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COOL NEW STUFF COMING SOON


We've just returned from 31 days of river kayaking, backwoods
hiking, manatee tracking, mosquito swatting, gator wrasslin',
etc. throughout the southeastern U.S. (which we've confirmed
actually includes parts of Florida).

The annual "Griswold Vacation" was good stuff as usual, but
now we're back in the saddle and it's all business from here.

That means that we've got a (totally off-the-wall) new episode
of the TCW podcast, blog posts, cool goodies and more coming
for you VERY soon.

I'm ALSO going to make good on giving away some more 20 minute
phone calls with you guys absolutely free.  It's been almost
eight months since I've cleared off the table and made that
happen for you.

So basically, rest assured I'm burning the midnight oil and
doing work.  Keep your eye on this newsletter for developments
as they happen...rock on!  Also watch Facebook.



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10 SIMPLE TESTS OF WHETHER YOU'RE A WIMP OR NOT (PART TWO)


Whoa...let's just say A LOT of you had, um..."opinions" about
yesterday's brouhaha (aka "newsletter").

First, I have to give props to the guy who gave me environmentally
friendly, animal-safe instructions for effectively removing
venomous species from one's apartment.

I have to say that's above and beyond the call, my brother.

While you're certainly a bad man, I'm not quite ready to
impose the art of rattlesnake wrangling upon other dudes as
a requirement for manhood in good standing.

And while there was general agreement about "public whining",
some of you felt free to lecture me on the "potential danger
of 2nd degree burns" from popcorn bags.

There were even a few somewhat angry unsubscribe demands.  I
should have seen that coming, I suppose.

Well...at the risk of permanent damage to fragile egos everywhere,
I've got the second half of my list of ten "simple wimp tests"
for you.

After all, fragile egos are for wusses.  Keeping promises isn't.

I laughed out loud writing these down, so at the very least
prepare to be entertained.

Besides that, all I can say is that if the bit about going to the
doctor and/or changing tires got under your skin yesterday, I
probably haven't done much to improve matters today:



6)  Driving A Stick Shift


If you're physically sitting anywhere other than the United States
while reading this, you're probably already scratching your head.

Nevertheless, I remain shocked by the number of guys in this
country, at least, who are stopped dead in their tracks if
confronted with the requirement to pilot any motor vehicle that's
not equipped with an automatic transmission.

I don't care if you're a "car nut" or not, this is important.

Why?

Well, first there's the simple fact that anything cool to drive in
this life is better with a manual transmission. That includes 4x4s,
motorcycles, and sports cars.

If you're out rock-hopping in Moab, Utah with an automatic Jeep,
don't come crying to me when that doesn't work out for you.  (Do
they even MAKE Jeeps with automatics?)

Manual transmissions make life more fun when you know how to use
one.

But far more importantly, there's going to come a day--sometime
soon, if it hasn't happened already--where you're going to be called
upon to "save the day" by driving someone else's car.  It might even
be an emergency.

If, once you jump into the driver's seat, the very next thought
that crosses your mind is, "Oh $#!%, what do I do NOW?" then you're
going to be nobody's hero.

And that's usually when some chick orders you to "get out of the
frickin' driver's seat before someone gets hurt", leaving you
standing there while she whizzes off effortlessly.

Don't let THAT be the moment that finally persuades you to spend an
hour or two in the empty corner of the mall parking lot with a
borrowed '87 Sentra.

For what it's worth, I'd even recommend taking a few private pilot
lessons...you know, just in case you're ever called upon to land a
plane in an emergency.  But hey, that's just the way I think.



7)  Trying New Foods


Here's what some women do when a completely new, exotic or somewhat
challenging culinary delicacy is placed before them.

They take their little finger and tentatively jab at it with utmost
care, so as only to coat the tip of said finger with about twelve
molecules of the "lab sample" at hand.

It's as if they're playing "Operation" with it.

Then, they stick out the tip of their tongue and reprise the
tentative jabbing motion until about three of the twelve anointed
molecules have actually invaded their oral cavity.

I have no idea how any woman gets any idea of how something really
tastes by doing that, so I therefore have no idea how YOU would
either.

So don't do that.  Take a bite of the stuff already and be done with
it.

You're welcome to have a napkin ready in case the process requires
reversing.  Nobody's telling you that you have to actually swallow
any nasty food.  That would have nothing to do with being brave,
that would just be crazy and/or stupid.



8)  Shots


Nope, I'm not talking about how many "Jaeger Bombs" you can pound
down.

I'm talking about what typically goes on at the doctor's office.

Assuming you can get past #2 from yesterday, the next major cause of
much weeping and gnashing of teeth within the medical realm is the
dreaded injection.

I promise you with all my heart that the anticipation of whatever
pain it causes is MUCH, MUCH greater than the actual pain.

Consciously put that theory to the test the next time you get
blood work done or get a flu vaccine.

For what it's worth, you should probably get over your phobia of
dentists too.  Like blood tests, dental work is on the list of
life's inevitabilities.

Oh yeah, and when the opportunity presents itself just rip off a
bandage in one fell swoop too, please.  And get on with it, already.
The sooner it's over with the better.



9)  Standing Up To Customer Service Departments


If you've paid good money for something and you're being treated
ridiculously in return, you should make your displeasure known in a
civil but nevertheless direct manner.

Don't let someone who has had more training and experience than you
at dealing with irate customers EVER, EVER guilt you into believing
you're the problem if you have a legitimate point.

If you've paid for something, you're the customer and the person
selling you the product works for you. Don't ever let that common,
natural fact get clouded by manipulation.

Granted, you've got to make sure you have a valid point and you've
definitely got to give the other side a legit chance to make things
right.

But make no mistake, this is another area where women watch how you
handle things VERY carefully.  If you're either a doormat or a
crybaby you're not going to come off as a man who knows how to
provide and protect.

Be reasonable and direct when there's an honest concern, and remain
steadfast until it's resolved.  You can't go wrong that way.



10)  Resisting Immature Provocation


I've saved the most significant one for last.

What we're talking about here is remaining cool under fire when
someone (or even something) royally pisses you off.

The baseline fact underscoring this entire thought is this: Whoever
raises his voice and/or loses emotional control first in ANY
situation is the one who LOSES.

And LOSERS are usually the ones who lacked confidence, composure
and/or sheer balls compared to the prevailing victor.

In other words, they wimped out.

Show the world that you expect to be respected and that you will
not kowtow to immaturity or foolishness of any kind.

Pick your battles wisely and rarely, saving your energy for true
life and death situations.

Oh, and if you're actually the one instigating immature
confrontations and other overreactions, you're advertising your
wussiness to the world to an exponentially higher degree.

 

So, how did you do?

In case you happen to be expecting some sort of "grading scale",
I've got some news for you. This exercise is "pass/fail", and the
only passing grade is a 100%.

There's no chance of grading on a curve, either.  You've got to get
all of this stuff right.

The good news is that all of the examples I've shared are
completely within the realm of your personal control.  Did you
notice that?

The only question that remains now is this:  Are you willing to "man
up"...especially if it leads to much greater success with women?


Be Good,

Scot McKay


 

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