It all comes down to vulnerability. What prevents us from becoming a Rob is simply fear. We're afraid to put ourselves out there. We're afraid of what people think. We like to think that we have an identity to protect, and don't want to do anything that can threaten our ego. It's basically the concept that guides "Models." I read it at the beginning of the year and it completely blew my mind. I had been studying pick up since my junior year of high school but this concept never hit home until reading the book. Coincidentally, this happened right before I left to study abroad. And it completely changed me. With a new group of peers and knowing the main factor behind my anxiety and problems with relationships I pretty much became "Rob" in the span of two months. And it was incredible. I went from being too scared to even land a date, to multiple hook-ups, banging a chick on the beach the same day I met her, and almost having a threesome (had to settle for one). Not only did I get better with girls, my relationships with my family improved, I made much deeper connections with people, and I discovered a ton of things about myself that I had been too scared to confront for most of my life. However, this all comes with a caveat. I'm currently back to the old me. Why have I slipped? I’m not sure. One of the major things that honest, "Rob-like" me learned was that I hate college. Not just in the sense that I'm sick of the all-nighters, the being broke, going to lectures, turning in assignments part, but that at my core I hate the reasons that I'm here. Coming in I imagined myself as jock, fraternity type who would eventually become a banker or lawyer. But for some reason I had never been as successful at these things as I had at other areas in my life: because I wasn’t being honest. I wasn’t pursuing that path because I wanted to, but because I thought it would make other people like me. But at my core I ‘ve always been more of an indie, artsy dude with a penchant for writing (think the guy from Her, but a little less mopey). Brutally honest and vulnerable me would drop out tomorrow. And this is what stumps me. I know it’s not the “responsible” move, and I’m supposed to graduate next May so I pretty much have to stay. But “to not give a fuck” means to care more about your opinions and your truth than outside expectations. To accept failure as a possibility while shrugging your shoulders - knowing what you are doing is in line with your goals and consistent with yourself.