Day 1

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Day 1

Dear Stylelife Challenger,

Here is your Stylelife Challenge Assignment for July 1.

IMPORTANT: TO OFFICIALLY ENROLL IN THE CHALLENGE, YOU MUST POST YOUR CHALLENGER PROFILE, AS EXPLAINED IN TASK #3.


TASK 1

Watch your introduction to The Stylelife Challenge here:

Stylelife Intro


TASK 2

Write down the following:

a. One or two sentences describing how you believe other people currently perceive you.
b. One or two sentences describing how you'd ideally like to be perceived by others.
c. Three of your behaviors or characteristics that you would like to get rid of.
d. Three new behaviors or characteristics that you would like to adapt.

Do not worry what anyone else will think of your answers. Your goal is to be as HONEST with yourself as possible. Try to be as accurate in your choice of words as possible, and rethink each sentence at least once.


TASK 3

Post your responses from above in the new forum message board titled STYLELIFE CHALLENGERS as a new thread.

Use your NICKNAME as the TITLE of the thread. If you would like to introduce yourself to your fellow challengers, you may add to the top of your answers a two-sentence description of yourself and why you’re taking the challenge.

By posting your answers, you are officially announcing your commitment and participation in the Stylelife Challenge. This will serve as the Master List of Challengers. It will only be open on Day 1.


TASK 4

Download the following audio file and listen to it on headphones:

Mind-Shaping Exercise


(It will take on average three-and-a-half minutes to download from a DSL connection and 35 minutes to download from a dial-up modem.)

This file is a charismatic mind-shaping exercise that I developed specifically for the challenge with a foremost expert in neurology. It is recommended that you find a comfortable place free of distractions, and adjust the lighting, your clothing, and your footwear so that you are as relaxed as possible. Then put on headphones, play the audio, and take the journey.

Make sure you listen to the entire recording, without interruption. It is more important to FEEL this experience than it is to actually SEE it. Repeat this exercise as many times as you like - the more you feel like doing it, the better the result.

Note: It is important to carry out every assignment throughout the challenge, even if it doesn't make sense at the time it’s given. Many of the assignments are woven together and build on each other.


TASK 5

Make small talk with five strangers today.

The stranger can be a businessman in the elevator with you, an old lady in the supermarket line, the postman, or a homeless person.

The goal is simply to start a conversation with no intent other than filling in the silence with a question or pleasantry. The conversation does not have to progress beyond a comment and a response.

Small talk topics often include:

Weather (“Man, it’s gorgeous today. Too bad we’re stuck indoors.”)

Sports (“Did you catch the World Cup game last night?”)

Current events (“Did you hear that the Spanish parliament is voting to
give equal rights to apes? I swear to God.”)

Entertainment (“Have you seen that new Superman movie yet?”)

Here are is an audio example of Rourke demonstrating the ease of
making small talk with strangers:

Small Talk Demo


TASK 6

Make sure you read tomorrow’s Stylelife Challenge assignment as soon as you wake up – before you shower or shave.