The Lion, the Witch and the Cellphone

 

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗖.𝗦. 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? 

No way! 😅 In fact he’d likely roll in his grave if he saw how many struggling writers are so distracted by electronic devices these days.

Put aside Lewis' dated and chauvinistic language and think about how the man's main point applies to us: clearly social media, texts and emails are stealing our focus as writers—and our creativity. Tomorrow's erstwhile Novel Prize winner of literature might be too addicted to games today to ever realize his or her true calling. I think that for all our constantly being connected via our phones many writers are paradoxically struggling more than ever before to understand and connect with their readers. 

Years ago, I ditched my smartphone for a flip phone for three months. It wasn’t glamorous (T9 texting, anyone?), but after feeling irritated for a week the ensuing mental clarity was completely worth it. It wasn't till I fasted from my phone that I realized how much pointless noise was in my mind and how little I was actually accomplishing. I was able to read a few books every week, something I had not done for a long time. 

Reading Lewis’s message below, his advice still holds true: 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀. Digital distractions are the worst kind in that they follow us around in our pockets and purses, robbing us of the focus we need to think deeply and write well.

To be honest and fully transparent, I do heavily use a smartphone to get work done I couldn't easily do otherwise, but certainly not when I'm writing some serious and my mind needs to focus. I've found that if I am not carefully using my devices with full awareness they can easily become a huge time suck.

We all have limited mental bandwidth, and if we are distracted and preoccupied then that does our ability to work no favors. 

What’s your biggest distraction—and are you ready to silence it?

The Janitor and the CEO

 

Life has a funny way of flipping the script, doesn’t it? One day you’re calling the shots, and the next you’re learning how to unclog a sink—or maybe the other way around.  

I’ve always believed this: 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. You never know when the CEO might end up sweeping floors or when the janitor could end up running the company.  

If you’ve been lucky enough to have a high-ranking position, stay humble. And if you and your career are stuck in a rough spot right now, don’t give up. The night is always darkest before dawn—and I promise, the morning light is worth the wait. ☀️

How One Company Turned a Routine Oil Change into a Lifelong Commitment

Few things are as nerve-wracking as car service. Here's how one auto shop turned my fear into life-long commitment.

In a world where most businesses focus on transactions, the ones that focus on relationships stand out. Case in point, where you get your car serviced can make a world of difference in how you're treated.

"Don't take it to a dealership for servicing," warned my next-door neighbor, a friend who’s also a mechanic and loves working on his car in his driveway whenever he has time. "They will rob you blind; they should be called stealerships!"

"Do not ever go to a dealership for service if you can help it," advised another knowledgeable well-wisher.

"All dealerships, regardless of manufacturer, blatantly overcharge their customers. They will do anything to get as much money out of you as possible.

"People think that going to a dealership is better than going to a privately owned garage for repairs and routine work, but they are wrong."

Searching for a trustworthy mechanic

Lesson noted, I began looking for a mechanic who would treat me right. Since I own my car, I had no restrictions on where I could go. By going to a mechanic, I wouldn’t violate any agreements, such as lease terms requiring service only at the maker's  dealership. I thanked my stars—there are plenty of tire, wheel, and auto repair shops near my home in Richmond Hill, ON, unlike the maker's dealerships, all of which are at least 20 minutes away.

After searching online for shops with the best Google reviews, I decided to try a few places. Among them, Trilli Tires* stood out. At the time this was written, Trilli had a 4.8/5 rating with 589 reviews. This rating is entirely warranted, in my opinion.

I ended up staying with Trilli long-term because of how they treated me—a masterclass in how all customers should be treated.

A nervous first meeting

Driving to Trilli for my first service—an oil and filter change—I was a bit nervous. How would they treat me? I hoped I wouldn’t get ripped off. "I hope they don’t charge me for things I don’t need. I’m not a mechanic; there’s no way I would know whether or not I need what they recommend," I told myself.

Entering the front office, I walked up to the front desk, where a tall Persian man with a well-trimmed beard and a baseball cap was sitting.

"Hi, I need my oil changed. I scheduled an appointment; this is my first time here," I told him.

The guy smiled and said his name was Khosroe. "I’ll take care of you, don’t worry. Just give us 45 minutes, and you’ll be on your way."

Forty minutes later, he came to where I was sitting and said the service was done. Khosroe smiled, said how much he appreciated my business, took my payment—considerably less than what I’d pay at a dealership—and handed the keys back.

This is all I wanted! Quick, polite, and reasonably priced service. I didn’t need a sales pitch or charm offensive, just to be treated like a human being and a friend. Khosroe gave me his cell number and said I could call anytime I needed help with my car.

There’s a difference between trying to be liked and being genuinely likable. These guys were likable and did all the little things. For example, when my service was finished, Khosroe didn’t call out a number or shout my name; he came over personally. Not only that, but he gave me a modest discount since I was a first-time customer.

That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and I’ve recommended Trilli to friends many times.

Major repairs, major hospitality

Over the last several years, I’ve been a loyal customer at Trilli, but not once did they treat me like my business was being taken for granted or that my concerns weren’t important.

As is the case with all cars, there came a time when mine needed multiple things serviced. I expected it would take all day, which Trilli confirmed when I called.

"Don’t worry about it. You can leave the car here or stay—not a problem, whatever you decide," said the guy who answered the phone, mentioning his name was Aren.

Since I had some time-sensitive work to do, I decided to bring my laptop. Just as before with Khosroe, Aren immediately smiled warmly as soon as I walked in the door and greeted me.

"How much is this going to cost?" I asked, worried I’d be paying an arm and a leg. Aren quoted me a price that was much more than fair compared to competitors, which I knew based on past experiences. "Let us take care of you. You won’t have to pay for anything extra unless you approve it first." Mollified, I sat down and got to work.

I was deeply engrossed when I suddenly noticed Aren had quietly walked up to my seat.

"Yes?"

"Hey, can I get you coffee and cookies?"

I looked at Aren in disbelief. He wasn’t directing me to a snack station, as is typical at service shops. He was offering to bring them to me. I wondered if there was a catch but said, "Sure."

A few minutes later, Aren returned with my hot drink and food. There was no catch, and he didn’t ask for anything in return. We got into a deep conversation about life in the US versus in Canada for 15 minutes before I remembered I had work to do and excused myself. I quickly wrote a five-star Google review for Trilli, snapping a picture to go with it of my coffee and one of the two cookies I hadn’t yet gobbled up, then got back to work.

Several hours later, Aren came back and said my car was ready. He casually mentioned that during the inspection, a technician noticed something minor that needed attention. Usually, there would be a nominal charge for it, but they took care of it for free.

It's things like this that having me returning to Trilli Tires time and again. I have so many similar stories it's hard to know which to choose!

It's about how you make people feel

You see, people become loyal customers not just because of pricing but because of how they’re treated. A little extra effort to show respect and care goes a long way in creating repeat customers.

As the great American poet Maya Angelou said, "I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." With Trilli Tires, all three have been unforgettable. 

I’ll be a Trilli customer for life and will always advocate for them because the people who work there are trustworthy, kind, and respectful of the fact that I’m giving them my hard-earned money. 

When businesses treat you like family instead of a number, it’s a bond that’s hard to break.

That's all it takes. 

* I did not receive any compensation or discounts from Trilli Tires for writing this article

(FRAG REVIEW) Luxury on a Budget: Can Armaf Untold Match the Opulence of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540?

Few fragrances in recent memory have rocked the world of perfumery quite like Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP. Also known as BR 540, it's definitely one that people see as daring and avante garde, even those who have only a passing interest in frags.

Released in 2016, BR 540’s appeal isn’t immediately clear on paper. There’s so much about it that simply shouldn’t work.

First, the scent profile is entirely synthetic. There’s nowhere in nature where you’ll find anything that smells remotely like this—or arguably as opulent. It’s the ultimate rebuttal to the idea that a scent must smell natural to be good. 

Second, BR 540’s formula is deceptively simple but infamously difficult to describe. Saffron, Ambroxan, Hedione, and Virginia Cedar are the only listed notes on Parfumo (a detailed list of ingredients would surely show more, but these are the highlights). Many people say it has a cotton candy vibe, and I would agree with that, but it's so much more.

Third, it’s very linear. Perhaps partially because of that, it’s easy for many people wearing it to go noseblind. Others around you will definitely smell it, but you might not notice it yourself—except for the occasional whiff when moving to a new space or stepping outdoors. That’s just part of the wearing experience.

Lastly, BR 540 is a study in contrasts, if ever there was one. Like the elegant crystal glass bottle it comes in, the fragrance is delicate, sweet, and airy, yet simultaneously structured and well-defined. It’s niche and priced accordingly, yet a crowd-pleaser. It’s metallic, yet woody. And while marketed as unisex, women tend to gravitate toward it more—though men can absolutely rock it.

Now, about that price. For a 70ml bottle, Maison Francis Kurkdjian lists BR 540 at an eye-wateringly high $295 USD. That price is simply out of reach for most people. 

Naturally, there will always be clones of BR 540. There’s no law against one perfume house copying another’s fragrance. With BR 540’s simple formula and high price, it’s easy to see why clones are so popular—people gravitate toward what they love at a more affordable price. 

Among the literally dozens of clones of BR 540, some of the most well-known include Mancera’s Instant Crush, Ariana Grande’s Cloud, Lattafa’s Ana Abiyedh Rouge, and, in my opinion, the best of the bunch: Armaf’s Club de Nuit Untold.

Armaf Club de Nuit Untold

A Middle Eastern fragrance house headquartered in Dubai, Armaf has clearly identified its customers and knows how to serve them. The brand is celebrated for taking some of the hottest—and most expensive—designer and niche fragrances in the world and offering near-identical copies for a fraction of the price, mainly through its Club de Nuit lineup. I bought my new 105ml bottle (not a typo: unlike virtually every other house, Armaf doesn’t use 100ml bottles) in the Toronto area for about $55 CAD.

If you’ve smelled BR 540, you’ve smelled Untold. The resemblance is uncanny. For me, it’s a joy to wear, and I find myself reaching for it often. In public, almost no one—except the most discerning noses—will realize you’re wearing a fragrance that costs a sixth of what the original sells for. Also, Untold is just as versatile as BR 540 for layering—very much so.

Since I’ve already explained what BR 540 smells like, let’s discuss how Untold differs. Don't get the wrong idea, the differences are small, I had to really rack my brains to come up with anything:  

1. Untold has a slightly muskier scent and is a bit less sweet, which, to my nose, makes it lean a tiny bit more masculine than BR 540.  
2. Some reviewers mention a more noticeable alcohol scent upon the first application of Untold. I’ve noticed this too, but I also detect it in BR 540, albeit a little less. In either case, the scent dissipates within a few minutes.  
3. When I first bought my bottle of Untold, I detected a peculiar rubber-band-like scent. It wasn’t unpleasant, just unexpected. This odd note disappeared completely after about a month of use—maturation definitely makes a difference.  

I’ve gone through more than half of my bottle in the several months I’ve owned it, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite fragrances. While I do love the original BR 540, Untold gets the job done for me.

While I empathize with perfumers who labor for years to create unique fragrances only to have their ideas copied, I’ve never felt like I was making a cheap compromise by wearing Untold. Nor have I experienced any FOMO for not owning the real deal. The price of Untold is simply too compelling to ignore.

It doesn’t take a lot of money to smell good these days. With the rise in quality from Middle Eastern houses and the ever-increasing prices of Western designer and niche fragrances, I find it hard to justify spending $300 on a bottle. At some point, customers will vote with their wallets—and it’s already happening. With inflation and economic struggles worldwide, designer and niche labels need to reevaluate their pricing strategies.

Who wore it better?

If Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 is the bespoke red carpet gown, Untold is the chic little number styled after it that just works for every occasion. Both look (and smell) fabulous, but one leaves you with enough cash for dinner—and maybe dessert, too.

If you love BR 540 and believe it’s of higher quality, and want it in your collection, then it might be worth the investment for you. I get that.

But for those like me, who are looking for an economical yet stunningly close interpretation of the original, one that is a little more masculine and arguably a lot more wearable than the OG, just get Armaf Club de Nuit Untold.