Take courtship and strip it down to the bare bones.  What’s there?   Physical attraction.  Without physical attraction, you have friendship.  Both parties must be physically attracted to each other on some level before meeting between the sheets.  This physical attraction is the first step, or first impression, of any courtship.  Spiritual attraction, respect and friendship all do play their part later on in this process.

These basic signals dilate pupils, redden the skin, wet the lips and arouse base human instincts. That desire is to lead to the wish to have sex. The issue is that well-meaning campaigners who say that looks should not matter are eroding these signals. I am sometimes called shallow because I go for a certain look for the women I date. But the point is that these looks are what I find attractive and I tend to go for people who go for my kind of looks, therefor increasing the chance of dating success.

Initial dates are all about looks, about who and what we find attractive and we are foolish if we try and suppress these desires. If you like someone’s physical features, the way they hold a glass of wine or the way they walk then this is all on purpose. It is all part of the grander plan of matching like with like. By matching couples that are physically attracted, it is nature’s way of pairing off. And for the most part it works well. The issue arises where we have a difficult time finding people who find us attractive.

Physical matching is not about physical perfection, it is about compatibility. If you are not feeling truly good about yourself when you are about to begin dating then take some time out to reflect on yourself and then set about changing a few things. Remember that everything you do in life affecting your appearance should primarily be for yourself but at the same time if you are serious about dating successfully you really should think very seriously about how you look to others. As I have said previously, you may be searching for your perfect match, but to find them you may well have to try and present yourself as their ideal mate too.

Finally consider this. A survey recently asked what attribute people most associated with being poor and unsuccessful. The top answer was being overweight and the second was smoking.

Summer is by far one of my favorite seasons for fashion. Bright colors, light breathable clothing, and best of all… Boat shoes.

With the first day of summer quickly approaching, I find myself pulling out last seasons boat shoes to pair with this seasons best. But before we get into that lets look into the history of these unsinkable yacht loafers.

Boat shoes were invented in 1935 by a leisurely gentleman by the name of Paul Sperry. One day he noticed his dogs ability to run easily over ice without slipping. Paul being the handy gentleman he is, pulled out his pocket knife and cut siping into the soles of his shoes. By doing this he created the perfect sole for decks of boats. With this the Sperry Top-Sider was born.

The main reasons i enjoy these shoes so much are:
- They are unbelievable comfortable
- They are the laziest foot attire I can wear while still looking classy.

All I have to do it put on a pair of shorts or chinos and a polo shirt and slide my feet into a pair of boat shoes and I am ready for a day on the patio. “dos beergarita’s por favor”. Also did i mention that they look fantastic? Well they do!

Currently I have a mix of both Sperry’s and Sebago’s. Now I am sure not everyone will agree with me when I say this, but I prefer the Sebago’s. I find them to be of higher quality and the styling is a tad more modern. Now with that being said, I still love my Sperry’s and will continue to buy both until they go out of style (never). To find out which ones work best for you. Take both brands for a test drive. Everyone has there own style and make sure you select the ones that suit you the best. You have a lot of options so they should be a reflection to your individual personality and style.

Alright.. Now we run into one problem with these shoes. Bare feet + Leather + Sweat = Stinky feet! This is a game that no leisurely gentleman wants to play. Th

ere are a few ways around this and I am going to tell you how.

Option 1: Spray the inside of your shoe with leather protectant. This way the moisture from your feet will not absorb into the leather on the inside of the shoe. No sweat equals no bacteria and brings us to the final point… No smell

Option 2: These little life saver socks called Mocc Socks from MS and Co.  These basically give you all the luxuries of socks without anyone noticing you are wearing any. It is a win-win in my books.

Option 3: For really stinky feet, use Options 1 and 2.

And there you have it. Say no to sandals unless you are planning a day on the beach and say yes to the boat shoe. You won’t regret it!

Leisurely Yours,
Gabriel

Sebago’s Website
Sperry Top-Sider’s Website

Gentleman

gentleman - a man of refinement

If you want to dress well (and look sharp) you must master your skills with an iron.  You can have the most expensive suit in the world on but if your shirt is wrinkled- you will look like a fool!  Knowing how to iron properly shows a certain level of class, and is a sign of a proper upbringing.  If you think throwing your shirt in the dryer with a wet towel is “good enough”, then think again.

Ironing should be part of every Leisurely Gentlemen’s morning routine.  When done properly it should not take long at all.  We asked the guys here at LG how long it takes them to iron a shirt and the majority of the answers we received were 2-3 minutes.

What you will need:

• - Iron
• - Ironing Board
• - Spray Bottle with Water
• - Dress Shirt

Step 1:  Read the instruction on the tag inside your shirt.  It’s important to make sure the iron is set to the appropriate setting as you don’t want to fry a good shirt.

Step 2:  Steam is your friend.  Make sure your iron has plenty of water as steam is what is going to take out any wrinkles and give you a nice crease down the side of your sleeve.

Step 3:  Many people use the wrong end of the ironing board when ironing a shirt.  This is a total fail and will only add to your valuable time in the morning.  The correct way to iron a shirt is by using the square end (as shown below).

Step 4:  Iron the collar first.  To iron the shirt collar, pop it up and start with the underside, slowly pressing the iron from one point to the other.  Use the spray bottle to ensure that it is thoroughly moist before starting.  Next, flip the shirt over and repeat this process on the outside of the collar.

Step 5:  I iron the cuffs next as they receive a lot of attention when worn properly with a jacket.  To iron a shirt cuff, first unbutton it and lay it out flat.  First iron the inside of the cuff, and next the outside, moving all wrinkles from uneven fabric to the edges.  Carefully iron around the buttons, and even on the backside. Never iron over buttons (unless you place them over a towel or something with give) as they can leave a mark.  For French cuffs, open them fully and iron as above.  I recommend you not press the edges of a French cuff–it steals the life and body from a smooth fold.

Step 6:  Iron the front of the shirt.  Start with the side that has buttons and carefully work the iron point around the button area then move back up to the top of the shoulder and work your way down the shirt with the iron. Repeat on the other side.

Step 7:  Iron the back of the shirt.  Laying the shirt flat on the board, having half the back in prime position to be ironed, and only need to slide the shirt over to complete the other half.  Start at the top with the back shoulder area and slowly slide the iron down.  If you have a center box pleat, you’ll have to spend a few seconds ironing around it–I prefer not to iron back in the pleat, as the time required for an area you don’t want to highlight isn’t worth the effort.

Step 8:  Iron the sleeves.  Take either sleeve by the seam and lay the whole sleeve (and most of the shirt) flat on the ironing board. If you can see the creases on the top of the sleeve from previous ironing, match it again so that you have a single crease line. Start ironing at the top where the sleeve is sewn onto the shirt and work your way down to the cuff. Turn the sleeve over and iron, then repeat the process with the other sleeve.

Step 9:  Hang and inspect.  Congratulations, you can now iron a dress shirt like a true gentleman.

-LG

If you look at what a coach does in sports, they train the players and inspire them before the game and shows them plays to enable them to win the game. The business coach is akin to a sports coach but you have to put in the work if you would like to do well. Your coach can point out things that you may be doing wrong and offer advice. A coach is there to offer you expert viewpoints and options for you to try, but the choice is simply up to you to decide which option you would rather do. It is a good idea to get a coach that suits your style so that you can trust in their help and advice.

The purpose of the coach is to help their clients find the right way to work things out by helping them find their own solutions. At times to find an answer all you need is for someone to ask the right questions while addressing an issue. An effective coach will keep you motivated and help you remain focused in addition to hold you responsible for your objectives. You’ll be making mistakes when you begin but your coach will be there to help you learn from your blunders. Very often, to make better business decisions, you have to change things in your personal life. It is not easy to be two different people simultaneously where one is for personal and the other for business.

If you believe you can do it all by yourself, then you probably don’t need a business coach. Having a business coach will be helpful if you need a person to talk to for help and advice. You don’t need a coach if you’re the type that wouldn’t listen to other people’s advice. As your future depends on selecting the right coach, if you decide that is the path you want to go, you must find one who can teach the way of success.

An effective business coach will certainly fulfill what you have hired them to do, so long as you work with them. If you do your research, you should be able to pick a great coach that will work well with your personality.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #1: Ask her for a date like a man. Pick the day before you call. If she tells you that it’s not a good day, do not negotiate unless she offers a specific alternative that fits into YOUR plan. If she doesn’t offer a specific alternative (This would NOT include, “Call me next week.”), say to her, “Perhaps some other time.” That’s it! If she is interested, she will re-arrange her schedule. Think it over for a week or more and if you feel in your gut that you should give it second try, go for it. If not, move on!

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #2: Make dates in advance. Ask her to go out with you well in advance of the actual date. 1-2 weeks is good at the beginning. This strategy gives you time to make arrangements for your date and it also creates romantic anticipation.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #3: Have it all planned. Have the entire date planned, scheduled, and reserved before you pick her up. Not only will she be impressed by your organization, but you’ll also have a better time.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #4: Invest your time and money wisely. There is no sense investing a lot of your time or money until you determine if you like each other. Most women will only become uncomfortable, or perceive you as being foolish, if you spend a month’s pay on the first date.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #5: Use a progressive dating strategy. Start with inexpensive dates during the week and work your way up to more expensive dates on the weekends.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #6: Timeliness is classiness. Be on time to pick up your date. This does NOT mean getting there early. Many women, and men, schedule their preparations for going out down to the last minute. If you are running late by more then 10 minutes, call and let her know when to expect you.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #7: Being yourself is your best act. Don’t try to impress your date with your money, your position, your car, or your body measurements. Using these things to win a woman over will only attract those with superficial intentions. Win them over by showing them the qualities you have inside by simply being yourself.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #8: Be like a movie star. Almost all of the male movie stars who attract an abundance of women on and off the screen have exquisite manners. Women love being treated like ladies. You see these men opening a door for her, letting her walk into a room first, and helping her with a chair. I once witnessed two (2) young army combat veterans instantly stand up when a poor, unattractive teenage girl entered the room. They had no obligation or incentive whatsoever to respond as they did. It was beautiful!

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #9: Keep your eyes on the ball. Do not check out other women. Even when done on the sly, women will pick it up. Nothing is more classy and warrior-like than a man who keeps his attention on the woman he’s with regardless of who she is.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #10: Cleanliness is coolness personified. Be sure that all areas of your body are clean and fresh. This includes your hair, ears, body, and especially your teeth. Bad breath, which is often caused by a dental or periodontal problem, is usually not noticeable by the person who has it. Nothing is more of a turn off than bad breath. If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned in the last six months, get it done!

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #11: Hold your flattery. Save your compliments about her beauty for the right time. Although you might be intoxicated by her beauty, do not reveal the full extent of your feelings on your first few dates. Save that for the right moment several dates down the road. Just say, “You look very nice this evening.” and leave it at that. In regard to sexual innuendoes, they have no place during the early stages of dating.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #12: Put it in your autobiography. Don’t tell her your whole life story and all your secrets right away. In fact, always try to maintain some degree of anonymity in some area of your personality or life, as it naturally provokes more excitement. Mystery is a mental aphrodisiac!

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #13: One night to stand. Do not expect to have sex on your first date. Consider these scenarios: If you do have long-term interest in a particular woman and your main focus is sex on the first date, her opinion of you will be lowered. If you do NOT have any long-term interest in a particular woman and she willingly has sex with you on the first date, she has probably done it before! Maybe several times, maybe hundreds of times! Having sex with a woman like this GREATLY increases the chances of you contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Here’s my advice: Take the pressure off yourself and don’t expect sex on the first date. This will enable you to more clearly evaluate the person and you’ll have a better time.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #14: Sex without full mutual agreement is rape. Do not pressure a woman to have sex. Regardless of how you feel about a particular woman, it is inappropriate to pressure a woman to have sex at anytime.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #15: Patience equals unimaginable pleasure.. Do not rush a woman to have sex. If you’re really interested in a long-term relationship with a particular woman, do NOT rush her to have sex with you based on any kind of “timetable.” If you want to have the BEST sexual experience of your life, become best friends FIRST and then have sex. I assure you, it is worth the wait!

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #16: Romance is the key to receiving a woman’s best. Women love romance! They need it in order to feel complete. It literally fulfills a part of their sexual needs. It’s what they require for true satisfaction. So, include romance into your dating plans.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #17: Be a creative romantic. The traditional methods for creating romance remain unchanged. These include buying her flowers, candy, jewelry, perfume, and romantic music; sending her love letters and notes; taking her to dinner at unique restaurants; taking her dancing at nightclubs; and taking her to movies, operas, or plays that depict a love story. The key to having the outcome that you want, however, is to come up with your own unique twists to these ancient practices. In other words, be CREATIVE!

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #18: Keep your grip. Do not get lazy about your relationship or you might get a letter from her one day that says, “Goodbye.” Keep yourself looking your best. Keep the relationship alive by continually telling her and showing her how much you care. And don’t ever forget to do something for her birthday and any other holidays that are important to her.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #19: Warrior’s goodnight kiss. Don’t liger after the goodnight kiss at the beginning of your dating activity with a particular person. Kiss her once to the duration that feels right. Then say good night, turn, and walk away. Do not linger, talk more, try to kiss her again, or ask her for another date! This practice creates the mystery/romance that women love and prevents you from getting catch up by the heat of the moment and acting like a fool. Take a deep breath and go home. Take a few days to think things over. Is she right for you? Do you want to see her again or move on? It’s a lot easier to move on at the beginning than down the road.

Dating Tips for Gentlemen #20: Trust your gut. Do not continue to date a woman if you know she’s not right for you. Don’t keep her around until you find someone better. That’s not fair to her or you. Don’t waste your time. Do what’s right. Have the courage to move on!

* Briefcase - When it comes to acceptable handbags for men, there is no other more famous that the good old briefcase. The briefcases used today are a far-cry from the ones used by our fathers and grandfathers. These new briefcases are no longer boxy shaped and don’t have those sharp corners but use a more rounded edge. They still employ the use of buckles, leather exterior, and practical interior compartments making this bag a staple for the working-man’s wardrobe.
* Messenger bag – The slick looking messenger bag was designed and modeled after the bags traditionally carried messengers throughout history. They are normally made from a canvas material and worn swung across your shoulder. These bags have become a big part of urban fashion. The men’s messenger bag has a laidback style to go with a classic, casual flair, while the leather messenger tote screams uptown sophistication.

* Holdall – A real man of travel needs to own a holdall for those exciting weekend getaways or out of state business trips. What was once considered big and bulky has become transformed into a sleek and stylish carryall. The design for these bags was inspired by the duffel bag believe it or not. Now thanks to a largely leather exterior and more refined appearance it took on more of a classic look than a practical one.
* Tote – The tote is this generations take on the classic briefcase. It closely resembles an artisan’s bag with the maximum in casual business attire. It has a pretty basic design with soft leather exterior giving it that classic look. It employs the use of long handles giving it an edge of contemporary. This kind of man’s bag will add a touch of casual masculinity to any casual work wear.
* Newsboy bag - The newsboy bag is one of those classic styles that are forever timeless. It is almost synonymous with men’s casual wear. Similar to s messenger bag’s style, its traditional exterior of canvas gives it less formality than a messenger bag. The newsboy bag is great for students and workers on the go, leaving a fashion statement mark on anyone who sees it.

1. Just like selecting a golf school you need to determine what your budget is for a golf instructor. You want to eliminate those golf instructors that are not within your budget. Why waste your time?

2. You should next determine if you’re looking to revamp your golf swing or just looking for a quick fix or tune-up. Some golf teachers may be better at one or the other so make sure you ask them what they’re best at.

3. The guys you play golf with could be a great source of information on a good golf instructor. Ask them if they could recommend one to you. Even if they can’t recommend one they may know someone who can.

4. After you’ve narrowed down the list to 3 or 5 golf instructors then look at their credentials. You want to find out where they’ve taught in the past and call their past employer. See what the employer says about them and their teaching style. Ask if they were liked by the students and the staff.

5. The last thing to do is set up a phone or face-to-face interview with the golf instructor. This is where you want to have a list of questions prepared so you don’t forget to ask the important questions. Also this is the time to see if their style and personality will work for you.

After reading this golf tip you probably think these were things you’d go through to hire someone for a job. Well actually that’s exactly what you’re doing. A golf instructor is an independent consultant and you’re hiring him to do a job… work on your golf swing. So you should perform the due diligence to make sure you get the golf instructor that’s right for you.

I would also suggest doing the steps above that are appropriate for selecting a golf school. You want to see if the golf instructors at the golf school are going to be right for you because you don’t want to spend all that money and not be satisfied with the instructor and experience. Golf vacation schools are also a nice option to include the entire family for a week long vacation and golf.

Good leaders do possess some inborn traits, but these are not the only necessary prerequisites. Working experience, regular practice, and a good dose of determination are necessary in order to develop other leadership skills.

Leadership is that skill that one has to influence other people to execute tasks and accomplish desired goals. A leader is a person who also builds team cohesion. Leadership isn’t really all about possessing power and abusing it. It isn’t at all about causing people to act under fear. It’s about making team members feel they hold a significant position within the team, and letting them see that the picture is not complete without their presence.

An effective leader is an individual who can get his people to follow his instructions. It’s important that a leader sets clear targets. If none of his followers know where they are going, a leader can’t really expect his people to get on the correct path. A great leader must also be pretty familiar with this company he is a part of. Just about every organization has a vision, objectives, and working processes. In a number of situations, men and women should follow the organization’s hierarchical structure when addressing the right persons. Effective leaders are well-informed in these issues.

Leadership is about reflection. A highly effective leader is known by how his subordinates conduct themselves. It’s also a matter of confidence. Subordinates who have confidence in their leader will set about any challenge to arrive at the targeted results. But before a leader can get the trust of his subordinates, he should create a good relationship with them and be a good role model.

After creating a good relationship with his subordinates, an effective leader can start sharing his goals to them because they will be more willing to put their trust in him. An excellent leader is someone who can clearly communicate to subordinates what his desired goals are and what he needs from his people. It is equally crucial to exhibit great judgment. Whenever the need comes up, a leader should be able to view a situation properly and produce the best solution. A good leader has also the ability to recognize the more skilled employees and make certain these employees are given more assignments or responsibilities. A highly effective leader knows how to use his employees’ natural talents to create a more cohesive group.

Leadership isn’t a thing which can be acquired right away. It demands time and a lot of work. It needs more than simply the leading individual, but the cooperation of the other people as well.

Gifts

Promotional items are just one of those special touches that can make you feel like you’d rather be here than down the road. It doesn’t have to be much. A pen, a personalised matchbook, a stuffed toy puffin. All manner of weird and wonderful objects pass over shop counters with the sole purpose of making customers, patrons, and clients feel like they’ve got a little something extra from their visit. They’re usually just enough to make you smile but also enough for you to carry around and remind you about the store. Try asking next time you’re in and see what they have. You might get a nice little surprise.

Cultivating an Atmosphere

Some shops are indistinguishable. Characterless. Bland. Can you think of one? Probably not, since they slip easily out of your mind and out of your life. They might be a cheap place to pick up necessities but they’re not places that you look forward to shopping. Other stores are as individual as you. In the best cases, they’re individual like you. They share your style.

You’ll know you’ve found one of your favourite stores when you start defining yourself as the sort of person that shops there. You’ll find yourself looking forward to being there. They creep into your life and into your character and you even feel lessened if one day you realise they’re gone. If you like to buy books in dusty, wood panelled, second hand shops, shop for clothes in old western themed boutiques, or eat in places that have celebrity signatures or number plates on the wall, then you know that feeling.

Problem Solving

It’s inevitable that, if you shop long enough in the same store, that, at some point, a problem will rear it’s head. A product will be broken when you get it home or it’s the wrong size, wrong colour, just wrong in every way, sets fire to the kitchen or doesn’t do what it says on the tin. Problem solving is the stress test of a good shop front.

How fast do they try to solve your problem? Do they question your word? A good store knows that solving your problem is always more valuable to them than the cost of the product. You’ve proved by buying that you spend money with them and, if they handle it right, you’ll spend at least that much again. A store that wants to be your favourite store should listen, solve quickly, and smile the whole time. If it’s a problem they can’t solve, they should find someone who can and keep smiling anyway.

The Personal Touch

It’s nice to have that special place where you feel like you belong. A good store or business takes advantage of that opportunity. How do you feel when you enter their store? Does their mood fit your mood? Their character your character? Does, I ask you, everybody know your name? A great shop assistant can recognise you from last time and even remember what you bought, what you like, a might even know what you want next before you do!

A lot of people are afraid of letting shop assistants talk to them. They hurry away and hide behind the shelves. Next time you’re in a shop, let them have a go. They should know their stuff and you may be surprised. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship