Covert Metaphor

Some years ago a group of my friends and I thought it might be a good idea to start an “underground” NLP, Psychology, and Persuasion circle to learn and gain experience. Everyone jumped in wholeheartedly at our first meeting. One of these guys talked incessantly about all the great things we were going to do with our newfound knowledge.

“Man, I can’t wait until this stuff just rolls off my tongue. I’ll be rich and become a people magnet, ” he said enthusiastically. Everyone would agree and smile, and the conversation would move on to another topic, but we could clearly see him slip into trance, daydreaming of all the wonderful things he’d be doing. He kept this up for weeks, but I never saw him once open up a book or actually practice anything. This was before the Internet and all the wonderful audio courses out there now.

There was another guy. He was similar to the daydreamer, but he carried around two books with him, Unlimited Selling Power and Patterns of the Hypnotic Techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. He read here and there, knew some of the lingo, but never applied any of it. Sometimes he almost looked like he knew what he was talking about, but his lack of experience was obvious.

The most annoying of the bunch complained quite a bit about how he’d never learn this stuff unless he met a Persuasion Master Guru Super-Deluxe. He was on an endless search to find the perfect product, workshop, or seminar. I don’t know what came of this guy.

The other two guys, who were good friends, showed up occasionally. When they did show up, everyone was completely blown away by their week’s exploits. They would chat up everyone they came across for no particular reason. It could be anywhere: at school, in a cafe, at the gas station, or waiting in line at the bank. They would simply find something to comment on, pace what anyone said, and ask more questions. They learned about body language, and soon practiced presenting themselves more openly, always smiling. They even joined some network marketing group for the sole purpose of practicing their persuasion skills. We all really started taking notice when they began making significant amounts of money.

Someone asked, “How do you guys do this stuff so well? I wish I could learn so easily.”

They replied, “Actually this has nothing to do with wishing or learning at all. Well, at least not learning in the way you’re thinking. It was after about the 100th person we approached, that things started getting interesting. In the beginning we had serious doubts about this stuff and if it really worked. A lot of people reacted negatively in the beginning. We made a note, and did something differently. After about the 200th person we tried this stuff on, things began to click. Now we’re into the thousands and we have to think about what we’re doing every once and a while, but we still have to review this stuff everyday.”

Do yourself a favor and choose one technique or pattern and practice it for at least a week or two, using it every chance you get. If the chance isn’t there then create it. Keep a small journal or a usb digital recorder with you always (preferably both) and note down everything you do for later reference. Once you feel you own it, then and only then, move onto the next one. Don’t try to learn all this stuff and once, get frustrated, and then give up prematurely.

admin :: Jun.09.2007 :: NLP, covert hypnosis, metaphor, persuasion :: 3 Comments »

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