The topic I am tackling this newsletter is the single most important aspect of your image. It’s not a shirt, watch, beard, jeans, shoes, or even an outfit. It’s your character. Along with giving advice on style, I think sharing advice on how to be a decent person with good character is vital because good character is a key aspect of image – if not THE key aspect of image.
Your character is a combination of features and qualities that distinguish you from everybody else around you. Now, you may be the best-looking guy in town, or you might have the best hair, the best clothes, or the give the best first impression. You may even look people in the eye when you shake their hand. But if they get to know you and your character is lacking, guess what? You've just
become the ugliest person in the room.
Anyone with money can go out and buy a great pair of pants or shoes, get a great hair cut, or give the appearance that they’re put together. Those things don’t impress me. What impresses me is someone’s character -- their legacy. When you are dead and gone, how are people going to remember you? Is it that you were really funny or that you made fun of others? Did you try your hardest to be kind
and courteous or were you a selfish self-centered jerk?
Confidence goes hand-in-hand with character, and one of the predominate reasons I film my YouTube videos. Your character will improve as confidence increases -- so I want you to feel great about yourself.
So, now down to the nitty gritty -- here's the Alpha Character Test. What will you score? You should make it a goal to strongly possess each and every trait -- and if you need to work on one, take some time to hone that character trait. Impress me!
Take the Alpha Character
Test
Score yourself for each character trait as follows: 5 points for all the time, 4 points for most of the time, 3 points for occasionally, 2 points for not very often, 1 point for almost never, and 0 points for never.
1. Integrity
Do you have strong moral principles and core values, and do you use these principals and values when then conducting your life?
2. Honesty
Do you not just TELL the truth but also LIVE the truth by being straightforward and trustworthy in all of your interactions, relationships, and thoughts?
3. Loyalty
Are you faithful and devoted to your loved ones, your friends, and anyone with whom you have a trusted relationship (aka employer, the organizations you belong to, your community, and your country)?
4. Respectfulness
Do you treat yourself and others with courtesy, kindness, deference, dignity, respect, and civility?
5. Responsibility
Do you accept AND follow-through with personal, relational, career, community, and societal obligations even when they are difficult or uncomfortable?
6. Humility
Are have a confident yet modest opinion of your own self-importance where you don't see yourself as “too good” for other people or situations?
7. Compassion
Do you feel deep sympathy and pity for the suffering and misfortune of others, and do you have a desire to do something to alleviate their suffering?
8. Fairness
Do you use discernment, compassion, and integrity when making decisions make decisions and taking actions, looking for the best outcome for all involved?
9. Forgiveness
Do you make conscious, intentional decisions to let go of resentment and anger toward someone for an offense — whether or not forgiveness is sought by the offender?
10. Authenticity
Are you able to be your real and true self, without pretension, posturing, or insincerity as well as show appropriate vulnerability and self-awareness?
11. Courageousness
Do you have mental fortitude to carry on with a commitment, plan, or decision in spite of fear of danger, discomfort, or pain, knowing it is the right or best course of action?
12. Generosity
Are you willing to offer time, energy, efforts, emotions, words, or assets without the expectation of something in return?
13. Perseverance
Do you demonstrate steadfast persistence and determination to continue on with a course of action, belief, or purpose, even if it's difficult or uncomfortable in order to reach a higher goal or outcome?
14. Politeness
Do you display basic good manners, common courtesies, and etiquette and are willing to apply those to all people you encounter?
15. Kindness
Are you consistently considerate, helpful, and benevolent to others, motivated by a positive disposition and the desire for warm and pleasant interactions?
16. Lovingness
Are you loving toward those you love by showing them through your words, actions, and expressions how deeply you care about them even if you have to open yourself up and be vulnerable?
17. Optimism
Do you have a sense of hopefulness and confidence about the future that involves a positive mental attitude in which you interpret life events, people, and situations in a promising light?
18. Reliability
Can you be consistently depended upon to follow through on your commitments, actions, and decisions (aka you do what you say you will do)?
19. Conscientiousness
Do you have the desire to do things well or to the best of your ability by being thorough, careful, efficient, organized, and vigilant in your efforts, based on your own principles or sense of what is right?
20. Self-discipline
Are you able, through good habits or willpower, to overcome your desires or feelings in order to follow the best course of action or to rise to your commitments or principles (aka you have a strong sense of self-control in order to reach a desired goal?
If you scored:
100 - 90 = your character traits prove you're a true alpha. You're creating a legacy for yourself!
89 - 80 = you are on your way to being a true alpha; you have many redeeming character traits but need to work on a few.
79 - 70 = you have some work to do, building your character, but with some self awareness and introspection, your image will become rock solid.
69 - 60 = you are deficient in many of the character trait categories. Stop to check where you are in life to get yourself on the right course.
59 - 0 = you truly need to start developing your character asap. Work a little on each trait daily to be able to handle adversity better, get more satisfaction out of life, and develop confidence for a good sense of
self.
I think our society has really let the young adult male down. Back in the day, men were supposed to be polite and treat others with respect. When you were going somewhere, you would open the door for others and let them walk through first. You wouldn’t hesitate to give your seat up for a lady when no other seats were available. These are types of things that guys are not taught anymore.
And compound this with the advent of social media, and the development of good character has really declined. Social media has spawned haters -- those that feel they can tear others apart from behind their anonymous computer screen. These haters have very poor character needing to be destructive to feel good about themselves.
Develop your confidence and character so you have a good sense of self. Treat people kindly, be polite and courteous, have good manners, and do the best you can – that’s what life is about. And at the end of the day, your image with thank you.
Alpha M. POST of the
WEEK
What do you guys think about mixing blacks and browns?
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