Brotherhood

“That” Guy: Understanding Roles in Our Relationships

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Norman Schwarzkopf
Brandon Reed

Which “guy” are you? The “funny” guy? The “ambitious” guy? The “sports” guy? The “practical” guy? The “movie buff” guy? As you think about your circle of friends, inevitably everyone fits into some kind of unique “slot” within the group. It’s a natural tendency we have to place people into specific roles. I think that, […]

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The World Needs Better Men

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Norman Schwarzkopf
Brandon Reed

As I was mulling over what to write on this week, I remembered back to a list that my coach in college printed off for each guy on our Cross Country team. I remembered how much it impacted me, and how much it informed my path throughout my college experience. I’m not pretending like I […]

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The Monday Sweet Spot – 07/04/2016

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Norman Schwarzkopf
Brandon Reed

We’ve all hit that point during a smoke, usually about half way through, in which the cigar’s flavors and aromas open up and transform the experience into something far more rich, complex, and enjoyable. In this moment, gentlemen, you’ve hit the “sweet spot”. A moment that encourages you to open your senses, and to truly […]

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The Shortcut to Depth in Your Relationships – *Spoiler*…There Isn’t One

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Norman Schwarzkopf
Brandon Reed

We live in an age of immediacy. The readiness and accessibility of information is broader than it has ever been before in history. This has undoubtedly done immeasurable good in innumerable ways. However, I would argue that it has also unfortunately bred a generation focused on and valuing many of the wrong things. One example […]

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“It’s Good to Be Got” – Depth of Relationship and the Value of Being Known

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Norman Schwarzkopf
Brandon Reed

How many friends would be on the profile page of your day-to-day life? How many “followers” would you have on a news feed of your commute to work, the moments after an argument with your wife, or the days and weeks following the loss of a child? As much as we’d like to believe we’d […]

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The Monday Sweet Spot – 03/21/2016

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Norman Schwarzkopf
Brandon Reed

We’ve all hit that point during a smoke, usually about half way through, in which the cigar’s flavors and aromas open up and transform the experience into something far more rich, complex, and enjoyable. In this moment, gentlemen, you’ve hit the “sweet spot”. A moment that encourages you to open your senses, and to truly […]

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Mentors; A Gentleman’s Guide

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Norman Schwarzkopf
Brandon Reed

Parents. Coaches. Teachers. Pastors. Old friends. All of the above have something very important in common. They all have the potential to serve as mentors in the lives of others. A mentor can serve many roles in the life of a gentleman. Some mentors serve to teach, some to guide, others still to discipline. Some […]

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Topics for Discussion While Smoking Amongst Gentlemen

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” - Ernest Hemingway
Mr. South

A good rule of thumb when it comes to conversations during a smoke with fellow gentlemen is to ignore the rule of thumb of discussion topics at the workplace. We are encouraged to stay away from topics that may stir up controversy during our professional work hours (religion, politics, money, etc.), and in most cases, […]

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The Importance of Old Friends In a Gentleman’s Life

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Norman Schwarzkopf
Brandon Reed

“The friend is the person whom one is in need of, and by whom one is needed. Life is a sweeter, stronger, fuller, more gracious thing for the friend’s existence, whether he be near or far: if the friend is close at hand, that is best; but if he is far away, he is still […]

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The Merits of Smoking While in a Deep Conversation

Founding Member at The Distinguished Society of Fine Gentlemen
"I have great faith in fools; self-confidence my friends call it." - Poe
Mr. Rafal
Latest posts by Mr. Rafal (see all)

I trust you’ve been there before… You are enjoying a casual conversation with a friend and then, out of nowhere, they ask a question you aren’t prepared for. The conversation changes in an instant; from light and casual to deep and insightful. This question might be deep and probing, it might be a new way […]

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