What do you want in life?

More respect, happiness, passion, power, excitement? Of course, more of everything.  

To get what you want in life you must make goals.

You must want these things more than anything, and these things must not conflict with your other wants. When we make goals we are putting out into the world what we want. We know there is power in writing goals on paper, or telling people; this helps to solidify the goals, to force you to act. 

Am I seriously saying happiness and what-not can be achieved with the shirt on our back? Yes! Please let me explain. The way you dress is a form of communication. Perhaps more powerful than what you say. You are showing the world by your visual actions. So what are you saying?

A great shirt should be a goal for who you plan on becoming, not what you are.

"Dress up" is a great line I was told long ago. Of course that means to properly dress up for a formal occasion, but also it means to dress the role of the level you want to be – not what you are today. It is a goal. And you are telling everyone. 

A great fitting shirt shows people you are in control, you care about living a better life, you take yourself seriously and thus they should also. A great fitting shirt speaks about refinement, purpose, and quality. A great fitting shirt silently lets others know you have commendable traits.

Bold shirts are a huge jumpstart to your day.

A bold shirt articulates that you are willing to take risks. It also reminds you to live a little louder, to stand a little taller. It is similar to that joke – "have you seen a person riding a jetski with a frown?" The joke also applies when you wear a fantastic bold patterned shirt. It is pretty hard to not be jazzed about basically everything while wearing one.  

Gone are the days of being average. Is that what you want from your life?

I assume not as you are reading this. Go ahead and try a great fitting shirt and see if it positively effects your life. And for extra points try a bold one, it is a heck of a lot cheaper then driving a Porsche while getting a similar reaction. 

Go Conquer Mediocrity Batchmen.

We know, ties are trendy right now. But it comes down to Pareto's law. 

Cast those fads aside and let us explain. Pareto's law basically states 20% of our effort makes 80% of the difference. Knowing this, we are distilling our lives down to what matters most. We have so little time in today's rapid world. We put ourselves on an information diet to focus on what matters to us. We 20/80 our friends, food, and media. What can make the most impact? We simply don't have enough time for everything. 

How does this apply to ties? 

Simply, what are ties adding to your life? You have a lot of clothing in your closet and a finite amount of time to wear it. 20% of your clothing makes all the difference. We recommend focusing your energy on the pieces you actually need to move your life forward. 

Let's start from the bottom - shoes. They are pretty important to our daily performance: less rusty nails in our feet, and more comfort walking on summer's pavement. Pants keep the bugs at bay; they give us abrasion resistance and protect us from the elements. Shirts help stop those lobster burns and are easily layered for temperature comfort. Jackets add that extra layer of warmth and protection when we need it. So what necessary function do ties provide?

Ties are great for:

1. Slowing our morning routine down (we suggest using that time to meditate)
2. Matching back to your pocket square, huh - why?
3. Giving us something to fiddle with uncomfortably
4. Getting stuck in the power tool of your choice

We recommend that your shirts look better casually worn without a tie. You'll look like you belong in this modern century than your stodgy co-workers who match their ties to their pattern socks. When huge car hood ornaments come back into favor we might reconsider. Nope, actually we will not. 20% of your clothes make you look and feel best. Ties fall into the 80% that are not worth our time - next too joggers, hats with the tags still on them, and white rib tank tops (more on undershirts later). 

If you need to be really formal, spend very little time selecting a tie. Keep it simple, solid is best or a minimal pattern. Like your underwear and socks, don't spend extra attention points that could be used for real decisions. 

Go Conquer Mediocrity Batchmen.

First off, rolled sleeves are a versatile way of changing the mood quickly of your outfit.

One roll can signal the work day is over and the real adventure has just begun. Or one roll can mean you're not staying long, or you're suiting up soon and don't want to go full roll.

Two rolls is the classic.

Your cuff is now hidden by the sleeve fabric and the tighter roll starts to happen. Two rolls should be most men's standard when unsuited. And as we are proponents of losing the formality of the jacket whenever possible - we recommend this exposed forearms stance to be your uniform. Two rolls means life is an adventure to you and you are ready to bear hug it with both arms. Two rolls means you are unafraid of getting dirty and hope the situation gets a little messy.

Three rolls is true "gettin' er done" territory.

You are not rolling three times to back down from whatever your bold life throws your way. Three rolls can help keep your shirt clean when the day gets deep.  

The anatomy of a great sleeve roll: the rolled fabric should be cleanly rolled back on itself twice or thrice, the bulk of the roll should rest easily over the widest part of your forearm accentuating the muscle shape. 

Of course, your main objective is to look in full bad ass control of your life and a Batch shirt with rolled sleeves will assist your adventurous endeavors always. Here are some other reasons to keep your sleeves rolled:

Delivering random babies, it gets messy. Strong hand shakes, let them see your cut like Arnold. Driving, don't let that cuff slow you down. If you have a kick ass watch you need to highlight that precision technology. Throwing back a few rolls will give the time piece space to say "pow, yes I can harness life's greatest currency."

Women dig wrists.

10 out of 10 women decidedly preferred men with wrists over those who don't have them. A very little known fact in the male population is the way ladies feel about a powerful forearm. An exposed forearm is the icing on a crisp shirt, like man cleavage with less european flair. 

Life without rolled sleeves is a life too precious. Dig in. 

Go Conquer Mediocrity Batchmen.