A few things we could learn from men

Men get a bad a rap. I know because half of the time I’m the one giving it to them. And with gems like John Edwards, governor Mark Sanford and Hulk Hogan (a grown man calling himself the hulk? Really?) on the forefront of manhood these days, it’s easy to see why. But the truth is, one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch.  Intelligent, conscientious and trustworthy men are everywhere, and we can learn a lot from them. Here are just three of the great lessons I’ve learned from men over the years…

Just Do It

I have a close friend who became an importer/exporter in a matter of months because someone told him he needed a product and my friend knew where to get it. He didn’t know anything else about the industry or business, but asked a ton of questions, made a bunch of mistakes along the way and found a way to meet the need. Will he do it differently the next time around? Yup. But the point is, he’s doing it. Meanwhile, I have folders full of projects that I literally “thought” to death. Sometimes you’ve got to move fear aside and just do it.

The Confidence Game

Remember the short lived TV series Kevin Hill? Neither does anyone else. But the show starred Taye Diggs as a handsome bachelor, making a great living as a top notch lawyer and raising a baby as a single dad. During the time the series was running, I worked for the state of Georgia. One day I was having a conversation with a male colleague who held the same position and was getting the same pay, (remember that for later.) He mentioned that his life was “just like Kevin Hill’s.”

My friends, this guy was no Kevin Hill. Not only did he not look anything like Kevin Hill aka Taye Diggs, he also didn’t have the child, luxury apartment, designer clothes or witty repartee of Kevin Hill. And as for the pay, did I mention we were working for the state of Georgia?  When I reminded my colleague of all of this, he said “yeah, but everything else…”  Men are really good at playing the confidence game. My colleague believed he was just like Kevin Hill and no amount of convincing on my part could persuade him otherwise.

Like water off a duck’s back

From middle school up until the time they’re married, most men hear the word “NO” a lot more than they hear “Yes.”  On a daily basis, many men deal with the type of rejection that would send some women into the fetal position for a month. Yet, they keep on asking! They learn at an early age that rejection can’t kill you and that hearing the word “NO” is a part of life. That lesson is essential to getting ahead in business and in their personal lives. Hearing “NO” isn’t easy, but understanding and accepting that it’s a word we’ll hear often throughout our lives is a step towards taking away its power to paralyze.

What are some of the lessons you’ve learned from the men in your life? Share them in the comment section or on our Facebook Fan Page.