Be a Tough Guy

Becoming a tough guy is not a one time decision or event. Is something you have to choose every day. Like brushing your teeth, just because you do it once doesn't mean you are done forever. You must develop mental and physical toughness as an ongoing process. If you want to become a tough guy make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. This is a mental state more than anything else, so be prepared to train your mind as well as your body.

Steps

Building the Tough Guy Look

1. Try being gruff by getting a stubble look or a mustache. Only do this if it actually suits you, not just for the sake of looking tougher. You can also try to wear darker and/or more rugged outfits. You don't always have to wear black. Just wear clothes that allows you to be comfortable and mobile.
2. Work out. Nothing says tough like massive arms. Get in the gym, hit the bench press and squats, and hit them hard. You don't need to tell everyone you have been working out. Supplements such as protein powders and Creatine can help you achieve your goals faster. Don't forget bodyweight exercises like Pushups, Pullups and Dips. Find a workout regimen that works for you.
3. Take care of your body and diet. Don’t count calories and don’t be afraid to eat whatever you want, but still try to eat balanced healthy diets. If you can cook yourself your own meals this is even tougher. Eat lots of lean protein like fish and chicken and stay in good shape. The best thing to do is balance a healthy, hearty diet with a lot of exercise so that you are athletic and in shape without being overly conscious of your diet.

Building Your Tough Guy Skills

1. Take up martial arts, boxing, self-defense, or wrestling and become very, very good at whichever one you choose. Don’t talk about it constantly or brag about it, because people will find out that you are good at these things eventually regardless. Bragging is not something that a tough guy would do, that’s something a poser would do. Eventually people will know you as a fighter and think of you as being hard and tough. Even more importantly, you will be tough.
2. Build up your pain tolerance. It is true that pain is necessary to know when something in your body is wrong, but don't let it dominate your mind. This is related to not complaining. It's okay if something hurts, but learn how to deal with it. Don't do something crazy like sticking your hand on a hot stove to build pain tolerance or anything like that. Try going on long runs to feel what it's like to be in discomfort for a long period of time. Adopt a sport like wrestling. These are natural and healthy ways to build your pain tolerance.
3. Take the dirty job. Whenever a list of chores is being given out, do what nobody else wants to do and do it with pleasure. Of course, you already have to have adopted the tough guy mentality for this to work. If you clearly hate the dirty job you won’t be doing yourself any favors. Make the best of it and don’t complain – that’s really what being a tough guy is about. Just take what comes to you and run with it.
4. Research the lives of famous and historical tough guys. Reading about people like Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George S. Patton and David H. Jarvis will help give you inspiration. You can also read war strategy books. The most notable ones are "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, "The Book of Five Rings" by Miyamoto Musashi and "On War" by Carl von Clausewitz.

Building the Tough Guy Persona

1. Avoid complaining. This is one part of being a tough can that you can start working on immediately. Even if bad things happen to you try to make the best of it and don't look for sympathy from others. This takes no special talent; you just have to develop an inner strength to deal with problems on your own. Try keeping everything in perspective. You might have a bad day and there is no denying that can be rough. However, you don’t need to tell everyone about it. Keep in mind that many people have bad days, and that this is something you can deal with on your own. Of course, if you are in deep emotional pain and need help that's a different story. But if you're just walking to a restaurant in the winter and you feel kind of cold, you can probably handle it.
2. Don’t be overcome by fear. It’s okay to be afraid of things, but learn how to overcome your fear. Bravery isn’t about having no fear; it’s about being afraid of something but then doing it anyways. Learn to be assertive. You can overcome your fears by facing them even when you feel uncomfortable. For example, lets say you’re really afraid to drive a motorcycle but you think it looks really fun. Maybe that is something that you could try out. Do the scary things that you would actually like to do. Tough guys enjoy adrenaline, conquer their fears and go outside their comfort zone to improve themselves.
3. Be unpredictable and maybe even mysterious. If you are unpredictable, people will not know what to expect from you. There’s no need to constantly talk about problems you had growing up or with your family. If you are quietly tough and silent you will earn much more respect. People will fill in the gaps. This doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to speak, just don’t complain about your problems.
   • Being unpredictable means you don’t only have to do the classic tough guy things. Take up martial arts or wrestling. Learn to play guitar. Don’t fit into a box and you will be a true tough guy.
4. Earn the respect of other people. One huge part of being a tough guy is having the respect of those around you. You aren’t a tough guy just because you say you are. If other people truly believe you’re tough then you’re doing a good job. Try to learn a skill, or multiple skills, and excel at it quietly. This is a great way to earn peoples respects. Bragging and showing off your ego will do the opposite. You can earn the respect of others by treating them well, being fair, listening to others opinions, and trying to follow your moral compass.
   • Do not help someone if they don’t show you the proper level of respect. You don’t need to grovel in order to get people to like you. In fact, you should avoid that at all costs. If someone does not respect you, earn it quietly or don’t worry about it at all. If they get in your face about not respecting you, you are allowed to stand up for yourself. Don’t let anyone walk all over you.
5. Remain calm whenever possible. Many people act tough but when they are faced with an emergency they respond by getting panicked, or losing their cool, or blaming other people. Instead of worrying or getting scared take necessary measures to prevent, correct, and minimize the problem. This is a huge part of being a tough guy and it doesn’t involve having big muscles or being able to punch really hard. You just have to be calm and collected. Take control of these types of situations. For example, if a friend gets hurt on a hike be the one who responds quickly and administers first aid.
6. Try to always be kind to others. This is especially true for your friends and those you know are in a weaker or more uncomfortable position than you. You don’t have to go out of your way to pamper people but if you can help a person out, you should! Try to do it in a way that doesn’t draw attention to yourself or makes you the center of attention. People will respect you and see you as tough if you silently take care of your business in a kindhearted way.
   • Think about what it means to be the white knight. Defending victims of bullying, stepping in and speaking up on behalf of the mistreated – these are the real ways to be tough. If you pick on people who are weaker than you you’re not showing that you’re a tough guy, you’re just being a jerk.
   • Don't try to be overly helpful, know the difference when someone needs your help and when they can figure it out on their own. If someone is getting attacked you should help him, but if someone is searching for a comb you don't have to run to the store to find them one.
7. Be loyal to those who are loyal to you. Never betray your friends or your girlfriend or your family. Exhibiting loyalty is a huge part of being a tough guy, and it will also make you a good person. Being loyal means being there for your loved ones through the thick and thin. If a family member is sick and needs your help, they should know they can count on you even if it is an inconvenience.

Tips

• Stand up straight. This will make you look self-confident and take advantage of your natural height and size.
• Nothing says you're the real thing like exuding strength, confidence and kindness.
• Eat meat and vegetables, or whatever you want. After all, a tough guy should have a choice about what he eats.
• Avoid sucking in your gut, develop a muscular, flat stomach. Do 100 sit ups every morning upon rising and again before sleep without exception.
• Learn to appreciate the classics. Knowing your movies and music will add to your toughness.
• Watch Chuck Norris, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Lee, Charles Bronson, Jason Statham, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Doctor House and other "larger than life characters" from movies and TV series. Only emulate these characters to a small degree.
• If you don't do heavy labor, crumple sandpaper as you watch TV. Tough guys have hard hands.
• Don't be a bully. Bullying is a sign of your own psychological weakness. Be gentle on the inside, yet strong on the outside. Make sure if a girl is hurt, you help out. You don't have to be a jerk to be tough.
• Show some passion now and then.

Sources and Citations

See also

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• Have Swag
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• Run a Kid Gang

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