It was once said that age is wasted on the young. While I would not change any of those painful lessons that I have learned in my life because I have benefited too much from them; Yet I still wish I could save others from the lessons life invariably teaches. Here’s my attempt to get closer to the 30-year-old. I realize that it is likely to fall on deaf ears, as it probably would have happened to me at that age.
For the average red-blooded man in his 30s, the focus is on success. They say, “I’ll be happy when I get the money, the Porsche 911 or the mansion.” I have been fortunate to have all three. Each time I was convinced that the new goal of success I was pursuing was going to make me happy.
That kind of thinking comes at a price. A price you probably didn’t even know was on the block. I have titled this phenomenon “The Louis Vuitton Factor.” Look, because you’re so focused on the money-making business, you leave some things out of reach. That is, your wife or girlfriend.
This is where things get a little tricky and where I’ll probably lose my 30-year-old success maniac. I can’t tell you how many girls I’ve talked to who are slowly dying because their man ignores them. The reasoning they hear from their well-meaning husband Donald Trump goes something like: “It is my focus and my hard work that gives you all the things you have.” The problem is that he gives her “everything” but nothing that she really needs.
I can see these couples from a mile away. In fact, last week I couldn’t help myself. I did some rebellious shots of what was happening right before my eyes. Here’s the backstory. Kim and I are on the beautiful island of Salina in Sicily watching the sunset in a very sexy bar overlooking the Mediterranean. People come from all over the island to have cocktails and see the most perfect sunset you have ever seen. We are talking about a life changing sunset.
As I look out of the corner of my eye. I see this flashy supermodel looking sad and squashed. So I see why. I see America’s next billionaire sitting next to her, patting the top of her lap at the bar as the sun goes down and completely ignoring her.
There are many versions of this story, but the plot remains the same. It could be the cell phone that rings on the date night you have to take. It could be the emails you have to return while at the pool on vacation. It could even be a text message as he tells you a story about his day.
So what is the lesson? Your girl will leave you and find someone to pay attention to her; even if you give her a Louis Vuitton bag. It’s not the bag she wants … it’s you.
