While it’s true that most of my clients are professional men (and some professional women, too) I was quite delighted to receive a call last week from a woman whose teenage son wants to reinvent his image. Would I work with him? After a good discussion to learn about the genesis of his desires – and his parents’ sheer willingness to support him – I determined working with him would be a mutually good fit.
Apparently this young man is inspired to take action about reinventing his image since seeing the recent hit movie, “17 Again”. It stars Zac Efron, as a 37-year old man miraculously transformed back to the age of 17 to get a second shot at life. If a movie could entertain and inspire someone to do something good for himself, I did what a good image consultant should do. I went on a bro-date with my twenty-something friend Andrew and saw the movie together.
I won’t give away the details of the movie because I think you should go see it. My friends Karl and Lindsey will read this at this point and roll their eyes; go ahead you two! It was more than just the next generation’s version of Tom Hank’s “Big”.
“17 Again” reminded me of my own high school experiences, being maligned and marginalized until a set of transformational experiences occurred. The movie had a star athlete bully character. Such a student bullied me in high school. Efron’s character, Mike O’Donnell, back in high school with his kids, rescues his son from the high school bully. I remember needing to change my defenseless mindset in order to physically defend myself against a bully three times my size and in a very public way. I was a nervous wreck and totally scared. In the movie, Mike is poised, self-assured, knows how to spin a basketball like a Harlem Globetrotter and is admittedly great looking. Oh, if only I could be 17 again…What if I could look like Zac??
Efron’s high school character, thrust back into teen life, didn’t fit into the school’s culture in his over-the-top Ed Hardy wardrobe, droopy jeans with exposed boxer shorts, and baseball cap worn sideways. It may have been very L.A., but it was just too affected and bad-boy-adult for a high school student. So he cleaned up his act by getting none other than a makeover of sorts. [Hey, Ed Hardy clothes were not around circa 1989. But that’s Hollywood.] He got a refreshed hairstyle and new clothes, and even a gorgeous car that seemed to go along with his physical style. Considering that Mike O’Donnell’s “dad” is a wealthy man, anything is possible. [Oh, Hollywood.]
The point, though, is it’s possible to make a permanent, yet dynamic, impression. In the movie, despite the apparent failing of their relationship, Mike and his high school sweetheart wife can’t escape the early impressions they once made on one another. Could they reconnect to those impressions? So often as we age, this is what life’s relationships are all about. We want to be relevant to ourselves and to others. What was surprisingly interesting, fun, and entertaining about the movie is the message that having a good self-image is a great way to create a first and multiple impressions. Once Mike got his style right, and spoke from his heart, everyone swooned over him. Even his kids, without them knowing he was their father, looked up to him, like he was the BMOC.
The hairstyle, the wardrobe, the poise, and the car – those things are the physical choices made by a person who has it together on the inside and is expressing himself outwardly. The writers portrayed this aspect authentically to the character.
In truth, I wouldn’t want to be 17 again. I’m about to turn 40 in three months and am in the best physical, emotional, and spiritual condition of my whole life. Why turn back from a good thing? But I like the premise of taking stock of your life and finding a way to do something better from this point forward. Your personal image is a gateway to your consciousness where you can live your best life.
What about you? Would you want to turn back the hands of time?
Designing your image is the secret science to your success.
Joseph Rosenfeld helps professional men and corporate workgroups create effective visual brands. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.
