About the CanYouHandlebar Community

When I started this business I thought success was how many cans of wax and bottles of oil I've made. Success is how many friends I've made and how much of a difference in creating some sanity and goodwill in this world I have made. Thanks for helping me learn that through your fine examples. View full article →

Beard Poetry: Joe Cassada

A little about Joe:

“I’m a blissfully married father of three pastoring near Saint Louis, Missouri. I love good coffee, old books, the great outdoors, and all things Spurgeon. Recently, my little girl was hospitalized with pneumonia. During her 6 day stay, my daily routine was shot to pieces, including the shaving o’ the whiskers. After five days of razorlessness, I liked what I saw in the mirror and decided to join the bearded brotherhood. Both my daughter and my beard are doing fine and growing strong.”

Beard Poem

A beard’s (to most) a silly thing -
Just facial hair allowed to cling
Upon its bearer’s face too long.
“’Tis best,” say they, “to shave. C’mon!”With bearded men this hallowed truth
Is known quite well; they swear: “Forsooth!
My beard is not some whiskered shame!
‘Tis crown, and rank, and lion’s mane!”And, would you ask the buck to lop
His antler’s off with chopping block?
Why then the pleas for faces nude,
And not my manliness exude?Did Erikson with bald face sail?
Or Shakespeare take up ink and quill
And write with smooth and beardless grace?
Did Plato teach with shaven face?Did soft-cheeked Leonidas fight
With beardless Spartan manly might?
Or Peter, Paul, and Jesus preach
With hairless, girly, rosy cheeks?I hope you’ve seen o’er time and age
That warrior, preacher, and wise sage
Each one their manliness allowed
To show with beard grown long and proud.Thus I shall keep my face unshorn -
With locks my cheeks and chin adorn.
For bearded face is how God made
This man. So bearded I shall stay.

- Joe Cassada

Beard Poetry: Ian Goldsmith

This poem and artwork was created by the incredible mind and pen of CanYouHandlebar customer, Ian Goldsmith. We have some real talent around here!

Becoming a Gentleman: Monday mornings

Even “bad jobs” are good

Even the “bad jobs” I have had over the years have taught me something about myself and about life. When I was a spot welder and came home each day exhausted, burnt and bruised, I learned what hard work really was and I was proud of what I had built. I used to dig little bit of metal out of my belly that got there when a spray of white metal picked me instead of spraying 40′ across the factory floor. I have seen (and felt) copper so hot it turned shades of purple and green. I’ve worked 42 days straight doing manual labor and the first two weeks of that were over 12-16 hours per day. I’ve sweated so hard that even though I drank several bottles of water, I didn’t need to urinate. In some ways it was hell and yet part of me loved it. I knew I was a man (or closer to that goal). A job like that is like a merit badge you wear on the inside.

The symptom

These days, some Mondays are definitely less welcomed than others, but to work is a blessing (especially in this economy!). I may complain about work sometimes but deep down it is honorable and satisfying. As an aspiring gentleman I try to keep this perspective and avoid the trendy complaining cycle on Facebook. The men I most admire would never say something like “ugh, it’s a Monday.” We all feel that way sometimes, I suppose. But it seems like people who are enjoying life complain–if they complain at all–about how little time their is to do the work they have picked. The don’t complain about having to work.

The new approach

The idea of being a gentleman can seem a little nebulous sometimes. We may have a mental picture of a man in a three piece suit and a monocle sipping a tea. In practice, being a gentleman it is more like a thousand little decisions, not owning a pocket watch or twirling our moustache. So, here is the approach I am working on: I am challenging myself to protect my mindset against petty resentment toward the gift of work. I will apply myself and think in bigger increments than a week at a time. To check my progress I remember that I am choosing to become the man I want my son to think I already am.

Who is with me?

Open Letter: Let’s be a Real Beard Community

Community: a label or a reality?

People tend to refer to a group of people who share common features and call them a “community.” I think it is sort of a shorthand (or maybe it just sounds better to say “black community” or “bearded community” than to say “black people” or “guys with beards”). It seems to me, regardless of the reason, if we are called a community, let’s be one. Because the truth is, being a community should be more than being lumped in with a bunch of people that look like you.

Why we grow our beards and moustaches

There are a lot of reasons why guys grow beards or moustaches. Some guys just like the way it looks. Other guys feel like it makes them look more distinguished, or rugged, or older or younger. Others grow a beard or moustache to symbolize that they are a gentleman or that they believe in classic masculinity. I suppose I am motivated, in part, by most of these. Bearding isn’t zero sum; wearing a beard may win, but not wearing a beard does not lose. If you want to see the “right way” in action, check out a competition. From what I have seen and heard, competitions are the real deal when it comes to acceptance, real friendship and respect.

Deciding to make it a real community

To be a real community of bearded guys (or guys with moustaches) becomes a random group of dudes with hair on their chin. We can enjoy our choices while at the same time being cool with people that want to do something different. If you shave, that is pretty damned manly too, what with it being something only guys do. If you have a “business beard” and not a two foot long flowing mane, that’s cool too!

Wrapping it up

I guess, when I think about it, what I am trying to say is that if I had to pick, I would rather hang out with a gentleman that doesn’t have a beard before I hang out with a dude that does any day. That is the community that I want to be in. If you can swing both, all the better. Am I alone in this?

Must reads for men with moustaches (or beards)

Good Reading for the Fall

From my readers and my archives I have selected the following books you might enjoy this Autumn and into the Winter. Some are light reading and others are thick, heavy makes-you-look-smart books. I hope at least one stands out as a cool addition to your Kindle or book shelf! All of the links are affiliate links which means if a bunch of you all click them, you buy me part of a tank of gas. If you don't like affiliate links on principle, feel free to look them up in Amazon in a different window. No hard feelings.

1. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) Most folks either love it or hate it. Ayn Rand, an unabashed atheist and capitalist, paints a gloomy picture of what the world looks like as collectivism takes over. The fans of the book appreciate the emphasis on individualism, pride in one's own work and the virtue of trading with our fellow men over use of force or emotional manipulation. Like it or hate it, it is a thought provoking book. She also wrote the Fountainhead. Same story on a smaller scale. If you read only one, make it Atlas Shrugged.
2. Wealth of Nations (Adam Smith) A surprisingly approachable and often funny explanation of the modern economy of trade and division of labor. Sort of a capitalist primer. Again, whether you love it or loathe it, it has shaped the world we live in and is worth a read for that reason alone.
3. The Art of War (Sun Tzu) A Chinese military strategist lays out principles for victory in warfare. If you can look at the lessons abstractly, you can apply it to your own mindset and to the power struggles that we face every day. With much power comes much responsibility. So, don't go invading Canada after you finish reading it just because you could.
4. Moby Dick (Herman Melville) A classic novel of man-versus-himself and man-versus-nature. It has earned its "classic" status for good reason. The writing is vivid and the narrative speaks to the emotions and hubris we all face and must (or should) overcome.
5. Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson) Kind of like the movie Princess Bride or Toy Story, this is one of those books that has broad appeal to young and old. If you are looking for an old-timey adventure--look no further.
6. Gospel of John (J.C. Ryle edition) Regardless of your religious or philosophical views, the life of Jesus made a huge dent on the world (even our calendar). Of the four accounts of the time Jesus spent on Earth in the Bible, John's is widely considered the most approachable and warm.
7. Principa Mathmatica (I. Bernard Cohen) I have no idea what this book is about but it would make me look so smart if I were reading it under a tree while smoking my Meerschaum pipe...
8. Thus Spake Zarathustra (Friedrich Nietzsche) Well, we've had an atheist and a Christian on the list--why not throw in a nihilist? Not that it matters.
9. Space, Time and Spacetime (Lawrence Sklar) Something, something, philosophy and physics. Sounds intriguing. Where and when and wherewhen will I read it?
10. The Golden Baugh (James George Frazer) So, we used to be primitive. We had sex and did weird things. Now, we are civilized and have sex and do weird things. Read about it here.
11. Celestial Navigation: A Practical Guide (Arthur E. Davies) As distinct from all of those esoteric celestial navigation books, this book shows you how to navigate using the sun, in a practical way.
12. The Ashley Book of Knots (Clifford W. Ashley) This book goes into great detail about 4,000 knots. That is 3,997 more than I know. (shoe laces, half-Windsor, full-Windsor).
13. The Goal (Eliyahu M. Goldratt) What do you get when you combine an Israeli physicist with manufacturing process improvement theories in the form of an awkwardly written novel? One hell of a good book, actually. It is weird, but really good if you are able to apply the principles contained within, in your own life.
14. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen R. Covey) So, now we have an atheist, a Christian, a nihilist and a Mormon. I feel we are pretty even handed around these parts. This book is filled with wisdom and will fill in a lot of the cracks that you may have from life knocking you around or what you didn't learn from your dad or grandpa. I have read it multiple times and always become a better man with each reading. Very solid book. Not one of those cheesy self-help books at all.
15. The Rise to the Top (Zig Ziglar) Zig Ziglar and Mr. Rogers are like the world's two grandpas. Nothing you read in this book will be something you haven't heard or thought before, but the way Mr. Ziglar lays it out makes it so encouraging and feasible. A wonderful book for any guy you know that could use a little encouragement.
16. A Year with C.S. Lewis (C.S. Lewis) Better known for the Chronicles of Narnia, he was also an Oxford professor and atheist that converted to Christianity. He also hung out with J. R. R. Tolkien who wrote Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. Smart guy, pretty open about his struggles and also very bright. Makes you think a lot, even if you disagree with some of what he says.
17. Wayland's Elements of Intellectual Philosophy (Francis Wayland) I won't lie. I bought this at a rummage sale because it looked cool. No idea what it says.

Be wealthy, regardless of your income

Why do you have your handlebar moustache?

I have never met a man with a handlebar moustache who didn't have a story. There is a magnetic pull some describe as "nostalgia," others feel it is a mark of distinction that sets him apart from the crowd. For many it is the sign of self possession. For me, the moustache is an outward expression of an inward attitude toward life. Part of this attitude is enjoying the classic virtues and vices of masculinity.

The "good life" doesn't have to break the bank

Earlier this week I purchased a handmade coffee mug from a fellow entrepreneur at Momugs (no affiliation). When I saw it I knew I would own one. I loved that it was handmade, that every aspect of the design was on purpose, from the stamp on the bottom, to the colors, the dimple and the finger loop. This mug serves a practical function by keeping the coffee off my moustache and makes my desk look awesomer. This set me back about $30 including shipping. I've used it, I love it and I recommend it without reservation.

My desk blotter cost me about $100 and will last through my lifetime, my son's and probably his son's. On it I did the paperwork to incorporate this company, wrote my will and signed up to sponsor our girl in Rwanda. My wallet is also from Saddleback Leather (I do work here; however, this is not a paid referral). It is one of the most beautiful pieces of leather I've ever seen. It is full grain and starting to get an awesome patina. This wallet holds my identification, SD cards for my DSLR camera, an emergency snow scraper (I live in Michigan...), a Cardsharp pocket knife, a magnifying card and a metal mirror for my moustache. This wallet runs less than $50 and will also last beyond my lifetime.

Cigars don't have to cost a bajillion dollars to be enjoyable. One trick I've learned is to go to a reputable tobacco shop and ask the guy at the register for the most underrated cigars. You may end up smoking a new brand that hasn't been around long enough to get reviewed and is still cheap. You can also go with anything from the brands Acid or Macanudo. They may not be the fanciest out there, but they are consistent and hard to not enjoy. Of course, a good can of my moustache wax is an affordable luxury! I recommend getting a pair and clicking here.

Doing good is part of doing well

I know a few "rich" people. Counter to the cliche of the rich being greedy, they are generally pretty nice people. Even if you aren't rich yet, you can get the feeling of being a philanthropist through micro-lending sites like Kiva. My wife Jordon and I sponsor a child through Africa New Life and give a Rwandan child a real chance at life for about what it costs to buy a coffee everyday. I have been on the ground in Rwanda and these guys are the real deal.

In conclusion: be wealthy, no matter your income

Whether you have a bike, a dog and a moustache or you live in a big 5000 square foot house with a wrap-around porch, you can live the good life. Here is a tip: spend money on what you touch every day. With the exception of the cigars, all of what I have linked to you should touch every day. Tobacco is great, but everything in moderation! Moderation in everything except this: your sponsored child will touch you in that mushy spot in your heart where you want to make sure your life leaves a legacy.

Note: I have nothing against affiliate links (if they are declared) but none of these are affiliate links. I will always let you know if I ever use an affiliate link. Just letting you know in case you are curious :}

CanYouHandlebar goes to Rwanda

Using CanYouHandlebar? two degrees below the equator

Last month my wife and I visited our sponsored child Agnes, who is studying to be a journalist in one of the finest schools in Rwanda. The school is run by a Christian philanthropy organization that provides a bright future for the desperately poor, and street boys of Rwanda, a country that suffered a devastating genocide 18 years ago. Many of the kids we met were without family or were the products of rape or prostitution. That is the sad part. The hopeful part is the present unity of the country as Rwandans (no longer Hutus and Tutsis). The trip defies description in many ways, though I have spent many words trying in the weeks since my return. Instead of trying to describe every sight, sound and emotion I thought I would share my goals. I had several while I was in the the country (not in priority order):

Goal 1: Test CanYouHandlebar? moustache wax on safari:

I wanted to know if my waxes would stand up to the heat of the African sun just South of the equator (Preview: they worked really well!)

Goal 2: Meet our sponsored child:

We wanted to do more than send a few bucks a month. We wanted to show Agnes that we truly loved her and were committed to her for the long term. We also wanted to give her a hug. It was great.

Goal 3: Soak up experiences:

Expose myself to things that are truly different than I would ever see in the United States and be as open to whatever I came across as possible.

Goal 4: Test my worldview:

My definition of what it means to be poor has shifted. My belief in the free market as a way to lift individuals out of abject poverty has been buttressed by my visit to a women's training center wherein young women too old for school are taught a skill that will ensure they have food on the table each night.

Goal 5: Fix two sewing machines:

I didn't know this would happen but I had the opportunity to help fix two old sewing machines with my survival bracelet.

Goal 1: Test CanYouHandlebar moustache wax on safari?

As you'll see below, on safari, I was not exactly at my most dapper. During the ten day trip I only shaved a couple times because I had to use bottled water to avoid getting some wacky disease from the local water and I didn't want to waste a bunch of perfectly good water just to get smooth cheeks every morning. Being in Rwanda makes you think a lot about priorities.

The giraffe posed for me. It was so real it felt fake.

On this safari we spent hours in a Toyota van that had little to no air conditioning. We had to roll the windows up for the first hour or so to keep out the horse-flies (they are roughly the size of a small horse) that hang out in the tall grass at the entrance. It was pretty warm, as you might imagine. But the heat and long ride were totally worth it by the time we got to the giraffes, hippos and plain buffalo.

To be entirely honest, I wondered how my wax would hold up. I took this shot on the way home from seven hours of safari. I touched up once or twice during the day (mainly because O wiped the sweat off my face so much I lost some wax in the process) but my handlebars never drooped! I was using Primary6 and the experience made me feel really good about the product. I was two degrees below the equator and Primary6 delivered!

Goal 2: Meet our sponsored child

A few months ago my wife and I started sponsoring a 16 year old girl in Rwanda, named Agnes, who is studying hard in school and wants to one day be a journalist. We heard about a great organization named Africa New Life Ministries and they are completely legitimate. I saw it first-hand. Agnes was very sweet and had poise beyond her years.

Goat are awesome. Did you know they have horns? I like to think they are little handlebars.

She was very appreciative of what we brought and though very quiet, she warmed to us as the days went by. It was really cool to not only have the chance to meet her and give her a goat (that I named "Happy"). We also visited my mother-in-law and sister-in-law's sponsored girls. This is a shot of my wife's mom's girl in her first ride in a van going to her first restaurant. You can't not be thankful for what you have after meeting these great people.

Amerite was so sweet. I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking. She was so appreciative for the clothes, supplies and monthly support that lets her attend school.

Goal 3: Soak up experiences

Rwanda is the land of juxtaposition. I know it is a huge cliche, but I have never met such genuinely nice people. From the kitchen staff that made our meals at the guest house to the vendors in the market to the villagers that gathered around during the home-visits--we saw so many more smiles than I am accustomed to in the Midwest. The country was torn apart a brief 18 years ago. In 90 days close to a million Rwandans died during a methodical and evil genocide. In the years since, the country has begun the hard work of rebuilding. Literally.

The bricks are soil cut into rectangular brick and left to dry in the sun. The scaffolding is made of local trees lashed together. Definitely not OSHA. :}

We were watching homes under construction in every village and the power grid was small and spotty. The soil was a striking rust color and it made even weeds look awesome because of the contrast. Accordingly, flowers looked like magic growing out of the ground. With so many hills and gorgeous plants--a shack in Rwanda would be a $750,000 view in the States. Cars aren't too common and all of the taxis are little scooters. Here is one I snapped a picture of on our way back from a home visit.

The taxi drivers almost all sold calling cards as a side hustle. Go free market!

Without getting into the politics, suffice to the world could have done a lot more to help during those dark days. We can't go back in time, but we can do something to help now. If you want to learn more about changing the life of a child check out ANLM.

Here is what changed me: I saw the stark contrast between the boys that were not yet sponsored, "street boys" that got two meals a week and the sponsored children who were fed daily, went to school and had health insurance. The difference between their lives is literally $40 per month. I have been skeptical about these faraway charities my whole life. Seeing the difference first-hand changed me. If you have ever wanted to know that you did something good, that made a dent in the universe. If you ever wanted to be absolutely sure of that, sponsor a child. Here is another child we visited and his proud father.

Here is the one of the families we visited. This father and his son were kings for the day because they had a brand new soccer ball (and pump with spare needles). This replaced a ball made out of banana leaves tied together with twine.

It was hard to leave each home after the visit. The hand marks on the back of our van were made by the excited children who were so glad we came and helped a family in their village and brought that village a new soccer ball. It was really and sad and joyful all at once.

Goal 4: Test my worldview

I didn't grow up with a lot of money but I never hated those that did. I always was inspired by people who found a way to use their brain and their creativity to create something other people wanted to buy. Nobody is truly self-made, but I do believe we can all find ways to improve our lives if we work hard and learn from our mistakes. And I still maintain that is true in America. However, in Rwanda I saw people with absolutely nothing. Not a place to sleep, a next meal or even many good examples of how to climb out of the poverty. With strategic giving we can give them the tools to innovate and thrive.

No shame. No fear. Incredible poise and determination to get through the day. It made me feel lazy.

My worldview of free market remains intact, but I now see a place for investing in the truly poor if they are working toward self-sufficiency. That is what I love about ANLM. They are providing education and vocational training not hand-outs or guilt-driven pity money. I heard story after story of kids that graduated and then turned around and sponsored kids, themselves. That is cool.

Goal 5: Fix two sewing machines

I did not expect to actually do something useful while in Rwanda. I mean I know hugging kids that have never been hugged and handing out soccer balls is technically something; but I never expected to do something actually productive. I don't think random white guys from Michigan are probably what Rwanda has on their list of "things we think will help us," but I had a cool opportunity to take apart the paracord bracelet I wore each day to use it as a drive belt for sewing machines at the women's vocational center. I gotta admit, it felt pretty cool.

Here are the rows of machines on which the women learn to sew.

Here is a machine with no drive belt…I see an opportunity…

"I love it when a plan comes together" :}

So I start unraveling. It took about 30 minutes…

This is a picture of me handing two seven foot lengths of 550 paracord to the lady who runs the sewing program. I kept the scraps as a reminder of the day.

Thanks for reading this post. I want you to know more about me and why I do what I do. A portion of the proceeds of CanYouHandlebar? go to this organization and someday I hope to release a collectors edition of my wax in packaging made in this very room.

For more information on sponsoring through ANLM, click here.

Thanks for reading!

The mementos we collect

A clock, a leather case, a pipe and a wallet my dad made: mementos over the years that help me remember where I have been.

The importance of Mementos

I mentioned in my Manifesto that I have collected mementos over the years that help me remember where I have been. This post explains the mementos on my Facebook background photo. I hope that through this site we will get to know one another. I will start by sharing a little bit about me.

The pipe I inherited from my dad. It's a Meerschaum pipe of a Sikh in a turban. The clay from the Meerschaum is really special because over the years it pulls in the tobacco and presents it to the surface making the carving come alive with character. As the smoker holds the pipe the oils from his hand transfer and that adds to the effect. This means a lot to me because I am adding to the patina my father started.

Have you ever thought about how amazing mechanical clocks and watches are? With less metal than I carry on my key chain, these machines can tell us the position of the Earth around its axis within a couple seconds. In one of those seconds my wife said "I do." In another I saved a life. In one second my son was born; in another second my father passed (represented by the hands on the clock in the photo above). With the exception of this photo time never stands still. Seconds fall over like dominoes that started before us and will keep falling us after we move on.

The tooled leather wallet was made by my dad who was a really talented leather worker. He used to volunteer at 4H (kind of like Boy Scouts for kids that already live in the woods) teaching leather work and I still have his tools in my toolbox. All of this sits atop a leather iPad case inscribed by the owner of Saddleback Leather (where I work during the day). What he said means a lot to me and I will keep it long after my iPad becomes just an expensive digital picture frame.

Do you have mementos you keep around you to remind you of your successes, failures, friends, family or steps along your path?