FocusGhana.com: Things Every Man Who Is Single Needs to Know

 

One thing I pride myself on is listening. And since I started blogging for ESSENCE, I’ve had a lot to listen to because… well, y’all have had a lot to say. What stood out the most is that no matter the forum (Twitter, Facebook, ESSENCE Community, etc.), a common theme has been, “Paul, we love your articles and advice but when are you going to give the Men some straight talk (no chaser)?”

My response was always canned. “ESSENCE.com is primarily visited by women and therefore, I write for women,” but there was one comment that broke me out of the mold! I found it while perusing one of my favorite blogs, Very Smart Brothas. The comment was made by a Brotha named ‘Obsidian’ (disclosure: this person uses an alias so I could be referring to a Tonganese hermaphrodite, but my guess is, he’s a Brotha) and he basically stated, “Paul isn’t in the business of helping Men” because he never writes to Brothas.

Well, you know what? Pertaining to ESSENCE, he’s right…their community is 96% female so writing a piece on something like fatherhood may not fully resonate, HOWEVER, for this site (my personal blog), I can choose what and how I write. That being said, this one is for the fellas! Although ladies, I have a request for you on this, too. Give it a read and if you agree with the content, please help me get it in the hands of as many men as possible – post it on your Facebook page, Tweet it, Pin it, and email it!

The following are the 10 things I want every man who is single to know!

 

1) Most Playboys I Know Die Lonely

The most sympathetic I have ever felt for a client was when I was approached by a 48-year-old, self-professed “playboy for life.” I’ll never forget the call. He said with a weak voice, “Paul, I’m looking for a companion, but you only have 6 months.” And then he added, I’ve given you that amount of time because that’s the same amount of time the doctors have given me to live and I’d like to share at least one day with true love before I leave earth.” We were not built to do life alone. Don’t wait too long to settle down.

2) Being a Playa is Nothing Compared to Being a Gentleman

Chivalry is not dead, but we’re killin’ it… slowly. In our parents’ day and before, boys were taught early on what it is to be a man, and part of that was knowing how to treat a lady. And if you didn’t learn it at home, you picked it up in the community by observing how men treated women. Now I go out, and men will not hesitate to walk through a door before a woman, let alone actually take the 5 extra seconds to hold it open for her. Brothas, really?? We know better, let’s act like it (especially for the boys coming up… they’ll be what they see)!

3) There is Nothing Sexier Than a Man with a Plan

Yeah, women often profess their love for an ambitious man, but I’ve found that a man with something as simple as a basic life plan (and MEASURABLE strides taken to achieve it) typically wins. I’m not saying to give up on your audacious “Jay-Z take over the world” scheme, but if all you have to show for it over the last 5 years is a studio in your basement, it’s time to move on. Remember that all of your goals need to be S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely).

4) If You Want a 10, Be a 10 First

Self-development is not just for the ladies. We want a woman who’s got her act together (body that’ll give Buffie competition, wittier than Kerry Washington, more nurturing than Florida Evans, and one that could give bedroom lessons to Karrine Stephens). That said, are we willing to take an honest look at ourselves to see where there is room for improvement. Don’t let that male EGO stop you from being the best you can be. Michael Jackson said it best… “start with the man in the mirror.”

5) Get a Mentor in Your Life … ASAP

Having a mentor is highly underrated. I couldn’t have experienced the successes I have (professionally and personally) without the guidance of several mentors. This is the single most effective step anyone can take to self-improve. There are countless studies that point to expedited development through the help of a mentor (and what’s most fascinating about this research is the qualification of the mentor makes a marginal impact on effectiveness -– so having basically anyone dedicated to listening and coaching you, will yield results). If you’re not sure about where to find a mentor, see #10.

6) Use Your Head to Protect Your Head

Yeah, you heard that right, protect your head! Diseases are killing us, Black men in particular. Most diseases are linked to straight smashin’… not intravenous drug use. Black men lead the number of new HIV infections and it’s literally and figuratively “the brain” that’s destroying us. The most popular question I get from high school and college-aged men is whether or not sexual diseases can be transferred through oral sex. I’ve stopped being amazed and perplexed why this was even a question to now simply being evangelical about it. If you have ANY sexual contact (oral, vaginal, and yes, anal), wear a condom or risk being 6 feet deep. Sexual education is a category that we need MUCH more dialogue about.

Source : Read More At Paul C Brunson’s Blog

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Tagged ASAP, EGO, ESSENCE, Florida Evans, Kerry Washington, Smart Brothas