What It Takes to Be Man

As we know it today, man is not the man of our father’s generations. The lines between what is masculine and feminine have been blurred. I am leaving room for a new definition of manhood to be created. So, what does it take to be a man in today’s society?

A few key characteristics make up the modern man: confidence, independence, and respect.

Confidence is key. A man who is confident in himself is a man that others will respect. He is not afraid to speak his mind or stand up for what he believes in. He knows his worth and doesn’t need validation from others. I will give you an example; I was going to a VIP event that I wasn’t invited to with a friend. I had dressed corporately to look the part, but my friend was wearing a pair of ripped jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. We got to the event and maneuvered our way in.

As we walked to the door, The security guards stopped us and asked for our invitations. One of them said, “this is a VIP event; you can’t come in if you don’t have an invitation” I confidently said, “I’m the one running the event,” as I pointed to a random worker at the event. The security guards let us in without any hesitation.

The security guard looked at me, my friend, and then back to me. He said, “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. Please go ahead.”

My friend was amazed that I had gotten us in and asked me how. We walked in and enjoyed the event.

My friend later told me he was just as surprised as the security guards I had gotten us in.

I was confident enough to believe that I could get us into the event, and I did. The truth was that I said it in such a way that the security guards had no choice but to believe me.

This is what confidence does; it gets you places. You speak with authority, and people listen.

That is the power of confidence.

The second characteristic of the modern man is independence. An independent man is not afraid to do things on his own. He is comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t need anyone to complete him. He knows how to take care of himself and is self-sufficient. With the quality of being independent, you can also take care of others. It is an attractive quality because it shows that you are in control of your life. That’s why it is expected for a man at a certain age to have a job, a place to call home, and a car.

Men are taught to provide and protect those who cannot do it themselves. It is an honorable quality that is essential to being a man.

The last characteristic of the modern man is respect. A man who is respectful is a man that others will want to be around. He is considerate of others and their feelings. He doesn’t talk down to people or belittle them. I was raised to always respect my elders, and I still do to this day. It is a quality that I think more people should have, not just men.

Respect is something that is earned over time. It is not given; it is earned through trust and communication. A man who respects others is a man that others will want to be around.

These are a few of the key characteristics of the modern man. These qualities are what make up the new definition of manhood. So, what does it take to be a man? It takes confidence, independence, and respect. These are the qualities of the modern man.