Growth Pop » Leadership

How to: take someone’s wallet just by asking

marc — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:15:58 +0000

Derren Brown is an NLP Phenomenon. Check out these videos where he predicts exactly what three women are thinking, takes someone’s wallet just by asking, and convinces someone to completely forget the thing they wanted most not 30 seconds before. He uses a combination of techniques, including NLP, to convince, predict, and amaze.

(more videos after the jump)

To learn more about Derren, check out his website. He’s also a painter. The prices are steep, and based on these videos I wouldn’t try to negotiate him down…

Review: NLP Marin

JonM — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:40:53 +0000

Location: Novato, CA
What it is: NLP Marin is an organization that trains people in their own version of Neuro Linguistic Programming. They offer certification programs, as well as Family Constellation evenings, and other courses.

If NLP usually turns you off, or you find it gimmicky, manipulative, or overblown, then I would recommend this course as a breath of fresh air for beginners and those with more experience as well.

Description: NLP Marin teaches a set of skills and perceptual frames that combine some core skills and techniques of NLP with a variety of other modalities, such as neo-Rechiean childhood development, Bert Hellinger’s family constellations, and other interesting and useful ideas they have integrated into their work.

I find their particular flavor of NLP is incredibly effective, respectful, and honoring of all aspects of a human being. It is very much in contrast to the feel I get from some other forms of NLP, which occur to me as gimmicky, manipulative, or overblown.

The main trainer/instructor is Carl Buchheit, who I really enjoy learning from. He’s been doing NLP since the late 70s, and is incredibly good at what he does. He’s incredibly sharp, knowledgeable, and has a really quirky sense of humor. I respect him a lot, and I’ve enjoyed every weekend I’ve gone to.

Anecdote: As a result of this training, I quit my job as a software engineer, and chose to start a career as a coach. The model and set of tools here integrated a lot of the other work I had learned elsewhere, and had me realize “Wow, I’m actually damn good at working with people, and have something very real to offer them.” It gave me the confidence to go after what I want, even though it’s a bit scary to do so.

Potential Turn-Offs: If you’re experienced as a coach/therapist, or done a lot of personal work with people, the first course may seem a little basic, and you may get impatient.

You also practice what you learn on other classmates. Sometimes that can be a great experience, and sometimes a difficult one, depending on the skill and competence of the classmate in question.

What I Got out of it: I have trained with them quite a bit, and am nearly complete with my Master’s Certification. (Which requires a total of 16 weekends of training.)

My experience of learning there has been an interesting combination of learning skills, and doing personal growth/development work. A lot of what I have learned has subtly (or dramatically) shifted my experience of people, the world, and especially myself. It’s not as dramatic and concentrated as an Arete circle, but has consistently worked to shift and revise a lot inside of me.

At this point, I feel *way* more acceptance and liking of myself, as well as having a really strong set of techniques I can use to work with people, and make a difference in their lives.

Learn more about NLP Marin

National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Southwest

admin — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:54:59 +0000

Location: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
What it is: NOLS (the National Outdoor Leadership School) is a wilderness-based education program. During the course of a program (which range from 7 days to a full-semester), students learn leadership skills, learning styles, personal assessment techniques, and outdoor skills, of course. Not everyone’s journey is as extreme as this video (from a different NOLS region), but you do get tested and lots of support in overcoming each obstacle.
Growth Potential: I did this course right after I graduated from college. Different people on the program were there for different reasons: some just wanted to learn outdoor skills; others were interested in being better leaders or teachers; some wanted a chance to learn about themselves outside the usual grind of school or jobs. I was looking for a chance to have an adventure before getting a job.
Pop Potential: NOLS isn’t all that mainstream. While anyone can enroll, it’s not free, usually about $100 a day. It also requires spending some time in the wilderness, which doesn’t appeal to everyone, especially your average city dweller. That said, NOLS is largely what you make it, which makes it more accessible than other programs with a narrowly defined objective for students.
“Get Real” Potential: I feel like NOLS is pretty down to earth already, so it’s not just for “crunchy” types or vegans. The self-examination stuff is very pragmatic and accessible for anyone.
What I Got out of it: Mostly, I had a cool adventure and learned some great skills. But I did learn about my own priorities and my needs, and it gave me a very interesting perspective on post-college, professional life.

Learn more about National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Southwest