Jason Bourne is resourceful, driven and intimidating. He doesn't have the same air of glamor about him as James Bond. He's not traveling the world in expensive cars with fancy gadgets and bedding beautiful women. He's not out there to save the world. Bourne wants to find out who he is.
A lot can be said about Bourne. But what stands out most about the character is his confidence.
There are many guides for men which say you should fake your confidence. Have confident body language. Fake it till you make it. It doesn't work that way. You may look confident, you may even feel confident for a while, but if you're faking it, you will crumble as soon as you're under pressure. The only way to acquire true confidence is to earn it. Here's the Jason Bourne way.
Physical Appearance
Confidence, by definition, is a state of mind. Physical appearance is not the most important thing, but it does play a role.
Bourne wears very simple clothing. It's not a custom tailored thousand dollar dinner jacket, but he doesn't need it. He wears clothes that he needs to wear. Thick sweater, wool topcoat, boots, clothes that keep him warm and don't stand out.
Bourne's clothes are almost exclusively black. According to an Msnbc.com article“studies have found that people in black uniforms (like sports teams) are viewed as more dominant figures .”
But more than that, wearing a simple(that doesn't mean it can't be stylish) outfit ensures that you won't have to worry about small details, and whether they look good or not.
Jason Bourne way: Simplify your wardrobe. Minimize your use of unnecessary clothing and items.
Close Combat
There is a good chance that you will go through your entire adult life without being in a fist fight.
You don't have to be an expert in krav maga. You don't have to be able to punch through ten bricks. You don't even have to actually defeat someone in a fist fight. As I've stated at the beginning, there's a good chance you will never have the chance. It's simply knowing that you have the training to handle yourself in a conflict that breeds confidence.
The training can be as little as hitting the heavy bag regularly. It doesn't need to be fighting related. It can come from lifting weights. But being fit and strong creates genuine confidence, one that can be backed by action.
Jason Bourne way: Get yourself a heavy bag, sign up for a martial art of your choice or lift weights.
Get Smart
“I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs two hundred fifteen pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab of the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking.”
Throughout the series Bourne demonstrates a vast array of knowledge. He is quick thinking, has a great tactical awareness and speaks several languages. All this is crucial to his performance as a spy.
You too should become an expert. Being the go-to guy in a particular field is a powerful confidence booster.
We all have passions, interests and jobs. Don't just settle for mediocrity. Develop your knowledge of the area. Yes, it does take a lot effort and time but the rewards for being an expert, whether you're recognized internationally or just in your neighborhood, are well worth it.
Jason Bourne way: Learn things as if you're life depended on that knowledge. You need to be able to recall them instantly at any time.
Discover your identity
You need to have a purpose in life. Jason Bourne wants to learn about his past. You too should have a goal to devote yourself to. It can be making a certain salary. It can be visiting every continent. It could also be becoming the President, the strongest man in the world or the first man on mars. Why not? It is all in your hands.
Knowing exactly what it is you want out of life is such confidence booster that people around can feel it. Being a man who knows what he's doing is something that gives you an almost visible aura.
There will be assassins on your path, metaphorically speaking but you must learn to overcome them. The good news is, each one that you do overcome gives you more confidence to overcome the next one.
Jason Bourne way: You should be as ruthless as Bourne in the pursuit of your dream. I don't mean killing everyone who stands in your way. I mean relentlessly working towards it, one step at a time, until you finally reach what you want.
