Mark Manson, Postmasculine.com

Mark Manson, Postmasculine.com

Mark Manson

Medellin, AT

Male, 28

I am a professional blogger, internet entrepreneur, and world traveler. I've been to over 40 countries and am currently working on my second book about long-term travel and how to work/live abroad. On my blog I write about self development and creating a unique lifestyle for yourself. Feel free to ask me anything.

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Last Answer on October 05, 2012

Best Rated

Hi Mark, thanks for doing this. I am a 22 year old college graduate who wants to travel, but only knows basic Spanish/French. How important is it to know a country's language before you travel there?

Asked by toffee over 12 years ago

It depends on where you want to go and what you want to do. Most Spanish and French speaking countries it's fairly important. But if you're going to Thailand or Israel for example, then you don't really need to know anything. Knowing the local language absolutely helps your experience and the longer you stay there, the more advantageous it is. But if you're only going to pass through a place for a couple weeks, then it doesn't really matter.

Your posts are always so brutally honest (which I love). Are there any topics or personal stories you WOULDN'T be willing to divulge?

Asked by Brick_by_Brick over 12 years ago

About myself, I like to think no, there's nothing that's off limits. But there are things about family members and people who have been close to me that I wouldn't reveal (without their permission, of course).

How much better is Raging Bull than Taxi Driver? A little or a lot?

Asked by James over 12 years ago

This question is so misinformed and ignorant that I'm not even going to justify it with an answer. Taxi Driver is one of the best movies made in the last 50 years. Anyone who disagrees is a communist and/or a terrorist.

What is the craziest story you have from being a men's dating coach?

Asked by Gus over 12 years ago

Unfortunately there aren't as many crazy stories as there are facepalm stories. One thing about that job is that people always thought it was glamorous -- that I was going out with these guys and doing crazy party stuff and banging tons of hot girls. It was quite the opposite it. It was more akin to holding therapy sessions in night clubs than anything. And then hour after painstaking hour trying to get a guy over his anxieties or insecurities around women. Just a guy getting a phone number was cause for celebration. With that said, there were some cool nights... Mostly involving bringing girls back to my hotel room. There are some awkward Vegas strip club stories in there too but I don't completely recall all of those nights. But mostly just therapy sessions.

Mark, thanks for doing an AMA. What's the most common and annoying work related problem you run into as a person who travels the world and works on his own?

Asked by Guster over 12 years ago

Lack of internet. Unfortunately in most countries (including the US), landing reliable internet is a crapshoot depending on which hotel or hostel you stay in. In developing countries sometimes you even run into internet problems in apartments and houses. As someone who not only makes a living on the internet, but also needs the internet to keep in touch with my family, friends, plan future travel, pay bills, etc., this drives me crazy to no end. Luckily, wherever you go in the world, there's almost always a Starbucks two blocks away.

What's your absolute ideal end-goal, career-wise? Do you want to continue writing for larger and larger audiences, or do you see yourself branching into other mediums? (I could def see you as an informed voice on TV, radio, podcasts, etc.)

Asked by Leslie_NYC over 12 years ago

My ultimate end-goal is to be regarded as one of the most important writers of my generation. Long-term business goals include selling over a million books and getting published in some of the most prestigious periodicals (Harper's, NYT Magazine, etc.). I'm sure radio/TV will come along as part of that success if I achieve it, but those mediums aren't my primary focus. I see myself as a writer first and foremost.

You said that entrepreneurship was serendipitous for you after quitting the bank. What if you were already planning to be an entrepreneur in college but wanted to be something else as well, like an actor, musician, comedian, etc.? What would you do?

Asked by Hunter over 12 years ago

Well, it kind of depends on what the "else" is here, but I would focus on one... or starting a business that relates to the occupation you want to pursue. When you're starting out cold, starting a business requires an insane amount of time and work to get off the ground. If you were splitting that with something else, I don't know if you'd get anywhere.