Happy Birthday To A Terrific Community

By Jim Calder

ProLong Magazine turns one-year old this week and we couldn’t be more excited. During one of the worst economies the world has ever witnessed we have been able to bring attention to a long overlooked subject … YOU. As we all know life moves very fast, and seems to increase in speed with each year that passes. While we can’t control the speed of life, we hope that we have made you realize that you can at least control the tempo or maybe the bass. It is so easy to forget ourselves in this world in so many ways.

Our Focus

We started out (2009-2010) with a broad scope, because after all life and living is by nature HUGE. As we start to enter 2011 our hope is to narrow the focus of our articles and blogs giving you more of what you want in the years ahead. Our writers have given you their hearts, their souls, their passions and their love. We thank each and every author for his or her dedication and expression.

Feedback: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

In the last year I have received a wide spectrum of feedback. At a camp out this summer a physician friend from Hawaii told me that ProLong’s content is prolific and inspiring. Another friend relayed to me that a few acquaintances thought the brand was destined to fail. Those people most likely never thought we would make it to this day. They are confused by the definition of failure and success and think that success is only tied to wealth.

You Have Done This

I can proudly say on this one-year anniversary, that ProLong Magazine lives by its own rules. Our community continues to call the shots, and our audience is what has made us a success. YOU have proven that there is still passion in publishing. YOU have proven that you don’t need to start a business or a project with the sole intent of getting rich.
But most importantly, YOU have proven that You, Your Passions, and Your Life, should always come first. This was our core message since day one, and it will continue to be the message we hope that you help us spread until the end.

Help Us Spread The Word

As an advocate of social networking, I realize that this will be key to ProLong Magazine’s future growth. We need you, the reader most of all. You are our community and as we grow, so will you. You can painlessly and quickly help us grow right this very second. Please log into your facebook page and go to facebook.com/prolongmagazine.
Once you are there hit the suggest to friends button and click on all of your friends faces to suggest that they also like the Prolong Magazine facebook page. It is a little thing, but we would greatly appreciate your help in getting the word out about our brand.

As ProLong Magazine moves forward, please feel free to email me personally (at jim@prolongmagazine.com) any time you have ideas for an article, have a topic you would like to see addressed or would like to suggest an author or even write yourself. Thank you all for your great support, your inspiring comments and words of advice. Happy birthday to you all!

Jim Calder is the brand architect and co-founder of ProLong Magazine. Jim was born with the perfect combination of cockiness and self-consciousness. He has over 10 years of publishing industry experience and lives and works in Philadelphia, Pa. Jim strongly believes that the current 9-5 Monday-Friday format of “Work” is dying. Those that refuse to recognize this will be left behind in the decaying office complexes across America. He currently can be found on the greatest adventure of his life as a newlywed with his wife Melissa. Jim can be contacted via email at jim@prolongmagazine.com

What do you have cooking on your stove?

By Jim Calder
I was feeling burned out a bit today.
I had a chat conversation with a friend who laid it flat out for me. I am a workaholic or on a clear path to becoming one. A huge amount of what I do, he considers work. I work my 9-5 and them come home and work some more almost every night. I write/blog, I build brands, I build websites, I help others get their message out to the public, I create video projects, and I even fall asleep reading the best business and marketing books that I can find. His view was not critical, and was not taken that way at all but it did cause me to think.

Work vs. Hobby

Call me a dreamer but I never really looked at my passion in the hours after 9-5 as “work”. Still, maybe I need a break from all this “work”. I went up to the roof for a cigar and some deep thinking, armed with a notebook and a pen. As a writer I find it is best to sort out my words on paper. A few puffs later and the rain began to drizzle. Not enough to stop smoking the cigar but just enough to smear the words on the page. A sign from the sky? … Perhaps.

So I sat in the drizzle, smoked and pondered the meaning of life. Of course the entire time I was wishing that the rain would stop so that I could get these thoughts out of my head and onto paper. I have been writing since I can remember realizing that I was left handed and that if I didn’t hold my hand with a certain crook, the ink above would smear.
Earlier in the day my friend explained that his hobbies have nothing at all to do with work, hobbies are supposed to relax you and not cause any stress. He explained that I am turning my hobbies into work. Have I really turned my hobbies into work, and convinced myself that they are not? Could this be true? Even as I write this I refuse to believe it, but my point is quickly stifled as I am turning this into a blog entry for ProLong Magazine. However, I believe that I have my reasons.

My Mission

This discussion boils down to how or what defines us and our purpose in life. I have a mission in life, not some sort of weird religious crusade or even a higher purpose. It is more a personal mission to ensure that my life and work have meaning for myself. I refuse to believe that working towards creative goals is a bad thing. I refuse to settle in my career and want and need more. I am a simple builder; it is what I know and what I do..

I have realized that this will not always make sense to friends, family, coworkers and bosses … but I realize it just has to make sense to me. Everything that I do in my creative life has meaning and is calculated with purpose.

Too Vulnerable?

Loved ones have told me that I am too open at times and that this can make me vulnerable to be made fun of and to possibly be criticized for my thoughts, feelings and actions. But I have found that once you step beyond caring a little less about what others think or say negatively, you will find a clearer path.

I wish my work, my life’s work to have meaning and I refuse to become a cog that can easily be replaced. My value is irreplaceable, because my worth lies in my thoughts, my dedication, and my passion. No one can take this away. Once this realization occurs a calm persistence takes over on a sort of auto pilot. It is not always the easiest road, but the structure and foundation are in place.
When did wearing our hearts on our sleeves become such a bad thing? Maybe it is because we live in a PC world where every thought and action is over analyzed and scrutinized.

Finding Balance

During the conversation with my friend today he made some really great and lasting points that I am internalizing and hoping to focus on. Basically, I need to find some balance or I will stroke out before 40 (which luckily is still a bit off, but not that far … so yes change is good). I should never let any type of work come in the way of family or friendships. I know I have been guilty of this because there are only so many hours in a day. I need to find my own balance between relationships and my creative work. As life and time start to feel shorter I know that this will become a greater challenge.

At the end of this deep thought process, it is crucial to remember that we can also have both. Some sacrifices have to be made but it can be done. Facebook is something that is growing in my concern column. While I am all for social networking and technology, I believe it can be a danger in our lives in the area of wasted time. Don’t get me wrong, it is awesome for keeping up with friends and family around the globe. It is also a great tool to get the word out about your message and your brand. The double edged sword is that it is healthy to take a break from it once in a while and remember that it is just a website.

The Stove Top

I like to refer to my creative work as a stove top. In this day and age, if you can’t multitask something is broken creatively. My stove top is more like an industrial kitchen range with several burners firing at once. I have my 9-5. I have writing and blogging. I have building brands. I have video production. I have creating websites. I have helping others get their message out there. But the most interesting component to my kitchen is a giant pot in the back with many ideas brewing. Many of these ideas have yet to boil to the sub conscious level, but I know they are cooking.

Finding our calling is one of the most important things that one can do in life, but it can also cause a lot of hardship, frustration and angst. We are constantly evolving beings. While I do not want to become a workaholic or continue to be one, ideas are everywhere I look. I refuse to shut them off. It is also important to stop and do a system check from time to time.

My meaning of work life is creating and evolving and teaching and learning with and from others. Have you found yours?

Jim Calder is the brand architect and co-founder of ProLong Magazine. Jim was born with the perfect combination of cockiness and self consciousness. He has over 10 years of publishing industry experience and lives and works in Philadelphia, Pa. Jim strongly believes that the current 9-5 Monday-Friday format of “Work” is dying. Those that refuse to recognize this will be left behind in the decaying office complexes across America. He currently can be found on the greatest adventure of his life as a newlywed with his wife Melissa. Jim can be contacted via email at jim@prolongmagazine.com

Learn How To Shave Like A Man … You Skirt

By David Yancy Kang

WARNING: This article for all intents and purposes concerns men and their shaving habits … women are welcome to read this and attempt the methods described, but ProLong Magazine or the author can NOT be held responsible for any injury or death that occurs from such an attempt. Furthermore, it’s a fucking razor blade. BE CAREFUL, for Christ’s sakes.

ALSO: Portions of this article contain verbatim excerpts from an email that are inserted without notation but with permission by the author.
Several months ago, I was at the mass-market emporium o’ shit (let’s call it the Targ-Mart), and found myself purchasing the standard toiletry items. These are the basic consumables that we all use in our daily lives to be considered fit for modern civilization – your deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, blah, blah, blah … and razor blades.

The ‘gold standard’ in razor manufacturing/marketing is the Gillette Mach 3 or some variation from any number of manufacturers, (actually only two come to mind) with anywhere from two to evidently several thousand blades. I single out the Mach 3 only because it was the type of razor that I personally use. The Mach 3 has become so ubiquitous that even the ‘high-end’ shaving firms like ‘Art of Shaving’ and all their variants sell handles that specifically fit blades for Gillette’s Mach 3.
Now, I will not tell you the price that I paid for a package of these because I can’t remember; but I will say that I was floored by the fact that the total for all of the other items was almost equal to the package of blades.

I’m not one to really get crazy about the price of anything … in fact, I’m completely used to getting hosed by the prices that I pay for almost any given item. I’m a constant victim of discovering a place that has the item in question equally readily available for far, far less, typically after I’ve opened and used to product to a degree that makes it impossible to return. To this, I typically respond with a shrug.
So, it is very unlike me to even mention it to anyone else, but I happened to be talking to a former co-worker of mine recently. The conversation entailed my outrage at the price of cartridge razor blades, and also my fondness for a scene of Mad Men where Don Draper is shaving with a crazy-looking contraption. Geoff (my former co-worker) had quite a bit to say on the topic.

Wet Shaving

Geoff, is a self-proclaimed wet shaving evangelist, and not only has converted me; but also has inspired me to spread the wet shaving gospel and thus has made a wet shaving evangelist out of me.
What is wet shaving? In the absolute most rudimentary form, wet shaving is shaving using only water, a blade, and some kind of lubricant.

How is this any different than what I was doing before with a Mach 3? Well … truth be told, there is no real difference other than the fact that these days, going out of your way to consider it ‘wet shaving’ points to the fact that you’re using a straight razor or a safety razor instead of a cartridge razor. Now I may be wrong about this, but all I know is what I know from experience and secondhand knowledge and what I learn from bad ass shows like Mad Men.

The Basics

Let’s cover the basics. First of all, you’re going to need a razor. If you’ve gone and purchased a Gillette or Schick razor, go ahead and stop reading this article and find something better to do. Otherwise, there are two other options to consider. First is the straight razor. We’re talking Mr. Blonde of Reservoir Dogs’ ear-removal razor in a cowboy boot. This is insane unless you’re some kind of surgeon. The sane option is a safety razor. Don’t be fooled by the name – it’s still a goddamned razor blade; it’s going to cut you. It’s a ‘safety razor’ in the sense that it is ‘safer than a straight razor’; in the same manner that pale ale is pale as compared to stout. But, I digress.

The Parker 96R Butterfly Safety Razor

If you know me, my hands shake like I’m being electrocuted when I attempt to hold them still, so it is a safety razor I opted for, and that is what this article is about, because it is what I have experience with. I typically do not write about things of which, I know nothing. So – first off: a handle for your razor. I use a Parker 96R Butterfly Safety Razor. You don’t have to get that one, but it seemed to be the best mix of quality and price. What you definitely want: double-edged safety razor, probably butterfly style, NOT ADJUSTABLE. I’d go with something from either Parker or Merkur. Merkurs are slightly better regarded than Parker, but Parker seems to be the best bang for the buck. This ran be about thirty bucks on amazon.com and it came with twenty – TWENTY blades.

Other Equipment

Next, you will need a brush and brush stand. These are not optional. I happened to already have a brush stand and brush as part of a shaving set that was given to me as a gift from my wife (what a shithead, not using the complete set from his wife, shame on him! I know. Shut up). It has to be badger hair, and you need a stand for the brush. It has to hang upside down so it dries out properly. Lots of stands also hold the razor, which is convenient but not strictly necessary. Why a badger hair brush? Truth is, I don’t know, but it has something to do with the magical properties of badger hair. Either that or a giant serpent smashes through your floor and consumes you if you use a non-badger brush. Look, if the use of badger hair were negligible, would one of the premier wet shaving sites on all of the Internet be called ‘Badger & Blade’? If this is a problem for you, know that the hair is harvested from badgers that are a food source in some countries and would otherwise be discarded. So deal with that or continue to float around on your cloud of judgment.

Lube, Not The Sex Kind

You’ll need soap, one of the key elements (lubricant) of wet shaving. I use 2.5 ounce Van Hagen glycerin soap. It’s as good as any fancy soap and it’s super cheap. It was about 10 dollars for a case of 12 pucks, which should presumably last about two years.

Holders For Soap

Bowl/mug: I don’t use one, but they make bowls and mugs for this purpose. They’re just holders for the soap, so any of them will work if you want one, but honestly, you don’t have to bother.

Blades

You’re perhaps wondering about the blades themselves … I’ve only used the Shark blades that came with the razor that I purchased. They work very well and are very inexpensive. We’re talking CHEAP. Real quick search on Amazon shows $16.99 for a pack of 100. ONE HUNDRED blades. Typical usage of a single blade is generally considered to be eight to nine shaves … unless you’re a hairy bastard in which case that might be cut in half. Bear in mind that these are double-edged blades though. The amount that I actually shave, I could probably use the same blade for a couple months. At any rate, one hundred of these fuckers for less than twenty bucks kicks the living crap out of a pack of Mach 3s for eight skillion clams.

Slap Happy

Aftershave is up to you. There’s an amazing Vitamin E balm that Art of Shaving makes that I like but is almost prohibitively expensive and I only have it because I received it as a gift. Most often, I use Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm. Be wary of alcohol-based aftershaves. Here’s a good idea: scrape a layer of skin off my face and then drench it in caustic chemicals, sounds like a great time! Instead, you want a nice soothing balm that stops the irritation, and this stuff works great. Also, it’s available at drugstores, which is nice when you run out. Be advised that aftershave balm is not optional under any circumstances. If you don’t use it, your face will burn and huge swaths of it will be bright and red for hours after. Really attractive.

Check Out The Magic Of The Interwebs

How do you go about doing it? I would strongly advise that you go to badgerandblade.com and check out their technique. Basically, it works like this. Lather your face, then drop a hot (but not uncomfortable) towel over it. The longer you leave it on the better, and some people say five minutes or something, but I probably only do it for like forty-five seconds to one minute. Then rinse with hot water, re-later, and start. Oh, that first pass of the blade to your skin … as you feel the keenness of the blade cut down every single hair. Pure bliss. Make sure you rinse with hot water and re-lather again in between each pass, and rinse with cold at the end. You want to leave your face just a little bit damp when you apply the aftershave. Also, your face is going to look slick or greasy after you put the balm on, and you might think you’ve used too much, but that’s the right amount and your face will absorb it in ten minutes, so don’t wipe it off.

The whole process will take you some time at first – it’s important to remember what you are dealing with and be careful. Basically, you are looking to attack the face with the razor while creating as many flat surfaces as possible. Over time, you will easily be able to knock out even the most overgrown of beards in fifteen to twenty minutes.

Grow Faster Hair, Damn You

This might sound odd, but I actually look forward to shaving and wish my facial hair would grow faster just so I can experience the pleasure of the safety razor shave. Not only is it incredibly cost-effective past the initial investment, which really isn’t that much … it’s an absolute pleasure to do, and you’re preserving part of an old-fashioned ritual that deserves the time that it takes. Do you really want multiple blades ripping the hair out from your face and cutting it below the skin line, only to irritate and create painful ingrown hairs and red splotches. Do you really want to pay exorbitant amounts of money to this end? Stick with the stylish, economical, and awesome art of the safety razor wet shave and you’ll thank yourself. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next wet shaving evangelist and put it in better words than I.

David Yancy Kang is 29 and not in the best shape of his life. This could be attributed to a lack of Bowflex, perhaps not. He works in IT; which likely has more to do with the previous statement than anything else. In his free time, he enjoys brewing beer, drinking said beer, and will occasionally actually finish a book but is predominantly a video game junkie. Other hobbies include running up small nation’s defense budgets in bar tabs, neat Macallan, cigars he can’t afford, having a laugh, cooking, and preparing for the zombie apocalypse. He currently resides in the Philadelphia area with his wife who is amazingly supportive of all his dumb ideas; as well as his two cats Roxy and Hiroshi and zero children.

Find The Time

By Nichole E. Kang

This morning, I took my usual 10-minute walk (or, when I’m running late, a 7-minute jog) to the train stop down the hill. When I got to the platform, all the train’s doors were closed and the sign above the platform flashed, “All trains temporarily suspended.” This doesn’t happen often. In fact, since I’ve moved off the line that shares the rails with Amtrak, my train is almost always exactly on time, which conveniently always seems to be the same exact time, to the second, that my phone displays. In fact, getting to the train on time is the most stressful part of my commute. How many people can say that? That the worst part of getting to work every day is actually getting to their mode of transportation? If you’re reading this the way I intend it, you’re realizing that I have a very non-stressful commute.

I used to live just a 15-minute train ride from Philadelphia. I would get on, crack open a book, and get bored well before I got to the city. I didn’t get through many books this way. My train ride is currently 50 minutes to an hour, and even coming home at night, I’m never bored or anxious to get to my destination. Instead, I drink my coffee, check my email, read through EVERY post on Facebook and any new FMLs, and then get to my book. I don’t use this time efficiently. I don’t respond to work emails. I don’t accomplish important things. I just relax.

That whole line of logic comes down to this: if you can’t find time in the day to relax and do something for yourself, make the best of the times where you’re forced to stop and wait. In the doctor’s office, at your desk over lunch, when your significant other falls asleep but you’re still wide awake, while you’re “ahem” using the bathroom. I arrive at work each day recharged and ready to go and at home at night with the remains of the day left behind in the bustle of the city.

I get it – you’re thinking you don’t have two full hours every day that you can devote to yourself. Find what time you can. Slow down. Rid yourself of any nagging guilt and RELAX. Frankie say so.

Nichole E. Kang, Ph.D., is a white girl from Towanda, which is in Pennsylvania, NOT Africa. She is not a real doctor. She is a social worker and educator in Philadelphia. She is a first-time homeowner and thus ”enjoys” all things related to owning a home – small DIY projects, growing her very first garden, and being able to pay all her bills. She also enjoys running, reading, eating, online shopping, and winemaking. She lives with her husband, whose habits she does not so much support, but tolerate, and her two cats, Hiroshi and Roxy.

By Robert J. Ottaviani

Beatlemania 1964
I’ve just seen THE BEATLES. I’ve just seen THE BEATLES. I watched them stride on stage one-by-one sporting their trademark dark pegged pants tucked neatly inside their Beatle boots while a neatly tailored buttoned suit coat with a nehru collar framed their slender shoulders while wagging their mopped haired heads. They walked out with a dash of confidence and armed with their quirky sense of British humor. They tapped their Beatle boots on the floor to count down the rhythm to start the song … one, two, three, four. Two and one half minute little jewels of musical virtuosities ensued, each one brimming with beautiful melodies that you sang along to and a beat you could tap your feet to. Beatlemania was alive and well and performing for a United States audience at the Ed Sullivan theatre.
It was 1964 and I was an overly anxious fan waiting for this very moment My affection for them was such that I truly felt they were singing only to me and obliviously since 73 MILLION people witnessed this historic musical event, I may have been wrong.
Maybe that was part of their charm and magic. Even to this day I am hard pressed to explain this huge fascination I have with the group, an almost zen like connection from the very first moment I heard them. They spoke to me in a way no other group had and still hasn’t today.

Giving In
I was basically a traditionalist, a purist who would only see them as a foursome intact. Since THE BEATLES came over to the states in 1964 and until they disbanded in 1970, I was still too young to see them live. The following years to come would test my resolve as John would be assassinated and George would eventually succumb to cancer. With each passing year I realized my opportunity to experience any part of my musical idols was lessening. I could go to a Ringo Starr concert but his was more of a self promotional venue and he had very little song writing background when compared to the other three. Not that Ringo wasn’t a sweetheart of a guy, because I’ve heard other musicians testify to that very fact. So Paul became my focus, one half of the greatest song writing team that ever lived. I knew his show would pay a huge tribute to his roots … THE BEATLES. In addition, I knew his interpretation of the songs would be true to their roots, why alter with original brilliance of the compositions, right? I heard the news that Paul was interested in opening the Console Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA and decided that my stubbornness be put aside. Paul was 68 years young and quite possibly playing Pittsburgh for the last time. Tickets went on sale and the 18,000 seat facility was sold out in two minutes. A second show was added and also sold out in less than three minutes. Beatlemania indeed! Paul’s allure was as strong as ever and apparently his 40-year hiatus from the mega group did nothing to wane his popularity.

All photographs courtesy and copyright of Shawn Plassmeyer.

Wednesday August 18th … SHOW ONE
We arrive at the Center at 6p.m., the scheduled time the gates are to open for the 7:30 start. I notice the crowd is represented by every age group in anticipation of seeing the rock icon. An announcement is made that Paul’s plane has been delayed and the show will be late in starting. This little two-hour glitch pales in comparison to my 40-year wait to see Macca as I hear others fuss around me. The fact that I can hear his sound check as I wait in line actually heightens my zeal for his show to begin. The line is suddenly moving and we shortly are in our seats, which are in the first section above the floor and across the arena from the stage. Two large screens flank the stage and are showing the boys in their early years both individually and collectively as Beatle music is played and all things that relate to the fab four are highlighted throughout. There is an incredible buzz in the air that’s seems to be building to a frenzy and then … out walks Sir James Paul McCartney. He is nattily attired in a long dark suit coat looking young beyond his years and svelte in stature. One, two, three, four, they launch into a Wings number to kick off the show, which would last three hours and feature 35 songs, 22 from the Beatles library of music. He has obviously found the fountain of youth as he delivers a high energy act that leaves you dumbfounded as to how he can maintain this vibe after so many shows, so many years. It occurs to me that the answer is … love. He loves what he does for a living. You can see the passion he has for his craft and how he is totally comfortable in the spotlight. The night swells into moments when you are sure that you have reached a musical zenith, when it can’t possibly get any better … and then it does, again and again. I leave totally satisfied convinced I have witnessed one of the greatest moments in my life, and then …

Thursday August 19th SHOW NUMBER TWO
I flash my ticket to the first attendant on the floor who tells me to keep walking toward the stage. Eventually, I am seated SIX rows back from stage almost directly dead center. I immediately sense the enormity of this circumstance as I am practically about to share a stage with “the greatest composer of the millennium” according to online readers. Although I have paid dearly for my seat, I never use it for I, as well as everyone around me stand to pay homage to the “cute Beatle”.
The house lights go down and Sir Paul leads his band on stage wasting no time picking up his trademark hofner violin bass and launching into ALL MY LOVING and THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD, soon to be followed with I’M LOOKING THROUGH YOU and BLACKBIRD. After mixing in some Wings classics like JET and BAND ON THE RUN he returned to his BEATLES roots with ELEANOR RIGBY and OB-LA-DI,OB-LA-DA. He moved adroitly from bass guitar to acoustic guitar to electric guitar to piano and mandolin with equal dexterity. He made it a point to pay tribute to his ex wife Linda (MY LOVE), to John (GIVE PEACE A CHANCE) and To George (Something). He made sure the crowd acknowledged their contributions. He had constant interplay with the crowd, regaling us with jokes and anecdotes of Hendrix and Clapton. He had the crowd totally eating out of his hands, enough to make Jim Jones jealous. We were all drinking the cool aid and thirsting for more. The crowd stood throughout the evening singing the words and cheering wildly after every song.

In one of the quieter moments between songs he stood back and read all the signs that were made. Ours mentioned the fact that our grandson McCARTNEY ROBERT was his namesake. He slowly read the words, made eye contact with us and tapped his fist over his heart in appreciation. What a moment!

A short time later he had the entire crowd singing the chorus from HEY JUDE and then LET IT BE and A DAY IN THE LIFE were played. Wave after wave of emotion flooded my body with each song selection. I’ve just seen THE BEATLES … I’ve just seen THE BEATLES. No, in the purest sense of truth I hadn’t. But you didn’t need much of an imagination after listening to Paul carrying on that wonderful legacy from yesteryear and taking people on the musical journey of their lives. It’s been days since the concerts have ended but I’m having trouble getting the songs out of my head. I find myself singing them throughout the day, like they’ve been burned into my psyche. I suspect many others are experiencing similar symptoms. From these nights I carry home pictures, t-shirts and my ticket stub but more importantly a treasure chest full of memories in my head and in my heart.

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard the Beatles that he has Beatle manianized his life, been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle. He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.

Distinguishing Your Work from Your Life

By Jack Clifford

We are naturally grounded.
We are taught that dreaming can be bad, dangerous and if you dream too much it will hold you back in life.
Our parents, family and friends have bought into the system, and thus if we don’t follow along something is wrong.
Go to college, get a job, it doesn’t matter if it is in your field or not, you need to work, you need to pay the bills.
It is a formula that can sometimes creates unhappy and unfulfilled people.
It leaves many with the feeling that their job is OK, but they want more.
We want our work to have value. We want to know that we are working towards something, anything, not just making others get richer quicker.
The American people are burned out on the current structure of work.
Our companies are run by soulless robots, which have no vision or value for their employees. We need meaning in our careers and most of our 9-5 cubical lives are not cutting it. When did dreaming become so bad?

Making the Choice
Dave Mathews of the Dave Matthew’s Band had a clear choice and a clear path. Go to college or spend that time getting a jump start on following his dream. He spent the four years that many were away at college driving around the country in a van with fellow musicians taking whatever gigs they could honing his voice, his act and his art.
Is this an option and the answer for everyone? Of course not.
But does following one’s dream sometimes work? Absolutely.
Note: College works for many but not if you are just going because you are supposed to be there and it is the thing to do.

Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way
For years I used to say that the most important thing that I learned in college was how to deal and work with people. You get thrown into this bag with a bunch of strangers. There are conflicts, relationships, hardships, and drama. And in the end you leave with some friends and some enemies.
But did I really need to pay thousands of dollars a year for that experience?
Dave Matthews had a similar experience and turned it into a career.

Grounded From Quitting Our Jobs
So what is keeping the average person from quitting their job tomorrow and following their true passions in life? Mostly fear I would guess: The fear of the economy, the fear of unemployment, the fear of the unknown and the fear of failing and falling. That fear will keep you unhappy and unfulfilled for a long time.

Smart Visionaries
Be smart about it kids. Don’t march into your boss’s office and quit. This only screws you. Plan and plan well. Find a job that inspires you. An economy like this can actually be full of new opportunities. Companies are building for the “Upswing” now, seek those places out. Take a pay cut if you have to, but do something that changes your life forever, instead of continuing in the broken pattern of yesterday. When you are 80 years old, will you look back and say “that job that broke my spirit paid the bills” or “I can’t imagine what my life would have become if I hadn’t broken the pattern.”

Final Thoughts On Viewing The Truth
If you were to somehow see a list of what everyone in your company makes, would you be able to live with the fact that your boss makes 5 times more than you do? Would you vomit at how top heavy your company is with unjust salaries while you struggle to pay your bills? Would you quit tomorrow? Sometimes we need that extra push. I hope to be able to push you back into reality as I know it.

Jack Clifford quit his job years ago after discovering that his salary was unjust. A former executive showed him what everyone in the company was making and he could no longer cope with the vast unjust landscape that was his former reality. He is now fully self-sufficient and making a living on a variety of startup companies and ventures and has never looked back once. Clifford motivates by encouraging others to take control of their lives. Jack Clifford’s sobriety is reality.

Allowing Time For Life To Sneak Up While Still Getting Your Miles

By Greg Albert

I am a creature of habit. I believe in self-discipline and holding myself to goals that I set out. That self-discipline helped me immensely in law school when I could have been watching TV and playing video games all the time. (Truth be told, I did a lot of both over the last 3 years.)

But while self-discipline is generally a positive thing, I have found that I have a tough time moderating it. It’s the old saying: moderation in everything, including moderation. Instead of giving myself a break and running or biking another day, I go out and bang out the miles even if I’m not feeling up to it. Again, that’s generally a good thing, but it creates absolutely no flexibility into the schedule to allow for, well, life to sneak up.

It’s almost like the movie, If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium. If it’s Tuesday, I’m running or biking. And I’m doing that whether it’s hot or cold, raining or sunny, thundering or snowing. And I do it because it’s on the schedule. If it’s not on the schedule, I don’t do it.

During the bar, this type of discpline was critical. My days were heavily structured and scheduled, so I put exercise into the schedule and stuck to it. But, as of late, I haven’t had much of a schedule as I have had a couple of weeks off.

And you know what? It’s actually OK to miss a run or bike ride. It’s OK to change it to a different day because your stomach is upset or there’s something else to do. I know it doesn’t sound like much of a revelation to most of you, but for me, it’s like the first I’ve ever heard it. We’re so funny that way, aren’t we?

But with everything else, I can’t let too many runs or rides slide. I still need to hit the road as often as possible and get my miles in. At least for now, I just don’t have to be so incredibly rigid.

I guess there’s a first time for everything.

Greg recently completed law school in Concord, New Hampshire. He ran from Philadelphia to Los Angeles during his years at law school (all virtually). Those 2,736 miles have kept him motivated to hit the roads in the summer heat and the winter cold. He’s run two marathons, a self-created ultramarathon, numerous 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons, and most recently did a century bike ride across three states. Catch Greg’s Blog located at Greg’s Blog

By Robert J. Ottaviani

Parents are not like free refills. You have one set, drink them slowly

You may love, be loved, and be in love but you will never fully understand love. It is far too complex, mercurial and has layer after layer of depth. It is both vast and infinite and forever challenging.

Products cannot be both “new and improved”. If it’s improved it’s not new.

If you had to sacrifice one sense, would it be sight or hearing? Think about it.

One of the best and least expensive ways to improve your demeanor is a good haircut.

If the sky was green and the trees blue would we be living in a better world?

Hard work doesn’t always guarantee the best result but the alternative never will.

What is it about a new set of clothes that puts a little extra zip in you step?

Preparation is the best way to exude confidence at a meeting, interview or seminar. Put in the work before hand so you’re not selling as much as you are enhancing.

Was it a simpler life in simpler times or was it just because we were younger?

Remember when a guy wore his hair long he was considered a “bad element”. The length of one’s hair doesn’t determine his nature, his heart does!

A hard storm complete with lightning and thunder beats a fireworks display every day of the week.

If you live long enough you will see fashion trends, decor and accessories come back into vogue. They may be tagged vintage or retro but they were used decades ago and are experiencing a second life.

Do reality shows devalue the professional actor when “regular” people are the stars?

The mullet was a hairstyle that caused quite a stir when it surfaced and remains somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. Business in the front … party in the back.

Tattoos are no longer edgy, everybody has them.

I’d pay a king’s ransom to find the original creamsicle, not this popsicle sized generic imitation they sell today. I hate when they alter perfection.

Stress is not some new condition that only recently appeared. It’s been part of the world for long, long time. Its previous name was yelling, screaming and behaving badly.

Why does night time give you more apprehension than day time in the same exact environment?

Random acts of kindness still remain one of life’s little jewels.

Sports used to be a predominantly watched venue by males. Those days are changed forever.

Sometimes the best vacations have very little planning, they just unfold magically.

As much as the world has changed and it has evolved greatly, a first date has not. It still involves dinner and a movie more often than not.

Has Webster’s dictionary been rendered completely useless now that the internet is available?

A good friend is like your favorite blanket … warm, comforting and always there when you reach for it.

If you wake up in the morning contemplating how to get through the day … believe it or not you win again … if only because you’ve awoken.

Do they still have summer playground for kids? Those were some fond memories that I still carry with me whether it was table hockey or making lanterns.

Never let your guard down and be someone you are not … people are watching you whether they announce it or not.

The older I get the more I want to be a kid again … The years go by quicker now.

Death and taxes are NOT the only two certainties, prejudice will be here till the earth calls it quits.

I want the energy of a 10 year old, the looks of a 20 year old, the ambition of a 30 year old, the confidence of a 40 year old and the wisdom of a 50 year old and I want it all when I’m 25.

Traditional shopping malls are the last true dinosaurs inhabiting our earth.

What’s more important to you … winning or learning how to win?

Make a selection from the following: Health … Wealth … Peace of Mind.

Quitting cigarettes was the hardest thing I’ve done … that is if you don’t count relinquishing the remote to my spouse.

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard the Beatles that he has Beatle manianized his life, been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle . He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.

]]> http://www.prolongmagazine.com/2010/08/life-lessons-via-bert/feed/ 2 http://www.prolongmagazine.com/2010/07/this-is-not-the-dream/ http://www.prolongmagazine.com/2010/07/this-is-not-the-dream/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:00:37 +0000 Staff http://www.prolongmagazine.com/?p=2278 The Working From Home Lifestyle Revolution By Jim Calder My wife woke up recently and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if we just had to wake up and walk downstairs to work? Think of all the time we would save, we could shower at lunch and wouldn’t have to spend an hour getting ready in [...]]]>

The Working From Home Lifestyle Revolution

By Jim Calder

My wife woke up recently and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if we just had to wake up and walk downstairs to work? Think of all the time we would save, we could shower at lunch and wouldn’t have to spend an hour getting ready in the morning,” she said. “We wouldn’t each have to drive two hours every weekday.”
Just a few days later I was facing an hour and a half ride into work (my usual commute is only an hour each way) because of heavy rains. The horrible commute got me thinking, why don’t more people and more companies embrace the Work from Home (WFH) lifestyle?

My Manifesto

Most of the people that I know who seem to love their jobs also seem to be working from home. Some own their own business, others work from home full time, and others work from home only once a week. I currently work for an employer that gives me clearance to work from home once a week.
The common thread is the ability to balance our busy lives while merging our careers with our personal lives. This can only be found via the knowledge, understanding and foresight that the amount of hours spent in the decaying office parks of America do not equal doing great work. I know plenty of people who think they are fooling us. They show up first at the office and make sure that everyone knows that they were there the latest. These people are only fooling themselves. They are doing nothing original.

Not A Utopian Idea

A few decades ago this may have been a Utopian or even radical thought. But today it is just common sense. As we evolve as people we are beginning to realize the amount of stress that we take on through our careers. A major portion of this is from commuting to and from an office complex when we have all the tools that we need at home. As a proud member of the ROWE movement (Results Oriented Work Environment) ROWE , I am shocked that more people don’t work towards the goals of ROWE.
ROWE boils down to that fact that you are paid for the work that you do – your performance – not for the hours that you clock into an office.
One of my personal goals is to start to convince my current and/or future employers why coming into the office even four days a week is excessive for individuals who have proven their loyalty and dedication to their work.

Why People Don’t Get It

I think that there are common misconceptions that people have with the term; working from home:
Working From Home Doesn’t = Hate: Working from home does not mean that you hate your job, your office, your coworkers, or responsibilities. It just means that you would prefer more flexibility balancing your work and your personal life.
Abuse By Others: Putting “Air Quotes” around it when you say you are “working from home” is just about the dumbest thing a person can do. It makes you look like a total slacker and people pretty much assume that you don’t have a work ethic and just watch TV all day when you are working from home. But even worse, you ruin the experience and reputation of working from home for all of us who actually are more productive in the home office.
Jealously: Working from home is not for everyone. Doctors and nurses for instance would have trouble working from home all the time. Others are not dedicated enough and shouldn’t be working from home until they have learned to manage their workloads on their own without being told what to do. It is also difficult to work from home when you are in industries like retail and hospitality. However, for people in many office based industries it is not only a great option it is also an effective and smart move for companies.
It is Not A Day Off!: A common misconception about working from home is that it is a “day off”. There is nothing further from the truth than this statement. If anything you have to work harder on days that you work from home, because people are watching and waiting for you to screw up.

Why WFH Works For The Employee

1) Working From Home is a statement from your employer, that they believe that you are doing a great job and want to see you become even more productive.
2) Eliminates stress. Not having to commute and sit in traffic to get to an office will most likely add years to your life and make you enjoying your work even more.
3) WFH allows you to multitask and do house chores like laundry, running the dishwasher, and more while working, which gives you more time for living life.
4) Many who work from home claim to have less distractions. Think of all the times people pop into your office, just to chat about the weekend or what’s new. This is eliminated when we are working from home and it makes you more productive.
5) More time to take care of yourself and your families. Our schedules are more flexible to take care of ourselves and our families (parents, children, partners, grandparents) and to go see the doctors when needed.
6) Salaried employees don’t punch a clock. Yet, so many employers are still judging their work based on the time that they spend in the office. This must change and we know it.
7) Technology allows us to communicate with team members and perform our work just as effective as when we are in the office.

Why WFH Is Smart For Employers

1) Happy and healthy. Employees feel true and earned respect for their employers for allowing them to have a chance at a happier and healthier life.
2) Increases loyalty. Employees who have been waiting for better times to make moves with their careers are starting to do so. WFH increases loyalty for employees that the company wishes to retain.
3) Office space and equipment are expensive. Most employees would be willing to use their own phones and own computers for the opportunity to work from home full time or the majority of the time. This cuts down on the costs for the company.
4) The technology has arrived. There are no longer excuses to not be able to WFH. Employees can call or Skype into meetings. We are in constant communication with coworkers with instant message tools like Skype, gchat, AOL or others. Email allows us to work from any location on the planet. Most IT directors can set employees up with remote access to the company’s servers.
5) Be progressive. Companies that have employees who work remotely are viewed as progressive and living in the current times, instead of set in the stone ages. You will attract better, stronger employees with a WFH policy.
6) Healthier employees that have the time to take care of their health are more valuable to companies than sick employees.

Are you Ready for Working From Home? Find out by continuing to read the rest of this article RIGHT NOW at Continue Reading Article .

]]> http://www.prolongmagazine.com/2010/07/this-is-not-the-dream/feed/ 0 http://www.prolongmagazine.com/2010/07/are-you-listening/ http://www.prolongmagazine.com/2010/07/are-you-listening/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:37:08 +0000 Staff http://www.prolongmagazine.com/?p=2269 The Lost Art of Opening Your Ears By Robert J. Ottaviani The bald eagle, the bog turtle, the African elephant, the blue whales, the gorillas, the lynx, the snow leopard, the giant panda, the black rhino, the whooping crane and the rarest of all sightings … the listener. All of the these aforementioned items share [...]]]>

The Lost Art of Opening Your Ears

By Robert J. Ottaviani

The bald eagle, the bog turtle, the African elephant, the blue whales, the gorillas, the lynx, the snow leopard, the giant panda, the black rhino, the whooping crane and the rarest of all sightings … the listener. All of the these aforementioned items share a common trait. They are all on the endangered species list, the listener having just been nominated by this author for special consideration. If we don’t act fast we could lose one of our greatest resources we have been given … listening.

When I was a child growing up my parents used to take me to their friends homes to visit. Visiting was a big social event back then with the grown ups gathering for coffee, confections, and exchanging pleasantries. Before our trip got under way I was always given two choices and I quote … “you are to been seen and not heard” and “don’t open your mouth and people won’t know how stupid you are”. I know by today’s standard I could turn them in to CASA (The National Committee For Prevention Of Child Abuse) or some organization looking to champion kid’s rights. But back then that’s not exactly how it worked. Kids today have no idea how good they have it.

So given my two choices I chose to adhere to both of them. In actuality my parents were probably right on both counts. Given my lack of experience in almost all facets of life at such a young age I could have blurted something less than brilliant. Secondly and most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to learn a valued life lesson … how to listen. Something that appears so simple to do and yet so hard for many to enact nowadays.

“Everybody’s talkng at me … I don’t hear a word they’re saying … only the echoes of my mind.” Unfortunately Freddie Neil, who authored this song is not alone.

Everyone’s talking these days. Everyone has something to say. Everyone has a point to make … but who’s listening? The lost art of listening is in imminent danger. If you haven’t noticed maybe it’s because you haven’t listened. Take note of some conversations that you encounter and see if you can spot that member of the endangered species.

Let me end by saying the following … listening restores a certain dignity to the spoken word by showing restraint and a level of interest in what others are saying. Listening allows one to exploit the virtue of patience. Listening makes for a more well rounded individual. As long as we are talking we only know what we know and think … but by listening we know what others know as well as ourselves. Are you listening?

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard the Beatles that he has Beatle manianized his life, been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle . He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.

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