Words to the Wise

 by Mr. Rafal

Selflessness in a Self-Driven World

Mr. Rafal
Mr. Rafal
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)

Have ever met that guy who is trying too hard to make you like him? I had a roommate like that once. He used to go on breathless and endless about his really “interesting stories” but after the third iteration I realized he only had one story. He could change the packaging but in the […]

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 by Brandon Reed

Florida Sun Grown: A Milestone of Gentlemanly Proportions

Brandon Reed
Brandon Reed
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
Latest posts by Brandon Reed (see all)

Right outside of Orlando, there’s a small (but quickly growing), city by the name of Clermont, FL. Home to a National Training Center, some of Central Florida’s only hills (or so it seems), and the 11th best donut shop in america, Clermont has a little bit of everything to offer. But last Saturday, an addition […]

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 by Brandon Reed

Take a Chill Pill

Brandon Reed
Brandon Reed
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
Latest posts by Brandon Reed (see all)

In this week’s article, I have no significant idea to share with you, or weighty proposition to wager. What I have to share is not revolutionary or ground-breaking. In fact, it’s rather mundane and ordinary. In our last few articles we’ve focused on some heavy and challenging topics. We talked about living as a modern […]

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 by Brandon Reed

Living With Convictions in an Age of Tolerance

Brandon Reed
Brandon Reed
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
Latest posts by Brandon Reed (see all)

This is a chapter in human history that has measured itself by its ability to accept and tolerate the beliefs and opinions of the masses. And it’s true that these principles have been largely to credit for the massive progress we have seen in the globalization of our cultures, people, and technology. Our growth towards […]

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 by Brandon Reed

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

Brandon Reed
Brandon Reed
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
Latest posts by Brandon Reed (see all)

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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 by Mr. Rafal

The Merits of Slowing Down to Smoke

Mr. Rafal
Mr. Rafal
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)

Spring, such a beautiful and tumultuous time in Colorado. Finally it is warm enough to smoke outside, provided the weather holds and we don’t get snow tomorrow. And since smoking outside is the only option open to my friends and I, this is an exciting time indeed. Already the idea has been broached, “Let’s go […]

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 by Brandon Reed

Our Digital World – Risks & Opportunities for the Modern Gentleman

Brandon Reed
Brandon Reed
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
Latest posts by Brandon Reed (see all)

As modern day gentlemen, we face unique challenges that no other generation before us has encountered. We live in a digital world. This flies in the face of much of what a gentleman values. The difficulties presented by our increasing dependence on our devices have left us paralyzed and confused as to what is truly […]

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 by Brandon Reed

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

Brandon Reed
Brandon Reed
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
Latest posts by Brandon Reed (see all)

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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 by Mr. Rafal

The Fight You Can’t Fight – Supporting Others With Actions Not Words

Mr. Rafal
Mr. Rafal
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)

Isn’t it interesting how the world is filled with paradoxes? I love reading fantasy and sci-fi books. I find these genres, provided they are well written, to be thought provoking beyond that of non-fiction. A good fiction writer takes you out of the doldrums of your daily life, out of the consequences of your actions. […]

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 by Brandon Reed

Sports Jackets vs. Blazers vs. Suit Jackets – When to Wear Which and the Differences Between Them

Brandon Reed
Brandon Reed
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
Latest posts by Brandon Reed (see all)

We’ve all experienced it at one point or another. The feeling of wanting to shrink into a corner as you look around at a formal gathering and inevitably come to the conclusion that everyone else has it together except for you. That they all know what is going on and you’re the only rookie in […]

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