How To Be A Man - Updated
John LeFevre
Last year, the Wall Street Journal’s John Carney (@carney) and I collaborated on How To Be A Man.  The premise was very simple - to put together the definitive guide - a fresh and thoughtful look at what it means to be a man.

Now, we’ve decided to team up with Genius (formerly Rap Genius) and update that list for 2014, and  to include annotations. Click the highlighted lines to read more. Stop talking about where you went to college. Always carry cash.  Keep some in your front pocket. Rebel from business casual. Burn your khakis and wear a suit or jeans. It’s okay to trade the possibility of your 80s and 90s for more guaranteed fun in your 20s and 30s. The best public restrooms are in hotels. Never stay out after midnight three nights in a row… Unless something really good comes up on the third night. Play competitive sports for as long as you can. Never date an ex of your friend. If riding the bus doesn’t incentivize you to improve your station in life, nothing will. Time is too short to do your own laundry. When the bartender asks, you should already know what you want to drink. If you perspire, wear a damn undershirt. You don’t have to like baseball, but you should understand the concept of what a pitcher’s ERA means.  Approach life similarly. When people don’t invite you to a party, you really shouldn’t go.  And sometimes even when you are invited, you shouldn’t go. People are tired of you being the funny, drunk guy. When in doubt, always kiss the girl. Tip more than you should. You probably use your cell phone too often and at the wrong moments. Buy expensive sunglasses. Do 50 push-ups, sit-ups, and dips before you shower each morning. Eat brunch with friends at least every other weekend.  Leave Rusty and Junior at home. Be a regular at more than one bar. Act like you’ve been there before. Laugh more.  A glass of wine or two with lunch will not ruin your day. It’s better if old men cut your hair. Learn how to fly-fish. No selfies. Aspire to experience photo-worthy moments in the company of a beautiful woman. Own a handcrafted shotgun.  It’s a beautiful thing. There’s always another level. Just be content knowing that you are still better off than most who have ever lived. You can get away with a lot more if you’re the one buying the drinks. Ask for a salad instead of fries. Don’t split a check. Pretty women who are unaccompanied want you to talk to them. Cobblers will save your shoes. So will shoe trees. When a bartender buys you a round, tip double. The cliche is that having money is about not wasting time. But in reality, money is about facilitating spontaneity. Be spontaneous. Find a Times New Roman in the streets and a Wingdings in the sheets. She exists. Do not use an electric razor. Desserts are for women. Order one and pretend you don’t mind that she’s eating yours. Buy a tuxedo before you are thirty. Stay that size. One girlfriend at a time is probably enough. #StopItWithTheHashtags Your ties should be rolled and placed in a sectioned tie drawer. Throw parties.  But have someone else clean up the next day. You may only request one song from the DJ. Measure yourself only against your previous self. Take more pictures.  With a camera. Place-dropping is worse than-name dropping. When you admire the work of artists or writers, tell them.  And spend money to acquire their work. Your clothes do not match. They go together. Yes, of course you have to buy her dinner. Staying angry is a waste of energy. Revenge can be a good way of getting over anger. If she expects the person you are 20% of the time, 100% of the time, then she doesn’t want you. Always bring a bottle of something to the party. Avoid that “last” whiskey. You’ve probably had enough. Don’t use the word “closure” or ever expect it in real life. If you are wittier than you are handsome, avoid loud clubs. Drink outdoors.   And during the day.   And sometimes by yourself. Date women outside your social set. You’ll be surprised. If it’s got velvet ropes and lines, walk away unless you know someone. You cannot have a love affair with whiskey because whiskey will never love you back. Feigning unpretentiousness is worse than being pretentious. The New Yorker is not high-brow. Neither is The Economist. If you believe in evolution, you should know something about how it works. No-one cares if you are offended, so stop it. Never take an ex back. She tried to do better and is settling with you. Eating out alone can be magnificent. Find a place where you can sit at the bar. Read more. It allows you to borrow someone else’s brain. Ignore the boos. They usually come from the cheap seats. Hookers aren’t cool, but remember, the free ones are a lot more expensive. Don’t ever say, "it is what it is." Give thoughtful gifts. Don’t gamble if losing is going to piss you off. Life is short.  Wait for a good pitch to hitRemember: "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men"


John LeFevre is the creator of the @GSElevator Twitter feed and the author of the soon-to-be-released Straight To Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, and Billion-Dollar Deals.
Write the lyrics for a misc song made in 2014, titled "How To Be A Man - Updated", by artist "John LeFevre".