The first day of the year provides us an opportunity to reflect on the previous year, as well as a chance to decide what we want for ourselves in the next 365 days.  If you log on to twitter, tumblr, or any other social media site today, you will be bombarded with talk of resolutions, change, and improvements for the coming year – and we would be remiss if we didn’t throw our hat into the ring as well.  So here is an introduction to 2013, from your friends at AG. 

Why do I even need a resolution? 

We’re willing to bet that 2012 wasn’t a complete failure on your part – and that some really good things happened.  Don’t let this media frenzy of resolutions make you think you need to reinvent yourself completely – pick a couple of areas you’d like to improve upon, and knock them out of the park.  If you’re feeling complacent, challenge yourself; if you’re dying for change, prioritize the most important needs in the new year. 

I want to win the US Open. 

That’s great kid, good luck, we’re right here behind you.  Goals, by nature, are difficult to attain – that’s what makes reaching them so awesome.  That’s also what will cause so many men to fall short in 2013, but not us, and not you.  We know you’re smart enough to make your goals process-oriented, which is why you’ll get that promotion over Joe from accounts, and why you won’t stop at losing 20 pounds. 

In 2013, focus on the process, the everyday habit of excellence – in whatever field you choose – and your “resolutions” will soon be in your rear-view mirror.  This process-oriented approach will do two things; first, it will focus your daily activities and create a binary (yes or no) answer to your approach.  Take losing weight as the example: If your goal is to lose 20 pounds, that’s great, but how will you accomplish it?  Instead make your process:  30 minutes of cardio every day.  This creates an attainable and clear “goal” to accomplish.  Nothing feels better than having accomplished your goal for the day before you even get to work.  Second, this approach will be habit-forming.  Instead of stopping at your goal of 20 pounds, you have a process to follow: 30 minutes of cardio per day.  Follow that for an entire year, and you will reap many different rewards.

Just like fat people get fat one bite at a time, and Jack Nicklaus became great one range ball at a time, your goals will be accomplished one day at a time.  Make sure that you win each individual day, and you’ll be amazed at what you will accomplish.  

Happy New Year from The American Gentleman.  Let us know what your processes will be in 2013 @theamericangent on twitter or in the comments below 

Dear the American Gentleman,

I think that any woman who doesn’t see your economic motivation, and for that matter financial intelligence, is missing out. Explain to her that you learned the value of education and the value of money in one fell swoop. The biggest problems in relationship and marriages are often with money, showing her you are this responsible will show her you should be taken seriously. 

Anonymous asked: Dear American Gentleman, if a man wears a button-up shirt inside of a sweater, how should his collar be worn? Inside or out? Top button buttoned or not? Many thanks and I hope you and your loved ones have a lovely holiday.

I always leave the top button unbuttoned, my collars are starched enough that they typically don’t spread much from the sweater collar, but I’d say in or out is a matter of personally preference. Go with the cleanest look based on the collar type of the shirt, more narrow collars, tuck, spread collars let spread.