Get an attitude detox. Read on for RAGMAG’s list of 10 easy ways to be a better man. Don’t just take our word for it, see the great men that have come before you and what they have to say about our list of mindset overhaul.
1. KEEP YOUR WORD
Don’t say you can, if you can’t. Make it a personal goal to keep your promises and make good on your commitments. If you aren’t sure you can follow through, don’t guarantee that you can.
Quote to Note: “The best way to keep one’s word is not to give it.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
2.LEARN FROM MEN MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN YOURSELF
Be a sponge that absorbs the positive people and experiences you are exposed to. Look at every opportunity as a chance for you to grow and better yourself. Ask questions, and emulate good tactics that will get you further in life.
Quote to Note: “Failure is success if we learn from it.” – Malcolm Forbes
3. LISTEN
When people speak, really listen. Give your full and undivided attention. Convey a genuine interest, and take things being said into consideration. You don’t have to agree, just treat it with the proper gravity that the situation deserves.
Quote to Note: “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” – Ernest Hemingway
4. KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE
Your friends are a valuable asset. Repay favors and loyalty in kind. Your buddy of 10 years will probably be around for 10 more. The girl who loves you unconditionally, even though you have screwed up a million times, is a keeper. Know the difference between an opportunist and a friend.
Quote to Note: “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” – Jim Morrison
5. RESPECT
Stand when you’re expected to. Respect your country and yourself. Respect your loved ones. Respect a firm handshake. Respect people who look you in the eye, and tell you the truth. Respect effort and concern. Respect your community. Respect advice and love.
Quote to Note: “Football is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” – Vince Lombardi
6. RIGHT THE WRONG
This entails two things: Firstly, take responsibility. Mea Culpa. Secondly, make an effort to correct your error, and shoulder it like a man. Righting a wrong involves admitting your mistake, and then taking real steps to rectify your actions. Be the man who is known for this and you will always come out on top.
Quote to Note: “I stopped living according to my core values. I knew what I was doing was wrong but thought only about myself and thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to.” – Tiger Woods
7. MAX OUT YOUR POTENTIAL
Do everything that you are capable of doing. Push the limits. Try harder at each available opportunity. Think about making every second of your life worth it. Try everything once, and try it wholeheartedly.
Quote to Note: “Create like a god, command like a king, work like a slave.” – Constantin Brancusi
8. CONTROL YOURSELF
Control the urge to do things you will regret later. A one night stand might seem like a great idea when you’re drunk with the guys, but facing the music the Morning After with your girlfriend is like the seventh circle of hell. Control your temper. Control your mouth. Don’t say things that you wouldn’t say on an everyday basis.
Quote to Note: “Take control of your consistent emotions and begin to consciously and deliberately reshape your daily experience of life.” – Tony Robbins
9. PICK YOUR BATTLES
Don’t be the guy who makes a big deal out of everything. Fight for what’s truly important, not just because you can. Arguing for the sake of arguing is for lesser men. Make your point when you need to, and not when you feel threatened.
Quote to Note: “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” – Muhammad Ali
10. ACCEPT LOSSES GRACEFULLY
No one likes a sore loser. Up for a promotion but your much more capable co-worker got it? Sour grapes and spilled milk. Be the man in the office who doesn’t bow to his jealousy. Congratulate the deserving winner, sincerely.
Quote to Note: “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose. ” – Bill Gates
