Here are some signs that I saw just this past week at a conference:

1. Speech. I think that we have a choice in how our voice is delivered – not necessarily the pitch (some people justbhave higher voices, and that’s fine), but more in the tone and delivery of vowels and consanants.

2. Responsibility. There were men that were older than me that were not mature at all. I really think that our young men need to be given great responsibility. They need to know that another man trusts them – not a woman, but a man. This will help develop things that they feel confident in – like providing for a family, doing at least a little bit of handyman or ‘fix-it’ work. It’s OK to screw up – that’s how we learn. If we teach our sons not to fail, then they won’t ever try anything that’s hard. I don’t think it’s too late (or really too early) to learn responsibility.

3. Leading. This is something I noticed in myself. I struggle with leading people, especially if I don’t know where I’m going. The bottom line is that I’m afraid to take risks and mess up – which I need to overcome. If I mess up, others will forgive me. If no one leads, where are we going to go?

What do you think? Am I right, or do you think that the culture of men is really headed in a direction that’s OK? Or are we even heading in a different direction?

Please share!

My introduction to shaving consisted of my grandfather shipping me an old Norelco electric razor (it had 2 spinning heads on it). I think the first time I shaved was in 6th grade – I was an ‘early bloomer.’

A few times I forgot to bring my very-necessary electric razor on trips out-of-town. This resulted (at least one time) in me asking the front desk of a hotel for a razor, which they gladly gave me along with a bit of shaving cream. They assumed I knew what I was doing. After 20 minutes of thinking I was skinning my neck, I went to meet my girlfriend of the time with a half-shaven, bloodied, red, and bumpy face.

Here’s a few tips that I’ve learned over the years.

• Buy a decent razor – they’ll last awhile once you get the hang of them (I use Gillette Mach 3 Turbo). The disposable ones aren’t good to learn with – they’ll frustrate you (and possibly cut you).
• Shave after you shower. This softens up your beard and is the opposite of what you want to do with an electric razor.
• Wet your face with as hot of water as you can stand, this will also soften your beard and make it easier to shave.
• Shave with the grain – not against it. This is also counter-intuitive, since you think you won’t shave the whole hair or get a close-enough shave. Once you get used to it, you’ll end up shaving across the grain, but still not against the grain.
• Any shaving cream will work. If you’re like me, you’ll get used to shaving after awhile and not use any at all. It’s cheap and worth the convenience, at least at first.
• Let the razor do the work – don’t ‘chip’ away at your beard or run over the same part of the skin constantly. Just clean off your razor often (under running water).
• Don’t fill the sink with water and clean off your razor in a pool of water. This can get old hairs back onto your razor. Run your razor under hot water for rinsing.
• After you’re all done shaving, rinse your face with cold water. This will close up your pores – it’s better for your skin, I guess (and it feels pretty good)

Someday I would love to try and shave with a straight razor – the way my grandpa used to do it. If you’re interested in trying that out, check out this lengthy post via “The Art of Manliness.”

Do you have any tips for shaving with a straight razor? We would love to hear them!

I’d like to open a portion of this blog for DIY (do-it-yourself) stuff, simple how-to posts, and tips on doing everyday things.

I would love to hear some ideas that you have for posts, or even submit some guest posts (because none of us have truly done or experienced everything – especially me).

What tip do you have for becoming a man? Have you done something that would benefit other readers? What would you like to hear tips about?

I remember that as a young boy I would emulate people. It’s natural – you will see young children emulate their moms and dads as best as they know how, and other people as well. It’s natural for us to want to be who we like. However, as we grow older, we begin to realize that we feel “fake” if we pretend to be someone that we’re not. We’re not honest with ourselves.

I’m still getting comfortable in my own skin, and I’d like to think that I’m an adult. I’m not sure how this works yet, but I want to be able to celebrate who my children are as individuals as I begin to parent. Of course I would love them to do certain things, and I think it’s smart to urge your children to try lots of things, and discipline them when they are out of line (see my previous post about what I learned from my dad and the comments in that post), but I want to be able to really celebrate who my children are as individuals. I also need to celebrate who I am as an individual.

As I continue into my journey of becoming a man, I’m realizing that I can’t be everything to everybody – that’s why we’re all created uniquely. I need the input, the humor, the wisdom, etc., of other men and women around me. Even my own children will need more than just me to learn from.

No father is perfect, except The One True Father. They all influence us in incredible ways that affect us for a lifetime.

What did you learn from your dad?

Thanks to my good, good friend Bobby for the picture that will headline this blog. Bobby is a true man that has inspired me in many areas of my life.

I hope to pique your interest, spark some thoughts, and entertain through my own mistakes. Join in on the conversation.

My father took me out to shoot it a few weeks later, and taught me how to be responsible with a gun and the lives of the people that were around me.

I still own that rifle today, and plan on giving it to my first son when he is ready for some real responsibility. It won’t be when he has proven to me that he’s ready, and it won’t be when his mother thinks he’s ready. He’ll be ready when I chose to give him responsibility. God made men that way – we need responsibility.

Later that same year (or maybe it was before the rifle – I was 8 years old, that’s all I know), my grandpa and uncle let me drive a truck for the first time. Not a Tonka truck or a big wheel – a 60-something, stick shift, short-bed, step-side, Chevy, pickup truck. I have no idea how I reached the pedals. It was awesome. I felt like a man.

When was the first time you were given true responsibility?