Why a gentleman shouldn’t fear making

mistakes
From inspiring others to learning yourself, this is why a misstep now and then isn't the end of
the world
If you ask any successful person about how they got to where they are today, the response will most likely be that it was a
case of “two steps forward, one step back”.
In a world increasingly obsessed with perfection and with so much at stake in everything we do, avoiding mistakes seems
paramount. Whether it’s at work, in social situations or even using gym equipment, we all fear the consequences of getting
it wrong. There simply isn’t time to slip up too often.
However, too much time spent worrying about what may go wrong is not only going to have a negative effect on your
health, but it will impact your ability to focus on what you can do to make things move in the right direction. Whilst
repeating your worst mistakes isn’t something we recommend, accepting that they are all a part of life’s journey is going to
improve your chances of success far more than letting your lack of perfection get you down.

Mistakes aren’t a sign of inability

It’s easy to be hyper-critical of ourselves. Assuming that failing a task at your first attempt is a sign that you are simply
incapable is hardly a good way to go through life. Re-assess, re-try, and don’t let your mistakes chip away at
your confidence.

They teach you your most valuable lessons

“Well, you won’t do that again” might seem like one of the least comforting things anyone can say to you following a costly
slip-up, but such condescension does have a valid point. It might be hard, but seeing your mistakes as an opportunity to learn
is a pretty reliable recipe for improvement.
Mistakes fuel your ambition
If the path to success always ran in a smooth and straight line, where would you find your motivation? Mistakes make things
far more exciting, and part of making them is finding – and maintaining – the determination to prove what you are capable
of.

Mistakes allow you to reboot and regain perspective

Trying again isn’t just about doing the same thing at a different time. Not only are you likely to accomplish what you set out
to do in a more competent and efficient way than you might have done the first time around, but rectifying your mistakes to
do so will make you really appreciate the work you have put in. 
Mistakes inspire others
It goes without saying that another man’s success can be a major source of motivation. However, what is even more
inspiring is knowing the mistakes these men have made and how they have recovered from these to achieve their goals (big
of small).

Improve your relationships

You might have heard that ‘everyone makes mistakes’ many a time without really dwelling on its significance. Not fearing
your own mistakes will make you far more empathetic towards the ones that others make. The way that you respond to
others’ mistakes, or that they respond to yours, is vital. Forgive and forget when appropriate, gents.
Mistakes are inevitably going to happen. The sooner you stop dwelling on those you have made, or even those that you
could make, the better.
30 things every gentleman should do before
turning 30
The clock's ticking, gents. But how many of the following have you ticked off in your
twenties?

Ah, your roaring twenties. Kicked off with a big, brash twenty-first birthday party, it’s a decade that begins with such
promise. But then, as you graduate, delve into the world of work and inevitably settle down, it’s common to find yourself
approaching the big 3-0 as a shadow of your former self.
Thankfully, to combat these late-twenties blues, we’ve amassed a list of things that you can do to spice up this exciting
decade. From buying a tailored suit to climbing a mountain, these are the 30 things every discerning gentleman should have
done by the time he’s 30. So get ready to tick off, and make plans to complete those that have as yet evaded you…

1 - Climb a mountain
We may as well start with a big one — literally. Climbing a mountain takes patience and skill, as well as physical strength,
so it’s a good test of your mettle, and something every self-respecting gentleman should tick off his list before 30.
And we’re not talking Everest, necessarily. Any old mountain will do. Just make sure you do the obligatory hands-on-hips
take-in-the-view sigh when you get to the top.

2 - Invest in a piece of art

Art is long and life is short — or so they say. We’d argue that it’s more than that. Today, art is a global currency, and the
right piece can fetch tens of millions.
So what are you waiting for? Be it a whirl around a local art fair or a big spend at a high-end auction house, make your
investment. In ten years time, you could be thanking us…

3 - Go skydiving
It’s said that if you haven’t bungee-jumped or skydived before you’re 30, you never will. Our advice, then, is simple; do it.
Skydiving would be our chosen pursuit — throwing yourself out of a plane and falling two miles to the ground. You’ll feel
just like an action hero, and that’s what we all secretly want…

4 - Learn how to master a signature dish

And steak doesn’t count. We mean a proper, classic dish that you can whip up for dinner parties, entertaining the in-laws or
impressing the boss.
Whether it’s a perfect carbonara, an impeccably-made Massaman curry or a flawless Doro Wat — don’t know it? You’re
missing out… — throw on your apron and get those culinary skills honed.

5 - Buy one tailored suit

Because nothing looks as good. And, even if you’re only going to invest in one tailored suit in your lifetime, it makes sense
to get it early on. That way, you can make the most out of it. But remember: Keep it simple. You’ll regret that floral pink
print the first time you have to throw it on for a funeral…

6 - Travel to at least three continents

Europe, Australasia and Africa? North America, Antarctica and Asia? Africa, South America and Europe? There’s seven to
choose from, and if you’ve visited at least three before you hit the big three-o, you’re well on your way to conquering the
world.
And, with the different cultures, peoples, food and landscapes you can find, there’s truth in the maxim; travel really does
broaden the mind.

7 - Learn another language well enough to flirt

It’s said that the measure of learning another language well is making a native speaker laugh. We disagree, as surely flirting
is the gold standard of proving your lingo skills?
Opt for a romantic language to this end, something latin such as French, Spanish or Italian. Then unleash your newfound
tongue next time you take a trip.

8 - Ride a horse
Who doesn’t watch westerns and feel a twinge of jealousy? We know we do. Be it Eastwood or Wayne, whenever anyone
canters across the silver screen, we all have secret desire to saddle up and ride off into the sunset ourselves. So why not do
it? Just leave the chaps and spurs at home…

9 - Read a great (though not necessarily celebrated) work

of literature
No-one’s going to be impressed at a dinner party if you tell them you’ve read Ulysses or War & Peace. They’ll likely just
think you pretentious — and thoroughly predictable.
Instead, when conversation turns to literature, ensure you can surprise them with a little-known classic — anything from
Wilde to Woolf, Conrad to Kipling.

10 - Win a game of chess

This is harder than it sounds. Not only do shockingly few people under 30 even know how to play chess, but the game’s
popularity has waned since the seventies heydays of Spassky vs Fischer.
And then, even if you do find someone who has knowledge of the rules, a chess set and a want to play you, you have to win.
Thought this was a simple one? Checkmate.

11 - Reach out to one of your heroes

They say you should never meet your heroes, but we disagree. If you admire someone, they should stand up to scrutiny —
and offer you advice that will better your life.
So, whoever they may be and however you may contact them — even a letter is better than nothing — reach out and reaffirm
why you respected them so much in the first place.

12 - Become a mentor to somebody else, even if just for a

week
One of the key parts about growing into a man is assuming responsibility and imparting knowledge. With a whole new
younger generation beginning to their mark on the world, it’s a key time to take someone under your wing and show them
the ropes of a hobby, career or skill.
Doubtlessly someone did the same for you, and you wouldn’t be where you are today without them…

13 - Learn how to make one cocktail really well

Just one. That’s not really that hard. There are a lot to choose from, after all. So, whether it’s an Amaretto Highball, a Death
in the Afternoon, a Pisco Sour or a Black Russian, buy the barware you need to craft it, invest in a couple of bottles and
practice until it’s perfect. You’ll be the toast of any party.

14 - Learn to drive
Even if you grew up in a city, driving is a skill every gent should have under his belt. And, while you might not learn in a
fancy set of wheels, once you’ve got the skill you can work up to owning a classic…

15 - Find a pub to call home

Of course, this depends on where you find yourself, but every discerning gent needs a good local — an armchair in the
corner that others know not to sit in, and a landlord who knows your usual the minute you breeze in the door.
Look for studded leather, a dark wood bar and some sort of old hunting weapon mounted above the optics. Then settle in and
raise a glass.

16 - Go to the opera, even if you never return

Opera. It’s a word that can strike fear into even the most cultured of hearts. But, if there’s one leap you should take before
you turn 30 — the skydiving above notwithstanding — it’s a trip to the opera.
From Rossini to Puccini, Wagner to Strauss, it may be a case of closing your eyes and picking one, but it’s worth taking the
chance, even if you never return…

17 - Give blood
If you’re not already a blood donor, you should be. Your donations are few and far between, it’s an incredibly important
public service to undertake and you tend to get a free cup of tea after you’ve given up some of the red stuff. It’s a no-brainer.

18 - Host a Sunday roast in your own home

Nothing says ‘adulting’ more than juggling a meat, several different dishes of vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, gravy and
dessert all at the same time. As such, invite your friends and family around for a huge Sunday roast, put on a great spread
and have a lovely time. It’s as easy as that.

19 - Go on a shoot
Shrug on your Norfolk Shooting Jacket, pull on your Le Chameau Boots and head to the fields — for every gentleman has to
go on a shoot every once in a while. Last year, we rounded up the best shooting gear money can buy…

20 - Learn to Ski
Because every man should know his way around the slopes. If you haven’t learned to ski in your youth, you’ll inevitably
start to worry when you finally do get around to it, and likely won’t make it past the green slopes for fear of dislocating a
knee/making a fool out of yourself.

21 - Have a favourite whisky

And it doesn’t have to be Scotch, either. As long as it’s a delicious dark amber in colour, looks excellent swirling around a
lowball with a couple of cubes of ice and tastes like liquid manliness, you’re onto a winner.

22 - Make homemade sloe gin

Having a favourite whisky is all well and good, but it’s not until you’ve made a spirit yourself that you can sip with the pride
of a real drinksmith. Sloes and sugar are all you need to add to the gin, and then you play the waiting game. We’d
recommend you save this until Christmas — unless you turn 30 before then…

23 - Travel on your own for a week

There’s nothing quite like getting away from it all to clear the mind. And that goes double if you travel on your own. Book
your flights, take a trip and really get to know yourself.
But choose your destination carefully; a week alone in Grimsby might do you more harm than good…

24 - Cook a steak to perfection

It’s a simple one. But everyone should know how to cook a steak to perfection. Honestly, we’d be worried if you hadn’t by
now but, if that somehow is the case, get griddling right away.

25 - Own a pair of Goodyear-welted shoes

First up, let’s explain. A Goodyear welt is a strip of leather or rubber that runs along the outside of your outsole.
It’s the mark of a reliable, hard-wearing shoe — and the next pair of shoes you buy simply must have one. Thankfully, we
know just where you can pick them up…

26 - Buy property
If there’s more of a mark of adulthood, we’d like to see it. Granted, you’ve been living on your own for a while now — or
we certainly hope you have been — so you’re a dab hand at household chores and paying bills.
But you should aim to actually buy before you hit 30 — unless you live in London, of course…

27 - Place a bet in a casino

You don’t have to tux up and sit by the roulette wheel with a dry martini, but we’d suggest that you head to a casino and
place a bet before turning 30.
True, it may not be the most sustainable way of earning money, but there’s a certain fun in the risk of gambling. And, if it
pays off, winning is a high unlike no other. Just know when to quit…

28 - Find your signature scent

It’s another way that you build a persona during your twenties — picking out that singular, signature scent that will stay with
you and define you for years to come.
Obviously, this is a dangerous assignment; choose wrongly, and you’ll be the subject of wide berths for years. Here’s some
suggestions if you’re struggling.

29 - Learn at least one song on piano or guitar

Not Wonderwall. Just to make that clear. But if you sink your time and effort into learning one song on an instrument,
whenever the party is dying down, you’ll come to the rescue and look highly-skilled doing so. Just not Wonderwall. Never
Wonderwall.

30 - Own a Swiss watch that will see you through the next
30 years
Like your signature scent, your watch is an important part of your identity. So invest in the best, and find a design you really
love. Who knows; it might become an heirloom that gets passed down for generations to come.