The badass is a dying breed, friends.
We live in a world of increasing hipsterdom where confidence is on the decline and conformity is on the rise. Fight the man and show the world you can’t be tamed. Resist being like everybody else, and become just like all those other millions of people that refuse to conform. Assimilate to the growing breed of those who take a stand alone by grouping together. Stick it to the man, man.
1. A badass never shows their ankles:
Invest in a pair of killer boots.
2. Let your actions speak louder than your words:
This is a good rule to live by in general. Allowing your actions to speak louder than your words will make room for the element of surprise. If you tell everybody around you that you are going to ride a jaguar through the African jungle and then follow it up with action, the action is impressive. However, if you ride a jaguar through the African jungle and then follow it up with the unexpected story, it’s way more impressive.
3. Don’t talk, just listen:
After you do ride this jaguar through the African jungle, don’t go bragging about it to anybody who will listen. Let the topic come up in conversation naturally. If it never has the opportunity to pop up in conversation, then you never get to tell the story. Accept that and just think to yourself, “yeah I’m a badass.”
A true badass doesn’t have to brag about their bad-assery. They feel it in their soul and the world sees it in their eyes.
4. Adopt humility:
Once your badass story does get aired out, still don’t talk about it. Whatever happens, just keep your mouth shut. Let people brag for you. Allow them to preach your adventures far and wide without ever murmuring a word about yourself. The stories will be exaggerated by those around you, leaving your acquaintances awed and intimidated by your presence.
5. Be confident:
A badass bro and/or chick will never show their insecurities. Everybody has them but not everybody shows them. Know your insecurities, push the boundaries as frequently as possible, and know those limits. To push said boundaries, see below…
6. Make as many mistakes as possible:
A true badass knows their limits because they’ve pushed them. If you make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up over it, take note for next time. Do risky things. When you push your limits, your limits push back. Sometimes you get hurt and sometimes you don’t. Whatever happens, pushing these limits will often make for a good story over a beer.
7. Dress for success:
A true badass owns their style without considering social norms. Their style is unchanging from year to ear and differs from the norms dictated by society.
This guy (from Pinterest of course), for example, doesn’t give a flying eff:
You don’t have to wear studs and leather to be a badass. If you own it correctly, you can be a badass in flip-flops and a Hawaiian shirt. The key to being a badass is having confidence in your quirks. Whatever you chose to wear–own it, my friend.
8. Be mysterious:
The best way to be mysterious is to listen. People love talking about themselves. Encourage them to do so. Ask questions about their interests and they’ll naturally think you are an interesting person. They’ll also think you’re a nice person.
Bonus if you remember what people are saying. Go up to somebody three weeks after you talk to them and say, “hey, how’s your scuba certification going by the way?” and they’ll be impressed and surprised with your social skills. It will further direct the conversation in their direction, away from you, and toward bad-assery.
9. Break the rules in small, but meaningful ways:
Live a little and wait till you get to the end of the street to put on your seat belt. People will expect you to not wear a seat belt because you are a badass. Surprise them all by putting it on.
Sit in a different seat everyday. Why does society tell us you always have to sit in the same seat in your math class every single day? Mix things up and move to another part of the classroom. Screw social norms and take somebody else’s seat, or even the professor’s (just kidding, don’t take the professor’s seat).
10. If you want to understand the light, you have to step into the shadows:
Don’t rebel for the sake of rebellion. Don’t get into trouble for the sake of being a badass. Instead, apply the scientific method. Step number one is to make observations. Now, how can you possibly observe the world, if you’ve never seen it from the back seat of a cop car? You’re not doing it to start trouble. You’re doing it to make scientific conclusions about the social and psychological composition of the physical world.
11. Bring back dead phrases:
Who says things can’t be groovy or bodacious? Why can’t that party be hella good at the illest joint on the block? Can I get a what what? Word.
Other phrases I suggest bringing back are, “let me hold that door for you,” and “how are you feeling today.” In an ironic twist of fate, you’d be surprised by how badass manners can be.
12. Own a pair of wicked dank sunglasses.
‘Nuff said.
[Featured Image Credit: Miramax]