Give The People What THEY Want!

I remember it like it was yesterday.

Thanksgiving.

My family hosted and had a bunch of cousins over for the day. Well, if you’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing this, let me explain that hosting is not a simple task.

First, you have to decide what you’re going to serve. Sure, turkey is pretty much guaranteed but what about roast beef, meat loaf, or brisket? We all have our favorites and we couldn’t seem to get on the same page but we REALLY wanted everyone else to be happy… So we got it all.

Who wouldn't love that?

Another responsibility as the host is to pass around the various appetizers. For me personally, the toughest part is the soup. I always refer to this task as “the walk of death”. It feels like an Olympic event while you balance the boiling liquid from the kitchen to the dining room. Almost like a tight rope walk. You know what I’m talking about, right?

Still, I handled it like a champ and everything was going smoothly. There was great conversation, lots of laughs and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. All the signs of a successful job hosting Thanksgiving were in place.

And then it happened… Entrée time, baby.

We brought out ALL the big guns- the turkey, the meat loaf, the brisket... even the roast beef. I was in heaven as I’m scarfing it all down a mile a minute.

But something was clearly wrong. About half of our guests weren’t touching their plates. They didn’t even take a serving. It was odd, if not insulting.

Finally, my mom called them out:
“Guys, enjoy… We had everything catered in, it’s supposed to be top notch… No really, don’t hold back…”.

And it was about that time that we learned……….. they were all vegetarians!

If you’re the host, always do your best to give the people what THEY want. That's Sprezzatura.

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Do NOT Pass up The Scalloped Potatoes!

During lunch the other day, I went with my manager, Harvey, over to Café Charlies, or 'C squared' as we've dubbed the local café. We were in a rush and decided to hit the buffet.

I’m a relatively healthy eater and knew what I wanted right away. Clearly, I was going to use the spinach-filled chicken as my foundation. That sets the tone for the meal. From there I'd throw in a few vegetables, maybe a little rice and call it a day.

Then, just as I was signing my receipt, I heard the phrase nobody wants to hear…

“Rookie mistake, Rubin.”

I turned around to find my manager giving me a disapproving loook. We had been having a successful day at the office and so I was confused.

Then I noticed what he was referring to. Regarding the buffet, I had rushed in and out at a pace that would have left a bank robber jealous. In doing so, I completely missed the scallop potatoes being offered. You have to understand... C squared NEVER offers scalloped potatoes and they looked incredible. This was terrible.

Some people take their time in preparing before a decision. They will thoroughly analyze all the possibilities and try to visualize the outcomes.

I’m definitely not one of those people. I tend to listen to my gut, thrive on making progress and believe that if you’re not moving forward then you’re slipping. After all, most mistakes can be adjusted on the fly.

But today there was no absolving my erroneous ways. Who knows the next time they’ll offer more scalloped potatoes? I doubt it will be any time soon and until that fateful day, I will be left with regret.

Save yourself from any potential frustration. Have you scoped out the landscape (however briefly) before pulling the trigger on your decisions today?

The Mysterious Grey Button

One day back in college, I decided to order a water cooler for my apartment. When the delivery man arrived, I noticed the contraption he carried had three buttons: red, grey, and blue.

Red clearly represented hot, and blue released cold water. That was obvious.

But then there was the grey button. I realized it had to be a compromise of some sorts. But who would want moderately warm water? What purpose could this serve?

I had to find out.

When I asked the service man, he explained to me that temperate water hydrates the body much quicker than cold water.

Now this I could use. Especially in college, where drinking was frequently taking its toll on my body.

Today, I can’t picture my morning WITHOUT the grey button. It eases me into the day. Rather than the blue button's harsh 'liquid ice' wreaking havoc on my throat, the temperate H20 soothingly refuels my tank in the AM.

How often do you go through your routines, completely oblivious to something from which you could possibly benefit?

Take the time to explore. You never know what kind of treasure you’ll find.

Ask about the mysterious grey button.

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Just Another Day In The Life...

If you've ever seen the comedy Zoolander, then hopefully we can agree that:

1. The movie is absolutely hysterical.
2. It basically DESTROYS the idea of male models.

Growing up, while I've often tussled with the idea of becoming an actor, I NEVER considered pursuing a modeling career. Sure, I like to try (key word) and dress well but not to the extent of those GQ characters in the magazines.

Then, one day things changed. What could have possibly happened?
I'll break it down for you...

It was a sunny Friday afternoon, I had the day off from work, and was leaving the gym. As you can probably guess, on the walk home I was conceding to my addiction (my ipod) and it was definitely John Mayer weather/vibes.

I'm walking back to my apartment, minding my own business, when out of nowhere some bald man with one arm flags me down in a huff.

Bald, One-armed man: "Excuse me sir. I'm sorry to bother you but have you ever modeled?"

(OH COME ON... Like you wouldn't be flattered? Who are you kidding??)

Me: "Nah, never."

Bald, one-armed man: "You would be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for our upcoming shoot."

Now he had my attention. First off, I'd meet some smokin' women, right? Then, who knows what doors could be opened. Maybe I could get into acting.
(Note: This was back when I was an accountant and the number crunching left me unsatisfied. I love Recruiting - Accounting & Corporate Finance)

Besides, I had just broken up with my girlfriend and the thought alone was great;
"Oh heyyyy... How are you?? Your new boyfriends a really NICE guy? I'm happy for you. Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner, ya know, I've just been so busy traveling the world modeling with ridiculously good looking women..."

I was starting to get excited.

Me: "Oh yea? What are we talking, Armani? Dolce & Gabanna? I'm sure you can understand I have to pick the right brand and cultivate my image."

Bald, one-armed man: (Kind of amused, like "this guy is CLUELESS", and responding in a very matter of fact, "take it or leave it" tone) "Abercrombie & Fitch..... For Kids."

Although I was insulted, I still decided to hear more. The bald, one-armed man called an associate and basically informed me that I'd be heading to their Park Avenue office to meet with some important lady.

After asking a bunch of questions to ensure that this wasn't a scam, I then showered and headed into midtown. When I arrived at the office, there was a flock of beautiful women just hanging around. If you think I wasn't going to milk this for all it's worth, you're crazy.

(Puffing out my chest) "Excuse me ladies, would one of you please point me in the direction of the modeling agency. I'm only asking because I've been invited to become a model... and I need to speak with some very important people. I'm sure that you, my fellow comrades in the modeling world, can understand."

My blatant attempt to brag/impress actually got a few smiles, along with the directions that I needed.

When I met with the important lady, I was asked a few standard questions. She was all about getting down to business.

Important lady: "First off, who's your agent?"
Me: "My agent? I'm an accountant who was at the gym..."

Important lady: "Hmmm... Ok. Well, what do you weigh?"
Me: "I haven't checked my weight in 5 years."

Important lady: "How tall are you?"
Me: "Well I used to be 5'10 back in high school so I HAVE to be at least 6 foot... If that helps at all."

Somehow, I don't think I was making a great impression.

Long story short, I was then thrown into a room like a prisoner of war with a few photographers. It started out all nice and simple. All they asked was for me to smile.

Then I was told to kindly remove my shirt. (Starting to get a little awkard...)

Only it wasn't over. That's right, they then proceeded to strip me of my clothes while taking pictures like I was a piece of meat! Oh, the horror!

Finally, an assistant thanked me for my time, explained that my pictures would be kept in a directory for the right occassion, and that I would receive a call if my services were needed.

I never did get that call. But you know what? It was one hell of a ride.

Sometimes it's just fun to daydream... and partaking in different experiences always makes you more interesting as a person.

That's Sprezzatura. Besides, I'll always have Zoolander to live through vicariously.

The Quest For 3 Snowballs

I recently overheard a conversation between a man named Desmond and his friends. Nobody's perfect, we all have areas of improvement, and Desmond was currently overweight.

Apparently, he had gotten together with family over the weekend. One night they had been having a pleasant evening, conversing in the kitchen over coffee. It was snowing and Desmond's young nephew entered the room and informed the group that he would like to build a snowman.

Naturally, the young man looked to his mother for advice on how to go about his mission. She explained that he should begin by making 3 giant snowballs and then placing them on top of one another. Throw in a carrot for a nose, and he'd be all set.

But then the nephew fired back, "I want to make a snowman that looks like Uncle Desmond so should I just make one GIANT snowball?"

That's right, the little bugger was basically implying Desmond had the physique of... well, a meatball!

The reason Desmond brought up the story was to share that he would be attacking his problem head on. He realized that it was causing him unhappiness and rather than procrastinating or indulging in self-pity, he set out to take control and improve the situation.

Let's wish him luck on his quest. After all, everyone deserves 3 snowballs.

... How do YOU react to life's wake-up calls?

Now Those Were The Days...

Ever have one of those moments where you're lost in your iPod world?

If it's the right song, you start singing (thinking that you're alone) and then suddenly, someone pops up from behind! Now you're caught hands in the cookie jar pulling a Crazy Muffin Lady (CML)...

Well, that happened to me this morning. I got nailed!

Much like the CML, however, I couldn't have cared less. The music that I was enjoying was classic and it deserved the appreciation. I've always had a great respect for history and tradition.

At the same tone, with Memorial Day just around the corner and it being almost 4 months since we kicked off Sprezz Central, we're going to recognize some throwback posts.

It's only a matter of time before today's remembered as one of "Those days". Plus, it'll give new readers a chance to catch up on Sprezz references.

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STOP Goin' Crazy

The following video has developed quite a buzz over the internet and was referred to us by web designer Steven Alvarez.
(Check out his work at http://www.stevenalvarez.com/ )

As demonstrated in the clip, when we try TOO HARD and think through every last detail of what we've set out to accomplish... well, we tend to go crazy! Sticking to simplicity is usually more natural... more effective... and more Sprezzatura.

We've mentioned this before and the video nails it! Take a look, it's less than 5 minutes but will stick with you:

"Redesigning The Stop Sign"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwqPYeTSYng

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