The confetti has settled, the toasts have been made, and the quiet of a new year is upon us. For many, this is the season of resolutions, a frantic scramble to list all the things we want to do. Lose 20 pounds. Read 50 books. Get that promotion etc.
These are fine ambitions. But for a man on a path of substance, for the kind of man we talk about here at TLGM Inc, the questions must go deeper. The turn of a calendar page isn’t just an invitation to build a better to-do list; it’s a summons to build a better self.
This year, let’s forget the resolutions. Let’s make a single, powerful commitment instead.
Instead of a To-Do List, let’s build a To-Be List.
What does that look like? It’s simpler, and yet infinitely more challenging. It’s about character, not just accomplishment.
- Be a Man of Your Word. In a world of casual promises and broken commitments, let your ‘yes’ be a rock and your ‘no’ be respected. This single principle, practiced daily, will change everything.
- Be Present. Put the phone down when your family is talking to you. Truly listen. When you’re on a walk, notice the sky. The hustle can wait. The moments that make a life won’t.
- Be a Source of Strength, Not Noise. The world is loud enough. It doesn’t need more outrage or uninformed opinions. It needs calm, steady, and resilient men who protect, provide, and lift up those around them.
- Be a Student. Acknowledge that you don’t have all the answers. Read books that challenge you. Listen to people you disagree with. The strongest men are not those who are always right, but those who are always willing to learn.
The goal isn’t to be perfect by midnight next December 31st. The goal is to be able to look the man in the mirror in the eye and know, with quiet confidence, that you spent the year building something that will last. Something real.
So, let’s raise a glass. Not just to a new year, but to a new level of intention.
To the year behind us, and all it taught.
And to the men we resolve to be in the year ahead, the man we are becoming.
Cheers, and Happy New Year.
~ From the staples of TheLastGoodMan