Valentine’s Day: How To Plan Guide For Guys
As I talked with my friends, one of the questions that I was asked was what my Valentine’s Day plans were. While a lot of guys may say that “we are still two weeks away from Valentine’s”, two weeks goes by in a flash. With that said, here is my advice to all boyfriends and guys that are planning to take out that special someone.
1. Even though the girl says that you don’t have to do something for Valentine’s, you should anyways.
Named after Saint Valentine himself, Valentine’s Day is celebrated by couples all over the world. While it’s true that girls will say that you don’t need to do anything for Valentine’s and that “being with you” is enough, truth of the matter is that Valentine’s isn’t just any other day. Whether its a quiet homemade dinner for two or a night out, girls will appreciate the effort no matter how big or small it is. Here is a simple comparison that my female friend told me:
“Valentine’s is like another birthday for us. Everyone says you don’t need to get them something, but inside everyone wants just gifts and a party”
2. Time Management
Just like what they taught you in school on how to manage your time, it can also be applied to Valentine’s Day. Whether you are planning an all day event or dinner and a movie, it is important to have it all planned out ahead of time and not 30 minutes before you are about to pick them up. A helpful tip is to take into account the little things such as how long it takes to get ready, how long it takes to get to the restaurant, and what time or how long the movie is. Planning ahead will help make things go smoothly.
3. More Than Just Friends?
For some, Valentine’s will be just another day to share with a loved one. For others it can be much more. From telling that co-worker your true feelings, to being more than ‘just friends,’ Valentine’s is a chance to start a relationship or rekindle one. With that in mind, it is important for guys to know what type of tone they want to set for the date. If it’s telling a girl what you feel for them, make sure you actually have something to say aside from “I like you.” For the guys that are just trying to spend more time with their girlfriends here is my advice to you: turn off your cellphone. It is great that technology is at the tip of our fingers, but it doesn’t have to be 24/7. For some this is extremely hard, myself included. This Valentine’s I will at the very least keep my phone off at dinner. Yes, the score of the Laker’s game will have to wait.
4. Where, What, & When To Eat?
An essential part to Valentine’s Day is the meal. Whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, it is important that you do it right and plan it in advance. If you try to book reservations today, you might be lucky enough to catch a table for two, but if you wait a week before, you will join the hundreds of others who will resort to ‘Standby’ at restaurants. Most restaurants now offer the convenience of booking reservations online. Not only does it save time, but you can see reviews and suggestions for restaurants as well. It’s hard to make an excuse when every restaurant in town takes reservations online.
Many upscale restaurants offer a special Valentine’s Day Pre Fixe Menu. Depending on your budget, these could be great deals. It is important to note that many restaurants that offer a special Valentine’s Day Pre Fixe Menu require a credit card along with reservations in case of cancellation. Most will allow you to cancel up to February 12 by 5PM, otherwise you would be charged a cancellation fee which is set by the restaurant.
In regards to what time to eat, that is entirely up to you. While there is no set time as to when to eat dinner as everyone has their own preferences, one should keep in mind these points:
- Any post/pre meal activities : If you plan on watching a movie after dinner, take into account how long dinner might last.
- Traffic : If you book dinner in downtown LA, expect traffic. Give yourself time to get to the restaurant.
- Ambiance : If you book a restaurant near the ocean, book it around sunset time. If you want a quieter restaurant, you may want to go for an earlier or later dinner before the rush starts.
I have put together a list of Restaurants in the Los Angeles Area that might be of use for those of you still looking for Valentine’s. Please remember when calling any restaurant to ask if they have Pre Fixe Menus.
1. Yamashiro
1999 N Sycamore Ave
Hollywood, CA 90068
Phone: (323) 466-5125
2. Lawry’s The Prime Rib
100 N La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 91101
Phone: (424) 354-3409
3. The Raymond Restaurant
1250 S Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: (626) 768-3268
4. Moondshadow’s
20356 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
Phone: (424) 644-6450
5. Cicada Restaurant
617 S Olive St
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Phone: (213) 488-948
Reservations Online: OpenTable.com
While it may seem time consuming and difficult to plan out Valentine’s Day, I am reminded by my female friend that
“when you are upset about how guys have to do everything for Valentine’s day..just remember…popping out babies is left to the girls”
I’ll stick to planning Valentine’s any day.
Where Last Season’s Style Goes
In a time where getting the most out of your buck is key, shopping for consumer goods is an area that has most consumers re-thinking where they decide to shop. While malls continue to be packed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that people are spending money. On the contrary, with once dominant department stores like Macy’s and social hangout spots like Starbucks closing stores to save money, consumer spending has changed radically.
With consumers looking at how to save money, they have begun to turn toward outlet malls. For the consumer that has never shopped at an outlet mall, let me introduce you to the world of affordable prices for designer and name brand goods. While affordable is only applicable to certain situations, examples are the best way to show the huge bargain opportunity that is to be had at outlet malls.
Coach for example is well known for being a hot spot at outlets for shopaholics. Not only are their prices well below the MSRP’s but their selection is quite vast. It is true that among the plethora of bags their is a fair share of ugly bags, but the prices are the ones that dictate what is ugly and what is not.
Outlets get most of their merchandise from their affiliate stores after they either go out of season or are overstocked. Many consumers are aware of this and don’t mind wearing last seasons styles. The truth is that to look rich, you don’t have to be rich. Brands like Calvin Klein, Gap, Hugo Boss, Bebe, and even Juicy Couture have all realized this and have begun to tap the huge consumer base that shops at outlets. With small outlet stores beginning to be replaced by designer outlet stores, what was a once in a while stop for families and consumers has now become regular trips when they need to buy something.
In a way, outlet malls can be seen as the place where last season’s style goes to be reborn into an ‘affordable’ style. From electronics to clothing, it seems that you can find anything at an outlet mall. While most outlet malls may not have the ambiance or decor of most shopping malls today, they make up for it by allowing consumers to feel like they really got the most out of their dollar.
The Power Of Charisma
As I stopped to listen to the inauguration speech of newly appointed president, Barack Obama, the thing that stood out most about him was not the content of his speech but rather how he was able to draw the attention of millions by just the words he spoke. His words not only captivated millions but it also instilled hope and inspiration to those who listened. Obama shares a rare trait that great leaders have. That trait is charisma.
While many may be described as charismatic, true and genuine charisma is often hard to find. Charisma is often defined as a rare trait in human personality that includes charm and a ‘magnetic’ quality. Not only is charisma a rare trait, it is also by far one of the most valued. Taking a look at the famous leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Caesar, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Nelson Mandela, the key characteristic that all of them shared was their ability to captivate an audience. From Napoleon’s ability to rally his troops through is powerful words to Martin Luther King Jr.’s ability to charm thousands and lead millions, charisma is a powerful tool. Anyone can become a leader, but it takes true charisma to get people to follow you. You maybe extremely bright, but without charisma, you can only go so far.
In the business world, charisma plays a huge role in the workplace. While work ethic and efficiency are both key factors in promotions, a persons charisma is also key. Someone who is charismatic not only gets along with most people, but they can also make up for areas they lack in with their charm. The goal of any company is to hire a well rounded individuals that can come in and bring value to the company. The key word out of that sentence is value. Speaking to the HR of a few companies, many agree that charisma has huge value.
Aside from the charisma playing a huge part in the business world, charisma is also a dominant trait in entertainment and sports. When you look at players like Kobe Bryant and actors like Will Smith, aside from work on the court and on film, people naturally gravitate toward them. This ‘magnetic’ trait that they have has helped them become as popular as they are today. Even looking at our past president, George Bush, we can see the power of charisma. While he wasn’t loved by all, people would agree that part of the reason he got to White House was because of his personal charisma.
While not all of us can be as smooth as Will Smith or are able to captivate a nation like President Barack Obama, it is important to recognize those that are charismatic. Being able to identify individuals with genuine charisma can be difficult because who is to say what “true” and “genuine” charisma is, but here is a suggestion to figuring it out: Look around you and see who are the followers, and who are the leaders. More than often, the leaders have true charisma.
Death of The Newspaper
As a child, reading the LA Times was a big part of my morning routine. As I grew older, the sections I read also grew with age. From only reading the comic section, to reading the Lifestyle and Sports sections, the newspaper had always been a way for me to get my news for the day or week. Newspapers played such an important role in society that it is sort of odd to think that now their are talks that the days of waking up and reading the Sunday sports section or even the latest movie review maybe over.
With the Tribune filing for bankruptcy, the fall of the newspaper industry has commenced. Just the other day on my way home I was listening on the radio how one newspaper was forcing its writers to take non-paid days off just to stay in business. While it is easy to blame the economy for companies going out of business, their are many reasons why the newspaper industry is where it’s at right now.
The Speed of Information
For every newspaper, their is a website for it. With that said, who would pay for something they can get free. This is an obvious reason to why the newspaper industry is struggling to survive. With individuals being able to read articles that are in the newspapers for free online, people see no reason to pay for a newspaper subscription. Not only does it save money, but in most cases you can find out about a story even before it reaches newspaper stands. The speed of the information travels faster than the newspaper companies can put them on stands. As a result of this, fewer and fewer people subscribe to them.
While newspapers have made the transition to news online, they have entered a market where they cannot win. The reason for this is simple. The market they are trying to dominate is already dominated by other websites. For example, newspapers used to make a decent revenue from the classified section. Today, when people need to post something to the classified section, they go straight to Craigslist.org and list it their. Why? Because it’s free. The age of information has two basic elements. The first is speed. People want information as fast as possible. Even waiting 5 minutes for information is considered too long of a wait in some instances. The second element is cost. People now consider their options and weigh the cost against benefits. With information being so readily accessible and free, newspapers that charge people to post ads automatically become unreasonable.
No Real Content
Of the newspapers I still read, my local newspaper is one of them. The reason I read it, is because I want to learn what is happening in my city and because I feel like what they write about has value and the writers opinions. When you look at the LA Times or even the NY Times, you will most often find the same articles. What most newspapers do now is take articles from the Associated Press or even Reuters and just insert it into their newspaper. For them, it saves time and money. Still, for the reader it brings no real value if you can find it any newspaper or even just hop online and read it from the AP or Reuters directly. If the newspapers wanted to keep readers, they would have written ‘real content’ that would have been engaging to their respective cities.
With companies going out of business, many will now wonder if it is the newspaper industries turn. Since it is now feasible that such a collapse is near, the newspaper industry may follow the steps of automakers and large financial corporations and ask for the same kind of help that the government gave them: a bailout.
If it comes to that, it is my opinion that the government will not help the newspaper industry. The reason is this: one of the key determinants to who has been getting bailouts are those that are deemed crucial to our economy as well as to society. Carmaker’s were able to make the argument that millions of jobs and hundreds of smaller industries would fall as a result of their collapse. The financial corporations made the argument that the economy would never recover if they collapsed. So what about the newspaper industry? If they collapse, the result would obviously be layoffs, but other than that, people would turn toward the internet for their information or to watching the news on TV.
If it does come down to the newspaper industry collapsing I will miss picking up the newspaper early in the morning and reading the sports section as I get ready for my day. In the end it is not that we don’t like reading the newspaper, but that all in all, newspapers have become obsolete.
One Relationship: Two Roads
As I enter my third week of the work I have come to the realization that I am an ‘adult.’ Books and midterms have been replaced by meetings and hours of starting at a computer screen. For most, the corporate work path is well suited for them. Working at Future Delivery I have a truly unique opportunity. I am able to set my own work hours, sleep in as late as I want, and work on any project I want. So you ask what kind of job is this?
This is what it is like to be part of a start-up company. Everything I mentioned previously is not what it may appear. Yes, I can set my own hours, but I have been working approximately 14 hour work days, 7 days a week. I can work on any project, but still need to get them all done. I can sleep in, but if I do, that only means I will sleep even later. The corporate life provides structure, rules, and guidance. In a sense, when you first start out working in the corporate world, you are taught how to work. No one can teach you how to be an entrepreneur or part of a start-up company. Instead, you are given an idea. With that idea, you have to run with it. If the idea doesn’t work. Then pick up another one and run again.
For myself, the person that means the most to me aside from my family members, is my girlfriend. Recently, she joined the corporate world and now works 9-5, 5 days a week. Looking at how far we both have come, I realize that determination has played a big part in where we are today. In high school, we were both determined to be with each other through it all. During college, we made it through a long-distance relationship. Now here we are again. Facing two different paths: Corporate world vs Entrepreuner world. One is where you follow the rules, the other, you make em.’ When her work day is done, mine continues. When her work day starts, mine still is continuing. I have made adjustments to my life so that I am able to spend ‘quality’ time with her. From waking up early and getting more work done during the day, to delegating tasks to others. Just like when you ride a bike, at first you will have bumps and falls, but eventually you will get the hang of it. Similar to that idea, the career paths my girlfriend and I are part of is ‘work in progress.’ We will learn what works and what doesn’t. What is right and what is wrong. Most of all, we will learn how two different career paths can make for one great relationship.
Mission: Live at 24 Hour Fitness
In the next month, I will be attempting to spend 24 hours at a 24 hour fitness. I will eat, sleep, and exercise at 24 hour fitness. It may seem a little crazy (maybe more than a little), but it was an idea that I came up with when talking with my friend. As a college student I paid $700 a month including furnishings and utilities for housing. I got my own room, my own bathroom, and shared a living space with 3 crazy other people. Compared to what other college students were paying at other colleges, I consider myself lucky. For example, my girlfriend paid $800 and shared a room. This didn’t include utilities or furnishings.
So the question that my friend and I talked about was how to live cheap. Now the word cheap may be associated with ‘poor quality,’ but to a college student it means ‘bargain’ and ‘good deal.’ The idea that I came up with was why not live at 24 Hour Fitness.
For $20 a month, you have 24 hour access to their facilities. Assuming that their are 30 days in a month that means you are paying an average of $.66 a month! That is a deal. I know what you are thinking by now, “Who in their right mind would do this?” The answer to that would be a college student. The perception that anything can happen in college is pretty accurate and an idea like this is right up a college students alley. Now, what I am proposing is not to actually live, study, and sleep at 24 hour fitness permanently, but to stay their for 24 hours for fun and jokes.
For 24 hours, my friend and I will be going to a yet to be determined 24 Hour Fitness Center and attempting to ‘live’ their for 24 hours straight. We will each be bringing a small gym backpack. In it will be a small container of rice (in case we starve), $10.00, gloves (for when we pump iron), and duct tape (I’ve heard you can use it for anything). Aside from the items listed, we will also be bringing a basketball, toothbrush and toothpaste, a sweater, and 1 paper cup each.
Also, I plan on video recording the whole 24 hours (or at least most of it) so I will be bringing additional disks to record as well as batteries.
The next question that you may be wondering is, “What will you eat? Where will you sleep? How will you shower..” The answer is simple. For every daily activity that we would normally do, we can do it at 24 Hour Fitness also.
Here are a couple questions that some of my friends already asked me:
1. Where will you sleep? –Yoga mats in the exercise rooms (gonna pretend we’re meditating…for a long time)
2. Shower? –Lucky for us, 24 Hour Fitness has showers for members to use. I will not be recording this for obvious reasons.
3. Food? –Simple. All the PowerBar’s we can eat for $10. Water is free (if not, we might die of dehydration.)
4. Boredom? –No way to solve this. It is bound to happen. Hopefully later than sooner.
5. Getting kicked out of 24 Hour Fitness? — As far as I know their is no rule against staying at the gym as long as you are a member and you aren’t breaking any of their rules.
6. Are you gonna bring your cellphone? — Nope. If I need to contact someone I’m gonna do it the old fashioned way: pay phone.
Hopefully at the end of this ‘adventure’ I will be able to look back on it and have a few laughs. Otherwise, I expect to never set foot in a gym for many months after it and have a greater appreciation for my bed.
Stay tuned for 24 hours at 24 Hour Fitness review.
Traffic Capital?
You go anywhere in the United States and you would be hard pressed to find a place as busy as Los Angeles when it comes to the traffic on freeways and downtown streets. While it is an exaggeration to say that freeways are always crowded, it isn’t entirely true.
When people mention to others they are from Los Angeles, one of the first things that people think of aside from the southern California weather and beautiful beaches is its overpopulated freeways and congested streets. As an LA native, living in the southern California and commuting to LA frequently has made me ‘comfortable’ to traffic. What I mean by ‘comfortable’ is that driving in and around the LA area, you come to expect the 10 minutes stuck in traffic to get to the 5 south interchange and spending 30 minutes in traffic to go just 3 miles in the morning. To those who haven’t driven in the LA area, 30 minutes may seem absurd but that is just how traffic is in Los Angeles.
By far, the worst time to commute is the early morning rush and the evening rush hour (3:30PM-6:30PM). If you do ever need to go into downtown LA during this time, be prepared for some quality time with your radio. Still, the morning and evening rush hour is something that all LA natives have come to accept and become ‘comfortable’ with.
The answer to why we as LA natives have come to be so ‘comfortable’ with the traffic in LA is like trying to explain how the earth was made. Their are multiple reasons, but one that I feel best explains it is because we feel that their is no way to solve it. What is meant by this is that Angelino’s have become so dependent on driving all over LA that they are willing to put up with the traffic because their is no real solution to it. The two options are to put up with it, or don’t drive. Sure, you can choose to drive at a different hour of the day when their are fewer cars, but this still doesn’t solve the problem of traffic itself. For the rest of us who have to commute into LA to get to work by 9AM, the morning rush hour is our only option.
LA has tried to alleviate the problem by increasing the efficiency of traffic lights and expanding freeways. Still, for every freeway that is expanded, it seems like another has construction on it. Like a disease that has no real cure, the LA traffic situation can be treated by attempting to ‘quarantine’ and ‘contain’ it so that it doesn’t get so out of control that not driving becomes a realistic option.
What Are You Worth?
When looking for a job, one of the biggest determinants in the job search is pay. While it is important to have a job you like and environment that is conducive to work, it seems that pay is the one factor that most would rank high on their job search importance. In a sense, the value of the job can be seen as having a monetary value.
Except for very extreme situations, most job’s will be taken by anyone if the pay is right. For most of us, pay is balanced out by our satisfaction with the work environment, company culture, and several other factors. It is no surprise that salary and how much you make a year is one of the biggest factors by which society judges individuals. Even as a small child we are taught in school that we need to study hard so that we can get a good job in the future.
So what is a ‘good job?’ Their can be many different definitions to what a ‘good job’ actually is, but the consensus response will almost always include making money. Their is nothing wrong with wanting to make a lot of money. I would be a liar to say that making money wasn’t important. The truth is that whether you hold money to be important or not, it is. Money drives our economy, culture, and society. Money has become a way for us to measure the value of things.
Among the many things that we put monetary value on, humans are one of them. Some may feel that putting value on a human is like putting a value on their life. Still, insurance companies do it all the time. They even have a human life value calculator. Factors such as if you smoke, what your occupation is, and how much you make are all part of the valuation of humans.
In a sense, everything that we do can be used as a determinant in our value. Similar to how employers determine your salary based on your experience and the value created by the work you do, humans can be valued in the same way based on their life experiences and value added to society. While it may sound like a bad to say that one individuals life is more important than another because they didn’t smoke and the other did, taking a closer look around us you can find examples where we are already doing it.
A classic example is what goes on in hospitals. The function of the hospital to save human life. While this is the goal of the hospital, the hospital also must be able to generate revenue. This means that the hospital must make decisions that they feel will be both cost effective as well as effective in saving and treating patients.
In some situations, expensive treatment is needed. This is where the valuation of human life can be seen. Imagine we have two patients, patient A and B. Both patients need to be treated for a life threatening condition which is very expensive. Treatment will successfully treat the patient and make them better. Patient A has health insurance, a white-collar worker, and it is his first time in the hospital. Patient B has no health insurance, a blue-collar worker, and his fourth time in the hospital. While it is ideal for the hospital to treat both the same, reality is that they don’t. What will happen is patient A would receive treatment at the hospital, and patient B would be stabilized and discharged to the county hospital where they would receive little treatment. While it is wrong to do so, it is reality. So goes the saying, ‘money doesn’t grow on trees.’ As long as it doesn’t we will continue to put a monetary value on human life.
