How a 17-year-old is teaching Christian manliness – with Nate Desmond
Nate Desmond started a website called Practical Manliness just a few months ago. Unlike most blog startups, this one’s actually got a lot going on.
At 17, Nate’s already built two websites, sold one, and now released his Manly Manifesto and accompanying eCourse (more on that at the bottom).
I discovered Nate through a comment (I think) and wanted to support him since he’d just started. So when I found out he was about to give away a free eBook and eCourse on the topic of Christian manliness, I asked if he’d like to do an interview. He agreed, and this was the result.
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The vision
Marshall: All right… so Nate, for anyone who doesn’t know you or hasn’t visited your site, can you share a little about yourself and what you do?
Nate: Well, I am a 17-year-old, Christian, young man. I first started building websites at the age of 15, and I wrote a couple of blogs on topics such as eCommerce (Build Your Own eCommerce Website) and college (Debt-free Scholar).
In 2009, I re-evaluated my priorities and decided to start a blog on the topic of manliness. After selling Debt-free Scholar, I launched Practical Manliness in February 2010 with two goals…
1. To learn more about manliness.
2. To help others learn more about manliness.
3. To build a community of people working toward manliness.
Marshall: Which is how I found you.
That’s quite an ambitious start. Have you always been ahead of the game?
Nate: Not quite…
In fact, I am still not ahead of the game. 
Marshall:
Nate: I try to write useful posts that will help my readers learn more about manliness, but I have made more than my share of mistakes.
For instance, the week that I started, I published a post about stationery (as in letters). However, I spelled the word as “stationary” (standing still) in the title. Embarrassingly, I did not notice the mistake until a reader pointed it out.
Just yesterday, I made another major blunder. My posts are automatically scheduled to post at 6:00 in the morning (while I am still asleep). Normally, this works fine, but yesterday I discovered that I had accidentally scheduled two posts to publish.
By the time I realized the problem, there was nothing I could do about it. Already, all my RSS, email, Twitter, and Facebook readers had been notified of the two new posts. As a result, I lost about five subscribers who didn’t want that many emails.
Well, live and learn.
Marshall: Yeah, but for the rest of us, we got to read two posts from you, though.
Nate: :)
Marshall: I think I’ve done something similar on a few occasions actually. But like you said, live and learn… better to learn now than never.
Nate: Exactly.
Another time, I accidentally published a draft… I meant to hit “Save” but instead I hit “Publish.”
Marshall: Yes, I remember that one, Nate. And I got a chance to get in touch with you more as a result.
Nate: Hopefully I will at least never repeat the same mistake twice.
It is great to see how my mistakes can actually be used for good through the Providence of God!
Marshall: Absolutely.
I want to ask you about how you got interested in working online in the first place, but first I want to go back to what your site is about. I’ve been a fan of The Art of Manliness for a while now, and your site’s similar in theme. One major difference, though, is the Christian background. Is that right?
Nate: I started Practical Manliness in the same general niche as AoM, but with the major difference of Christianity.
1. Christianity: PM is Christian while AoM is secular (according to their FAQ)
2. Practical: As the name indicates, PM is more focused on the practical side of manliness, although some “theoretical” topics are published also.
Marshall: Right, which is why I really appreciated your writing.
BondChristian is Christian and tries to be practical too. I tend to value those highly.
Nate: Yes, I always enjoy the “serving steps” at the end of each of your posts!
Marshall: Hey, thanks so much, Nate.
The background
Marshall: Okay, how did you get into working online? Was there a particular person or site that inspired you?
Nate: That’s a hard one…
Actually, I can’t remember exactly how and why I started working online, but I think that one of the main motivations was the opportunity.
As a 15 year old, I didn’t really have that much opportunity for offline ventures, but my interest in entrepreneurial activities lead me to look for different opportunities online. Especially back then, the playing field was virtually level.
Since I didn’t have much money, I first started using Blogger and WordPress.com to build my blogs. After a year or so, I upgraded to a BlueHost account and purchased a few (to many) domain names.
Right now, I have probably about 10 different domains registered, and I run two websites. The others are all vacant.
Once I got my own hosting account, I started using WP self-hosted, and I have used it ever since. I am a HUGE WordPress fan.
Marshall: Yes, I use WordPress and BlueHost too.
Nate: They are both great!
The manifesto and eCourse
Marshall: So jumping into what initially inspired me to do this interview with you, I hear you have a manifesto coming out soon (Update: It’s totally out now. Grab your copy here). Tell us about that.
Nate: Yes, I first started working on this manifesto about a month ago.
Soon after Practical Manliness launched (or perhaps just before, I don’t remember), I started writing this ebook to explain what I consider the “17 vital attributes of manly men.”
Marshall: How did you come up with those?
Nate: I brainstormed a variety of important traits and then condensed them to 16. After writing those 16, I decided to add the 17.
Marshall: I’m looking forward to checking it out. Are you going to sell it from your blog, or how is that going to work?
Nate: I plan to give the manifesto away rather like Chris Guillebeau did on The Art of Non-Conformity.
At the end of the manifesto, I have a three-step, action plan that will help people apply these traits. The action plan involves signing up for my five week “Manliness Boot Camp” (also launched on April 6th).
In the boot camp, people will be given practical challenges to help them apply the principles discussed in the ebook.
Marshall: Chris Guillebeau… I’m a huge fan. I was just about to ask about how you decided to do this. It seems like you got much of the idea from Chris.
Nate: Pretty much…
Marshall: I know I’ve been working on something similar, and I got the idea from him as well. I already have the newsletter up, but it’s pretty lame right now.
Nate: I am signed up for your newsletter, and I have enjoyed reading your points in them!
Marshall: Thanks, Nate. I’m looking to revamp that soon hopefully. Getting back to yours, though, I love the practical, action plan side of it and can’t wait to see what you’ve done.
Nate: I am still working on weeks two through four, but week one is ready to go. To “graduate,” a person must complete one challenge per week. Each week will have about five to ten different challenges to choose from with links to sources for more information.
During week one for example, one task is speed reading, another is nonfiction reading, one is giving a speech, another is giving a debate.
Each enlistee only has to complete one task per week, and each task has solid guidelines to help evaluate when the goal is reached.
Marshall: That’s pretty intense… from your end, I mean, putting it together and from the user’s side.
Nate: Once the brainstorming is finished, the rest is pretty simple, but the brainstorming (of task ideas) can be a difficult process.
Marshall: I was about to ask why you were doing this through the ebook (to start with) instead of just blogging it, but it seems like this way you’ll be able to present it in a much more structured and action-oriented format.
Nate: Yes, that and the permanency. The way I see it, an ebook is a bit more “formal” or timeless than a blog post and a bit less timeless than a physical book.
Marshall: Ah, good point. Same reason I started my newsletter: so I could recycle old posts to new visitors.
Nate: That is handy too.
Marshall: Apart from getting people to sign up and complete the various tasks, what do you hope we get out of this program?
Nate: I plan to write thorough articles about most of the goals in the “boot camp” and then link to them from the emails. So far, I have done that for at least one. The article on essay writing will be linked to (if I remember) from the first week’s email.
Marshall: So your main goal then is to drive traffic back to the site. Am I understanding that correctly?
Nate: Yes, I hope to drive traffic to my site so that I can keep building a strong community of manly men.
Marshall: What does “manly men” mean to you? I mean, why not write about some other topic?
Nate: I was just having a conversation about the definition of “manly” with a reader yesterday, so I have been doing some thinking on this topic.
In short, I would define “manly” as “a state of being in conformity with the role the Bible explains for men”. A manly man, in my opinion, would be a man who is working toward that goal.
Obviously, no one can be completely manly (i.e., conformed to the role explained in the Bible), but we should all be working toward it.
Marshall: I like that definition… it definitely sets Godly, manly men apart from manly men who define it by some arbitrary standard of “coolness” or “toughness.”
Nate: Yes, I have always been frustrated by people thinking that manliness is simply some vague idea of a big, “tough” guy. While that guy could be manly, a normal office worker could be just as manly.
Marshall: So it seems like that’s the primary benefit readers could get from your blog and the course… they could learn how to better define what it even means to be a man, and find the encouragement and resources to pull it off. How’d I do with that summary?
Nate: Sounds good!
The advice and future plans
Marshall: What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone reading this interview, particularly related to manliness, how to encourage it, and really live it?
Nate: Well, that’s a tough one. Probably my best piece of advice would be to read the Bible daily.
Since true manliness is the state of conforming to God’s truth (revealed in the Bible), every man should know the Bible thoroughly.
Marshall: Excellent advice, Nate. Certainly can’t go wrong there.
All right, finally, what are your plans down the road, Nate?
Nate: Well, in the short-term, I hope to promote my new manifesto, continue writing three weekly articles, and build a thriving community of manliness.
In the longer-term, I plan to continue writing PM and hopefully write an actual book on the topic.
Besides that, I am not really sure. I will be looking for where the Lord leads.
Marshall: That’s awesome. You certainly have a lot going on as it is. It’s such an encouragement to hear from others who are really digging into the Word and living it out for others.
Nate: You, with your blog and life, have certainly been an encouragement to me!
Marshall: Thanks, Nate. I appreciate that. I’ll link up to Practical Manliness, but are there any other ways you’d like people to get in touch with you?
Nate: That would be great! Thanks again for this interview!
Marshall: You’re welcome. I loved it. Thank you for spending so much time with me and sharing.
Any last thoughts you’d like to share? Otherwise, I’m going to sign off.
Nate: I think that is it. Thanks for the opportunity!
Marshall: All right, I’ll see you around. Adios.
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Serving Suggestions:
(1) Check out Nate’s blog, Practical Manliness, get your free copy of The Manly Manifesto, and sign up for the course (at the end of the manifesto). I’ve been impressed so far. Even if you’re not into manliness, #fistbump Nate on Twitter or shoot him an email. Support is always amazing, especially when you’re just getting started.
(2) It’s easy to read something like this but not actually learn anything practical. So what do you take from this interview? What lessons did you learn that you can (and will) apply right now?
(3) As always, I’d love some feedback on the interview. How’d I do with the introduction? What kinds of questions would you like me to ask? Should I keep doing these at all?