The Power of Being Someone Else

Reverend Soulseeker and Robin Wood prepare for a day out in London

  Yesterday I organised a day out with my family from Frontier Trainings. We are a group of entrepreneurs who are brought together by Clinton Swaine. He teaches business games and gets his points across with the use of an impressive wardrobe and many different characters - that he calls faculty members.

  During some of his advanced courses a few weeks ago I started adopting a few alter egos of my own and felt how different it felt to wear the clothes of someone else and think differently. During the training I became a Buddhist monk, a hippie, a super hero and a Frenchman. Each character involved me thinking through a different set of values, a different attitude and a different voice. Each new character transformed my presence in the room and on stage.

  Not only did this prove to be interesting, it also proved to be a lot of fun. So much so that other members of the group started to reinvent themselves. It was a great exercise in being who we wanted to be and inventing new faculty members that had the traits that we wanted to develop.

  Yesterday I sent out a message to the attendees of the training and over 20 turned up in London yesterday dressed in an alter-ego. Our mission was to spread love and have fun around London. Never before have so many people wanted to have their photo taken with me in one day. I became Robin Woods, a character intent on justice and freedom. On a day that a bigger march of protest about the G-20 summit happened - we decided to march against the flow of the rest of the marchers and focus on love.

  Singing Monty Python on the tube and seeing the responses of the other commuters was particularly fun and seeing so many people smile back and join in was the recipe for an uplifting day out. Witnessing the transformations in the personalities of the group was incredible - not to mention the creative conversations as people got into character and let their imagination run away.

  I can honestly say that this was one of the best days of my life and I will be having plenty more. For anyone reading this - the next one will be on the 9th May, in London. If you want to create an alter ego, feel positive and have a lot of fun then come along and witness the power of positive energy. 

How to Reinvent Yourself

On Sunday evening I completed 3 of the most phenomenal courses that I have ever been on. During the 12 days I spent with Clinton Swaine I learned the true beauty of modelling. Not just as a paper exercise - as dressing up, living, acting, thinking and talking like someone else.

Clinton demonstrates lessons in business for entrepreneurs through games. That's right, 12 days of playing games and learning a host of phenomenal lessons - through experiencing them. 

Part of Clinton's approach involves dressing up as different characters, giving them their unique story and values and acting them out. His unique wardrobe has provided a whole host of colourful aliases over the 12 day slot.

After experiencing all sorts of differing emotions and shortfalls during my opening days, I decided to join in the fun and visit the fancy dress shop. This led to the invention of several new identities, including hippy Ric who didn't stress about anything. The tonal shift and laid back chain of thought that went with this character transformed my stage presence.

One day I donned a super-hero outfit and invented Rocky Righteous. Suddenly, the usually laid back, easy going Adam was quick to step in, volunteer his opinion and stand his ground. It was a liberating feeling. So much so that the various members of attendees all started to reinvent themselves - with incredible results.

The event was so liberating that we will be meeting in London later this month wearing fancy dress outfits for our new alter egos. I have to say that it is something that I fully look forward to,

If you could be someone else for the day who would it be - and what traits would they have. How would it feel to act like them for a day? My experience says that it is one of the best things that anyone can do to increase their social flexibility and get out of their own way. Call your friends now and organise an alter-ego night out. This will probably turn a few heads but as a good friend once told me - it's better to get looked over than to get overlooked!