How to Get Tough Mentally to Excel in this Economy

June 13, 2010, By Charles Manley 0 comments

In 1932, to help readers mentally escape the poverty of the Great Depression, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the comic book superhero Superman. Over the years, Superman has come to embody the virtues and ideals held by the American public about heroic individuals.

In an era like the Great Depression where extreme poverty led to street mobs calling for the blood of bankers and industrialists, Superman sought no vengeance. He is protective, both physically and mentally tough, but he is not an authoritarian. Instead, he is a reasonable hero, accepting of a complicated humanity, and carries out his civic duties and responsibilities as the simple everyman Clark Kent.

Changing Times Means Time for Changes

The present is also a tumultuous time in world history. The economic downturn and terrorism have ushered in an era of extreme political and social change. Old and established industries, such as automotive manufacturing, banking and newspapers, teeter on the brink of disaster. No one's job is safe. It is a time of vast change and uncertainty. Even Superman is going through a transformation.

In 2006, the film "Superman Returns" tried to make the case for the relevancy of the superhero in today's world. Yet, despite an enormous budget and decent reviews, the film failed to spark the interest of the American public and did not meet the expectations of the studio. Hollywood is again looking to reboot the superhero in 2012, only this time they are looking to make Superman more diverse and interesting to a population amidst great fluctuations.

Change the Bathwater, Keep the Baby

While we are in a period of change and uncertainty, it is important to maintain our ideals and integrity. Losing integrity and sacrificing ideals lead only to conflict or cynicism. Instead, men must adapt and evolve in order to excel in the 21st century.

The 21st-century male is still courageous and protective, mentally and physically tough, self-controlled, respectful, reasonable, honorable and unaggressive. But unlike the inaccessible and individualistic Superman of old, the 21st-century virtuous male is not independent, but communicative, cooperative, fathering and mentoring of the young, and linked to the community as a whole. He is the Everyman -- far more public, vulnerable, and limited in his powers than Superman, but made equally heroic through his diversity and availability.

The Three Cs to Get Tough Mentally and Excel in This Recovery

Courage

The courage to believe in your abilities, to believe that you will make it in a 21st-century economy, and the courage to speak honestly, not over promise and under deliver. The courage to make new goals, try new things and seek out new opportunities. The courage to make the necessary changes, be realistic, but adventuresome. If you prepare yourself, you will be able to grasp opportunity when it appears. Stop doubting yourself. Stop asking the question, "What should I do?" Instead ask, "What should I do next?" The answer to this question lies not in the knowledge gained through reflection, but in the knowledge accumulated through action.

Communication

The world is more interconnected than ever before, but that doesn't mean everyone is omniscient. Fear breeds in quiet places. Communicate with your wife, children and family. Communicate troubles, desires, victories and opportunities. Unless you are a superhero, communication is your best avenue to eliminating uncertainty and fear. Get out into the community and get involved. Get off the island. Get out of hiding. Stop being Clark Kent. Be out in the open, and be accessible. The 21st-century male may have seven different jobs, own seven different businesses, or have seven different investment portfolios. Diversity is security, and diversity starts with communication. Let new opportunities find you. Don't be isolated. Be open for business 24/7.

Creativity

The world is in flux. The old and established are in trouble, not the new. New industries and new technologies equal new opportunities. There is more investment in new technologies today than ever before. There are new scientific discoveries being made every day. There are new policies being created. There are new laws being written. The next big future is happening right now. Do not wait for someone else to tell you where to stand and what to do. Get creative. The inventive will be victorious in the coming century. Don't live in the past, make history.