The 'self-made man' is a lie.

It's one of the most powerful myths in our culture: the rugged individual, the lone wolf, the "self-made man" who pulls himself up by his bootstraps and conquers the world alone. We admire this figure. We're told to be this figure.
But it's a lie. A dangerous one.

No one achieves anything meaningful entirely on their own. Steve Jobs had Steve Wozniak. Bill Gates had Paul Allen. Every successful leader, artist, and innovator has a network—mentors, partners, supportive friends, and challenging rivals who pushed them to be better.


The obsession with being "self-made" is an ego trap that glorifies isolation. It makes us afraid to ask for help, seeing it as a sign of weakness. It prevents us from building the single most powerful asset we can have: a tribe.


A tribe isn't just a group of friends. It's a network of mutual support and accountability. They are the people who celebrate your wins, who call you on your bullshit, and who have your back when you get knocked down. True strength isn't standing alone; it's having a strong foundation of people you can count on.


The modern badass understands this. He doesn't see interdependence as a weakness; he sees it as a strategic advantage. He actively cultivates his tribe.


Stop trying to be self-made. Start being community-built.


Badasses aren't born, they're built. So let's get to work.

Chapter 13 of Be a Badass Man gives you a practical framework to build your tribe and grow stronger together.