Progress and Setting Long-Term Goals and Being a Man

Over the past year, I'd say I've made a lot of progress as a person. Definitely, in the sense I've matured as a person. I've definitely developed a pretty laid back and easy going attitude. As a consequence, when things get a little tough, it's easy to turn around and say, hey, life's too short to be worrying about this shit, but I've realised, really, anything that's worth getting requires hard work, persistence and dedication.

There's a lot of factors, that have gone into developing this kind of outlook and attitude, I'd say credit to Matthew McConaughey. I've learned a lot about being physically and mentally healthy from MMcC, also a lot about really cool and living by your own set of standards and rules.

Lance Armstrong, I read his two books, which I thought were absolutley outstanding and invaluable. There's a lot of great stuff in those books, but the stuff I found most amazing, was his attitude towards rising to and overcoming huge challenges. Obstacles are only there to be overcome. Subsequently, I also learned a lot about coming outside of your comfort zone and facing these kinds of challenges head on. Pushing yourself, and becoming not only a winner, but a champion in life. Not only this, I also learned, that you really have to appreciate the people around you. You can't achieve anything without the people around you. Life is essentially a team game. His attitude is really astonishing. Also, another thing with Lance is, yet again, he truly lives by his own set of standards, rules and values. Brilliant stuff.

Roy Keane. Roy is yet another who truly lives by his own code of rules and ethics. His composure is incredible, There's also a true beauty to the way he keeps things simple, and his ability to accept things and move on, without getting carried away. It's a very down-to-earth and grounded attitude, which is very marvellous.

The thing I'd say all of these guys have in common, is that they're LEADERS. Yes, you may say McConaughey is a movie-star. Well, that's exactly why he is the in the position he can do whatever the fuck he wants. He is rich, good-looking,a movie-star, he has ripped fucking abs, who is going to tell McConaughey what to do? Exactly. They're classic Alpha-Male type characters.

They have the composure, they're dominant, assertive, honest and authentic, they're particuarly honest with themselves first and foremost, you can't be honest with others if you can't be honest with yourself. They're competitive and have a hunger and desire to achieve. That is their reality they want to achieve the best. They have clear cut sets of standards, rules and behaviour, which they expect from THEMSELVES and thus they don't settle for anything less from themselves let alone others. If they fail, which doesn't tend to happen often, because they trust themselves entirely to make the right choices, they don't bitch and moan. Why would they? If they fuck up, big deal. It's not the end of the world.

It's their attitudes that have led them to be successful, their success is all a result of their attitude, rather than the reverse. They're not afraid to make decisions, which is of course, what being a leader and a real-man is all about. Of course, there's other important characteristics and attributes, but I'd say these are as important as any.

I look forward to reading The Fountainhead and about Howard Roarke very soon indeed.