Experience, not stuff

When thinking about the Gentleman Spy lifestyle, many people only think about the cars, the clothes, the gadgets. But it’s the experience that makes the man.

As you go through your life, don’t collect stuff. Do collect experiences and memories.

Buying the expensive new car might sound fun, but you will get more mileage from a slightly less expensive car or used model, while investing the difference in experiences like a vacation to Italy, a scuba diving class, or learning to ski or fly a plane.

You need to DO things, not just have stuff or know information.

In almost every aspect of the Gentleman Spy program, you will note that there are specific recommendations: martial arts, firearms, language learning, training courses, events… There is a “best” recommendation in each category. The most efficient, or most exclusive, or "best" in some other tangible way. But for any number of reasons — it’s too expensive, or not available in your area, or doesn’t work with your personality — the best may be out of reach.

Perfection is often the enemy of good enough. Don’t let waiting for the best stop you from getting started in the first place.

Nike made the phrase “Just do it” popular. That’s exactly what you should do.

If you can’t get into a mixed martial arts class but you can start training at the karate dojo down the street — just do it.
The waiting list for the firearms class or wine tasting is months long but you have a friend who shoots competitively or seems to know about wine, learn from them while you wait.
You want to attend a black-tie event but can’t afford the $6,000 Tom Ford tux? Go to SuitSupply, Combatant Gent, Men’s Warehouse, or even a rental place, pick a classic tuxedo, get it tailored, and go to the event.

Do not put off “good enough” waiting for “perfect," and always favor doing things over buying things.

You should favor “doing” over “having,” but that shouldn’t stop you from investing in the best tools for your job.

007 has Q to supply him with all the coolest gadgets. You don’t.

But you can still invest in yourself and in the best tools for the jobs that need doing.

What most people don't realize is the lost time and frustration that comes from using substandard tools.

Even when something is good, but not excellent, there is friction associated with its use. When using the highest quality tool, designed to execute its task as smoothly and efficiently as possible, this friction disappears.

Buying the highest quality equipment you can afford will often save years — sometimes decades or more — of frustration, and almost always save money in the long run.

In many cases this is a purchase you can make once, then truly enjoy it (rather than just use it) for the rest of your life.

A Rolex is expensive, but it will serve you, and your children, with a degree of sophistication seldom seen.
A OneBlade razor will cost you up front, but pays for itself in a couple of years, and you will enjoy the best shave you've ever had and never have to buy another razor for the rest of your life.
A good skillet, cookware, and the perfect knife will only get better with age. Great tools make cooking a joy instead of a chore, and with proper care will last the rest of your life, probably longer.
Purchasing a rack, barbell, and bumper plates to build a garage gym will set you back a grand, but it'll last decades and pay for itself many times over. You'll never have to pay for a gym membership, waste time driving to and from a workout, or replace or outgrow lesser quality equipment.

Whether it's a briefcase from Saddleback Leather, the perfect pair of shoes, a set of Snap-On tools, or the latest Microsoft Surface or MacBook Pro, the best tools work better, feel better, and last longer than their lower quality counterparts.

Often referred to as “priming,” you also bring out the best in yourself when you surround yourself with quality. You save energy, save time, and naturally perform better when you're not fighting your tools.

If you work on a laptop, do you have the newest, lightest laptop available? Is the software patched, up to date, and upgraded when a newer version is available?
If your work keeps you mobile or tied to the phone all day, do you have the latest smartphone loaded with any apps that help you excel at your job?
If you work at a cubicle, do you have personal effects like photos, plants, or accessories to make it “yours?” Is it neat and organized?
If you’re a tradesman, have you invested in the best tools for your job?

Even if you are working in a field where all your tools are provided for you, there is always something you can do to surround yourself with the best.

If you like coffee, do you have a stock of your favorite beans and a way to make the perfect brew, or do you suffer through the cheap crap they stock at the office?
Is your work vehicle clean? Do you have the seat and mirrors properly adjusted and the radio preset to your favorite stations?
Is your desk stocked with the perfect personal items to help you through your day as efficiently as possible?

From a perfectly fitted suit to the latest laptop, highest quality tools, personal effects, snacks, or a supply of good pens, there is always something you can do to upgrade the quality of your surroundings.

You don’t need to have the absolute best of everything all the time, but there are items that you will use all day every day, or frequently enough to matter, where surrounding yourself with the best will bring out the best in you.

Patrick Horne writes about Final Choices "Anywhere I can make a buying choice that I, with proper care and maintenance, will never have to make again for the rest of my life, I do. In those cases, I’m willing to pay far more for an item if I know it will last a lifetime and, even more importantly to me, I will never have to spend the mental energy making a choice again."

When purchasing equipment, you need to consider what you need first, then worry about quality, then about price. Purchase the best you can, within your budget.

This is not a license or recommendation to spend money frivolously. "The Best" doesn't mean the most expensive:

A Subaru, Suburban, or F-150 may be a more appropriate choice than a BMW, Mercedes, or Aston Martin, regardless of what vehicles you can afford.
A $500 Glock is a better defensive/carry weapon for most people than a $3,000 customized 1911 pistol.
For scuba divers, a $700 Scubapro Mk25/G260 regulator is superior to a $2,200 Mk25T/S620 Titanium regulator.
A $30 AeroPress coffee maker makes better coffee than many $1,000 fully automatic machines.

Choose the best. For you. The best for your needs and your lifestyle. Don't buy stuff you don't need just because it's more expensive. Focus on quality and longevity, not price.

The point here is that the difference between the best in the world, simply good, and substandard can have profound effects on your productivity and your life.

If you're the frugal type, take a chance: find one item that you use regularly, but are frustrated with. Replace it with a higher quality version than you would normally purchase and note the difference.

When you become attuned to the difference that using truly high-quality tools has in your life, it's an eye-opening experience. And the wonderful thing about it is that purchasing the absolute best, up front, is almost always less expensive than working your way through multiple sub-standard versions or replacing lesser quality tools over the long run.