A young male writer takes his fellow Gen Y men to task.
It is becoming more difficult to find men who embody the qualities of William Wallace, Maximus Meridius Decmimus and JFK. And, if these names don’t ring a bell, then you might as well check your man card at the door.
Generation-Y is filled more with 20-something boys than it is 20-something men – it’s time for a shift. There are certain qualities that the quintessential man has that Gen-Y men need.
Here they are:
His word is his bond.
Your reputation is something that follows you throughout your whole life. When you are untruthful, people will almost always find out, which will immediately affect your reputation and image. When you are not credible, you are not valuable. In the real world, people will cut you little slack for not following through on your word.
It is important to get rid of the saying “actions speak louder than words,” because in the real world, words are just as powerful as actions. If you cannot keep a promise, do not make one in the first place.
The quintessential man does not make excuses — he only makes results.
He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty.
Generation-Y is spoiled with services, like AAA, that allow us to make a phone call and wait an hour or so before someone comes to the rescue when we have a flat tire. How about being your own hero for a change?
Next time your crush needs a hero when stranded on the highway, step away from being Clark Kent and go be Superman; roll those sleeves up and change that tire yourself. Instead of taking your crush out to eat, fire up some charcoal and throw some steaks on the grill. There is a spider in the shower? Kill it yourself.
The quintessential man loves being the knight in shining armor and knows that getting a little dirt on his hands isn’t going to kill him.
He takes pride in his appearance.
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. When you meet someone, he or she makes a judgment about you almost immediately. With barely enough time to even say hello, some of the first things people will notice about you are your look and your attention to hygiene. Today, men are measured on their style more than ever.
A suit and tie are not necessary for every occasion, but it is essential that your look be clean and that it looks like you at least made an effort. You won’t get that business card, skip the line at the club or get any glances from that hottie at the bar if you do not take pride in your appearance.
The quintessential man treats every interaction like an interview because he knows that destiny is sneaky; the next open door for success could be one handshake away.
He is a role model.
It is important to remember that someone is always watching you. People are always going to judge you, but it is important to always leave a positive, lasting impression. The people in your network should admire you and be able to look to you for advice and guidance. Set an example for those in your network and inspire them for success.
The quintessential man is a leader who does not just seek success for himself, but for everyone around him as well.
He is confident.
The dating world has drastically changed over the years and I am sure it will continue to change in years to come. In today’s dating scene, it is easy to hide behind feelings of uncertainty through social media sites and text messaging; all you have to do to ask someone out is send a text or swipe right on Tinder. The quintessential man is not afraid to take risks and he genuinely enjoys a good challenge. If he is interested in someone, he will approach the person and simply strike up conversation.
He will be able to converse without coming across as arrogant since he is comfortable in his own skin with all his great qualities he can bring to the table
He creates his own destiny.
We, as a generation, have become far too comfortable and reliant on the easy way out. Too many of us rely on our parents and family members for money and opportunities when in reality, we should be creating these on our own. Reaching a goal or milestone is far more gratifying through hard work and dedication than from a handout. For those who are lucky enough to come from wealthy families, do not simply rely on your parents’ wealth for success; take it and turn it into something 20 times bigger.
It is a shame that the characteristics that make a real man are becoming more difficult to find.
It’s time for the men of Generation-Y to get in touch with their inner Clint Eastwood and grab life as Clint would grab a bull: by the balls.
Originally appeared at Elite Daily
Photo Mark-Crossfield Flickr
About the author: Ray Nettling. A recent college graduate/entrepreneur who has put his venture on hold to pursue other interests, Ray is a twenty-something that is exasperated yet extremely entertained by this game they call life. He’s not from Dallas, but he D-Town boogies, as he now calls the big southern city his home. While trying to maneuver his way through Corporate America, Ray knows that all of the peaks he wants to reach in life are Everests. But what can we say? The kid is a dreamer so it’s a good thing he double knots his hiking boots. For more on Ray, shoot him a follow on Twitter and Instagram via @RayNettling28
We are just following the same scripts our fathers and grandfathers did. The same lies got passed down
generation after generation till they became the truth. A “real” man is only useful as long as he can provide for others, or die if necessary. That’s it. You have no other purpose in life.
What is manly? Because nearly everything about being “a man” is also applicable to women too.
Archy, but isn’t that what the feminists want? Men and women to be the same? The title of the article drew me to reading it because it appeared that it may address that’s it’s okay to be a man who fits a particular type of male who is often ridiculed. There are some good points in what he and of course some not so good points.
JFK is your masculine role model? Ever read “The Dark Side of Camelot”?
Jack Kennedy certain got his hands dirty, but plotting assassinations of foreign leaders and changing a tire are two different kinds of dirty.
Yeah, as I understand it, he and his brother Bobby got their hands dirty together with Marilyn Monroe as well, though both were married men:
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/jfk-rfk-marilyn-monroe-three-way-sex-tape-sale-article-1.1707159
So we definitely need more good men, more real men, like that!
Haha, well spotted with the JFK example! What silliness ^_^
It is easier to level these accusations at men, but we need to hold the whole culture to better performance on all of these measures. We have retreated from the core of working-class and middle-class values and are all thinking of ourselves as consumers or owners. My sisters are not afraid to get their hands dirty, they fix their houses and their cars, often side-by-side with their husbands or with my retired father. But I do see a lot of men around me afraid to touch anything mechanical. So this is not a manly value, in my world, it is… Read more »
And now an episode on how to be a real man, by a man photographed next to a pile of pink cupcakes: It is becoming more difficult to find men who embody the qualities of William Wallace, Maximus Meridius Decmimus and JFK. And, if these names don’t ring a bell, then you might as well check your man card at the door. Because we’re no longer a civilisation which takes to pitched battles in armour, we exist (unlike Maximus) and most of us will never get within striking distance of the White House? If these names strike you as relevant… Read more »
OrishM,
You and I have disagreed and argued extensively and will probably never see eye to eye in many things…
But your opening statement was hilarious.