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DAY

MISSION 1: Hit the Showers

As soon as you wake up, put on your favorite upbeat music and play it loud. Shower, shampoo, and soap thoroughly. Wash twice if you want. And . . . don’t masturbate today, if you’re prone to doing so.

Put something scented on your body: moisturizer, talcum powder, or a light spritz of cologne. Gargle with mouthwash. Whatever makes you feel and smell good.

Then shave your face clean (preserving any preexisting mustache, beard, or goatee). Make sure you shave or tweeze any stray places where you sprout hair—your ears, nostrils, the back of your neck.

Put on clean, well-fitting clothing. You should feel like a million dollars.

Now look at yourself in the mirror and read the following to yourself:

“You are amazing. People love you and respect you. You radiate charisma, charm, and grace. You stand out from everyone around you. Talking to you is a privilege. And you deserve the best the world has to offer. It’s all there out there, waiting for you.”

Read it as many times as it takes—say it out loud if you have to—until you truly feel and embody it.

Now hold on to that feeling . . .

MISSION 2: Ask an Expert

What you experienced in the previous mission is a simple ritual that helps many men enter a state of increased confidence, positivity, and unassailability. Take a moment to develop your own ritual to pump yourself up before going out to meet women. It may involve exercising, cleaning, repeating affirmations, reading something inspirational, replaying previous successes in your mind, blasting your favorite music, singing, showering, dancing, calling someone who makes you laugh, or any combination of the above.

This is the first day you’re going to meet women you could possibly date. You should make these approaches at the earliest possible opportunity after leaving the house clean, well shaven, and feeling good about yourself.

Your mission: Ask three women to recommend a cool local clothing store that carries menswear. Your mission is complete once you’ve approached three women and received one clothing store recommendation. (In other words, if you approach three women and you get a clothing store suggestion, you’re done. If you approach three women and you don’t get a clothing store recommendation, keep asking until you do.)

When you get a recommendation, write down the name of the store, and the location if she knows it. Make sure you keep the name and location handy.

Here are a few tips:

Approach women who seem like they live in town and have a cool sense of style.

If you’re talking to people in the street, don’t approach them from behind, which can be startling. Either approach them from the front, or walk ahead of them and turn your head back over your shoulder as you keep walking. They’ll feel even more comfortable if you increase the distance as you walk, as if you have somewhere to be. You may also approach in cafés, shopping malls, or wherever you’re comfortable.

Be aware that only about 1 in 3 women will be able to think of a store right away. Some people go blank when put on the spot.

As soon as she answers, even if it’s just to say “I don’t know,” you’ve made your approach. Tell her “Thanks for your help” (or “Thanks anyway” if she doesn’t have any ideas) and leave if you want. Or continue the interaction. The choice is yours.

Good luck.

MISSION 3: Stand Up Straight

Before you even open your mouth, a woman has formed an initial impression of you. And that impression is based largely on your body language. Today you’re going to learn to carry yourself with confidence through a simple posture exercise known as the wall stance.

Stand with your back against a wall. Make sure your heels, butt, and shoulders are touching the wall. In addition, the back of your head just above the level of your chin should be against the wall.

Remain in this position for a minute. Reach behind your back and check to make sure there isn’t too much space between your lower back and the wall. If there is, tighten your abdomen to bring the small of your back closer to the wall.

Now move away from the wall, and walk around the room for a minute without changing your posture. Commit the position and alignment of your body to memory.

Repeat this exercise one more time today and, if possible, once a day throughout the Challenge. From now on, check your posture on a regular basis, and bring yourself into alignment if you catch yourself slouching.

Because posture is key not just to your confidence and appearance but also to your health, I’ve prepared an extra-credit video tutorial for you online at www.stylelife.com/challenge. It provides the basics on Alexander Technique, a school of movement that improves not just the way you stand, walk, and sit but also the way you speak and feel about yourself.