Three Legendary Mindsets
On earth, we are constrained by certain realities. If you stand on the ground, hold a book over your head and release it, the book will fall. If you eat fast food three times a day, never exercise and drink sugary drinks like water, you will be obese, and if you treat her like a star, she will treat you like a fan. These are realities of life. Like the sentences above, the effects follow the causes that precede them in life. There is a fundamental and more pervasive truth on earth. However, you define success; success ends with hard work and luck, which is variable. However, it all starts and dies in the same place as one’s mindset decision. So, to ensure we do not lose these time-tested mindsets that Legacy Gentlemen have used to revolutionize society, I will cover three mindsets that will make you legendary.
Problem Solving from First Principles
We must understand what is wrong then fix it, also known as problem-solving—those who revolutionize and change the world using first principles. First-principles mindset is the practice of actively questioning every assumption you think you ‘know’ about a given problem and then creating solutions from scratch. This kind of thinking is the precursor to innovation. If you use this method correctly, you will not be bogged down by perceived limitation, but because you use best practices as the “jumping-off point,” you will save time and produce outstanding results. So, let’s talk about the framework for first principles.
First Principles framework
1. Identify and then challenge your assumptions – write down long-held assumptions about the issue you are trying to solve or the value you are trying to add. If you are trying to gain 10 pounds of muscle, you might assume you don’t have the body type that can do it. If you are trying to start a real estate wholesale business, you might assume it can’t be done without a large sum of money. Challenge your beliefs. How do you know an assumption is valid? What would happen if the opposite were true?
2. Separate the issue into its fundamental principles – what are the most basic truths of your case? Asking thoughtful questions is one way to identify fundamental principles. Let us go back to Henry Ford. In the early 20th century, making cars was time-consuming and expensive because the team making the vehicles had to be knowledgeable master craftsmen on making or assembling most of the parts. Ford asked if this was the only way to do it.
3. Create new solutions – with the parts identified, ask how can they be recombined in a different way to produce something new and insightful? Someone who believes they have the wrong body type to gain 10 pounds of muscle could try a weight gain nutrition program with high-intensity weight lifting workouts with no cardio workouts. A budding real estate entrepreneur could partner with several small investors to share costs and perform essential tasks on the property. It’s important to be fearless and think like there is no box. As Elon Musk once said, “Good ideas are always crazy until they’re not.” So, think big and go crazy.
This problem-solving mindset is one of the first arrows in your legendary quiver. So, do you think you have to be born with it or grow into it?
Growth Mindset
Have a growth mindset. A growth mindset believes that intelligence and ability can be nurtured through learning and effort. Growth-minded people see setbacks as a necessary part of the learning process and bounce back from ‘failure’ by increasing effort. This mindset has positive effects on motivation, professional, and academic performance. The evidence suggests the brains of people with a growth mindset are more active than those with a fixed mindset–particularly in areas associated with error correction and learning. In her 2006 book Mindset, Dr. Carol Dweck explains this idea entirely; however, I will go over the high points.
The main difference between growth and fixed mindsets is the belief in the permanence of intelligence and ability; one views it as very permanent, with little to no room for change in either direction (fixed), while the other views it as more changeable, with opportunities for improvement (growth).
This difference in mindset will lead to marked differences in behavior. When you think intelligence and abilities are immutable traits, they are not likely to put in much effort to change their inherent intelligence and abilities. On the other hand, when you know you can change these traits, you become more willing to put in the time and work to achieve ambitious goals. You will gain more than others with a growth mindset because you will be less concerned about looking smart or talented and put more energy into getting better. This is the second arrow in the legendary quiver. Boom! Winning.
Winning Mindset
Many Americans were winning so much they were tired of winning in the past. This is a product of a winning mindset. Boom winning! A winning attitude is a determined, resilient, deep thinker whose ideas are most initially rejected until the successful outcome starts showing significant achievements. All noteworthy inventions came from this rare, exclusive, and golden winning mindset. Most of them were, at first, tagged as lunatics and manic before they could conquer the world.
Champions possess the winning mindset. Someone who presses on against all odds, undaunted in pursuit of his goals, is the one labeled a winner. A winning mindset isn’t something you are born with; It must be developed. Once it’s possessed, it will propel you to achieve all your goals and aspirations no matter the conditions around you.
In his book “Think and Grow Rich,” Napoleon Hill said, “Your mental attitude is something you can control outright, and you must use self-discipline until you create a Positive Mental Attitude-your mental attitude attracts to you everything that makes you what you are.”
Yes, the mindset of a champion produces winners. You do well to emulate such an attitude. It leads to excellence in every facet of your life. It’s the same mindset Michael Jordan developed when he spent hours and hours practicing his craft to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time. A winning attitude clearly calls for focus and sacrifices, but any gift on your way to greatness is never too big and is undoubtedly worth the effort. This idea is best demonstrated in Valuetainment’s Patrick Bet-David video on the winning mindset. Mindset quiver equipped to move toward legendary status.
Is that all?
Your thinking sets the course your body will tread, as I have written before. Having the correct mindset is the precursor to success in all areas of life. First Principles, Growth, and Winning attitudes are three weapons in your mental arsenal. These are not the only thinking patterns you need, and they are all useless without you putting in the work. Get your body fit, get your money right, and know your value. Doing these things will put you on the path to being legendary.
HOW TO GROW YOUR STYLE VIDEO STORY
Men Grow Your Style: A Quick Primer to Men’s Fashion
Do you dress like a bum? Most people do. So, let’s be honest, unless you care about your presentation to people all the time, now and then, you dress like a bum. No worries, you are not alone. However, your bum attire time should become less frequent the older you get. So, gentlemen of all ages, here is a plan to grow your style. Thanks to the internet, you can use many stores to put together classy, trendy, and quality outfits. But you need to find your unique style, enter Legacy Gentlemen. Style is knowing what fits you and carrying it well. Here is how to grow style.
Collect Legendary Style Inspiration
The primary challenge of growing your style is not having enough clothes to wear. Most men have things in their closets and dressers that they need to get rid of immediately. Also, if you use thrift stores and online stores, it will be easy to build up your new stylish closet. But the thing that might make getting dressed hard is that you might not have a theme or message in mind every day you dress.
That’s why your style process should start with gathering sources of inspiration. This can come from anywhere you like: Legacy Gentlemen, celebrities, brands, and historical public figures. Find people and styles that resonate with you.
You’ll probably start to notice some repeating themes. Don’t overthink it but pay attention to patterns in your choices. Maybe you gravitate toward specific colors, items, or designers. Use that as your guide. Does your guide remind you of someone?
Style Icon
This might be the time for you to pick a style icon. Style is basically knowing what fits you and carrying it well. A style icon inspires fashion; this person is always well attired, wearing what is good and what suits him and not necessarily what is in vogue. He sets the standard for his age, station in life, and station in society.
We at Legacy Gentlemen came up with three Style Icons; oddly, two are British: James Bond, the fictional character, and Tyson Beckford, a male supermodel, and Idris Elba, a British actor.
Copy Everything Good
Pick a few classic items to wear with your new inspiration in mind. Did you know you were awesome before you bought the clothing? Your new clothing indeed makes you a bit more awesome. Suppose you do not feel confident enough to own your new unique look just yet. No worries, this is why we have the style icons. They look good, so looking like you look good.
Go through magazines, videos, and social media accounts, and find a specific outfit you like. Now, recreate it using things you already have. Pay attention to color combinations, fabric texture, different layers of clothing, accessories, and most importantly, the shoes. You do not have to match precisely for the same feel, attitude, and swagger. These are your clothing and someone else configuration of them. This is now part of your style, which you can rearrange anytime.
You can quickly put together great-looking outfits when you build from existing looks. This will also help you see what message you want to send to people. You have a message to send. What does your icon say, suave ladies’ man, the sexiest person in the room, distinguished hot, and getting better looking with age? Are you feeling your style icon?
As you develop your style, you will no longer need to follow other people’s outfits. But keep this idea in your back pocket for days when you’ve got that “nothing to wear” feeling—it’s great for breaking out of a rut.
Keep Old Clothes
The old “If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it” rule, No if you have not worn it in seven to ten years maybe. If it no longer fits, yes, get rid of it now. Look, it does not hurt to save a few old things that you do not wear often. Your style will evolve with time, and that seersucker suite you have not worn for years might have the occasion arise in the upcoming spring or fall. But it must fit, get it tailored or get rid of it.
Ignore Trends
Forget about being “fashionable.” Create your style, do not become a slave to pop culture trends. Fashion is not style; they are two completely different things. You are not aiming to be trendy. You are becoming legendary. Your style is about creating an everyday look and identity curated to your taste and lifestyle. Each item you incorporate into your wardrobe should represent who you aim to become.
Trust the Process
Hey, gentlemen, your style is a journey, not a destination. Your look should evolve with time, reflecting your growth and experiences along the way. Act and dress your age. Don’t strive to land on a final, finished version of your style. The process is the point, and every iteration of your style at a given moment is an authentic reflection of who you are. You’ll change and learn throughout your life, so relax, embrace the changes, and let your fashion choices reflect your growth.
Kill the bum
This was a short primer about how to build your style. Never forget people judge you within the first 8 seconds of seeing you. In this short time, your look, including your body language and personal style, is the only thing people judge at that time. So, raise your level one. Replace your tee shirts with henleys or polos. Upgrade your jeans to chinos, ditch your current sneakers to minimalist sneakers, or better yet, have seen what causal dress shoes have to offer. At some point, in your 20’s, 30’s, but hopefully by your 40’s, you must dress differently from the other age groups. With your increased age, you have gained experience, wisdom, and class. You should dress like it. That was the old you who ran to Walmart or the grocery store in tee-shirt, jogging pants, and tennis shoes. Kill that bum. We are the Legendary ones. Live it.
