What would your internet dating profile be if it could be

In an age defined by perception and presence, where the eyes of the world are ever upon us, Ryan Serhant — master of commerce and charisma — spoke words that echo far beyond their modern setting: “What would your internet dating profile be if it could be perfect? That’s the way you should present yourself every day.” Though spoken in the language of our time, these words carry the ageless wisdom of self-mastery. For they are not about vanity, but about intention — about living each day as the most refined and honest expression of one’s best self.

Serhant, a man who built his empire through discipline and charm, knows the truth behind appearances. He does not speak here of false polish or deceitful masks, but of alignment — the harmony between who we wish to be and how we walk in the world. The “perfect profile,” in his saying, is not a fiction; it is a mirror of potential. It is the image of our truest, highest self — confident, purposeful, radiant. He urges us to bring that ideal into motion, to live as though the world is not judging us, but witnessing the unfolding of our finest truth.

The ancients, too, spoke of this same art, though in nobler tones. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus once said, “Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.” What Serhant calls a “perfect profile,” the Stoics called virtue — a steady light of character that shines in every action, great or small. For to present oneself with excellence is not arrogance; it is gratitude for the gift of life. When one dresses with care, speaks with purpose, and acts with integrity, one declares silently, I honor the role I have been given in this vast theater of existence.

Yet, to live this truth daily is no easy thing. It requires discipline — the continual shaping of the self, as a sculptor shapes marble, striking away what is dull and false to reveal what is beautiful and true. One must learn to wake each day not as a creature of chance, but as an artist of intention. Serhant’s wisdom, though born in the marketplace, carries this spiritual undercurrent: the call to craft oneself deliberately, until the inner self and outer image move in harmony. When these two are one, the world takes notice — not because of wealth or beauty, but because of authenticity.

Consider the example of Leonardo da Vinci, whose presence was as powerful as his art. He moved through life with the same grace he gave to his paintings. To those who met him, his posture, words, and gaze reflected not ego, but mastery. He did not wait for a grand audience to act as his best self; every moment, every encounter, was his stage. He embodied the very principle Serhant describes: to present oneself daily as the fullest, most awakened version of one’s being. And in doing so, he became timeless.

But take heed — presentation without substance is emptiness. Serhant’s teaching is not to wear a mask, but to polish the mirror. When he speaks of a “perfect profile,” he speaks of clarity — of knowing what one stands for, and reflecting it with courage and grace. To live this way is not to pretend, but to practice becoming. Each day, in small gestures and choices, we refine the person we are, until the reflection we offer the world is not performance, but truth made visible.

So let this be your guiding light: live each day as the profile of your best self. Speak with the confidence you would write of yourself; act with the honor you would wish others to see. Wake each morning and ask: If I were to describe my soul to the world today, what would I show them? Then live that truth — not for applause, but for dignity. For the one who lives deliberately, who moves through life with care and conviction, draws not only success but peace. And in that harmony between inner worth and outer expression lies the secret that Serhant, and the ancients before him, sought to teach: that excellence is not an act, but a way of being — practiced daily, seen by all, and known most deeply by the self.