MOVIE: Seven Days in Utopia This movie was rated poorly by critics, which speaks highly of the film. I want you to watch it because it speaks of the mentality of performance, which is what the Laughing Pirate is about.

No rules, no judgements or evaluations, just blast in and do it. 

The Laughing Pirate asks, can  perform at the genius level? This means sinking the long put, making the half court shot, or seeing your opponent laying there and not knowing what you did. 

 

MICRO EXERCISE: Smile

Begin by smiling in any situation wherein you feel tension or doubt.

MAJOR EXERCISE: Throw a wadded up piece of paper into a trashcan. It doesn’t matter what you throw, or into what, the frame of mind is what we are training. Is the throw that counts, not the landing.

Start with planning what you might throw where. At the gym I throw a small sweat towel, which I have tied in a knot into the designated receptacle, only I do so from a distance. When I discard my razor it is the same thing. Plan out where you will practice. It might be as simple as a waste can in your office.

Don’t hover over the receptacle, make it challenging. This means it should be doubtful, but not impossible that you will make the shot.

But the idea is not to make the shot. It is not where the projectile lands, it is how it was launched. This is very counter intuitive. For instance I imagine that in golf where the ball lands is a big deal. I am saying it is how you hit the ball that counts. It is your frame of mind.

Visualize the path of the projectile, in this case the wadded up paper.

Then begin to breathe out. Imagine that you are breathing the ball along its path.

Now just do it. Throw the wad, or whatever.

Follow its path with complete unblinking attention. 

Don’t try, don’t care, just let it happen.

And remember completely the path of the projectile.

Now, error analysis:

Did you blink? Go over the flight in your memory and see if there are any missing frames.

Did you make a muscular effort of any kind beyond the relaxed minimum necessary.

Was your breathing continuous and even?

Can you recall the total throw, flight, blink, breathing, in your memory?

If so well done! If not you have begun a very powerful exercise. Keep it up and you will amaze yourself with what you can do. But it is so much more than that.

If none of this makes sense, that is okay, it works. To get a better handle on it watch our movie, 7 Days in Utopia, again.

 

I have extended your practice below: 

THE LAUGHING PIRATE CHALLENGE: TRAINING FOR UNBREAKABLE PERFORMANCE

 

You have understood the philosophy behind The Laughing Pirate. Now, it’s time to train it—to make it instinctive, so that when the moment of chaos arrives, you don’t think—you smile.


THE RULES OF THE  The Laughing Pirate Smile..

  • It is not a reaction—it is a conscious act.
  • It disrupts fear, anxiety, hesitation.
  • It summons maximum performance.

2. You will train this under increasingly difficult conditions.

  • Each day, the difficulty increases.
  • Each day, your ability to override the script strengthens.

3. The goal is simple: When the real test comes, you will not hesitate.

  • You will smile, and you will perform.

DAY 1: THE SIMPLEST SMILE

You begin with the easiest version.

  • Find a mirror.
  • Look yourself in the eyes.
  • Smile.
  • Not a fake grin—a deep, confident, unshakable smile. Think Tom Cruse

Why?

  • This is your default setting.
  • If you cannot command this now, in comfort, you will not be able to summon it under pressure.

DAY 2: SUMMON IT ON COMMAND

  • Set an alarm on your phone for random times during the day.
  • When it rings, immediately smile.
  • No matter where you are, how you feel, what you are doingsmile on command.

Why?

  • This removes the habit of waiting for a reason to smile.
  • You are training instant access to this state of mind.

 


DAY 3: BREAKING THE SCRIPT

Now, you will insert the Laughing Pirate Smile into moments of mild discomfort.

  • Cold water: As you take a shower, turn it colder than usual. Smile.
  • Annoyance: The next time you are stuck in traffic, waiting in line, or frustrated—smile.
  • Disruption: If someone irritates you today, smile before you respond.

Why?

  • You are testing your ability to choose your state rather than react to circumstance.
  • You are breaking the automatic script.

DAY 4: THE FIRST TRUE TEST—SUMMONING IT UNDER STRESS

Now, you will intentionally enter a stressful moment and override it.

  • Choose something that makes you nervous, hesitant, or uncomfortable.
    • A phone call you’ve been avoiding.
    • A conversation that feels difficult.
    • An action that makes you uneasy.
  • Right before you take action—smile.
  • Hold the Laughing Pirate Smile as you walk into the moment.

Why?

  • This overwrites hesitation with confidence.
  • You are proving that the smile triggers performance, not avoidance.

DAY 5: THE IMAGINATION DRILL—THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO

Now, you train for the nightmare moment.

  • Sit somewhere quiet.
  • Close your eyes.
  • Remember a rough time in your life when the shit hit the fan. Replay and rescript it with a smile
  • When you are watching a video of violence and horror, smile at the moments when most viewers shudder. Feel how the smile changes the internal reaction.

Why? You are training the ability to break fear with action.


DAY 6: PUBLIC TEST—SMILING IN SOCIAL RESISTANCE

  • The next time you are in a social setting, hold The Laughing Pirate Smile for at least 15 seconds.
  • This is especially useful when confronted. 

DAY 7: THE FINAL TEST—A SURPRISE TRIGGER

 

  • Again watching movies of action and suspense should give you opportunities to see how well your training is going.
  • When the unexpected happens, a shock of cold water, or your car breaks loose on the ice.
  • This proves you have trained an automatic response 

I need you to recall that “Laughing Pirate”, is an addition to what you have learned so far. Performing at this level, is a wonderful feeling, and must be experienced to be understood.

 

It means that you are performing for the joy of the performance with no thought to results.