You can get away with making bad decisions and being stupid in your teens because that’s what teenagers do. And then men start to figure things out in their 20s, whether or not it’s who they are or what they want in life.
By the 30s, men have a clear direction of where they want to go, but they can’t be stupid anymore. They have to be smart enough to realize a few things. Here they are.
The older you get, the more these matter
- No one’s coming to save you. By 30 years old, you’re a man. If you’re still living with your parents, it’s time to get your own place. It’s time to have your own car, get a job, and not rely on handouts.
- Stop taking things personally. Younger men feel like everything is directed at them.
- The world doesn’t revolve around you. Many men think everyone is judging them or worrying about what others think. The truth is, people aren’t thinking about you. Take that off the table.
- Take risks. If you play it safe, you’ll never truly excel at anything.
- Stop hanging out with losers. If you want to do amazing things and someday be great, you must stop hanging out with people who aren’t going anywhere. You are the average of the five closest people you spend the most time with. If these people are losers, you need to break the cycle and break away from them. Break away from those who don’t deserve your time. Shed people who don’t deserve your energy or friendship, who are butchers or leeches, and those who are toxic. You need to protect yourself if you’re going to ascend or truly be the man you desire.
- Take care of your brand and being. Your image is something that, when you’re younger, doesn’t matter. You dress like a punk. When you get older, you understand what you’re putting into the world regarding your appearance and image. This includes your scent, body language, and the way you communicate. People form an opinion of you in the first 3 seconds based solely on your nonverbal communication, including how you stand, shake hands, make eye contact, and smell (here’s your new signature scent, ICON). Also, stop doing dumb stuff to your body and clean up your act. Make sure you’re not eating trash, not boozing, and destroying your body. Make sure you’re going to the gym and protecting your health. Don’t smoke or do drugs. Don’t sleep with dirty senoritas.
- Listen more and talk less. Don’t boast, brag, and run your mouth. You need to listen. If somebody is talking, and they are where you want to go or where you want to be, listen harder. These people are not your competition; they are your assets and educational tools. It’s not about being jealous; it’s about being humble and smart enough to realize that others know more than you.
- Pretty doesn’t mean good. Also, realize that just because someone’s prettier and attractive doesn’t mean that they’re a good person. Don’t give your attention, money, affection, or love to somebody who doesn’t deserve it.
- Be happy with yourself. Stop watching p^rn, simping, and scrolling Instagram and TikTok. They do nothing for you. You’ll be happier with yourself. Further, be the person you should be to have a happy and healthy relationship. You need to do the deep work and overcome things holding you back. Forgive people who have wronged you, including yourself. Do not harbor resentment or hold on to the past.
- You’re not guaranteed tomorrow. Treat each day as a precious gift. By 30, have a good idea of where you want to go and start solidifying that path and plan. Know your North Star and change your direction if it’s wrong. Don’t waste time because time goes super fast.