5 Life Lessons Every 20-Something Gentleman Should Know

Being a man in the 21st century is hard. Being a 20 something is even harder. But being both whilst maintaining a gentleman’s standard? Impossible you cry! Not us. We at the Journal have put our heads together and have come up with 5 tailored lessons for the discerning gentleman in his twenties.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCT, You are wiser than you think, and odds are Mother brought you up right, so if something in your gut is telling you ‘no’, then go with it, despite what the people around you may say. Remember the true gentleman knows his own mind and will be respected for taking a gutsy approach to all aspects of his life.

ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN, People talk of the new twen-teens, but we say take control. A man knows what he wants, and he will get it. Hence the plan. Especially concerning business, a gentleman can’t sit on his laurels. Put on your suit, pick up that phone and make things happen for you. Do your research and don’t be shy of asking for help. But be aware of the flip side of this rule – your plan will not always happen. In which case, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, have a stiff drink and start again. Perseverance my man.

DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME ON THE WRONG PEOPLE, In the same vein as the last rule, you need to do your research. If you are setting off on your new business venture, it is no use barking up the wrong tree for half an hour. Leave that to the poodles. Know who you are talking to and why. Similarly, that girl you have been dating who takes no interest in your hobbies but looks very pretty in that dress? Wrong girl. Stop wasting your time and be a gentleman for the right girl. Believe me, you will be in a much better position by the end of your twenties if you get rid of the baggage.

GIVE BEFORE YOU GET, Now you have got rid of the baggage, you need to make sure you are giving out the right karma to the rest of your new streamlined life. When starting out in business, a relationship or just life in general, no small effort is wasted. See what you can do for your company, before expecting a promotion. Show your boss (or yourself) how far you will go for that high powered career. If you want the girl to give to you, brush up on your gentlemanly skills and show her why she should.

FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR SUPERPOWER IS, Not all of us are fortunate enough to be the Bionic Man, but we all do have a superpower. Your twenties should revolve around bettering yourself, but don’t be too hard on yourself. You already have a wealth of talents and in the quest to identify your weaknesses and destroy them, those super powers will come in handy, so don’t be too modest. High quality attracts high quality and this applies to all aspects of life.

By Rio West