The boys from the movie 'Old School.' A graduate level fraternity?

I’m not exactly sure.  Precisely the reason why I would like your input.

Now, I am not talking about the type of fraternity so vividly portrayed on the silver screen.  You know the one: college guys living in a big house spending most of their time partying or trying to get laid.

Instead, picture this: a group of professional young men in their 20′s or 30′s that gets together to network, share ideas, hold each other accountable and, dare I say it, develop deeper friendships.

Instead of living together in a house this group meets over coffee… or beers… or after playing touch football outside.

And here is the key: instead of just talking about sports, women, and cars, they also talk about deeper things.

Like dreams. Or vision. Or their big, hairy, audacious goals. Or maybe the contribution they want to make in the world before they take their last breath.

And sometimes they talk about their doubts and fears – where they get stuck or bad habits they just can’t seem to shake.

In other words, a band of brothers – guys that have a lot of fun together but also talk about the important things and aren’t afraid to be vulnerable and admit to weaknesses.

I think it could work.

What do you think?

But what if there was a way you could get back in touch with those dreams, and set a course of action to get to where you really want to go?

Here is a secret weapon (clothed in the form of a powerful question which I call ‘The Question’) designed to do just that. Check it out:

Here is ‘The Question’ again:

“If we were having this discussion 3 years from today, and you were looking back over those 3 years, what has to have happened in your life, both personally and professionally for you to be happy with your progress?”

Click here to learn more about my new E-Book: ‘A Man’s Guide to Vision and Goal Setting.’

I will admit it… I find grocery, clothes, or any other kind of shopping with my wife painful. It’s not that I despise shopping – I don’t mind it, actually.  I don’t like shopping with my wife for two reasons:

1. I hate following someone else around a store.  I feel like a sheep – awkward and weird.
2. I cannot shop without a purpose: either a list of desired foods or an article of clothing I am after.  My goal is to seek, acquire, and leave.  The more efficient and effective the better.

So, last Sunday when my wife was shopping at the mall, I found a comfortable seat near the fountain and read E-Books on my iPhone.  It was delightful.

However, would I rather watch a football game than spend time with my wife?  Absolutely not. Screw the game – time with my wife is something precious to me that I look forward to.

But, Honey: can we please do something together that doesn’t include shopping?

Nasty beer gut? No thanks.

No man ever sought out as a child to be overweight and blubbery. Our heroes as boys were sports stars: men in tip top physical shape at the top of their game. (Unless your idol was a 300 lb lineman, which is another blog post entirely.)

So, at 30 years old, when some men wake up one morning to stare at a 40 inch waist line that accumulated after years of neglect, it’s a shock.

‘How do I dig myself out of this massive hole?’ is their most common refrain.

Sure, a guy in this situation might joke around about that beer gut. Or maybe deny it. Or some slough it off by saying ‘it’s no big deal.’

It is. Deep down in the recesses of his mind there’s this nagging, whiny voice that whispers: (or sometimes yells)

“You need to do something about this.”

This voice has good intentions. It is trying to cause enough discontent and uncomfort for this man to say, ‘Enough. I will not live in a bloated skin suit anymore. It is time to get this body into shape once and for all.’

This is great. But these are just words. Unfortunately, for most men, they rarely translate into the action required to see them fulfilled. When’s it’s time to put on the workout gear, lace up the running shoes and get to work, the push forward morphs into a pull: to stay where you are and finish the urgent _________ (fill in the blank with something meaningless like an e-mail or presentation for the boss, etc.) because it’s ‘more important.’

So, how does a man regain the sense of urgency he once had for changing his physical condition? I’m glad you asked. More on that later.

Learn more about my new E-Book called ‘Why You’re Not in Shape – and What to Do About It’

Check out my new E-Book: ‘Why You’re Not in Shape – and What to Do About It.’

Can you believe Christmas is only 13 days away? Yikes. Let’s get our Christmas lists together, boys.

Here are the top 3 things I would like for Christmas:

1. An iPhone.
2. Personal Development Books
3. New Workout Clothes/Shoes
4. BONUS: A fire lit under the ass of every man who is putting off the changes he needs to make in his life until January 1, 2010.

Put yours in the comments section below.

Merry Christmas,

Andrew

The Classic Power Suit

Look sharp at work in 2010:

1. Look for quality: Think about long-term wear, or amortization. If you need a suit for work, invest in high-caliber fabrics and suits that are well made. You’ll get years of wear, and always look sharp. The initial sticker-shock will turn into a better investment than a cheaper suit that doesn’t wear well, and gets thrown out sooner.

2. Know your power colors: Power colors are the rich, deep shades that project a powerful business image. They include black, charcoal grey and navy. Decide which of these colors is the best neutral for your business garments. This reduces the number of shoe and accessory colors you’ll need to present a powerful image.

3. Get expert help: Look for an upscale men’s store that gives personal service. Even if you don’t buy anything there at first, you’ll get a feel for what a quality suit looks like, and how it fits you. You may be able to start with one good item, such as a shirt or tie. When you have more money to spend, you can return for other wardrobe elements.

Justice Marshall

• http://www.theheroprinciples.com
• Twitter: @JusticeMarshall

Jayson Gaddis

• http://www.revolutionaryman.com/
• Twitter: @JayGaddis

William Harryman

• http://masculineheart.blogspot.com/
• Twitter: @WilliamHarryman

The Art of Manliness

• http://artofmanliness.com/
• Twitter: @artofmanliness