The Japanese like to say: “Fall down 7 times, stand up 8.”
Victor Pride likes to say: “If you fail 55 years, try 56 years.”
What you'll see below is a letter from a man who failed for 55 years and now has extreme regret.
Boo hoo, right? Actually, it's a great letter and should be read by all. It gives you the most important lesson there ever was…
ENTER THE OLD LION…
“I know all too well what it’s like to be 18 years old and feel like you’ve got the world by the tail, and all of the time it contains. Full of beans and only living for today.
When I hit 21 the party was just getting started. I’d get asked by family members and their friends what I planned to do with my life.
I was only living for the moment and I had no idea … didn’t really care, actually. They would all say, “Don’t worry. You’ve got PLENTY of time!”
That was a LIE. But it was all I needed to satisfy the discontent, anxiousness, and REGRET I’d already started feeling for the time I’d wasted.
Little did I know at the time that I was just getting started. I went for years drinking and partying my life away.
At age 27 I knocked up a girl I’d been screwing around with and was on the verge of dumping. I stuck around for the kid, but his mom and I were nowhere near a match.
I numbed myself to the situation I was in with alcohol, drugs, affairs, pornography, and masturbation. I hated my life, but it was the only one that I knew.
My wife and I had no shared interests and any projects I started in an effort to better myself and my situation got met with hostility by her.
I watched as our children seemed to grow up over night and have children of their own, all the while bouncing from one go-nowhere job to the next trying to make something stick.
I’m now 55 years old. No money in the bank. Go-nowhere inside sales/customer service job. And enduring the mid-life crisis from hell.
Regrets of the life I’ve wasted and the things I’ve done is all that I have. The mere weight of my regrets threaten to crush my very soul.
Right NOW is all that you have! Do NOT let anyone tell you that you “have plenty of time” to figure things out. It is a LIE born in the depths of hell itself.
There is NO TOMORROW. Tomorrow is an illusion. Five minutes from now is a fucking illusion! Hell, your next breath is an illusion!
RIGHT NOW is all that exists, and it requires IMMEDIATE ACTION! Do not end up like me. I’m a fucking loser. I watched my whole life go by waiting on tomorrow and it hasn’t shown up yet.
And you know what, unless I am able to muster the mindset and tenacity at this late stage in my life that it’s going to take, there NEVER WILL be a “tomorrow” for me.
I will die in some clinical environment, REGRETS heaped on top of me, an lucky if I have any family or friends there to bid me farewell.
Seem like a dark picture? It is! Think my life is the exception and not the rule? Perhaps mine is extreme, but the VAST majority of men out there are leading the proverbial lives of quiet desperation.
The VAST majority will die with their regrets haunting them until they draw their final breath. That is a FACT.
Determine RIGHT NOW not to be one of them! Then DO SOMETHING. Get off of you ass and get moving … NOW!
Do not throw your life away in your prime years and blame it on being “young and dumb.” My life is all the proof you need that being young and dumb can much too easily lead to old and stupid.
You do NOT want to end up with the weight of regret that I currently experience. It is a fate I would not wish on my worst enemy.”
THE LETTER FROM AN OLD LION HAS ENDED.
ENTER VICTOR PRIDE…
Maybe I'm the only man ever lived that don't care about your past, but I don't.
All I care about is right now and tomorrow. I don't dwell on someone's past, I don't even ask. I don't care.
Whatever you did back then I don't give a good goddamn. I only care what you do RIGHT NOW.
Many would boo-hoo, many would pity, many would mock this man, many would use his past as a cautionary tule.
I won't. I already told you I don't give a good goddamn about your past. The past? What's that?
I just checked the clock and it's RIGHT NOW, so I'd say wake-up unless you're dead. (And if you are dead, then fuck off and die.)
If you're alive and you're 55 and you're telling the tale then you ain't dead yet.
If you're telling the tale, warts and all, then that means you got heart and balls and that's two out of three, all that's missing is money.
Take your own damn advice and get started right now. If you got the courage and if you got a pulse then what are you waiting for?
The past is the past, it's not here anymore. It's right now, it always has been and it always will be.
I don't give a good goddamn if you're an old Lion or a young and hungry Lion, the clock stays put at RIGHT NOW.
And right now you can live a life worthy of a tale or you can live a life worthy of nothing. What's it gonna be?
THIS OLD LION GOIN' DOWN TO DIE
ONLY TWO WAYS A LION CAN DIE
LIKE A COWARD OR WITH PRIDE
HOW THIS OLD LION GONNA DIE?
All the old Lions are invited to tell their tale in the comments section, good or bad I don't care.
As long as you still got heart and balls you can tell the young guns whatever you want to tell them.
Even if you think you don't have something to say, every old Lion on earth has one thing the young guns don't have - wisdom gained from experience.
And to the young guns…
When you're an old Lion, what's your tale gonna be?
Until next time.
Your man,
-Victor Pride
The only man who is truly out of time can’t say anything at all. He’s dead.
I turned 20 last week and I’ve already got tons of regrets and things to worry about.
Yeah you’re running out of time, but it’s never too late. Fuck the mindset that your time is up.
Been making it count since I was 18. Climbed a mountain, playing college baseball, sculpting my body and banging tons of girls in the meantime…bungee jumping and taking risks every day. Just started building a kickass blog.
START KICKING ASS EARLY
(In life & your day)
I was up and bouncing at 4:30, I get home so tired I pass out when I sit down. I haven’t turned on a tv in a year.
I have a phobia of regret.
At 20, you shouldn’t have regrets unless you’re terminally ill.
Yours is the age you need to focus on getting shit together. Be prepared to spend the next 5-10 working on projects with a high propensity to fail (risk) in order to gain experience. Then use the experience to seize opportunities and repeat.The more opportunities you seize, the less regrets you’ll have at an age when it starts to get too late to fix them (45+).
Whilst the “old lion” is right in that he’s “wasted” many of his years, if you’re being productive it will take several years in order for you to break out of the cage. Great men typically emerge around 30. The American ideal of thinking you’re “dead” at 25 is a fallacy designed to sell women anti-ageing products. Plan for the long term and be tenacious.
you havent turned on a tv in a year. thats fucking outstanding.
I read financial papers and they always have a little square somewhere that lists the ten characteristics of millionaires and one of them is “THEY TURNED OFF THEIR TV”
NO shit
“banging tons of girls”
Save yourself and spare them. Make love to one woman.
Haha! I was waiting for that one. We all have regrets, but your past should be your guide, not your sorrow.
2/3 is enough for me.
2/3 is enough to get “3”
Thank God I’m in America.
Thank God I’m free.
“There is no time like the present.” Should read, “There is no time BUT the present.”
I remember reading this as one of the comments for one of your posts.
It’s a sad story, but I agree that the past doesn’t matter. It no longer exists. All that exists is the now.
Many great successes didn’t even get started until later in life. Colonel Sanders is a prime example. Jeff Bezos and Ray Kroc didn’t get started until relatively late either. The list of late-starters that achieve massive success is long.
There have been many times in life where I wished I started things sooner, but then didn’t take action. Five years later I again wished I had started five years ago, and the process repeats.
If you start now, five or 10 years from now you will be happy that you did; even if you are 65 years old right now. If nothing else, the mere act of working to improve your situation carries a deep satisfaction.
What’s the alternative? Being the lion that quit? If I was that guy I would rather be the old lion that starts fighting later instead of never. Life is precious and even at 55 there’s still plenty of life to go around.
Money doesn’t discriminate against age. Old people with a healthy lifestyle can be in better shape than lazy 20-year olds. A successful man can always get beautiful quality women in his life, especially if he visits other countries.
Rest when you’re dead.
Cheers,
D
Hey need to hear that today is now fck it now i am over weight i can work on that
Get mine money right enjoy travel
just wanted add I stared listern mgtow site it good
Thank you for that honest & revealing response. I too am 55 & it shocked me to my (non 6 pack) core to see the similarities of my experiences with the life of “regret”. Regret produces NOTHING positive , it is a cancer on ones soul, why? Well, we cannot EVER alter our past life, not even yeasterday much less 10 years ago. I have transformed my life. I was literally DYING 8 years ago. I had an epiphany & though it took one day at a time to restore my broken & pointless existence, I got back ALL the things I loved, going to train (hard) at a dusty local gym, diet, thousands in amazing supplements, family & friends began to see me go from 160 emaciated Lbs to now 230 & muscular…Wow. This CAN be done only IF you do it! If you are 20, 30, 40,,,it is ALL relative. STOP wasting time & do what will add to life , ” The ONLY regret I now have is that I once lived with Regret!” Jack. Peace & Gods Blessings. I am Changed forever
I am also one of the “older lions” that is over 50 Victor and even declared bankruptcy 6 years ago… that kind of shit just wakes you up and forces you to re-evaluate your life. But my greatest failures have been my biggest character building lessons. A few years ago, I created an online business that now lets me live anywhere, so I left that modern matrix and am now living in Mexico close to the beach with a much lower cost of living with my wife and kids. Having an online business means you are not a slave to your boss or your country. And there is no way I am ever moving back… I eat healthier, have a lot more sun, enjoy life more, am fitter then most men in their 20’s and feel like a fucking stallion!
Age is just a number… and for the old lions (I proudly consider myself one), if you still have fucking breath in you its NEVER TOO LATE! And if you are fortunate to be a young lion and can learn some wisdom from guys like Vic you are WAY ahead of the game. I refuse to sit on my rocking chair one day and thinking “I wish I did this… I should have done that…” Fuck it! We are all going to die one day! Enjoy this mother fucking life NOW and stop limiting yourself with your bullshit limiting beliefs! Your biggest obstacle is between your ears!
Read, learn, grow and push your boundaries! Or die with regret. The choice is yours…
Peace.
That’s amazing man! I wish I knew guys like you! I’m sure you’re a great example of a man for your family. Keep on slaying!
OUTFUCKINGSTANDING!!!
Your comment is a continuing inspiration to us who didn’t take the red pill until we past 50.
Congratulations on your results.
What most don’t know and some never learn is that results come from efforts, lots of them.
“I just checked the clock and it’s RIGHT NOW, so I’d say wake-up unless you’re dead. (And if you are dead, then fuck off and die.)”
Great post Mr. Pride!!!, Congratulations
Be Lions
Wow. What a powerful and instructive self-assessment.
“Regrets of the life I’ve wasted and the things I’ve done is all that I have. The mere weight of my regrets threaten to crush my very soul.”
I’d love if you kept in touch with this man so we can see if he ever makes a big move.
63 and blah. Look get focused and go for it. I have a buddy who lives his life in such a way as to not regret for anything. He is a rock climber, he knows at least 7 languages fluently. He is a looter shooter, he is a chaplain for the Navy SEALS, He’s a dive instructor, He’s a certified Harley Mechanic, He dead lifts in the 400+ maybe more now, he runs like an athletic 20 year old, he is coxswain certified in the Navy, he’s done some fast roping out of a helicopter with the SEALS, he was assigned to the Marine Corps for a couple of years. He has his Masters degree…He started when he was young and he just goes for it. Go for it. I focus on today but it is a very hard hole to climb out of. It is right now. It is all right now.
And for all that, your buddy has someone he looks up to, that he thinks has their shit together more than he does.
But I want to talk to you, about blah.
I’m 9 years behind you. I define blah. My 54 years of life have been a waste, but my 55th birthday will be the BEST ONE YET!
Here is my recipe for new life right now.
Eat clean.
If it’s processed, it’s not clean.
Download MyNetDiary food app.
Figure it out.
Exercise 30-45 minutes, 2x a day.
I use kettlebells for iron.
StrongFirst.com teaches me how.
Join Audible.com and improve your mind.
Listen while you work, exercise, drive.
Go to Victor Pride’s recommended list of books.
Add your own list of self-help and self-improvement books.
(Try Younger Next Year)
No fluff. No fiction. No blah.
This is your foundation.
From here you can do anything.
Your body is the instrument of your mind. What the mind believes, the body can achieve. Sound familiar?
At the end of the day, maybe your life is full. You are banging women half your age, 3-4 times a week. You are experiencing life like your buddy, but in a different way. You can ignore all this.
But SOMEONE needs this information.
If any of you feel blah, do this:
Eat clean.
Build your body.
Build your mind.
The rest will come to you.
Now get up of the ass of your past and fucking DO SOMETHING!
Fired up! Love the letter and your motivating words.
Wes
Damn.
“I watched my whole life go by waiting on tomorrow and it hasn’t shown up yet.”
The line of the letter.
I can empathize; I at least thought I knew what I wanted to do in my 20s… I was just too scared of failure and being mediocre to even try. So I partied a lot - not even that well! Could have done that better too, worked on my Game at least but I was too scare to even try that!
30s…….. they went by in the blink of an eye. It’s like they didn’t even happy.
I’m 40 now.
Luckily I never married, got anyone pregnant or bought a house.
I recently paid off all my debt (a lot) and I’ve moved to Asia to focus on my new chosen career,working alone and for myself. Asia is cheap. You can live longer on less. Bit it also has many distractions so beware - it can also be a trap and many come here to die… just slower.
I’m giving myself a year or two to get this ball rolling for real. I work on it every day, albeit without good focus (I’m so bad at focus) but at least I’m at the fucking desk chugging away. Piece by piece it’s coming together.
And I can actually see results appearing…. like the first little bubbles in a pot of water set to boil.
This is not so much for the young guys - hell! You’ve got all the time in the world! (joke) The trick for young ones is, to use all that time in the world to get started now so you can be young AND rich! Like NOW!!
I may well get rich but I won’t be in my 20s at a club in Vegas, I won’t be in my 30s at lavish industry parties with models. I’ll be in my 40s and 50s. I regret wasting time too but at least I’m pumped inside at the great 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s I’m gonna have! My exit target is 125 years old when I die. Why not? This is a new century of medicine.
So! Older guys! Clear you life of debt, possessions, clutter and people.
Rebirth yourself - think smart. Think clearly. Go somewhere to get focus. Find that inner excitement at a new idea, project or prospect. Despite how fucked the world is right now, there is still trillions of dollars sloshing around in the system.
You only need a few crumbs to begin a legacy.
45 y/o here. Good to hear the perspective from a fellow 40 year old.
There is a lot of talk here about get started NOW, taking ACTION. These seem to be the catch words for self help. For me personally lacking focus, tenacity, and persistence was what held me back. There are very few focused, persistent muthafkers that failed compared to the millions of easily excited, temporary motivated, dabblers that can only say - well at least I tried and took some action.
Focus and tenacity is even more crucial at our age as our body start to hold us back. Every year past 40 I’ve been beset by a new health issue. Most of my joints are injured now keeping me from getting big and strong. But for me PROGRESS is the goal. I am rehabbing my joints one at a time and expect to be pretty lean and strong when I am 50 y/o. Financially it is 2 steps forward 1.5 steps back but my net worth is slowly increasing.
Anyways good work on getting yourself out there and starting a new life.
Vic,
I was running down a similar path through my late 20’s and 30’s. Drinking, screwing around awash in an aimless sea. No direction, no purpose. I was married at 23 divorced at 25. Her fault as she couldn’t deal with me or my false persona I had mastered. Of course that BS it was me. A real boo hoo period of my life, it I wasn’t drinking it probably would have been worse. At 36 I decided can’t do this crap anymore. I needed a well deserved wake up call which came from my ex-girlfriend in Arizona who kicked me out of our house no place to live and laid off from my job so no money, I went packing back East with my tail between my legs like a whipped dog. After a short contaplation on what’s next, gave up the bottle, didn’t have a job but volunteered at the local hospital ER. That lead to finding a job, saving some money and moving out of my rent free room into buying a condo. There I met my soul mate wife as she was filming a adjacent condo that was for sale. Grabbed myself by the balls walked over and started talking to her which lead to out for a coffee than dating than getting married. At this point I had a good job, nice condo and drove a cool car. At 38 came the best blessing of all. My wife became pregnant. That would of been a major issue for an immature person I used to be. I accepted it with open arms and owned it will all my heart and soul. Flash forward. I’m 51. Still married to my soul mate. Have an outstanding beautiful ten year old daughter who’s knocking high honor roll semester after semester. My job pays the bills so my wife can stay home and raise our daughter. Sold the condo and bought a four bedroom house in the suburbs. Had to sell my cool car, to lease my wife safe SUV’s but that even worked out as my job gives me a company vehicle. Life is great. In retrospect the thing I thought was the worse thing to ever happen being kicked out by my ex girlfriend was actually the lynch pin to growing up. I can still remember the hurt, that I could deal with, the embarrassment and disgrace was even harder. But this too did pass. I wish I knew of your site and wisdom beyond your years while going through this process. Luckily and with much wasted try’s and keeping moving forward it all worked out. I’d say in my humble opinion, it’s never too late to change. It takes putting your head down and never stop moving forward. And discipline. Lots of discipline, for some that’s the hardest point to overcome. If you can visualize where you want to be and be honest with yourself that where you are is not even close to where you should be. It actually becomes easier. But I can attest it never was EASY. During the transformation as I like to refer, I always found time to volunteer somewhere. Helping people is cleansing for the soul. I also started lifting weights. Nothing fancy just 5X5 bench, press, squat and deadlift. Always trying to add weight. In my 40’s really who was I going to impress with attempting body building? My why was to be fit to be able to do stuff with my daughter through my late 60’s and 70’s. I took up Martial Arts, actually more self defense. I also found faith. My wife is a very spiritual person. Won’t go into that as it’s something someone has to feel what’s right in their own heart. I volunteer every Saturday night for my Church’s security what I call protecting the Christians. My life wasn’t any worse or any better than anyone else. The only advise I would have is be happy whatever your doing, stop any negative thoughts in your head. Keep your focus on what’s ahead not what’s behind and always keep grinding. Find a purpose. Pretty much your advice. If it’s something in the back of your mind, take a few minutes at night to read your Bible, Qur’an Tanakh or Mikra whatever your choice and just start reading a few pages. I was amazed at how many answers can be found within the books. I started with a bible I received 30 years earlier. It made that cool cracking noise when I first opened it. Today it is well read, marked in pen and highlighter a worn out. But I really feel it helped me putting the pieces together with life’s jigsaw puzzle.
Good luck and God Bless.
A well loved book is always marked, highlighted and worn with the constant turning pages over and over.
People try to avoid the uncomfortable growth in favor of quick comfort at the moment but that plays against them in the future. The more a person indulges in hedonistic pleasure is another opportunity gone lost.
People think that they are doing themselves favor by choosing comfort but time will come when it bites them in the ass. The more you waste time, the harder it will be for you in the future.
If you do work now and take care of business, it will provide for you for the rest of the future.
Choose uncomfortable growth now so that you will be prepared for what is coming to you even at tough times.
If you are a man and you are over 25, then entertainment should not be part of your lifestyle if that doesn’t bring you money. In fact, I put the age at 20.
Entertainment is a waste of time and money. Pick business that brings money. Your business should be your “entertainment”.
The people who say…”relax, let’s just chill bro”… CUT these people off or limit your contact.
The only people who should be in your contact list are your customers, clients, business related people, and people who further help your goal.
I’m serious about that.
A man walks up to a Buddhist monk and asks, “What time is it?’
The monk replies, “The time is now.”
Good post Mr. Pride
Lot of young lions not doing anything with their life. I can tell you this at 51: Old Lion’s story is the norm now. It parallels mine nearly 80%.
Learn all you can about money. Debt, credit, everything. As much as you can stomach. It doesn’t matter if you’re high IQ or not. You’re young. That time is big, big money all by itself. Plant that money tree and water that motherfucker, and sleep on friends’ couches if you have to to stay out of debt.
Learn the truth about women. It’s the most important education you’ll ever get. Wealth and power won’t save you. It doesn’t matter if you have a lot of alphabet soup after your name. One bad marriage will bring down the smartest, brightest, most ambitious men. Spend your time learning from men like Victor, who’ve got great things going on in their lives but aren’t so far ahead of you they’re literally in a different generation.
I don’t see myself as on Square One. Middle-age, two marriages, estranged kids, no money … no lie, it fucking sucks. But after 30 years my hands are untied and my eyes are open. I came out the woodchipper in one piece and the sun is shining. Opportunites invisible to me at 21 are all around me now. I see guys 20 yrs older than me in fantastic shape and even dating FFS.
Everything us older men learned by long hard experience is now available at your fingertips. Most of us are dads, for better or worse, and would like nothing better than to see that experience being put to good use by young men.
Most of you here are really, really smart. But intellect isn’t wisdom, that only comes from experience … and the great thing is, it doesn’t have to be YOUR experience. Your confidence in your own intellect is misplaced until you’ve actually done something with your life. Stop arguing with your elders, the people who want you to win and avoid the Pain of Regret.
Up the road at 51 I can tell you that life isn’t THAT short, you’ll still have lots of possibilities. But whatever you start building at 21, build it to last so you still have it at 51. You owe no State, no Ideology no Woman your labour and loyalty who doesn’t have your back in return.
Said my piece lads. Thanks for the forum Victor.
Plant that money tree and water that motherfucker, and sleep on friends’ couches if you have to to stay out of debt.
One bad marriage will bring down the smartest, brightest, most ambitious men.
I came out the woodchipper in one piece and the sun is shining.
Opportunites invisible to me at 21 are all around me now.
Intellect isn’t wisdom, that only comes from experience.
Opportunites invisible to me at 21 are all around me now.
“Amen!” to all that. I’m a mere stripling of 47, but seen enough of life to know all this is true.
Only thing I would add:
Be kind to women. Human nature means that the act of love means a great deal more to her than it does to you. If you don’t love her, then don’t sleep with her. Kinder to her; ultimately kinder to you too.
“Be kind to women. Human nature means that the act of love means a great deal more to her than it does to you. If you don’t love her, then don’t sleep with her. Kinder to her; ultimately kinder to you too.”
Tom, I don’t disagree. Women damage themselves by sleeping around far more than men do. Men get points for experience; women lose points for it. It’s biology, not a social construct. We live in a technocracy but we’re the same ancient organisms we’ve always been.
Most of us older guys - no doubt you too - intended to do just that … marry the girl-next-door and love her and look after a family. It’s like putting on a harness but a man used to get respect for doing it.
But the women have to cooperate for that scenario to work, and they’ve made it loud and clear that the State is their husband now and men are just competing to be the side-piece. No, they’re not as powerful as they think they are. No, it’s not a “new world”, it’s the same old world. Yes, they are fooling and damaging themselves. But the jungle has reasserted itself in the sexual marketplace and young women love it. They don’t respond to kindness, they respond to power.
Kindness not dispensed from a position of power is seen as weakness and women have a primal revulsion to weak men. For men to reassert their power they need to be able to flip the bird to the State and its media smoke machine. That takes physical strength, financial strength and mental strength.
Women are living in a Matrix too. It will take millions of men with crowbars to bust them out of it.
Women want a hero. A man who knows who he is, but that also takes a heroine to appreciate.
Old lion here!
I wasted a bunch of years, but despite being young and foolish I hit my later years better off than most.
Right now I live near the beach in South America with a woman more than 20 years my junior. An okay life, but not off the CHARTS great.
But……… after following B&D for about 6 months, I’m on to the next level!!
Yep, an old lion, but an old lion that can rip 500 lbs. off the floor when I deadlift.
Never stop growing/learning. Thanks Vic.
Good man Gary. Keep pushing brother.
Com certeza Leon, você também!
Awesome. Great replies.
Hi Victor and your motivational stories hit me to the core. Im a woman but am harder on myself than any man is on another man.
Im in that situation now but i know that by doing things a little different every damn day even though it feels like shit, one thing that I do that IS different, will stick.
Hope everyone out there doesnt give up. its never to late to do the right thing. My brother in law said once “THe hardest things in life to do are always the right things”
and he is right okay certain people can become very successful doing something that came super easy to them thats not the norm. but at some point in that persons life when they are at a cross road or a TEST. can they handle it?
Hard Work reaps the best rewards.
Vic, I have nothing but respect for you as an ass kicker and a MAN. God bless you sir. Another master piece of an article. I am so pumped after reading this article I am ready to body slam a giant. LOL.
Very powerful Victor! I’ve been following your stuff for 4 years. I’m 36 and your intermittent fasting article helped me lose 40lbs. Keep up the great work you inspire us.
Robert from California
Late 50’s here. Recent career change for which I had to grab my balls. I work outside now and I’m at the point it would be damn hard to get me back into an office. Plus I’m a contractor so I can come and go: that alone was a real improvement over the old office jobs.
While it sucks to be 55 and broke, it sucks worse to be invalid or dead because that’s the only time you can’t do anything about it. I have a friend around 50 who has spent almost his entire adulthood in a wheelchair due to an accident at 19 yet he is one of the most positive and cheerful men I know. Every time I visit him, I walk away deeply humbled and resolved to remember I don’t have problems.
It’s not too late for that old man, he just needs to get off his sorry ass. No grandiose plans needed, just start with a morning walk for fitness and to clear his head. Cut carbs back and cut all sugar from his diet. Then think about income-generating ideas that don’t require a lot of cash. Victor has his ideas and tips along those lines, but if online doesn’t work for him, he should go over to Mr Money Moustache, there is an excellent two part article from a few years ago about 50 ways to make $50k/year without a degree. I don’t think there is anyone who can’t find at least 2 or 3 things on that list that is within their capability. Then he can come back in a few years with his success story!
An excellent post Vic! ??
Memento mori, I am 26 now and I feel old. Remembering that I am gonna die someday is a huge motivation.
We are all going to die someday.
Thank you, Vic! It’s a big wisdom in enlightenment psychology: life is about living in now (Eckhart Tolle). The only question every person has to ask himself: “am I ascending or am I descending right now?” There can be nothing in between.
I really like how motivating and uplifting your language is and I am one of your big fans, make no mistake.
But increasingly I find it dangerous to tell people to take hundred percent responsibility/blame themselves for whatever is happening to them.
I was watching a Ted talk about this modified bicycle which goes right when you turn left and vice versa. Regardless how much you consciously tell yourself you could ride it - your subconscious will fight back and you cannot even keep your balance unless you rigorously train and develop new habits which can take a lot more than 30 days.
When I read about narcissistic/emotional abuse, social conditioning, it seems to me that almost all our problems these days are from our mental/thinking.
But one wouldn’t say whatever happens to you physically go take care of it, no doctors!
So why is it that whatever happens to us mentally, we should be able to just get over it and take care of it ourselves?
This is not a criticism towards you Victor, it’s just me thinking aloud. You are my most favorite drill-sergeant!!!
Great stuff as always, thanks for the continued inspiration. This article reminds me of a Chinese Proverb I came across awhile back: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Keep up the superb work and original content; you’re the only blogger I consistently follow.
-Drew
Right on. You just have more motivation because you NOW have a good sense of what Hell and futility taste like. It sounds as if you are unencumbered by young dependents at this time. This makes you quite similar to the vast majority of other “young lions”. Just a different chronological age. Get in shape. It is the fountain of youth. It changes the game. People respond to you in a more positive fashion and you will develop a will to thrive in all aspects of your life as you develop your body.
I’m 45 years old and have seen and experienced many things. Yes like every old lion I have my regrets but i also have a lot of successes.
What I have to say to you is this!
First you are not entitled to anything! What you have or want you have to get for yourself. Expect no help from no one!
Do not speak of your dreams to others keep them to yourself and work on them when you can until it works for you.
Hard work is good but hard work and intelligence can get you over the top.
No one cares about your feelings
Be wary of women as they serve as a distraction to your plans!
Get used to being alone because when you build no one wants to be around for work.
Don’t be and do the same thing as your father do your own thing.
There are more things for those young Lions to be aware of but then the comment will be too long.
As a man of 45 years I can tell you for certain that I’m not done yet! I never could understand why people my age think it’s the end of the world? If you are unhappy with your life the change it! You still have a lot of time! Or stay out of my way as I charge through with my Bulldozer making my own road rather than travel the one paved for us.
My Grandfather died today at the age of 86! He died with his family around him and he died happy! No regrets whatsoever
Never be average! Make people notice you from the crowd. Make money, do the things you want to do!
As a old Lion I can still fight and kill like the rest of them! Nothing can stop this old man from living his life the way I wanted!
That old Lion in the story is a sad, depressed man that has lost hope for himself. He deserves to die!
Don’t be that old Lion!
Sorry for the loss of your grandfather but hey, good comments. I’m also 45 (birthday three weeks ago) and haven’t lost any of the desire for achievement or success that I had 25 years ago. I never really understood why people call it a mid-life crisis when middle-aged guys try to accomplish things, improve themselves, dress better, etc in their more advanced years. Why would their desire to be the best they can change as they get older? Society becomes quite prescriptive regarding what they expect of people (men especially) as they age—wear these clothes, don’t talk to that woman, do this job… that’s something worth fighting against if it means a better life for yourself.
Thank you so much for this article Victor! It couldn’t have come at a better time.
That being said, my personal obstacle is that I’m haunted by my many past failures. So many times I’ve been given a second chance but I’ve always found a way to screw it up unconsciously. How can I truly put the past behind me and have a positive present mindset for success and happiness?
The old lion didn’t elaborate in his letter what it is exactly he regrets not doing with his life. He spent his youth drinking and partying and sleeping with hoes, which is precisely what many call living in the moment with no tomorrows.
I understand the point of the b&d lifestyle, but the above sort of contradictions are what makes the here and now-mantra seem so arbitrary to me. Just figure out what you want from your life, recognize your talents and start working from there bit by bit.
Thank you for this post Victor.
I wouldn’t want to be in a pit of young and hungry lions as much as I wouldn’t want to be in a pit of old and hungry lions….
The key takeaway, be a lion, and be hungry… old or young doesn’t matter.
‘Every day is a NEW LIFE to a wise man’
‘We are born in one day. We die in one day. We can change in one day. And we can fall in love in one day. Anything can happen in just one day.’ - Gayle Forman
‘I am not what has happened to me. I am what I choose to become.’ - Carl Jung
For Victor:
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain
Your e-mails are one of the few I look forward to seeing in my inbox. Thanks.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.
I was going to write a post like this, but this guy beat me to it. I myself am 50 years old and have tons of regrets, but one thing we ALL possess is the will to fight. Fucking fight! The past is the past. It’s over. Done. Right NOW is what you need to worry about. I love that older men read Victors Blog also. I thought I was the only old guy reading it. This blog is for men. It’s for Patriots. It’s to be proud of your race even when our media says it’s not. Even my 13 year old son reads it too. This blog has given me hope for the younger generation of MEN in America.
Thanks Victor!!
That “Fall down 7 times, stand up 8” thing are nonsensical.
You can’t stand up more times than you fall.
This is best of the best.
Timeless piece of writing that will echo in the ages about to come.
“Don’t be Mr. Perfect. Be Mr. Right Now.”
-Lupe
That was a beautiful article. The two lion images, the poem, the presence of both the old lion and Victor. I have a feeling I will continue to come back to this one. WOW
I needed to read this. Great post Vic, I always wanted to be a bodybuilder and pro wrestler and I put it off.
I was always told that I had good genetics and a lot of potential. Thanks to you and Cernovich’s advice I am on the way to doing both as I wanted to do. This article reminds me that it’s never to late and all you have is right now. Right now I’m doing whatever it takes to accomplish both.
Thanks Vic,
-John Snow
I’m glad to see that someone has actually written something specifically for older men. Men tend to fade in importance—both to themselves and in society’s eyes—as they age. Blogs related to self improvement tend to be written for much younger men, I suppose as they have more potential in terms of actual time left.
It’s easy to feel that if you’re older than 35-40 no one wants to bother with you. As well, society seems to hate middle-aged men more than anyone else. Young men are hated and feared, but for middle-aged guys it’s sheer contempt. But everyone needs some kind of help and no one wants to feel used up. Glad to see a post that actually acknowledges that older men are still worth something.
Holy shiet,
After reading some of these comments I don’t feel so bad about myself at all (As fucked up as that sounds). I now know what I have to do to get to where I need to be. Some of you guys had it rough. I commend you all on getting yourselves out of the shitter. Now to get my shit together.
Currently I’m 29, living at home which I am ashamed of. I however, run an online business. I’m in the process of expanding it. I’m pretty healthy.
I would say my best achievement up til now is my body. I’ve done Physique/Bodybuilding shows. Pretty strong for my size and have a good build after years of hard work.
Peace
The way you write and motivated me was amazing
I’m Fan from Somalia and told my friends this great website
Keep going -Victor Pride..
Another great post from Victor – thanks again Victor!
I am a long time reader of B&D (5 years) but not a long timer doer of B&D.
I have bought and consumed everything from Victor but have ashamedly done nothing with any of it.
I’m 31 with all life’s trimmings including mortgage, wife and child and have been a sorry excuse of a man to date.
I got laid off today from my most recent job (one of a long list of attempts at being an email marketer over the past 6 years) and I’m actually going to get up off my ass and do something about it.
For too long I have talked the talk but never walked the walk and it’s time that I actually make the change and man up.
From tomorrow, I am going to follow 30 DOD to a tee and actually take responsibility for my life.
I will no longer be a dreamer with a long list of excuses to why things are not going my way - I am going to rebuild myself into what I need to be (for my family) and want to be (for myself).
Not that anyone will be reading or taking notice (I’m using this post for accountability more than anything else) but I am going to use the follow resources to rebuild myself:
• BoldAndDeterminded.com / 30 Days of Discipline
• DangerAndPlay.com / Gorilla Mindset
• Wim Hof Method
Thanks for reading and great input from Freedom Fouls, Neo and TS!
This is 100% spot on. Thanks for the motivation. Life full of regrets is not a life worthy of living.
I’ve been following this blog for three years but everything is beginning to click now. At 22 years old, I have the maximum amount of personal freedom. So it makes sense for make that freedom count!
I need your word on this
I am an Indian and you know system here is fucked up. and I hate it I wana leave the place.
my problem and of many boys of my age
— girls in India are super awkward they behave in traditional ways and life in any small city is hell. boys n girls don’t talk
90% time of boys is spent figuring out how to set a girl. and in last they end In fiasco.
i have faced this myself
I liked a girl a lot, she is dam good in studies and I am even better than her we share many common interest apart from studies still she behave very awkwardly
she never talk to me in public places
never talk about love n all
sometimes too shy sometimes tries to flirt
boys n girls make false rumours about others randomly
boy n girl can’t even kiss leave the sex alone.
so Victor please tell me how to deal with this hell situation
should I start avoiding girls completely or try to make them open about love n all..
this is very very important topic Victor and your advice is a must
Make friends with her parents; they know her better then you.
Thanks to reply jean,
But things don’t work this way in India.
I have found the solution myself.
At 56 I can relate and I can understand BUT as Vic says there is more to life than the past.
Dyson = He went through 5,127 prototypes before perfecting the G-Force, the upright vacuum powered by centrifugal force that made him famous
Over 5000!! The design saved Dyson from bankruptcy and generated a billion-dollar business.
I’m started over at 53 and I’m not going to resign my life to mediocrity, nor will I accept anything less than hard work and forward motion. Sure it’s hard some days, sure there are days to just fuck it and stay in bed but I won’t accept that for the rest of my life.
In your 50’s your too young to spend your last days lamenting a bad past and too old to do anything else but shoot for successes!
Thank you Vic —
I’ve been following you and John Doe for a bunch of years now (I think it’s 5or more?) Tell the “old lions” and the young Wolfs that you are correct. There’s no time like now to do something. Why wait for tomorrow to come crashing down on you? Why spend days regretting the past? Why not do something and go forward! Get going Old Lions! Experience, strength, fortitude and hard work is what gets the prize!
17 day…
Where are you Vic ?
RECENT STUDY SHOWS THAT MEN WITH LOW TESTESRONE TEND TO GET MARRY. THAT’S THE WORST REGRET I HAVE EVER CAME UPON.
I SHOULD FIND A NATURAL WAY OF GET MY T” INCREASED.
PEACE.
50+ retired military here. Everybody has something they regret. The key is to minimize regret and maximize living.
Some good tips for young lions:
1. Travel and get out of your comfort zone. I’m not talking some lame trip to Vermont, go somewhere you need a PP and Visa like Cambodia, South Africa, New Zealand or Israel.
2. If you an American male, don’t marry an American woman. Oprah destroyed a generation.
3. Not all foreign women are perfect. Don’t marry the first girl who loves you long time no shit.
4. Start your IRA or any retirement vehicle early. Compounding interest is…compounding.
5. Be an entrepreneur, the opportunities right now are unbelievable.
6. Get out of the gym and into a good CrossFit box.
7. Learn to cook. If you follow rule 2 this most likely is covered.
8. Eat real food and if you are obese - beat it.
9. Assets make you money. Buying something that doesn’t make you money is not an asset!
10. You will make mistakes - if you don’t make them again, that is learning.
Mr. Pride,
This is another great wake up call. It’s frustrating when people tell me not to worry: “oh you’re only twenty three? You’ve got plenty of time.” I could never get behind that. I’m 23, and I feel old, almost like I’ve missed the bus, why didn’t I start earlier? Even now, as I sit here writing this comment, I feel like I’m racing the clock, wasting time (no offense to you ), pretending to be productive, when in reality, I waste quite a bit of time. Great letter, great post.
Im 25yrs old, reading this post really hit me hard, just for the fact of how much I haven’t done. I feel I have been living my life way to comfortable, living with my brothers, and just waking up and going to work, rinse and repeat. I know that I must do more then just work and come home, but just feel stuck where I am in life. I want to be better, do more, go on adventures, just afraid of taking that leap of faith, and keep telling myself that I will do that one day. I just don’t know how to start, where to start…
To: knowledge (Learning from your errors) -
and have courage.
Is the beginning of a new life .
Change it’s perfect.
Great later: ( I know someone, like this later he is going on 31 year old in and out of jill.
At time I feel there’s no way to help them to see future. They cover them self with anger, and that the kindness of people and love if fake they feel like is not for them). Also know someone at 51 year old that live a boble life and a 2 1/2 year son, 5 year realachip with that life / and a 23years with his wife with 3 kids age 22years and 19yeas and 17yeas old. I hope they see to change there life now …
Retired from factory work a 62. Looking to fulfill some dreams that have been on hold.
Still some responsibilities. I get 1 thing done each day that moves me toward the things I want. Future is bright and wide open. Oh, wait. Clock says Right Now. Gotta go. Shit to do!
This man’s purpose and legacy may be this sad wise advice. No matter how far down the wrong road you’ve gone you can always turn around, said the wise man. I am an old Lion (57) too, who has made plenty of mistakes but I just keep moving on. Apologize if necessary and keep breathing. No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to do what you don’t want to do! I rose from a crappy background; anyone else can too. Say “Yes!” to everything then pick the best option. Find something that requires you to keep good health. Read a lot of books, pick a mountain you want to climb and just start climbing! I chose a hard path and never had time need to smoke dope or fuck around because I knew I’d have to keep a clear head to accomplish my seemingly impossible goal. In the end people have regrets but if you are breathing you can do something about them. There has only been one perfectly lived life! great website here!