Fundamental of Achievement

All Things
Character

Character just may be what this life is all about.  At the very least, becoming the best version of yourself is one of the surest ways to find fulfillment.  Not only does great character elevate personal pride and self confidence, it has a positive impact on the overall the quality of your life.

Tier

What Is Character?

Character is the mental, emotional, social, and moral qualities possessed by an individual.  To a large degree, humans are defined by these virtues (positive traits) and vices (negative traits).  Those with great character are more likely to become successful and respected.

Why Character?

Character is one of the pillars upon which a great life is built.  It is foundational to external achievement as well as internal fulfillment.

I don’t claim to be an expert on anything I write about.

Hell, I hardly claim to be an expert on myself.  😂😂😂

These breakdowns are largely for me.  I use them to record and reference.  Unlike most others on this site though, this goal setting page might actually be useful to the outside observer.

No promises.  You can tell me.

Morality First

Today, there aren’t many people who do the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing.  Become one of them.

Better You, Better World

Living as the best version of yourself is the most powerful way to make the world a better place.  So do it.

Pillar of Greatness

Living an exceptional life requires an exceptional character.  If you yearn for greatness, you have to be worthy of it.

Man Amongst Men

Living a principled life will make you a community pillar.  The world needs more people we can trust and rely on.

Developing virtues tends to be a long, winding path.  Here’s a quick look at what the path to great character has been like for me.

Learn with Me

Like all of humanity:

I’ve been on a character journey since birth.

Some virtues have come naturally to me, like Mental Toughness and the ability to Forgive.  Others have been much harder to develop, like Self Control and Discipline.

I believe that life gives you exactly what you need to grow.  At the very least, my life has done so for me.

This is something I’m extremely grateful for.

Growing up, I was always lauded for my heart and tenacity.  As an adult, life has forced me to prove my determination again and again.  Overcoming Adversity has taught me more about myself than anything else.

And so my character continues to grow, as seen on This Site.

My Experience

I continually try to upgrade my character.

It’s a lifelong journey that I openly embrace.

I care about doing what is right more than anything else.  I’m not perfect by any means, but I try.  Hard.

Contributing to society is important to me.

I understand that the best way to make the world a better place is to grow into a better version of myself.

I know I’ll never be perfect—I’m not really trying to be.  Truth be told, I see that as a beautiful thing.  This never-ending journey is one of the things that gives life meaning.

I’m grateful for opportunity to be my own hero.

(meaning of life reused in “good life foundation” section)

 

  • Importance – 99%
  • Passion – 98%
  • Mastery – 50%

Journey Started: 1988

Good Life Foundation

It’s all about character.  Not only does it influence the trajectory of your life, some traditions suggest that it is the true meaning of life.

Where Character Fits in a Good Life

Character is one of the most important pieces of a life well lived.

For me, it’s a “Tier 1” concept that incorporates Integrity, Willpower, Self Discipline, Work Ethic, Leadership, and more.

It is also an important piece of the Achievement and Happiness puzzles.

‣ 1. Character
2. Work Ethic
2. Integrity
2. Stoicism
2. Self Awareness
2. Gratitude
2. Leadership
2. Charism

Success Habit Rank

Videos Watched

Mentions on My Site

Books Read

Pulling Threads: A Lion Chasing Rabbits

Pulling Threads: A Lion Chasing Rabbits

What the hell is This Site, exactly? A pointless stream of consciousness? A fanboy's ode to his Heroes? A psycho's Favorite topics? All three? Or maybe, it's just the result of a lion chasing rabbits. You might LOL... but this is how it works: I am destined to be the...

Developing Character You Can Be Proud Of

 

 

For those new to intentional character development:

Let’s start with the best advice up front.

Just start trying, because the world needs it.

Let’s be real.

Modern society has been spiraling into a cesspool of narcissism and hedonism for the last few decades.  It was slow at first.  Now, it’s like we’re trying to destroy our own civilization as quickly as possible.

The world needs good people more than ever.

Personal Responsibility 1st

Gandhi is often cited as the origin of the saying “be the change you want to see in the world.”

And while his actual words were more nuanced…

“We but mirror the world.  All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body.  If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.  As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.  This is the divine mystery supreme.  A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness.  We need not wait to see what others do.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

…the meaning is still very much the same.

In the end, you only have control over one person:

You.

So if you want the world to change, change yourself.

Indeed, Personal Responsibility is near the zenith of human virtue.  Jordan Peterson often tells people to shoulder the heaviest burden they can carry and struggle uphill with it.  Not only does this provide deep fulfillment, it also makes the world a better place.  That’s what makes it such a great prescription.

The better your character, the more positive your impact on those around you and society at-large.

It begs the question though, where should you begin?

The first of Don Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements is “Be impeccable with your word.”

It’s a great place to start.

This idea encompasses several virtues like Honesty and Integrity.  Society values men and women who are trustworthy and reliable.  (And we need more of them!)  So start keeping your promises—to yourself and others.

Even seemingly small changes like this can create a major shift in the way people view you (and how you view yourself.)  Not to mention, keeping your word is fully within your control the vast majority of the time.

Skills > Traits

Approaching your character with a Growth Mindset is important.

For most aspects of character, it is often more useful to think of them as “skills” instead of “traits.”

This is a seemingly small yet powerful distinction.  Skills are things you can develop.  Traits sound more like intrinsic attributes that you cannot change.  We typically ascribe character traits to one’s Personality, often wrongly.  Instead, think of them as abilities you can master.

It might even help you to “Gamify” your character development. 

This concept comes from RPGs, or role-playing games, where your character has a variety of attributes that you can improve as you “level up.”  In a video game, these might include health points, attack damage, or magical ability.  In real life, these might include any aspect of yourself that you would like to improve.

Luckily, you get to plan out your own skill tree.  However, there is one prerequisite that always makes a huge difference.  It’s called Goal Setting.  All Personal Growth, including character development, works best when it is informed by clear-cut goals.  You have to know what you want in order to know who you need to become.

Personal vs Social

Once you’ve got your goals laid out, it’s helpful to separate character traits into two buckets.

The first group is deeply personal.  These qualities typically affect you more than anyone else.

They include such traits as:

The second group is more social.  In fact, you can’t really hone them without human interaction.  Moreover, association with higher quality people often helps you rise to the next level more quickly.  As they say, iron sharpens iron.  There are some exceptions, but associating with people who embody the characteristics you admire is usually one of the fastest ways to acquire these traits yourself.

A strong network can help you build skills like:

Obviously, there is some crossover between personal and social character virtues.  For example, your Self Confidence makes a difference for both you and those around you.

 

 

 

The Hero’s Journey

hero’s journey… won’t prevent disaster in life, but may help you deal with it…. overcoming adversity…

 

two aspects of character motivation… becoming who you want to be so you can live the life you want to live (achievement/happiness)… becoming someone who does the right thing (morality)

 

If you’re a maniac like me, you might do deep dives into different character traits like Stoicism, _____, _____, and ______.  If you haven’t noticed, that’s part of what I’m doing with This Site.

Fortunately, it’s not really necessary to go this hard.  After all, life itself is a training ground.  Whether you know it or not, you’re on a Hero’s Journey/your life mirrors the Hero’s Journey.  Inevitably, you’re going to face Adversity.

Embrace it.

paragon of virtue just for the sake of it… spirituality…lots of new age stuff is just about feeling good/hedonism

 

 

 

habits

improving your character is one of the most important aspects of personal growth

 

the power of narratives to illustrate character principles… it’s called character development in storytelling… what is the arc of your life?… address challenges with the intention of self development in mind

 

How to Improve Character Step-By-Step

01

Discover Values

Character reflects your Principles.  The stronger your principles, the stronger your character.  Clarify your personal code of ethics and your code of conduct will crystallize around it naturally.  It may not happen overnight, but a little bit of conscience can go a long way.

02

Know Thyself

In order to improve your character, you need an accurate idea of your fortes and foibles.  This often requires sincere soul searching.  Take inventory of who you have been in the past and who you are now.  It will empower you to decide who you’ll be in the future.

03

Decide to Grow

The decision to pursue Personal Growth is an indicator of character within itself.  It reflects a degree of Personal Responsibility that is sorely lacking in many of us today.  Fortunately, there are many different ways to Brainwash Yourself into becoming the best you.

04

Find Role Models

Not many of us grow up with perfect role models.  Luckily though, we live in the Information Age.  Today, it is easy to find your own Heroes online.  There is a plethora of Entrepreneurs and other High Performers sharing their secrets who you can model your life after.

05

Challenge Yourself

Nothing builds character like Overcoming Adversity, even more so when you seek it out.  As they say, “Tough times make strong men.”  Taking on challenges willingly will make you more likely to prevail over obstacles in the future, whether expected or unexpected.

06

Forgive & Let Live

Forgiveness sits among the upper echelon of character skills.  It’s rarely easy.  In fact, it can often be hard to even identify who or what we need to forgive.  Still, clearing these unresolved “charges” from your psyche can have a profound affect on your overall wellbeing.

07

Write Your Story

You are the main character of your own life.  So become the kind of protagonist you’d love to read about.  Otherwise, the world will write your story for you.  Whether you know it or not, you’re on your own Hero’s Journey.  If you want a glorious destiny, you must choose it.

Remember: just start.  In today’s day and age, just beginning to prioritize character development puts you ahead of 90% of the population.

My Favorite Character Videos

You can find anything you need to know about having great character online.

I’m no high performance titan.  I stand on the shoulders of giants.  I simply listen to what my Heroes say and apply it.  Not everything sticks.  But enough does to make a lasting impact.

Data
Dump

 

One of the main purposes of This Site is to catalog my learnings.  I’m not that learned.  But I’m working on becoming moreso.  If you see a “data dump” on this site, you’re looking at unsorted information.  It may be related or completely  unrelated, depending on the topic.

 

The Death of Alex Becker

I Told Myself I Was Wealthy Until It Became True

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Building
Virtues

 

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Releasing
Vices

 

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Why Character
Matters

 

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Jordan
Peterson

 

Many of my Heroes champion different character traits and skills.  But no one makes the case for character itself like Jordan B. Peterson.

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How I Mold My Character to Create the Life I Want

If you haven’t noticed, I take this stuff seriously.

You don’t have to do it like me.  But maybe you wanna know.  So I guess I’ll tell you.  You might have picked some of it up by reading through this page or clicking on some of the links.

I’ll spell it all out here.

Spirituality

Thanks mostly to my mamaw, I grew up as a devout Christian.  Nothing mattered to me more that living by God’s word.  Over time, some of my faith in religion faded.  However, my faith in the principles of Christianity are probably stronger than ever.  Nowadays, I just sprinkle a little hippie into it.  More than anything else, I just care about doing what is right.

Self Brainwashing

I try to make character building a Habit.  My whole Morning Routine is about brainwashing myself.  I write Affirmations and listen to Moticuts as soon as I get up.  Building Willpower, Discipline, Work Ethic, Grit, and similar traits are the main focus for now.  I’ve still got some ways to go but I give Self Brainwashing a lot of credit for my progress thus far.

Journey of Fatherhood

In my estimation, I didn’t become a man until my first son was born.  Even before having kids, I would always say that my life purpose was “to play my part in creating the world my sons deserve.”  What I didn’t realize is just how profound the pull would be once I actually had sons.  Nothing has made me want to become the best me like fatherhood has.

Enlightened Learning

The more learned I become, the more reasons I find to become the best version of myself.  History, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and even evolutional biology—the arguments to be a better person come from many different aspects of the human experience.  Maybe I’m looking for it, but the rationale to be a good person seems to pop up everywhere.

Building a Business

Few things will mold you into a better you quite like Entrepreneurship.  Unless you embrace Personal Growth, you’re almost guaranteed to fail.  Some of us may be born to be the boss but most of us aren’t.  For me, building Greensboro SEO Pro has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done.  More precisely, becoming a true business owner

Great Stories

I take inspiration from great stories, as most of us do.  Generally, my favorite tales involve the Hero’s Journey.  While some of these come from books or cinema, the characters that resonate with me most typically come from anime.  Characters like Naruto, Rock Lee, the Elrics, Kamina, Simon, Luffy, Tsuna, Ryuka, Jiraiya, Emiya Shiru

Favorite Coaches

Favorite Teachers

Favorite Entrepreneurs

My [This Favorite] Posts

Becoming Legendary: My 2022 Goals

Becoming Legendary: My 2022 Goals

I'm fairly confident 2022 is going to be the most successful year of my life so far. I'm writing this post to help guarantee that. Obviously, I can't control the future.  But I can set intentions and create a plan of action. That's what Goal Setting is all about. So...

Setting the New 20s Off Right: My 2020 Goals

Setting the New 20s Off Right: My 2020 Goals

New Year's Resolutions get a bad wrap. It's not their fault though. It's yours. The truth is: The beginning of the year is a perfect time for a reset. You have to execute though. Do it right and this year could be the best year you've ever had. No guarantees. Because,...

How to Become a Morning Person [Life-Changing Habit #1]

How to Become a Morning Person [Life-Changing Habit #1]

Becoming a "morning person" has changed my life. Only time will tell, but it could go down as a top five factor to my future success. Learning how to wake up early wasn't easy. Until the second half of 2018, I've been a notoriously late sleeper. It started as a kid: I...

Becoming Legendary: My 2022 Goals

Becoming Legendary: My 2022 Goals

I'm fairly confident 2022 is going to be the most successful year of my life so far. I'm writing this post to help guarantee that. Obviously, I can't control the future.  But I can set intentions and create a plan of action. That's what Goal Setting is all about. So...

Setting the New 20s Off Right: My 2020 Goals

Setting the New 20s Off Right: My 2020 Goals

New Year's Resolutions get a bad wrap. It's not their fault though. It's yours. The truth is: The beginning of the year is a perfect time for a reset. You have to execute though. Do it right and this year could be the best year you've ever had. No guarantees. Because,...

How to Become a Morning Person [Life-Changing Habit #1]

How to Become a Morning Person [Life-Changing Habit #1]

Becoming a "morning person" has changed my life. Only time will tell, but it could go down as a top five factor to my future success. Learning how to wake up early wasn't easy. Until the second half of 2018, I've been a notoriously late sleeper. It started as a kid: I...

Setting Goals for 2019

Setting Goals for 2019

I have mixed feelings about New Year's Resolutions. I don't believe in waiting to make changes. I think it makes more sense to try to grow everyday. Create good new habits.  Erase the negative old ones.  Do it all the time. However, I find that measurement is...

My Top 3 High Performance Coaches

"YouTube University" has brought many a life-optimizer across my path.  These three are my favorite high performance coaches.

Brendon Burchard

operation Director, Elegant Themes

Robin Sharma

Tech Support, Elegant Themes

Tim Ferris

operation Director, Elegant Themes

So, You Think You Want to Climb to the Top?

Nice little subtitle for the win.  Nice little subtitle for the win.  Nice little subtitle for the win.  Nice little subtitle for the win. or the win. 

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