3 Things Men can do during the Next 4 Years.
Today was the significant day when President Trump was honored and officially inaugurated as the next President of the United States. This is no small feat by any measure, considering the numerous challenges faced along the way. However, the implications of this moment are deeper than they might first appear, as the margin for success in securing the presidency is slightly just above fifty percent. This raises an important question: is achieving just half of the votes truly acceptable in a democratic process?
President Trump Inauguration
Some of the tactics employed during the election process were undeniably below the belt and quite uncalled for on both sides of the political spectrum. However, we are not here to delve into the debates and the election results, as that is not our primary focus. Our aim today is to discuss what men can actively do to support the union during this critical presidential tour.
Here are three meaningful ways in which men can help push the pendulum closer to elevated standards, moving beyond the minimal or subpar quotas we have all been dealing with for far too long.
Locker room talk might exist—well, it certainly does exist in many circles—and we have the choice to include ourselves in that kind of conversation, which can easily lead us to become chauvinistic pigs and inadvertently alienate the very counterpart to our existence. We have the option to disgrace ourselves with our vulgar comments and feed an ongoing ego problem that ultimately serves no one. Alternatively, we can choose to be the kind of men we would want our children to look up to and admire. Honored men conduct themselves with integrity and do not openly share intimate details about our private lives. You know the old saying, “a gentleman never tells”; that timeless principle should truly be our guiding mantra. Let’s bring a sense of mystery back into our lives, keep our traps shut, and maintain a dignified approach in our love lives.
Respect the businessman, particularly during the elections and in light of past concerns, the issue of bankruptcy has undeniably surfaced within the Trump experience. I’d like to take a moment to address this topic a bit more thoroughly. As a business owner, I can personally attest to having experienced years where I didn’t make a single dime in profit. It certainly hurts! There have been many times when I felt utterly defeated and considered the possibility of filing for bankruptcy. Failure is an inherent part of life in the business world. The real test of a dedicated business professional lies in how that bankruptcy is managed and approached, particularly with the vendors who were relying heavily on the return on investment. By far, I have encountered more business professionals who honor the important code of respecting and supporting the vendors that contribute to their business's stability. Every business owner is acutely aware that failure is possible, and that reality serves as the ever-looming monkey on the back of a business owner, reminding them of the risks involved.
Networking is undoubtedly important in many aspects of life. There’s no doubt about it. Presidencies, along with various leadership roles, are often won and lost based on the strength and reliability of the support structures that one has in place. This is why it becomes absolutely vital to surround yourself with individuals who genuinely support your ethics and values, just as you should be prepared to support theirs in return. If you associate with individuals who lead a questionable lifestyle, that negative perception can inadvertently extend to you as well. Conversely, if you run with individuals who consistently “do good,” then that positive reputation can have a beneficial effect on you as well. Additionally, we cannot overlook the ever-growing group of individuals who like to split hairs when it comes to what is deemed acceptable behavior. For example, is it truly acceptable to accept money from someone who has previously broken the law? Is this concerning all laws, or only specific misdemeanors? The main point is clear: it is essential to partner with people who not only support you but also align with a greater ethical and moral cause.
How you played the game should be all that is talked about here.
The next four years…what’s to come?
The next 4-years will undoubtedly set a significant stage for growth and development in all realms of government and public affairs, and I suspect that various groups and factions will feel they either have prevailed and were vindicated in their efforts or lost a battle and now seek to vindicate themselves. I sincerely hope for a slower and more thoughtful structure that allows us to rest on some basic yet essential principles. Principles such as “do no harm,” “treat everyone and everything with the utmost respect,” “learn as much as possible throughout our lives,” “have compassion for one another,” and “treat each other as equals regardless of background.” There are so many more principles that come to mind, I suppose. These guiding principles are in no specific order of importance either; they are all equally needed and should be applied consistently and thoughtfully across all situations.
What is our next move?