Post: #26

(12-13-2014 12:58 AM)TheFinalEpic Wrote:  

(12-13-2014 12:01 AM)Kieran Wrote:  ^ Same for me. Also, being in the nightlife keeps me motivated towards self improvement as it keeps me in the mindset that I need to compete, and being around 18 - 20 year olds makes me want to compete.

This self improvement regimen puts you so far ahead eventually that there is no competition. What other man is concentrating on himself to the point of putting pussy on the back burner for a short while to make gains that others will most likely never make?

I understand why you want to believe this, because it makes things simple; like if you just lift this much weight, or make this much money, then you will have no competition. But in reality, it doesn't work that way. I think it's great that you have clear goals and the right mindset to achieve them. I just think that you should do it for yourself, because I doubt that women will give a shit.

Self improvement for the right reasons is fulfilling and rewarding. Self improvement for the sake of women will leave you bitter because your efforts can often go unnoticed.

Why not include sharpening your game skills as one of your goals, and set aside one day per week to do it. As somebody else mentioned, your game skills will atrophy if you're not using them.

Post: #27

I used to read /r/theredpill pretty heavily but moved over here. Most of the guys over there are sexless incels with little to no social skills. This is why it's easy for them to go "monk mode." It's sort of a test of masculinity to them, it makes them feel like they are undergoing some great feat to go and slay a dragon. It's ultimate "pussy on a pedastal" because they value pussy as something they must wait for, like a monk. They need "monk mode" becuase without it, they'd be in "basement dweller" mode.

Let's look at your goals.

(12-11-2014 02:18 PM)TheFinalEpic Wrote:  -Deletion of all social media (already accomplished)
-Workout everyday (three day split with an active rest day of cardio/abs)
-185 lbs bodyweight
-250 lbs bench press for 3 reps
-Rack deadlift of 405 lbs
-Conventional deadlift 315 lbs
-45 lbs weighted pull-up for 8 reps
-Eat 5-7 meals a day (diet high carb breakfast and before/after workouts only)
-Read 30+ pages a day of non-fiction (currently reading Mastery by Robert Greene)
-Obtain two new contracts at work
-Building a business that me and two partners established 3 months ago
-Looking for 15k in sales in January (personal goal)
-Up at 6 am everyday (except Sunday)
-No porn
-Cold Showers Only
-Drink a gallon-gallon 1/2 water everyday

I'm gonna put them into three catagories.

Zero time spent (avoidance): social media, porn, cold showers.

Daily habits: working out, eating, reading, waking up early, drinking water.

Vague life goals: two new work contracts, building a new business.

So if I've got this right, the only added time lost in "monk mode" is working out, reading, and "life goals."

You then state:

Quote:Upon reaching February 1st, I will re-evaluate and see if I need to continue monk-mode or bring back day game/going out one night a week (my goal for February will probably be open one new girl everyday to keep myself accountable).

Here's my question to you:



Your goals do not take up that much time. Even if you are putting in 12 hour days at work, you can accomplish all of your goals and still have time to go out once a week, and maybe go daygame for an hour. Your goals are good to have, and everybody should be focusing on self improvement, but neglecting a social life and game is ridiculous.

What if you're at the grocery store and see a girl you want to talk to? Are you going to say "nope, I'm in monk mode!!!" It's the same thing as NoFap. These reddit guys need a sense of community and purpose to rationalize their lack of success.

On top of that, /r/theredpill guys don't have many friends. Think about it, if I just started doing "monk mode" all of my friends would say "where the fuck did he go? Why isn't he with us right now?" It's easy for these guys to go into "monk mode" because they don't have much else going on and they NEED a sense of masculinity to help them rationalize being a "red piller."

The difference between RVF and TRP is that most of these "monk mode" guys have zero game and use "monk mode" as an excuse for themselves to build momentum, so that once they "re emerge" and enter the dating scene, they do better. It's an ego defense barrier. If they immediately enter game, they will fail, because they are beta losers.

If they do "monk mode" and "leave the cave" in order to "game," they will have more confidence than if they just started two months ago. Remember, these guys have no game and no confidence, they need monk mode. They rest their egos on game and still pedastalize success with women.

There is only one reason why you should go into "monk mode" and that is if you are absolutely broke. You should take some time to meditate, read, sleep, do calisthenics at your local park, work your ass off so that you can elevate your money situation.

I'm all in favor of "going to the mountains" and taking some time for yourself, but this should never last more than two days.

The last thing I have to say is that monk mode is idiotic becuase it takes away the value of approaching women. Approaching is the #1 thing you can do to improve your game, and these guys want to "swear it off?"

Post: #28

(12-13-2014 03:53 PM)Kieran Wrote:  Self improvement for the right reasons is fulfilling and rewarding. Self improvement for the sake of women will leave you bitter because your efforts can often go unnoticed.

Why not include sharpening your game skills as one of your goals, and set aside one day per week to do it. As somebody else mentioned, your game skills will atrophy if you're not using them.

This guy gets it.

Post: #29

I personally am not working on this to get girls. It's not that I'm avoiding women, its that I figure it's time to work on myself. As previously stated, I've had my fun in the club scene, so day game is the other option and better option for me.

Obviously I'm young, and some of you would say "live it up while you can", but I'm of the mind that you work hard now so you can live like nobody can down the road. I'm concentrating on my business and sales over women because thats the first step in creating the best life for myself. This month and a half are just to "blast" the things that are important. The physical goals are to get myself back to a level that I was before an injury last year. The mental goals are because I think that should always be a habit.

Now, when it comes to SMV, I would consider that an indirect benefit of this focus. Making yourself a better man while giving up women for a short while seems like a no-brainer.

Post: #30

Because avoiding nightlife social events and connections is conducive to starting up a business

You can only make certain kinds of connections through nightlife and those connections are the ones you want due to those people being the wealthiest and most successful. Not to mention having no social life and only focusing on yourself is somehow a great way to start a business. Contacts and pussy are the currency of the business world. Money is only exchanged for investment based on the previous two.

Post: #31

(12-13-2014 06:24 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  Because avoiding nightlife social events and connections is conducive to starting up a business

You can only make certain kinds of connections through nightlife and those connections are the ones you want due to those people being the wealthiest and most successful. Not to mention having no social life and only focusing on yourself is somehow a great way to start a business.

I don't agree in the slightest. I have multiple meetings on the weekends when I am working on my business, I meet with tons of people that can help me or that I can help. I know plenty of people that own businesses, not one bases their connections on nightlife, or go out with the intention of growing their business network. The field I am entering has nothing to do with that.

Post: #32

(12-13-2014 06:35 PM)TheFinalEpic Wrote:  I know plenty of people that own businesses, not one bases their connections on nightlife, or go out with the intention of growing their business network. The field I am entering has nothing to do with that.

That's the point. Meeting people whom you are friends with and share something besides financial exchanges is the point. Sure you will find a "business partner", but the second things even slightly go south they will leave you. Meeting people whom are not there to do business is the point. You can meet a corporate executive on a night out at the bar and chat him up but watch him give you even half that same amount of attention at a business meeting. Networking is making friends not meeting another face.

Meeting purely for business reasons will have them focus on whom you know or how much money you have. And I highly doubt you have either important contacts or money.

Post: #33

Interesting. I wont being participating, but I can see the merit of a brief periods of isolation. That said, are you doing this to run away and hide from something, or actually to improve yourself?

Post: #34

(12-13-2014 06:50 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  

(12-13-2014 06:35 PM)TheFinalEpic Wrote:  I know plenty of people that own businesses, not one bases their connections on nightlife, or go out with the intention of growing their business network. The field I am entering has nothing to do with that.

That's the point. Meeting people whom you are friends with and share something besides financial exchanges is the point. Sure you will find a "business partner", but the second things even slightly go south they will leave you. Meeting people whom are not there to do business is the point. You can meet a corporate executive on a night out at the bar and chat him up but watch him give you even half that same amount of attention at a business meeting. Networking is making friends not meeting another face.

Meeting purely for business reasons will have them focus on whom you know or how much money you have. And I highly doubt you have either important contacts or money.

You don't make friends with drunk people that won't remember you in the morning, nor do you go to a nightclub where you can't even hear yourself think to network.

Show people what you can do for them, your value to them, and that is how you make contacts. I don't think you have any experience with this, that is why I will respectfully decline your opinion.

Post: #35

(12-13-2014 08:06 PM)Fortis Wrote:  Interesting. I wont being participating, but I can see the merit of a brief periods of isolation. That said, are you doing this to run away and hide from something, or actually to improve yourself?

That's already been touched upon, I have visions for a much better future.

Post: #36

(12-13-2014 06:24 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  Because avoiding nightlife social events and connections is conducive to starting up a business

You can only make certain kinds of connections through nightlife and those connections are the ones you want due to those people being the wealthiest and most successful. Not to mention having no social life and only focusing on yourself is somehow a great way to start a business. Contacts and pussy are the currency of the business world. Money is only exchanged for investment based on the previous two.

Nightlife can, of course, be advantageous if you have the self-control to make it so. That doesn't make it mandatory. There are plenty of highly successful people who are teetotalers, and for some people it's the best way.

There are also plenty of social businessmen who have taken breaks from society to put in an insane amount of effort without distraction. I'm not really sure why people feel threatened by this idea.

Also, regarding socializing, one of the things I dreaded most as a world traveler when I went on the wagon was losing that ability to make instant friends anywhere by dropping into a pub. I had a knack for going where most foreigners don't go.

I'm realizing now that it's just as easy to break the ice with strangers at a gym, especially abroad. I arrive in a new town and pop into a place to work out - always making sure it's a local spot - and I often go grab breakfast with someone I meet there. My social skills (my actual social skills as opposed to my conjured-up drunk social skills) are improving as a result. No reason you can't make business contacts the same way.

Again, the nightclubs can work for this, but that doesn't make it a required setting.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #37

(12-11-2014 02:18 PM)TheFinalEpic Wrote:  Read 30+ pages a day of non-fiction (currently reading Mastery by Robert Greene)

I'm also reading "Mastery" right now.

I recommend anyone interested or confused by what FinalEpic is doing to give it a read. It paints an intriguing picture of the sacrifices and work it takes to do truly great things in life.

Inspiring stuff if you've ever imagined big things for yourself.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #38

(12-13-2014 09:01 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  

(12-13-2014 06:24 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  Because avoiding nightlife social events and connections is conducive to starting up a business

You can only make certain kinds of connections through nightlife and those connections are the ones you want due to those people being the wealthiest and most successful. Not to mention having no social life and only focusing on yourself is somehow a great way to start a business. Contacts and pussy are the currency of the business world. Money is only exchanged for investment based on the previous two.

Nightlife can, of course, be advantageous if you have the self-control to make it so. That doesn't make it mandatory. There are plenty of highly successful people who are teetotalers, and for some people it's the best way.

There are also plenty of social businessmen who have taken breaks from society to put in an insane amount of effort without distraction. I'm not really sure why people feel threatened by this idea.

Also, regarding socializing, one of the things I dreaded most as a world traveler when I went on the wagon was losing that ability to make instant friends anywhere by dropping into a pub. I had a knack for going where most foreigners don't go.

I'm realizing now that it's just as easy to break the ice with strangers at a gym, especially abroad. I arrive in a new town and pop into a place to work out - always making sure it's a local spot - and I often go grab breakfast with someone I meet there. My social skills (my actual social skills as opposed to my conjured-up drunk social skills) are improving as a result. No reason you can't make business contacts the same way.

Again, the nightclubs can work for this, but that doesn't make it a required setting.

Well we are talking stateside. Building up contacts varies from country to country because in certain countries say like Japan going out to drink with business partners, employees, or managers is routine. On the other hand go somewhere else it's just as you said. We are talking stateside so I'll mention what is most effective stateside.

Post: #39

(12-13-2014 09:01 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  

(12-13-2014 06:24 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  Because avoiding nightlife social events and connections is conducive to starting up a business

You can only make certain kinds of connections through nightlife and those connections are the ones you want due to those people being the wealthiest and most successful. Not to mention having no social life and only focusing on yourself is somehow a great way to start a business. Contacts and pussy are the currency of the business world. Money is only exchanged for investment based on the previous two.

Nightlife can, of course, be advantageous if you have the self-control to make it so. That doesn't make it mandatory. There are plenty of highly successful people who are teetotalers, and for some people it's the best way.

There are also plenty of social businessmen who have taken breaks from society to put in an insane amount of effort without distraction. I'm not really sure why people feel threatened by this idea.

Also, regarding socializing, one of the things I dreaded most as a world traveler when I went on the wagon was losing that ability to make instant friends anywhere by dropping into a pub. I had a knack for going where most foreigners don't go.

I'm realizing now that it's just as easy to break the ice with strangers at a gym, especially abroad. I arrive in a new town and pop into a place to work out - always making sure it's a local spot - and I often go grab breakfast with someone I meet there. My social skills (my actual social skills as opposed to my conjured-up drunk social skills) are improving as a result. No reason you can't make business contacts the same way.

Again, the nightclubs can work for this, but that doesn't make it a required setting.

I'm not sure any of us feel threatened by the idea, it's more that we're against the original concept (that isolating ourselves to work on self improvement will make us more successful with women), because most of us have probably fallen into this trap at some time.

I think a lot of why it's so appealing is because it's measurable and fairly straight forward, in that if you just take these set of actions, you will achieve these specific results. For example train and eat a certain way and you will lift more weight (granted the business side is less predictable). This allows us to feel as if we're somehow in control, whereas when gaming beautiful women we really don't have control, and it's extremely unpredictable due to the myriad of factors at play (is she single, is she in a good mood, do you have competition, how are the logistics, etc.) It's only coming up against these situations again and again that allows us to become skilled in handling them.

Another thing about staying in the game is that it gives us instant feedback on whether what we're doing, or who we are (appearance etc.), is working, and will give us the kick up the arse to fix the things that may be holding us back / work on weaknesses / find solutions to problems we're encountering concurrently. I read a great post from Giovonny recently where he talked about all the things he fixed and worked on to get to his level of success. I'm pretty sure he didn't put himself into isolation while doing them because that would have obviously been detrimental to his ultimate goal.

If the reason for it really is because girls are getting in the way of achieving important life goals, then by all means I think it's probably a good idea to do something like this, but that wasn't the premise given in the OP.

Post: #40

I took a pretty light courseload in university this year, and I kinda went monk mode at first. I realized that there are certain hobbies that I had that I didn't really need or enjoy.

I didn't go out as much this year, but I still needed to socialize, so I just started talking to people during the day more. I am now way more comfortable striking up a random conversation with people during the day.

I am glad that I read this thread. Some of you have opened up my eyes to the pitfalls of having unbalanced goals. I don't think anyone here disagrees that long-term self improvement is important. What one must realize is that "long-term" is longer than a six-month reclusive period; long-term self improvement is a cyclical process that spans one's lifetime. Furthermore, that benefits of self-improvement is the process itself, not the end-game; that's why something like "monk-mode for a month" is a tenuous way truly build inner value.

I will describe my "monk mode" experiences a little depeer
- I work out around 6 am before my classes start
- I study harder
- I read more books
- I meditate daily
- Drank less and did not "go out as much"
- Used less internet

Both good things and bad things have occurred as a result of these changes. For example because I don't have internet, I have not been as invited to as many social events simply because most things at my school are through Facebook. This is both a boon and a curse; I am no longer inundated with notifications about parties that I don't really want attend. However, I understand that I am missing out on opportunities to form completely new relationships with people. Daily meditation has helped me with my focus. Since I see what I want more clearly, I have cut out certain activities in my life, and I have also cut out certain people. By cutting out certain people, I have undoubtedly missed out on certain social opportunities.

I have a gf, which helps with steady stream of sex. However, as someone else in this thread states, it can be easy to lose your drive for sex when you get it at the drop of a hat from someone. Therefore, I have also made huge strides in making new female "friends" in class, the gym, meditation groups, etc. because I realize that the number one reason why mean fail at game is complacence. I would not say game is my focus right now at all; the point I am trying to make is that I am not completely neglecting either.

As you can see, both good and bad can come from any period of change. Therefore, I don't think monk mode is bad, but I also don't it's a one and done activity. I think it needs to be a mental state for when you really want to accomplish a specific kind of goal. You will go through monk mode multiple times throughout your life. Your intentions for achieving your goals should not be so ends-focused: because once you achieve success in one goal, you'll just start looking for another goal to be successful at. What's important is not the achievement of success, but the struggle to get there.

To conclude, after my experiences with a similar dedication to self-improvement, I would say that it is important to constantly try to improve yourself in all areas (social life, business life, physical fitness, intellectual life, and more), but it is even more important to realize that succeeding at those goals will actually not bring you happiness.

Post: #41

(12-14-2014 08:01 AM)BasketBounce Wrote:  I took a pretty light courseload in university this year, and I kinda went monk mode at first. I realized that there are certain hobbies that I had that I didn't really need or enjoy.

I didn't go out as much this year, but I still needed to socialize, so I just started talking to people during the day more. I am now way more comfortable striking up a random conversation with people during the day.

I am glad that I read this thread. Some of you have opened up my eyes to the pitfalls of having unbalanced goals. I don't think anyone here disagrees that long-term self improvement is important. What one must realize is that "long-term" is longer than a six-month reclusive period; long-term self improvement is a cyclical process that spans one's lifetime. Furthermore, that benefits of self-improvement is the process itself, not the end-game; that's why something like "monk-mode for a month" is a tenuous way truly build inner value.

I will describe my "monk mode" experiences a little depeer
- I work out around 6 am before my classes start
- I study harder
- I read more books
- I meditate daily
- Drank less and did not "go out as much"
- Used less internet

Both good things and bad things have occurred as a result of these changes. For example because I don't have internet, I have not been as invited to as many social events simply because most things at my school are through Facebook. This is both a boon and a curse; I am no longer inundated with notifications about parties that I don't really want attend. However, I understand that I am missing out on opportunities to form completely new relationships with people. Daily meditation has helped me with my focus. Since I see what I want more clearly, I have cut out certain activities in my life, and I have also cut out certain people. By cutting out certain people, I have undoubtedly missed out on certain social opportunities.

I have a gf, which helps with steady stream of sex. However, as someone else in this thread states, it can be easy to lose your drive for sex when you get it at the drop of a hat from someone. Therefore, I have also made huge strides in making new female "friends" in class, the gym, meditation groups, etc. because I realize that the number one reason why mean fail at game is complacence. I would not say game is my focus right now at all; the point I am trying to make is that I am not completely neglecting either.

As you can see, both good and bad can come from any period of change. Therefore, I don't think monk mode is bad, but I also don't it's a one and done activity. I think it needs to be a mental state for when you really want to accomplish a specific kind of goal. You will go through monk mode multiple times throughout your life. Your intentions for achieving your goals should not be so ends-focused: because once you achieve success in one goal, you'll just start looking for another goal to be successful at. What's important is not the achievement of success, but the struggle to get there.

To conclude, after my experiences with a similar dedication to self-improvement, I would say that it is important to constantly try to improve yourself in all areas (social life, business life, physical fitness, intellectual life, and more), but it is even more important to realize that succeeding at those goals will actually not bring you happiness.

I disagree, meeting goals does bring and enhance happiness.

Post: #42

I thought about this for a minute recently. Approach and game is a sport. Little practice yields low results. Unless you are working on a project that you are focused on completing, creating a healthy lifestyle that includes it all, hard work, fitness, family, friends & social, plus.. pussy, is the ultimate outcome. Learning how to do that is the challenge. Its easy to ignore things, I want to do it all, at the same time. Spunk mode not monk mode.

Post: #43

This crossed my mind recently. I've been getting back into daygame, and reflecting on the mental economy of energy.

Being constantly ready to pounce is draining, and generating discussion more so. Even processing rejection takes up juice.

There's comes a time where you need to focus on a life project, and attain higher goals. For those occassions, Mazlo's hierarchy of needs kicks in. You can't afford to game new bitches all year round. That's where an LTR comes into play.

The solution is to juggle between LTRs and mini-relaitonships. Maybe keep a few on the side. That can be maintained in the long term.

No reason to abstain entirely, like the MGTOWs suggest. In that regard, they are guilty as charged.

Post: #44

The Majority of your goals revolve around fitness. You aren't going to improve yourself significantly enough to help you with girls after 1.5 months. Isolating yourself won't produce better results than living a normal life and just hitting the gym...If you were truly looking to create results as fast as possible you would be lifting 3 times a week full body and not doing a split....

This is a dumb idea. If you want to isolate yourself from the world to gain some perspective on life do that but don't be an idiot who obsesses over the gym for the purpose of improving his life while slowing down progress in the gym by training like a retard.

Post: #45

(08-01-2016 10:08 PM)SteezeySteve Wrote:  The Majority of your goals revolve around fitness. You aren't going to improve yourself significantly enough to help you with girls after 1.5 months. Isolating yourself won't produce better results than living a normal life and just hitting the gym...If you were truly looking to create results as fast as possible you would be lifting 3 times a week full body and not doing a split....

This is a dumb idea. If you want to isolate yourself from the world to gain some perspective on life do that but don't be an idiot who obsesses over the gym for the purpose of improving his life while slowing down progress in the gym by training like a retard.

I know my body mate. I've been training for over a half decade and was on pace to be competitive in powerlifting. My best progress came from training two times per day for a total of around 10 times a week. 6 days a week is nothing for me.

That being said, this was last year, and I did quite well in getting my body back on track. I will elaborate on this "monk mode" as a way to accomplish what you set out to do, seeing as it would be only fair 18 months later.

A man wastes much of his vital energy in chasing women and making them any form of priority. When you ejaculate not in the presence of a woman, you also lose some of your vital energy. One thing that I've noticed by stopping the consumption of porn in my life and having a steady girlfriend is that I can focus so much of my energy on my health, business, and life in general. I can also go approach and pursue women in the process, but having that girl at home to take care of my basic needs has changed my life in my success and pursuit of accomplishment. Your focus as a man needs to be on building your empire. Women come and go, it makes no difference, it's their loss. That's a huge mentality shift I've had since this experiment.

I have the energy to write everyday. I have the ability to study markets for hours on end, and make rational decisions, keeping a level head about me. I can juggle clients and meet their needs. I would not be doing this if I was out at the club prowling for pussy 3 days a week.

I will also add that I think making game a solidified part of your everyday life is of the utmost importance. If I see an attractive girl, I speak to her while I am going about my life and living as a man in this world, mind on my mission. I don't go out of my way to approach "10 girls a day". I don't care. I put my time in in early adulthood to not be a social retard with women, and I know what to say and how to handle myself in the vast majority of situations. Attractive girls don't phase me like they did, I know most of these girls are "fake dimes" as Jariel puts it. Most girls have nothing more than their looks going for them. That's why it's so easy to walk up to a girl in a crowded coffee shop that no other guy would dare talk to and simply say "what are you working on" or "is that book any good, I need a new wind-down read."

I think that discipline is a man's best asset. Discipline separates the men from the boys, both figuratively and literally. I take great pride in being able to wake up at 5 in the morning and get on with my day, when I used to just lie in bed for hours staring at my phone. It comes through in my diet, my training, my business, and my life. That's what I actually think came from this "monk mode" experiment above all else. Discipline. The ability to put my head down and work towards my goals, knowing that if I give up distractions, the sky is the limit.

I highly recommend each and every one of you put your mind to one thing for a couple of months and strive for it above all else, and at the expense of any distraction. Start a side hustle, go lose 10 pounds, focus on that instrument you've let get away from you one too many times, learn the fundamentals of the stock market, begin learning a foreign language. You will be amazed at what you will accomplish.