But before you read any further, let me be clear about something. This article and things I will discuss below are not for every man.

If you are looking for latest fad in feminizing pop psychology, then this article is not for you.

If you think you need to find your “inner child” rather than learn how to be a real man then this article is not for you.

But if you want to escape modern movement to make men and boys ever more effeminate, then ideas in this article might be for you.

If you never – ever! – want to hear a grown man talking about “finding himself” again, then what follows might be for you.

If you crave deeper lessons of true masculinity – of vision, self-sacrifice, courage and leadership then read on. What follows is definitely for you.

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My name is Mark Cole. Every day I strive to be a better man and a better father. I aspire to fear no man – but only God. I try to live boldly, energetically, fearlessly, courageously, creatively.

I often fail; but I do not give up. And when I am successful, it is because I am applying one of principles which I have learned from my ongoing, intensive study of lives of Great Men – men like Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Davy Crockett, Douglas MacArthur, George S. Patton and many, many others.

A few years ago, I was in a slump and needed an injection of vision and motivation into my successful – by ordinary standards – but repetitive, conformist and uninspiring life.

As I groped about trying to find something contemporary to read (yes, I am embarrassed to say that I have dabbled in self-help literature), it occurred to me: Why reinvent wheel? Why not go with tried and true? Why waste time with system of a success guru – especially one who promotes feminine side of man (my quest began, after all, in 1990’s)?

Fortunately, I knew enough about lives of Great Men to know that I wanted my life to look more like theirs. The only way to do that is to study them.

So I began and I have never looked back. Since my quest for guidance from Great Men of history began, I have made dramatic improvements in my life. If I were a betting man, I would wager that you need to do same.

***

From Winston Churchill, I have learned about perseverance, importance of powerful communication and about standing for principle.

From Theodore Roosevelt, I have learned about importance of pushing my body – but pushing my mind even harder.

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon – greatest preacher of 19th century – I have learned about what a real day’s hard work looks like. After meeting Spurgeon, I will never complain about being tired again!

From Davy Crockett, I have learned about importance of real education, but I now understand that most true education doesn’t take place in schools.

And so on. Do you see a pattern here?

One of secrets of Great Men of past is that they cultivated creativity and artistic expression in their lives. Sometimes Great Men consciously chose a craft or a fine art as an outlet, a creative diversion from intensity of their daily lives. And sometimes Great Men had no particular objective in pursuing creative expression, it just simply happened as an overflow of who they already were. They created, just as day follows night.

You can be creative, too, and reap incredible benefits. That is, if you use right tools.

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My new web site, http://www.ConversationFromthePast.com, will help you live a creative life of adventure and challenge you to expand your horizons and reach new frontiers. At Conversations From Past, men are challenged, edified and encouraged to embrace what Theodore Roosevelt called The Strenuous Life.

We challenge each other to live lives of steadfast resolution, to overcome obstacles, to win in spite of a thousand repulses or defeats, to never fear to try a new line of attack because of a previous setback.

We urge each other to grasp, to rise and struggle, even against incalculable odds, to attempt, to make bold move.

We also recognize that as we live lives that we desire, we will also be object of begrudging, resistance, hostility and resentment. Bold, intensely masculine lives create friction. It is not just historical irony that greatest peacemakers in history of world have met with violent death; it is simply way of this world.

One of best ways to deal with these difficulties, these assaults, is to seek a creative outlet, an artistic expression.

***

But, you rightfully ask, how do I get started? Great question. The answer is surprisingly simple.

Just start and don’t look back. As Churchill wrote of his own painting career (which was by any standard very successful, especially since he had a few other things on his plate):

[T]he first quality that is needed is Audacity. There really is no time for deliberate approach.