The more I read and follow TRP I remember watching a video on how we unconsciously get in the way of our own success because we assume something is going to be hard. It's a self fulfilling prophesy that we put undue mental stress on ourselves because we assume that great things only come to those who work hard and trudge on. This may be very true in most cases especially in the gym, business, career and other practical progressive overload based activities, but when it comes to alpha behavior, I think a lot of people who didn't grow up RP'd assume it "looks" a certain way or "sounds" a certain way. Learning to become alpha from superficial behaviors and platitudes is dangerous because it inevitably comes across as incongruent with your personality.

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Robert Greene, author of Laws of Power, writes about almost a dozen different types of seducers in his book Seduction. He never describes someone you'd say is "so chad/tyrone". Reading Seduction gave me a sense of freedom because in the past I had a very caricatured image of what an alpha acts like and what it feels like. "Alphas are rude, arrogant, assholes, buff, "dgaf", dominant, selfish, goal oriented, abundant, promiscuous, devilish, sly, confident and fearless but for any its delivered with a certain harshness and edginess that isn't all too enjoyable to be all the time for anyone involved. When all is said and done, these two statements hold true in life: there's no reason to be anything that isn't enjoyable, and anything person who doesn't enjoy being themselves no one enjoys being around either. So whatever behavior or personality you're developing, check if you find it enjoyable or rewarding because if not, its not entirely right. There's truth to these descriptions of an "alpha" but so many, myself included, fall into the trap of Alphacompensating: learning some vague derogatory description of what Alpha is and cranking it to 11, oblivious to how obvious and nauseating it is to others. It hasn't been calibrated, its noticeably deliberate, its not fun because they're putting on an act and it comes across more as insecure than anything else. Like a chihuahua with a lion mask.

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What's the difference between acting alpha and being one?

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An alpha is blind to the specificities of his nature. He doesn't feel arrogant, rude, dominant, selfish etc. Its just the way he is and it flows from within, in sync with the rest of the psyche. For alpha to flow from within requires securing a generally likeable or attractive personality that fits with you and alphatizing it. Beta's can have good personalities but aren't alpha. Alpha's can have shitty personalities but aren't beta. Who didn't like Robin Williams? Definitely not alpha in the traditional sense. Who liked Martin Shekreli? Very "Alpha" in the traditional sense.

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Some alphas are funny, some like to have fun, some are no fun and games. Some play sports, others play instruments. Some alphas are chill, some are manic. Some are introverted some are extroverted. Some alpha's are mean others are nice, not in a pushover or weak way, in a confident and offering positive emotions way. Some make girls laugh, others gasp, others pout, others cry, others listen, others talk. Alpha isn't a personality or set of behaviors, its a status that accompanies a personality. Examining regarded alpha's in my life experience, I've realized there are very few common "personality traits" that unify them. They all act somewhat differently.

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Here's a list of alpha males: Derek Jeter, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump (Supporting neither of these guys), Bill Burr, Dan Bilzerian, Frank Sinatra, Hugh Hefner, Robert Downey Jr., Russell Brand.

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You can take any of these men and they act TOTALLY differently. Donald Trump and Bill Clinton disagree fundamentally on many of their beliefs. Bill Burr is brash and aggressive, Frank Sinatra smooth and suave. Robert Downey Jr. and Russell Brand can seem eccentric, quirky, verbally complicated, irreverent, arrogant sometimes even overly emotional and unstable but Jeter is calm, simple, unpretentious and plain. But they're all alpha.

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What unites these men, they all have: (1) great personalities, (2) a high sense of current value, (3) a high sense of self-likeability (4) a high sense of future promise, (5) are driven on their path towards their own greatness in life and (6) feel they deserve the rewards of their labors.

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So if you're a funny, witty guy, don't stop being hilarious because AMS told you to stop being funny. AMS isn't a funny guy and being funny wouldn't work for him. I love the guy but that's not his personality. For AMS, being alpha, bold, smug and serious works for him because he's the last 3 no matter what. For him and other hardo guys being funny is something people "try" and intentionally do to get laid. For others, it's just how they think and they're funny without any effort to impress anyone.

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TL;DR: Don't think being alpha requires fixing or eliminating positive traits about you like being chill, cool, fun, funny or anything else. Being alpha is about having a good personality and believing in propelling that person to great heights. Do your best in life and regard yourself highly every step of the way.