Habits That Destroy You

We all have weaknesses. It's only natural, we're primitive beasts called men. We all have that one soft spot that goes against all the common sense, logic and experience we've gathered. Such a weakness can get us into trouble, and can cause us to lose credibility and respect.

That weakness can be a fondness for alcohol, a love of illicit drugs, a gambling habit, an inability to control your debts, being unreliable, an incapability to keep your mouth shut, having a sex addiction, or being a brute who idolizes Mussolini. I'm not immune. As much as I practice what I preach, I have a weakness too, and it's always been the sight of an angelic brunette with legs that can melt butter (and at times that weakness spreads to Eastern European blondes with racks that would make Costco blush).
Though said brunettes can cause my most primal urges to get the better of me, I can still keep it my pants. It's a habit that won't destroy me. Sure, I have mistresses, but they are all kept firmly under control so that it does not affect the rest of my life. I especially keep my "weaknesses" away from my businesses, so that the two never cross paths. So I have some habits -- some bad, some good -- but I'm smart enough to know when a habit gets out of control and has the potential to wipe me out. Some people can't make that distinction, so this article is for you.

sign of weakness

A bad habit proves you have weaknesses and a lack of discipline in some aspects of your life. How that habit controls your life shows how disciplined you are. But we can't get away from the fact that you are still weak and vulnerable in one area of your life. I've covered the dangers of appearing weak before. Having the appearance of weakness makes you a target for your enemies. They have found a loophole in getting to you. By having a bad habit that can destroy you, you open yourself to being exploited. Bad habits also affect your reputation.
When you lose control (i.e. you can't help but gamble when you hear the faintest sound of cards shuffling), it takes a toll on your reputation too -- you are seen as fallible and a potential liability. In my world, liabilities end up in the East River. You don't want anyone to think you're unreliable and unsavory; putting doubts in people's minds about your reputation is bad for business. It also has a snowball effect. Imagine if my enemies think my brunette/leg fetish is out of control. They think they found a way to wound me. Next thing I know, these cafones start sending every auburn-haired girl with a great arse in the county my way, until I put myself in a compromising position and they have a safe way to take me out. I've done it to others; why couldn't it happen to me too?

Check out the most dangerous habits a guy can have...

breaking down the habits

Alcohol: Booze can go from a nice accompaniment to a meal to controlling everything you do. All it takes is one moment with the wrong alcohol, at the wrong place, and at the wrong time to open your mouth and say things that will haunt you for a lifetime. Then you'll have a real reason to drink. Recovering from the damage to your rep caused by the bottle can take years.
Drugs: Like alcohol, they make you lose control, logic and reason. Unlike alcohol, they can be a more expensive habit and unlike being found face first in a pool of your own vomit, you end up in the can for dealing or doing the junk. Drugs screw with your brain, which is why the cocaine lords in Colombia don't touch their own supply. Like alcohol, by the time it's doing you enough harm to destroy your life, you'll be too souped up to do anything about it.
Gambling: The problem with gambling is that it doesn't take long for your gambling debt to eventually land in the hands of people you don't want knowing your name. You become known as a degenerate and you add no value to your life. In fact, you end up destroying everything of value in your life because the vig is so high, you can't help but sell off your liver to pay off the juice. Debt is a great way to destroy even the strongest of men.
Sex addiction: When your penis is making decisions your brain should be making, it's inevitable that you'll make a stronzo out of yourself. Sex and an addiction to women can cloud your judgment, make you easily influenced by a pair of T&A, and eventually burn associates who will look at your obsession with the opposite sex as a good scapegoat to screwing you over, or questioning your decisions and rationale.
Being a big mouth: Not being able to keep your hole shut can be a very nasty habit. Not only do you risk saying things you shouldn't, wrecking your reputation or being perceived as untrustworthy, you can screw someone up the arsehole pretty badly. That could cost you big time, unless you like wearing cement shoes.

getting over bad habits
Look, I'm no freakin' therapist over here, but there are some things you can do to get rid of the bad habits. I know it's not easy, I know it takes time, willpower, love, hugs, and a good shot across the head, but be a man, grow some testicoli , and get it done.
1- Be aware of your problem
If you are getting beaten up, losing your friends, end up in the hospital more times than Michael Jackson, max out your credit cards, or are always told what a jerk-off you are, maybe it's time for you to go up a hill for a few hours to get some perspective on your life. If you can't see that something is wrong, you're hopeless. If you need people to point out your stupidities, you have no chance. Either open your eyes or get out of town.
2- Be disciplined, not half-arsed
If you don't put all your effort into coming correct, you're doomed to fail. Like anything in life, things done half-heartedly end up being sloppy, inferior, and prone to breaking under minimal stress. Don't be a fool, don't waste your time, own up to your faults, and change .
3- Change your circle of friends
Unfortunately, too often we are a product of our environment, and if that environment is rotten, guess what happens to you? Stop hanging out with losers and people that are a negative influence. If they don't add value to your life, they are sucking it away. Friends either help or hurt, otherwise they are just strangers. A wiseguy that purposely got out of the business is not going to get too far by hanging out with wiseguys still in the business, is he?
4- Sabotage yourself
Sometimes, we need the crap beaten out of us for the truth to sink in. Sometimes we need to be taught a tough lesson in order to learn. So maybe you need to set yourself up for some severe consequences that will scare you halfway to Bangkok to get your life back on track. Turn yourself in, rat on someone connected, screw with the wrong guy's wife; do whatever it takes for you to hit rock bottom and wake up.

zero sum game
Like every bad habit, you are essentially playing poker with your life. Your bad habit makes you happy, it brings you a little bit of a thrill, you can feel like a winner after, but it can also screw you six ways to Wednesday (and to a back room for a beating with a bat). In the end, you have to ask yourself if the pleasure of the habit outweighs the risk it poses to the rest of your life, and take your chances if it does. As much as I love brunette tail, it's a zero sum game.

I know that, for all the pleasure they give me, they have plenty of downsides. I love to gamble on prizefights, but not enough to sweat if I lose big. I love a good wine, but not enough to lose my composure by overindulging. Control your bad habits or, better yet, get rid of them. We're human and we're imperfect. It doesn't take much for a vice to highlight those imperfections, so why not do something about it?

Source: Askmen.com

Famous Quotes To Live By

Great men have lived before us and their experience should be a blueprint for our future actions. Here are ten quotes from extraordinary men who have accomplished extraordinary things and who have something to teach us about life, wealth, and character.

1. "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -Henry Ford

If you remain focused, problems don't matter. Let's say you're considering expanding your company -- are you going to be deterred by the fact that you don't have enough employees to cover all the bases? Of course not, it's just a minor predicament. Keep your eyes on what you want to achieve -- the great innovator tells us -- and it will fly you forward on its own. Hurdles will be nothing but illusions.

2. "Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." -Henry David Thoreau

Who better than a famous humanist philosopher to tell us that loyalty always reaps benefits? Whether in your business or personal life, standing by your word, ideas, and comrades will always earn you the admiration and respect of others. Quid pro quo: if you're nice to others, others will be nice to you.

3. "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." -Robert Francis Kennedy

While it's true that we must always calculate the risks before venturing into the unknown, Bobby Kennedy reminds us that if you don't try anything, you won't get anything. Risk big, win big. The Wright brothers knew they were facing death when they tested their flying prototypes. But where would our society be without airplanes nowadays? Aim higher than you think you can achieve and you will surpass yourself.

4. "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." -Socrates

That Greek philosopher was one deep dude. Don't be afraid to acknowledge your ignorance and learn new things. People admire those who admit their mistakes or who feel no shame in asking about what they don't know. You don't know anything, realize it and take the necessary steps to rectify it. Enroll in continuing education courses and ask your colleagues when you need further clarifications; check your pride at the door.

5. "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." -Dwight D. Eisenhower

This man achieved the highest military rank and became President of the United States because he mastered this art form. The best way to handle people is with a word of encouragement and a smile. Be kind toward subordinates; they work well when they're happy.

6. "The buck stops with the guy who signs the checks." -Rupert Murdoch

The media mogul offers a lesson in practicality. He who has money has the final word over just about anything. You can get the best table at a fully booked restaurant, get out of a traffic ticket, or get a massage the way you really want it. There might be rules and laws, protocols to follow, and authority figures to respect, but none of this matters if you have money to throw around.

7. "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

Twain might have been a popular author and humorist, but the man knew how to turn out a quote. In essence, he means: think big and encourage others to do the same -- you'll be appreciated for it. A charismatic leader will make you believe that you are destined for an exalted life as well. So listen only to the advice of people whose judgment you trust and by the same token, go out of your way to praise others.

8. "Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown." -H. Ross Perot

Although he's certainly driven this one home, Perot's point is to always go the extra mile, as you never know how close you really are to success. Is that why he didn't run for President in the last elections? Uhh... Nevertheless, if you constantly push yourself, victory might be closer than you think. For example, should space exploration have been canceled after the Apollo 1 disaster?

9. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle

Basketball great Shaquille O'Neal recently paraphrased it as: "Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do." Who wants to argue with Shaq? Don't be satisfied with mediocrity; aspire to brilliance and do so continuously. If Shaq didn't give his 110% every game, he'd be the tallest used car salesman in America. Always strive for your best and let that be your calling card.

10. "The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit for doing them." -Benjamin Jowett

A 19th century English scholar who became famous for his translations of Plato's work, Jowett was also a man of the cloth. He suggests here a lesson in humility: Don't be self-centered -- teamwork always achieves more. The New England Patriots are what they are because they unite their strength behind the pursuit of a common purpose. The objective is more important than the celebration of your person.


source: quoteland.com

Ask for more

Are you content with your life? Can you honestly sit back, and say that you have achieved everything that you ever set out to achieve? Can you honestly say that you are likely to achieve your goals and dreams in the future? Many people begin their lives with hope, aspirations, ideas and goals. As life progresses, they slowly come detached from these, and one day, they come to a realization that they probably won't achieve their goals. So they give up all together, and stop dreaming, hoping, and planning for their desired future.
At that point when you give up on your dreams of achieving more, you give up on life itself. From that point on you are destined to wander through life without a purpose, or a reason for being. Unless, of course, you make some changes in the way that you live your life, and the way that you see yourself as a person.

Why Achieve More?
Ask yourself why you want to achieve more in your hopes, dreams, and aspirations of days gone by. Ask yourself why these were important to you. Could the answer be that they made you happy? They made you feel whole, and that there was more to life than the daily grind that you have become so accustomed to over the years?
We want to achieve more in our lives. For the same reason that we might climb a mountain, or run a marathon, to feel a sense of accomplishment, and achievement, we want to know that we are able to achieve anything if we truly believe that we are capable of doing it.

How To Achieve More?
To start off with, you must know what you are setting out to achieve, and this takes planning. We can achieve anything if we put our minds to it, but we can't achieve everything. So ask yourself what it is you value the most. What do you really want to achieve in your life right now? Once you know what you are setting out to accomplish, you have given yourself a strong starting point.
Plan your goals, and look for opportunities that will take you to your goals. There are millions of opportunities floating around us every minute of the day, just waiting to be grasped. The trick to success is to use only the opportunities that will lead you to your goals, and help you achieve the things you have set out to accomplish. Anything else is of little value to you, and your achievements.
Visualize your success. See it in every detail in your mind's eye, and never stop believing that you will achieve your goal. Life wasn't meant to be easy. If it was, we would never feel the sense of achievement, and accomplishment that we so desperately need in our lives. So see your dreams coming true, and live them out in your mind. This will give you the strength, and the courage to keep on going, even when it would be easier to throw your arms in the air and give up.
Remind yourself all the time about your goals. Write letters to yourself about all the wonderful things you will do or have once you have achieved your set goal. Place posters or words of wisdom around your home to remind you of what you deem as important, and have set out to achieve. Write out your own personal plan to achieve these goals.
Above all, remain true to yourself. Set your value system high. Live by your virtues, compassion, and know that everything that you freely give will be returned to you threefold. Never do anything that is against your belief system or your values in order to achieve more for yourself. Our values are the most important virtue that we have, and nothing is ever worth going against them. To go against your values, and beliefs, will only result in you thinking less of yourself as a person, and tarnish your beliefs that you are the type of person who deserves to achieve more in life.

You deserve to achieve more, so give yourself every opportunity to gain the things that you desire. Truly believe in what you want to achieve, and your capabilities to reach your goals. If you do this, you will achieve more, and still keep your value system intact, making you the person who really does have everything.