I had to decide between one of two options. First, I could walk down to the local Walgreens and purchase four cartridges for roughly $21. Or, I could join Dollar Shave Club and subscribe monthly for $6 and receive four cartridges each month. The better option to choose may appear conspicuous and facile, but my ability to make a decision was much more involved.
See, if I apply the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, I am majority of the time associated between an Early Adopter and a Early Majority. I am never the Innovator. For example, I would never be able to convince myself to stand in line for six hours for a smart phone. So when I noticed the Dollar Shave Club ads on my Facebook news feed, I was hesitant to try it out. Sure I liked the company's name, which is quick, concise, tells a story on its own, but I had to do some more research.
So I visited the company's site where I enjoyed the opening video. Very unique and funny. I was also drawn to the simplicity of it's website. The navigation to find answers and learn about the business is easy, which correlates well with the overall brand because this is not a complicated business so describing how it works should not be either.
Finally, it came down to reviews. I do not know anyone else that participates with Dollar Shave Club so this was the more important factor for me. I had questions like, "Do the blades suck?" or "How long does it take to receive the blades?" Both of these answers were easy to find.
Well, today I received my first Dollar Shave Club package and the shave I had today was great. Very smooth with no irritation. Shaving has an idiosyncratic art to it. It is much more than using Barbasol and a Bic Razor. The way a man takes care of his face correlates with discipline and class. This is one reason why the military requires cadets to shave daily. So do yourself a favor and take shaving a little more seriously. Find your own unique method and while doing so save yourself money by joining Dollar Shave Club. I've included my own arrangement below if you need some recommendations. Happy Shaving!
Shaving on a Budget
I love Art of Shaving, but unfortunately it's prices are a little high for me at the moment. So for those on a budget like myself, these options are relatively inexpensive.
Pre-Shave: I like to use Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub. The microbeads exfoliate the skin to help remove dead skin and it also helps raise your facial hair. For those that live in dry environments, I would definitely recommend also purchasing face lotion since the micro scrub tends to dry out your face.
Blade: As stated prior, at Dollar Shave Club I purchase the $6 option. The blade works great and is also adjustable so it works well with shaving around the neck and jaw-line.
Shaving Cream: Throw out your Barbasol or at least keep it so you can shave the back of your neck inbetween haircuts. Regardless, do not use it on your face because you are missing out on some better products. Dollar Shave Club offers shaving butter, which I plan to try next month, but currently I am using Cremo Cream and this stuff works great. Highly recommend it!
Post Shave: I apply two applications after I shave. First, I apply Neutrogena Men Razor Defense Post Shave Lotion. Incredibly long name for such a simple product. Basically it fights razor burn and ingrown hairs. Smells nice too. Next, I apply Neutrogena Men Sensitive Skin Moisturizer. Unfortunately my father was diagnosed with skin cancer, but one blessing in disguise from his diagnosis is I've learned the importance of taking care of your skin. This moisturizer has SPF 30.
At only 5'9, the legendary actor, Steve McQueen, presented himself as if he stood as a giant among men. He often played tough, seductive, and determined characters. His portrayal as Frank Bullitt in the self-titled film, Bullitt, is heralded as one of the best action films of all time with a 97 percent rating from the film critic site, Rotten Tomatoes.
One of my personal favorite Steve McQueen films is The Thomas Crown Affair. The Pierce Brosnan 1999 version is an embarrassment compared to McQueen's classic film. A guy cannot finish the film without wanting to be McQueen. The Schweizer SGS sailplane, Polo playing, Persol sunglasses, and the awesome dune buggy McQueen drove while smoking a cigar made him out to be the most iconic gentleman.
In today's common society, it can be argued the craft of being a gentleman has been lost and only the true gentleman can be found at the high ranks of society. But this is untrue and an unfortunate contention. You do not have to be wealthy to be a gentleman. Honestly, the etiquette of being a gentleman is fairly easy to master. The website, AskMen, provides easy steps to practicing the true marks of a gentleman.
Another great website is The Art of Manliness . What appears to be a parody site happens to provide some insightful tips for the every-day gentleman. In a entertaining delivery, the site provides tips on how to trim a mustache, how to correctly shine your shoes, tie a tie, and even how to shave like your grandpa.
It should also be noted there is a fine line between being a metro-sexual and a gentleman. Nothing against those that prefer to tweeze their eyebrows, frequent the tanning salon, and shop at Express, but this is not the common practice of a gentleman. Sure a gentleman takes care of his skin by exfoliating before a shave and keeps his nails trimmed, but there is nothing attractive about man being prettier than his girlfriend.
I'm far from perfecting the gentleman style, but I at least practice the craft. I recommend other male readers do the same. Follow some of the tips below and be like McQueen.
