Post: #1

People will choose to experience significant discomfort to make themselves look good. That means we can all end up with fairly distorted views of reality. In our early 20s, most everyone older is telling lies and everyone our own age is trying to figure out up from down. Hopefully this debunks a least one piece of crap for someone out there.

Bottom half relates to picking up chicks but this is more of a lifestyle/perspective post than any explicit advice.

On Health & Money (inseparable in my opinion)

Most lifestyle choices can be judged by their impact on improving or disrupting sleep (only from the perspective an existing healthy circadian rhythm.)

Drink lots of water. A little coffee and green tea is good too.

Most guys that get big and ripped when they are young stay big and get fat when they stop strength training.

Depression can be the result of nutritional, exercise, and social deficiencies. All three are very much worth fixing.

By 30 most people, male and female, will begin to experience health problems if they don't take care of themselves.

Alcohol and loud music exist to make business owners money not to help you get laid.

Drinking alcohol will fog your thinking the next day. Smart people can fake their way through it but will still produce lower quality output.

Most people over-extend themselves in order to get ahead. When life changing opportunities appear they are unable to take them.

Politics is entirely about money and fundraising. It offers no personal advantage for those who are not consultants or waiting in line for a political appointment.

Government policy is unspeakable and politically incorrect. Higher level periodicals give a realistic glance on this.

Libertarians who don't own their own businesses are at risk for regulatory shock.

Sharp people that spend their 20s in urban cities gain an intellectual advantage over smart people who do not.

Money matters only as much as the free time it releases to you.

Most people have no goals and wander through life like driftwood pulled through rapids.

Young people should look closely at old people as counter examples of what they do not wish to become.

Having calm and clarity are worthwhile goals and difficult to obtain.




On Females (American)

Most males put more effort in to making other people think they are getting laid than actually getting laid.

As such, most males are neither getting laid very often or with exceptionally attractive women.

When you think about other males in this context, it is a stretch to be intimidated by them.

Dressing nice in cheap clothes is counterproductive.

The average female's ability to attract attention peaks around 23 but they won't acknowledge it until 25.

After 25 most hot girls tend to be uglier because the cute girls never had an incentive to go to the gym.

By the time you are 30, not a single female you thought was hot while you were in high school or college will still be attractive.

The average female isn't a gold digger: she just wants basic financial security. If a guy gives her too much she will turn in to a gold digger.

Many females think a lot about S&M. Whether 50 Shades of Grey capitalized on this or caused it, I don't know.

A meaningful number of attractive females suffer from anxiety. There is no reason to be nervous around them.

The average college girl spends 10 hours per day on her phone (a computer), making her a bigger geek than I was growing up as a computer nerd.

SMS messages aren't always delivered or received. Especially if you are on iMessage.

If you are a public figure do not install Facebook or Twitter on your phone.

--

Others excluded to minimize controversy.

Post: #2

Seems legit. As for the S&M thing, I would say 50 Shades is capitalizing. Karen of girlwriteswhat fame has a fairly poignant video on women's love of the rape fantasy and desire to be completely and utterly dominated.

Post: #3

I'm 46, and if I could go back in time I would tell the 20 year old me to stop trying to pick up every ounce of weight in the gym, take up yoga for flexibility, develop better sleep habits, be slower to anger and quicker to laugh.

Post: #4

I would have started the "warrior diet" earlier.

Focused only on squats, pull ups, bench presses, ab wheels and deadlifts.

Saved/invested at least 30% of my income.

Focused 99% on inner game.

Post: #5

(08-30-2014 03:32 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  Libertarians who don't own their own businesses are at risk for regulatory shock.

What do you mean?

Post: #6

Quote:Higher level periodicals give a realistic glance on this.

What periodicals are you referring to here?

Post: #7

Nice list.

I just turned 33 a couple weeks ago. I'm still figuring shit out on a daily basis.

The thing with lists like these is you have to be aware that all things in life are on a balance scale. I have a mental image of my head of altering a TV or computer monitor; the brightness, contrast, etc. You make these adjustments to your life in different ways; sometimes minute, sometimes drastic.

A big one is what I would call the ambition-patience scale.
<Ambition-------------------------------------------------Patience>

..and understanding where you are on that scale. Ambition means taking action, taking charge, throwing yourself into uncomfortable situations, etc. You can go overboard here. Sometimes when you knock, life does NOT answer. However, it is important that anytime life knocks, that you ALWAYS answer. Make sure you're putting yourself out there every day; meeting people, making connections, selling the best version of yourself, making shit happen. But sometimes, all you can do is wait. Sometimes it really does happen with a phone call, as my newest gig did.

Another important one is the feeling-thinking scale. I know all of us alpha males on RVF think of ourselves as thinkers and logic-driven men, but it's crucially important to be open to your feelings. Thinking and ego are closely intertwined; are you approaching a girl to fuck her to satisfy your ego? Or are you approaching a girl because you feel attracted to her?

Learn to connect your feelings with your speech. It's the feminine part of us (bear with me). Yin-yang type shit. I started seeing a massive difference in how people treat me when I started communicating based on my feelings rather than thoughts. Feel pissed off? Speak up. Feel bored? Speak up. Someone does something you don't like? Speak up. Don't go to the grave with the song still inside of you.

It seems to me that you notice money based on certain milestones, and each milestone feels fantastic: The first milestone is not being in debt. The second milestone is not living paycheck-to-paycheck. The third milestone is being able to spend relatively freely and satisfy your desires without checking your bank account, knowing that your balance will still go up. That's where I'm at right now. I imagine the next milestone will be buying a piece of property and not paying rent anymore. Note how each milestone is really just a representation of how much freedom you have. For 99% of people, it takes a long time between milestones, and it gets boring. Your concept of money changes over time too, from something intangible that you dream about, to something that's just kind of "there"; more than you need, but not nearly enough to live out your wildest fantasies, unless of course you're a very small percentile.

Post: #8

This is actually kind of scary for me. I got my filing cabinet in a high rise. I wasted years taking orders sitting at a desk to get there. However, it doesn't really pay off in American culture. This shit isolates you when most of the people you grew up with are working at Wal-Mart, and people who have it good are dependent on keeping them where they're at. Drive further and work harder just to deal with Americunts and their attitudes... not a good deal.

Post: #9

I wish I knew what I know about physical fitness now and applied it as a teenager. So much time wasted.

Post: #10

I forgot to mention that one too ^^^

If I had to pinpoint one the greatest life changes I've made, it's hitting the gym, and I got on board about 15 years too late (better late than never)

I actually owe that one to Virgil Kent. He wrote a post about Stronglifts and Mehdi one day and that piqued my curiosity. From there it took off.

I was just thinking a few minutes ago...there are many things that get old in life, things that don't give you the same thrill. Sex, drugs, partying. Fancy dinners. Expensive toys. Everything loses its shine.

I can think of three things that continue to satisfy each and every time, and they're almost completely free:

-the feeling after a killer workout,
-getting a great night's sleep
-taking a shit.

So many people spend so much time, energy and resources buying fancy bullshit to impress girls or boost their ego or surround themselves with shiny crap, but for me? None of that can touch the above three things.

Post: #11

(09-01-2014 08:34 AM)frenchie Wrote:  I wish I knew what I know about physical fitness now and applied it as a teenager. So much time wasted.

Tell me about it, I was an overweight kid which most of my life it really affected me. Being overweight coupled with being a short guy really made me have a low opinion of myself. Things are different now I am in my early 20's, and I realize that my value as man goes up if I improve and refine myself.

This is my time, This is my hour.

Post: #12

Awesome thread, 21 here and listening to all the advice, keep it coming.

(08-30-2014 03:32 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  Most people have no goals and wander through life like driftwood pulled through rapids.

I find this to be very true for most of my friends my age, as if running life on autopilot-going to college for the sake of it, not knowing what to do with their lives etc even I was sort of like that not so long ago. I think this is the main reason people accumulate expensive shit they don't need, they feel a weird void in their lives cause they're not satisfied with what they're doing.

(08-30-2014 03:32 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  Sharp people that spend their 20s in urban cities gain an intellectual advantage over smart people who do not.

^^ Could you develop this? I'm not sure what you mean.

Post: #13

Quote:In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell explains that reaching the 10,000-Hour Rule, which he considers the key to success in any field, is simply a matter of practicing a specific task that can be accomplished with 20 hours of work a week for 10 years. He also notes that he himself took exactly 10 years to meet the 10,000-Hour Rule, during his brief tenure at The American Spectator and his more recent job at The Washington Post.

Keep this in mind as you approach 30 -- you've been out of high school/college for almost 10 years. Have you been honing a craft/skill for this long up to this point? What path are you on?

Another thing: you should have cut all toxic people out your life by the time you hit 30. Male and female -- toxic "buds" as well as toxic FB's. You may be more alone, but mentally you'll be much better off. (Notice I said "alone" and not "lonely." Two different things.)

Post: #14

"Young people should look closely at old people as counter examples of what they do not wish to become."

I like this one, as it's something I think about often. Most old people suck at life. They sucked at life when they were young and when they were middle aged, and they still suck at life now when they're old.

Post: #15

Quote:Many females think a lot about S&M. Whether 50 Shades of Grey capitalized on this or caused it, I don't know.

Hmmmm..... time to convince my girl to read that one
.

Post: #16

Buy low, sell high. That's the essence of hustling, and how many people go from dead broke to multi-millionaires.

Post: #17

(09-03-2014 11:42 AM)travolta Wrote:  "Young people should look closely at old people as counter examples of what they do not wish to become."

I like this one, as it's something I think about often. Most old people suck at life. They sucked at life when they were young and when they were middle aged, and they still suck at life now when they're old.

It's amazing how many older people will try to give you advice based solely on the presumption that because they're older they know what's best for you. 95% of the time I think to myself, do I want to end up anything like this person? And the answer is no, I don't.

I wouldn't take financial advice from a pauper, or diet advice from a fatty. If you're not living the kind of life I want to live at your age, you can bet I won't take advice from you, either.

Post: #18

Fantastic topic, gentlemen. As a male in my early-mid 20's, it's important to take in the advice of those before me that have gone through more life experience. Really some eye opening stuff.

Post: #19

Happy people got use out of this thread. You absolutely can run in to life-course altering information on here and other message boards. Good advice has a massive compounding effect when discovered early enough.

(08-31-2014 04:56 PM)Surreyman Wrote:  

(08-30-2014 03:32 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  Libertarians who don't own their own businesses are at risk for regulatory shock.

What do you mean?

The "government off my back" attitude we can generally get away with as individuals will get you in trouble running a business. The reality is that government regulations are deep, complex, and far reaching. Many small business owners completely ignore regulations which apply to them, avoiding trouble by luck alone.

(08-31-2014 06:04 PM)Ensam Wrote:  

Quote:Higher level periodicals give a realistic glance on this.

What periodicals are you referring to here?

In order I would recommend: National Interest, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy. Be able to read stuff you are in complete disagreement with for the purpose of discovering the nature of reality.

(09-01-2014 06:37 PM)Luisaceo Wrote:  

(08-30-2014 03:32 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  Sharp people that spend their 20s in urban cities gain an intellectual advantage over smart people who do not.

^^ Could you develop this? I'm not sure what you mean.

There is a level of sophistication you aren't going to hit in a small town or even mid size metropolis. The super smart people are working jobs at corporate headquarters in NYC, SF, London. Even the people who don't have those jobs, perhaps didn't even graduate high school, have to be sharp hustlers to live in Manhattan or a gentrifying Brooklyn on their own. These people have their own sets of problems, which are best steered clear of, but there is much to learn.

(09-01-2014 09:49 PM)Sombro Wrote:  Another thing: you should have cut all toxic people out your life by the time you hit 30. Male and female -- toxic "buds" as well as toxic FB's. You may be more alone, but mentally you'll be much better off. (Notice I said "alone" and not "lonely." Two different things.)

This should be done as soon as you figure out someone is a problem irregardless of your age. Each terrible person you spend time with is a great person you've chosen to exclude from your life. This includes relatives with extreme exceptions.

--

I'll leave on this note:

20 - Can't wait to become 21
21 - This is cool
22 - I've got nearly a decade left of being in my 20s
23 - Tons of time left in my 20s
24 - Wow I'm almost halfway through this
25 - Ok, I've reached a milestone
26 - Hangovers aren't as easy as 12 anymore
27 - I'm officially old, I have a bad joint
28 - I'm still in my 20s
29 - Fuck, 12 months left.

Post: #20

Great thread. Keen to hear more...

Post: #21

I am 28 now, and personally I can not wait to get older. Life just gets better and better every year since I started to develop myself.

I was officially born when I was 25 and started learning game and self-help. Before that, it was just a big mess. I love being an adult.

Post: #22

I'm 21 yrs old (Turned 21 yrs old several months ago so it is nice to see this thread. I've already came to many of these realizations but it is nice to see some reassurance from older folks.

"Young people should look closely at old people as counter examples of what they do not wish to become."

My parents....

Post: #23

Turned 25 about 6 months ago, for some reason.. everything clicked for me at this age, it was as though every year prior to this i was just drifting through life.. under the guise that 'everything would work out' and i could keep taking it easy.

Now it's dawned on me that it's really all up to me.. my life and it's quality is measured by my actions alone, no one can help me but myself. This was the biggest wakeup for me.. now it's all saving money, investments, business idea's and planning long-term.

I've been flat broke, unemployed and had to start from scratch twice in my life.. i never want this to happen again. Hopefully by 30 i will have some sort of solid foundation.

Good thread.

Post: #24

As I approach 40 I have three key words for the younger guys.....

Time & Compound Interest

Post: #25

(12-09-2014 01:50 AM)Glaucon Wrote:  I was officially born when I was 25 and started learning game and self-help. Before that, it was just a big mess. I love being an adult.

I feel ya. I not only enjoy being older but enjoy being around older people. I'm more mature, more respected, my dating life has improved, etc. I currently work in an office where the youngest person is 27 and everybody works together and is on the same page (I even work with two females for good measure ). Last year I worked with a large group of 18-21 year olds and felt to urge to punch everyone of them in the face. I even hated my own friends at that age.