Blink

Last night we had friends over for an impromptu dinner. They’re a young married couple, both of whom are in grad school. One of them has an internship at National Semiconductor in Santa Clara. He asked if I’d ever read anything by Malcolm Gladwell, the author of The Tipping Point and of Blink. Gladwell’s great at taking the cultural pulse. We are so instinctive about the way we see people and things, our judgments are made on impulse.

Also during dinner, it came up how concerned we are about how our gadgets look. Whether it’s Motorola’s pagers and phones, or Apple’s Mac computers, we want to look at attractive objects. This stands to reason why it is so important to consider how we look.

People are judging each other in the ‘blink of an eye.’ We spend so much time focusing on the things around us that perhaps we don’t spend enough time focusing on taking care of ourselves.

If a person buys an Apple computer based on a more superlative operating system as well as how the machine looks, then that same person should be just as interested in how he or she takes care of their inner-self and outward appearance.

Thanksgiving

If ever you’ve experienced a lapse in self-esteem, the holiday of Thanksgiving provides a great backdrop upon which to take stock of your image. And it costs you absolutely nothing to do so. When you consider what you are thankful for on this holiday, be sure to revel in all of who you are: your soul, your intelligence, and your whole body, from your hair follicles to your toenails.

The holidays can put so much pressure on us to be ‘perfect.’ It’s more important to communicate, behave and to dress for the best parts of who we are now and not become overwhelmed by our big, long term goals. It’s just like when our parents told us to put our ‘best foot forward.’

Last Thanksgiving my partner and I were in Chicago, enjoying the holiday with my sister, brother-in-law, stepfather, and mother. It was to be Mom’s last Thanksgiving, and her final night out. Close to death, she looked only at living. She could barely eat a morsel, but she managed a way of smiling and enjoying the moment.

I’ll always remember her energy, her spirit and her smile from that night. And a year after that Thanksgiving, I’m remembering and still learning from her shining example. At the end of her life, how she lived and loved herself encapsulates life’s fragility and its beauty.

Looking Stylish for the Holidays

Being well dressed is not just intended for the holiday turkey! So, guys, get some style this season with corduroy, leather and velvet. It’s the time of year and a season for jackets, fine knitwear, and well shined shoes. Consider creating a special outfit for Thanksgiving, for the holiday parties you’ll attend this season, and for New Years Eve. Click here for more stylish ideas for men for the holidays.

The Art of Shaving

I’m a big fan of the company The Art of Shaving. Recently they opened a retail store in Valley Fair, northern California’s largest shopping center. Their products have been available locally at Nordstrom in San Jose and at Neiman Marcus in Palo Alto, but it’s so great to see they finally have a larger presence by having their own store.

To commemorate the opening of their first Silicon Valley outpost, I decided to dedicate my most recent ‘Style’ column of Metro Silicon Valley to the opening of their store. I made attempts to interview a company representative, but nothing came of it. Despite their seeming lack of interest, the column was written to celebrate a ritual that nearly every grown man has to do on a daily basis: shave.

Tonight my partner and I ate dinner at Taiwan, a Chinese restaurant in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood. While there, I could not help but notice how many men in the establishment were sporting facial hair in addition to me. I hope that a few of those men, as well as some of the smooth-faced guys head over to The Art of Shaving store to try some of their amazing products. Their products will treat your skin with much more care than their corporate management treated me.