Showing posts with label gentleman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gentleman. Show all posts

Monday, April 13, 2009

It's the little things.

It still surprises me every time someone discovers kindness and finds it unexpected.

Let me explain.

As a gentleman there are small things you work into your identity over time - opening doors for people (not just women); responding to the cashier's, "Have a good day" with a genuine, "You too!"; or even offering to drive.

In general when my girlfriend and I head out on the town I've established that we'll take my car and that I'll drive. Please note that this isn't any sort of control issue, or critique of her driving, but a simple courtesy. The idea is that 1) she'd rather not have to deal with traffic and 2) the wear on my vehicle and cost of gas is something I'd willingly contribute to the relationship. It's a small price to pay for her admiration.

So, we've been together for a while now and I'm very much used to just driving regardless of the situation. This last weekend she invited her girlfriend to come out with us for the day. This was a decision she made without me because her friend was without family for the holiday, which wasn't a problem at all. So I picked them both up and we headed off to our plans.

I think I did a total of about 3 1/2 hours of driving, a few hundred miles, and most of a tank of gas. Upon exiting the car when we finally got back she said in a very sincere tone, "Wow. Thanks so much for driving and letting me join you guys."

Now this is a little thing, but the idea remains that she didn't just thank me for letting her join us for the day. She thanked me for driving.

This wasn't even on my radar and I had no need for a thank you, but in some small way it impressed her that I'd take the time to drive and make things easier for her.

My girlfriend then responded about how I always drive and how much she likes it. You know you're doing something right when they tell their friends about it, even when it's the little things.

-J.Eliot

they add up

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

How To Be A Complete Douchebag in Ten Easy Steps (or how not to be a gentleman)

1) Be Selfish.

2) Treat women like objects.

3) Refuse to smile but laugh way too loud at lewd jokes.

4) Be Selfish.

5) Make sure the hair is always high, the collar always popped, the bling is always plentiful, and the tan always fake.

6) Be uncomfortable with every emotion other than anger and then use it to cover up your insecurities.

7) Be Selfish.

8) Perceive every other male in the room at a threat, and then get in their face.

9) Be extremely homophobic, but spend more time with your boys pumping iron and admiring your male bodies than is natural for any heterosexual male.

10) Be selfish, constantly.

Oh, and bonus: Be selfish.

-J. Eliot

feel free to comment with your own

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Douche-Bags & Bitches

My girlfriend and I had a conversation last night that went something like this:

Me: I have a hard time imagining being a woman and being attracted to men.

Her: Yeah?

Me: Yeah, not that I can't tell which men are more attractive to women, or why, I just think I'd have extremely high standards.

Her: Why's that?

Me: Because most guys are douche-bags.

Her: Well, most girls are bitches.

Me: True, but I think I have less tolerance for douche-bags.

Her: We make exceptions. That's just how we are. I know I couldn't put up with a woman.

Me: Yeah, I guess I'm more willing to make exceptions for a certain amount of bitchy-ness. I guess without the biological inclination to be attracted to men it's very hard to imaging making exceptions. I'd have extremely high standards and would drop a guy at the first sign of douche-baggery.


This conversation came about while watching an episode of Tila Tequila. My girlfriend likes the show and I hadn't seen it before. It's basically bisexual "The Bachelor" for those who don't know.

On this particular episode Tila was down to 4 people, 2 guys and 2 girls, and she had to let one go. In an unprecedented television feat she kept the 3 nice people and dropped the douche-bag.

This guy was livid. He knocked stuff over, flicked everyone off, and stormed out. In the clips earlier in the show he kept saying how much he loved her, but in every shot of him looking at Tila you'd see his eyes scan her up and down checking her out. He constantly had the look of a hungry shark and not once showed any form of kindness or consideration for her. He was out to get laid, and when that door closed his true colors came flying out like a 3 year old temper tantrum.

Of course this is an extreme example, but there is a part of this douche-bag in every man. The true mark of the gentleman is the ability to tame this, to think with the head on top of your shoulders, and to understand that loving someone is first a selfless act, and only secondarily are there any sort of rewards.

And on another note, make sure to act your age. People who hang out with 3 year olds are called parents or baby-sitters.

-J. Eliot

me me me me me me me

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Qualities of a Gentleman - Part 2

Continued from The Qualities of a Gentleman - Part 1

6) Genuine
- A real Gentleman cares, and he shows it. There is a fine line between helping a Lady with her coat because you're trying to manipulate her feelings and because you care. It is the distinction between taking and giving, self interest and selflessness.

A Gentleman acts with all the best intentions in mind, and speaks from the soul about things that really matter with authentic feelings. He's secure enough in himself that he needs no disguise or ruse.

7) Well Put-Together - Let's face it guys, most of us are not Brad Pitt. Women don't necessarily stop to gawk and drool when we walk in the room because of our deep blue eyes, amazing jawline, and perfect hair. Chances are that if your physical genetic makeup was the initial two cards at a game of Texas Hold-em, you'd have folded. You might have a king, but the other card's definitely a four.

So what's a Gentleman to do? Dress it up. Be aware of your body type and what clothes look good on you to other people. Just because you like the color doesn't mean it goes with your skin or hair tones. Get a flattering haircut from someone who knows what they're doing. Shave regularly or maintain good facial hair if you can grow it and wear it well.

Heck, test this out and walk into a store dressed in jeans and an old t-shirt and then go back later in something nice and see how they treat you differently. If you look important, people (and women) will treat you that way.

8) Healthy - I'm going to say it. This is a warning so that you won't read it and then click away. Here it comes...

Diet and Exercise.

Yes. You can't get away from these things. You don't have to look like a musclebound meat-head, but women like muscles and in order to see them you can't have too much fat on your body.

Making sure to eat well and exercise does more than just make you look better. You'll be more confident when you walk in a room. You'll feel better, have more energy, and there's something about forcing yourself do the things you know you should but don't always want to that builds character.

9) Talented and Skilled - Every Gentleman should have at least one solid talent and one major skill.

Whether it be music, dancing (yes, this can be very attractive to the Ladies), juggling, or underwater basket weaving having at least one thing, if not a number of things, that you've put enough time and energy into to achieve a certain above average ability in conveys deeper meaning about your character. It says that you're an interesting person, that you're a little different from a regular Joe, and that you're fun. Your significant other will probably grin to herself when you get to show off your talent because from her perspective she's really showing you off to the other women who can't have you.

Skills are important also. They show that you're a hard worker, that you've been doing something long enough to be employable and maybe even in high demand. That means you're worth something, and there's nothing unattractive about the potential to make a good income.

10) Aware - Be aware. Take notice of other people. Pay attention to social cues. Make mental lists when talking with others (especially women) of the topics they bring up. If someone initiates conversation about something it usually means its important to them.

When you're with a Lady and she talks about other people, remember their names, relations, and the significance in her life. Always treat her mother with respect, kindness, and a little charm, and become friends with her father. Write down key dates if you have to and make a point to notice and value for yourself the very things she does.

Bonus - Be Fun! - Nobody likes someone who's serious all the time. Cultivate your sense of humor. Include it in the list of talents you're working on. Take improv comedy classes, analyze comedians, and hang out with other funny people.

Get out and do fun things. You could hang at the bar with your bros, or you could mountain bike, ski, go dancing (did I already mention this?), just get out and have fun doing things you might not normally.

If everyone around you is boring it's because everyone who's fun is out doing fun things.

You can even use this to double up on some of your other goals. Fun things often include developing talents, exercise, and meeting interesting people (ahem, Ladies).

So get out there and have some fun. Life's for living, isn't it?

-J. Eliot

the ladies love a man who can dance...

Sunday, January 20, 2008

The Qualities of a Gentleman - Part 1

11 Qualities of a Gentleman - In no particular order:

1) Selflessness - A Gentleman thinks of others before himself. Especially when it comes to significant others, children, or that random hot babe you held the door for at the store. A genuine selflessness is a very rare quality. It may not be obvious to others at first, but women will take notice as they grow to know you.

This, by no means, communicates that you're a pushover. You put the best interests of others first, but when it comes to standing up for yourself...

2) Firmness - ...you stand strong for what you believe in. You act in all things according to what you know to be right and when someone challenges that (whether it be the phone company ripping you off or your sister's creepy boyfriend) you stand firm.

Don't take this too far though. You are not rigid and unbending. You carefully consider the feelings and opinions of those you respect, but when pushed unfairly, you form the solid foundation.

Remember, stable, not constant.

3) Self Control - A Gentleman acts with purpose and plans ahead what actions are within his realm of possibilities.

You drink, but you know when to stop so that you don't get drunk. You escort a Lady home, but you know ahead of time how far you might go if invited in in order to treat her with respect. You know how easy it would be to eat that second plate at dinner, but you turn it down. You could convince yourself that you're too tired to work out after a long day at the office, but you get home and put on your running shoes anyway.

This may not seem like fun, but once you start living up to your own expectations your self esteem and opinion of yourself will skyrocket. Leading ultimately to...

4) Confidence - You know what you're doing. You know what you're good at and what you're not. You make the most of your positive qualities and your talents and are not afraid to admit your faults and work harder to improve.

You do what you say. You believe in yourself regardless of what others might think because deep down you know you've worked hard to become the Gentleman you are. You know you're a good person because you've walked through the fires of self improvement.

People with confidence exude it and confidence is the most attractive quality one could have.

5) Honesty - A Gentleman lives by his word. He does not take advantage of other people. His friends and coworkers know that when he says something he means it.

Honesty builds trust and respect - other attractive qualities. On the flip side, the Gentleman is also guarded and aware that not everyone is as honest as he attempts to be. So he is wary and careful and does not blindly commit his trust in others who show signs of being untrustworthy.

The Qualities of a Gentleman - Part 2

-
J. Eliot

do it, you won't

Monday, January 14, 2008

Boy meets Girl, Girl already has Boyfriend...

So what is Boy to do?

Pursue, pursue, pursue.

So here's the scenario. You're a nice guy, a Gentleman, and you meet a really nice girl, a Lady in every regard. She's bright, funny, charming, and attractive in every way.

You'd be perfect together. Your conversation flows effortlessly. There's the right combination of ease and tension that you feel you could discuss the deepest of topics (and probably have) all the while her playful jabs keep you on your toes. She shares just enough similar interests that you never run out of things to talk about, but you're different enough that you both keep introducing new things into each other's worlds. There's even a slight spark, a physical chemistry you try not to notice when you give a friendly hug goodbye. She's your friend after all - and she's taken.

You're a nice guy, so your instinct is to hold back, silently disguising your true interest. Maybe you even convince yourself for whatever reason that she's not really the girl for you. It's not your style to step on another man's toes either. You'd never think to create problems or cause drama.

Here's the deal though. This other guy, he's probably a douche-bag. And even if he isn't a douche-bag he's probably not everything she's looking for.

Woman (and men) tend to maintain relationships well beyond their expiration date. They get comfortable. They don't want to be alone. They convince themselves that they can deal with the negative aspects of a relationship because they'd rather not bother with the uncertainty of moving on. Sometimes they even stop believing that there's someone more compatible out there - and even if there was they'd probably not be interested.

In short, they get stuck with Mr. Not-Quite-Right because Mr. Right doesn't ever seem to come along.

Well guess what. Mr. Right hasn't come by because Mr. Right is a Gentleman. And like you, he doesn't go around hitting on another man's woman.

We need to fix this. Chances are she's not going to leave Mr. Not-Quite-Right until someone else shows up and shows interest. Help her out. Don't let that next guy be another Mr. Not-Quite-Right instead of you.

So what do you do? Be direct. Lay your cards on the table. Let her know she's on your mind. Be a complete Gentleman and don't cross any relational lines that could get you in trouble. Instead drop a comment or two and then gracefully return to normal conversation.

Tell her, confidently and comfortably, that she's quite the catch (a compliment everyone likes) and that if she were single you'd have no hesitation asking her on a date, but of course you couldn't do that while she's with someone else because you're not that kind of guy. The end.

Don't drag it on, don't push, and don't even bring it up again either. Just plant the seed and see if the tree grows.

If she's really your friend and you're a genuinely nice guy she'll take it as a compliment and that's that. If somewhere inside she harbors a certain interest and a dissatisfaction with the guy she's with, she'll think of you. She'll know you're an option should things change.

You can't force anything to happen, and that's not your style anyway. But at least this way she knows a knight in shining armor is waiting, but let her determine if she needs rescue or not first.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Opening Doors


"Who does that?" Her puzzled expression stabbed through my heart.

"Does what?" I responded, sheepishly.

"Who opens the door anymore? What decade are you from?" She twisted the knife. Obviously the date was off to a great start.

"I do." I replied, somehow sucking confidence from the ether. "That's who I am - the kind of guy who opens doors."

She rolled her eyes as she sat down in the car. It was then that I realized some girls don't really want to be treated like a lady.

Upon approaching the car to enter a second time later that night I preemptively stated, "I'm going to open your door, and you're going to make fun of me."

To which she replied, "I already did. I don't have to again."

This was my first date as a newly single, post-married (I prefer that expression) man in eight and a half years. I couldn't quite wrap my mind around a woman not wanting to be treated well, but then it made sense.

Lesson 1-a
Women today are treated so poorly by men that they buy into the harsh reality we (men) invent around them.


They accept that there are no fairy tales, no Prince Charmings, and there never will be. Maybe this is true. I'm no Prince Charming, but I knew also that I was no chauvinist bastard and if she wasn't alright with me treating her well there must be something wrong with her, not me.

Needless to say there was no second date and it wasn't too long after that I met someone who was shocked and thankful for opening her door. This was a different kind of woman. I amended the previous lesson.

Lesson 1-b
Woman today might have all bought into the harsh reality we (men) invent around them, but some haven't stopped hoping for something better - and they will recognize it when they see it.

Gentlemen, we are in luck. Due to the overwhelming amount of douche-bags lowering the base expectations for men it is now easier than ever to catch the eye of the right kind of girl by simply being kind and thoughtful. There are most definitely women out there waiting for a door to open (literally and figuratively.)

So open doors for your female friends. Compliment them on their hair, or outfits - they spend that much time on them on purpose and hope the details will be noticed. Listen and validate their feelings because their feelings are the key to who they are.

I know what you're thinking. "Why would I do that... she's my female friend for a reason. She's just a friend and I want her to stay that way."

Don't be so short sighted. She's your friend. You treat her well and she will talk you up to her other friends. Women notice how well you treat the other women around them and you will garner interest from the new women you meet. You will also develop a habit that will show through all of your interactions with the fairer sex.

All of this will expand your potential for meeting the right girl and grabbing her eye.

So stand out from the crowd. If she's the kind of girl who doesn't like being treated like a lady, she probably won't treat you like much of a man either.

-J. Eliot

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

The Gentleman

There is a disconnect in our society between our perception of men and real people.

Sure, everybody works with the guy who talks about the latest hottie he hooked up with seemingly every weekend, or the bitter middle aged married woman who dreads returning to her husband each night. All men are pigs, right?

We're worthless. We only think of sex, and sports, and how to ditch out on the ol' battle-axe to hit the bars with our buddies.

We have more in common with Peter Griffin than... wait... can you even think of a positive husband/father figure in the media? If we're married then we're selfish bumbling bastards, if single we're always gunning to chalk up another score on our ever-increasing list. We're men - barely more than walking penis', right?

But lets be honest. This is an overly simple estimation of the male gender. There is an antithesis to the testosterone Neanderthal just described.

The Gentleman.

He's gone out of fashion as of late. Often labeled with the weak and emasculating expression "the nice guy," but he is no less of a man - and with the right knowledge and experience he has the potential to become quite potent indeed.

Sometimes he begins his journey unaware of his true strengths, ignorant of the ways of women, and full of good intentions that never quite pan out. Sometimes he masquerades as the Neanderthal, thinking this to be the best path, all the while unaware he's sewing seeds of his own unhappiness.

This blog is a handbook for all men to maximize their potential, to succeed in relationships, and to take on the general betterment of themselves.

Please join us in this journey.

-J. Eliot