Phillip Holt's World of NLP, Hypnosis, PhotoReading, Mind Maps & Memory

Phillip Holt's World of NLP, Hypnosis, PhotoReading, Mind Maps & Memoryhttp://nlpnow.comQuick BlogFalling apart at the seamshttp://nlpnow.com/2008/05/09/falling-apart-at-the-seams.aspx
At "95", it appears I am falling apart at the seams.

The zip in my trousers fell apart. So, it was a less expensive suit from Erol in Taxim Square, Istanbul. It was not like my last encounter, (see My Trousers are Undone) with my memory failing me.

The heels of my shoes wearing away whilst in Gaziantep. Now I know why I take glue with me on my travels.

A crown off one of my teeth coming off, and a filling in one of my back teeth falling out.

The handle from my suitcase breaking, a bad design by Samsonite. Then the locking mechanism on another Samsonite suitcase breaking. Good for Samsonite, they replaced that lock free.

The case on my new Philips computer beginning to split.

Will I get paid for the presentations I have done?

Then on a routine blood test I find that my blood sugar levels are a little high. I do not want diabetes, so I must watch my sugar intake. It is difficult when living in hotels and eating in restaurants as I seem to do. So, I was called back to the doctors. Blood pressure fine, a quick check on the blood sugar level seemed reasonable, but then.

I happened to mention a vision problem, not so much a problem but a change. I then find myself in the emergency eye hospital. Now I must await the report on that.

Oh Poo Poo, I am falling apart.]]>NLPTravelsPhillip Holt2008-05-09T08:06:37ZDaze (days) of resthttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/30/daze-days-of-rest.aspx
Now I must prepare for my next trip and training in Italy this Thursday, for PhotoReading and Mind Maps, in association with Gianni Golfera, and then early Monday morning, a flight to Istanbul to give a talk at the Quantum Leadership Conference, or in Turkish, Kuantum Liderlik.  Plus, I have to catch-up on post and messages that have built-up over the last few weeks.

It is good to look back on the good times I had over the last trainings, and have much to write about but no time to do it in.

I doubt if the hotel I am booked into in Milano has free internet, unlike the hotels of Turkey, so for the next few days I will post no blogs.

Sorry folks. Or do I hear "thank you".

PS. If you want to tryout the software iMindMaps for free, click here.

]]>Mind MapsTravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-30T09:47:35ZAn Evening of Stage Hypnosis in Gaziantephttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/27/an-evening-of-stage-hypnosis-in-gaziantep.aspxTurkey, and I am on my way back to the UK. Sitting here in the departure lounge, I find that the flight has been delayed by another hour from Gaziantep to Istanbul.

Oh Poo Poo. (click to understand)

But I can reflect on a great night I had in Gaziantep, where I was invited to a meal with participants. Over twenty attended and I gave them their first experience of stage hypnosis. (click to learn stage hypnosis)

It was great fun for all, especially those "stars" who stepped forward to be the show.

Getting the "stars" into hypnotic trance. Plus Zafer on the floor.

Keeping each other warm with hypnosis.

Keeping each other warm.

She would not leave the stage, her shoes were glued to the floor.

]]>NLPStage HypnosisHypnosisPhillip Holt2008-04-28T14:29:10ZEnd of one course means the start of anotherhttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/20/end-of-one-course-means-the-start-of-another.aspxIt is 10:30pm on Sunday evening, and I have just finished a 7 day NLP course in Acibadem, a district of Istanbul on the Asian side. I am sitting in a temporary lounge waiting for the 11:30pm flight to Gaziantep to give a 6 day NLP course plus some presentations, which starts tomorrow at 9am.

I think I will get little sleep tonight, having a scheduled arrival time of 1:00am.

Still, I can look back on a really great course. The ladies were a challenge having so many differing characters and learning styles.

NLP course Istanbul

It was also strange that on the course was a lady who had worked for the Saudi Arabian Airline, Saudia, back in the late 1980's, when I was their, and knew some of the training school staff of Saudia that I knew.

Where are you Ivy and Bob Bailey who lived on the same compound as me in Jeddah?

In the NLP course, we covered so much ground, from the history of NLP, anchors, the Meta Model, hypnosis through to the Six Step Reframe and the Fast Phobia Cure.

We had laughter and tears, but all came true at the end, with sad goodbyes, and promises to see each other in the future. I look forward that.

Now, although tired, mentally and physically, needing sleep, it is too quiet.

After all these days of talking, there is no-body to talk with. I tried to contact people, but they must be out enjoying themselves with their friends.

Then I get a call from Mehpare, the sponsor and organiser in Gaziantep, checking that I am on way and OK for the start of another NLP course (click for details) 9am tomorrow.

Talking can be a great thing, even when tired.

]]>NLPTravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-21T11:47:13ZOne up, all uphttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/17/one-up-all-up.aspxflown the nest", I remember the waking-up process I did.

I refer to one way in particular that involved my mother.

My mother never slept, or that is what she said, but many a night, I would be kept awake by her snoring, something I do not do, snoring that is. She would insist that she had not slept, and nothing would alter her belief.

Although she never slept, there would be different times of the morning she would wake-up, depending on what she would have to do. If I had school, she would be up before me. If it was the weekend, it would be later.

But, if mother was up, then everyone else would have to be up. If mother was asleep, then we had to be quiet. "We" being my father and myself.

It seems to be the same with some of the hotel guests I share the many hotels I stay in.

I have noticed that Middle Eastern families are very close and large often using several rooms. They allow the children to run up and down the corridors late at night, they leave their room doors open, and instead of using the hotel telephone systems or walk to their friends room, insist on shouting, their voices booming through the hotel. And, for some reason, they seem to have to shout to each other, even if they are standing face to face.

The walls of a hotel, are often thin.

My German (I think) next room neighbours, plus their friends, brought back the memories of my mother and previous hotel experiences, as last night at 11:30pm, someone started knocking at the door of the room next door.

This went on for five long minutes, as he shouted his friends name, and banged on the door. Surely after no answer on the first knock he would have realised his friends had left him and gone out, that they were not in.

Then this morning, at 7am, the same person came again, knocking the door, and shouting for his friends, this time in the room.

They could have been in my room, because it sounded like it. As they opened the door, they laughed and talked in loud voices, then headed off to breakfast, banging the door shut.

So OK, I am now awake.

Gives me something to write about.

"flown the nest", is a saying that refers to young birds, that once they have been fledged, the parent birds have finished feeding them, they leave the nest, perhaps never to have anything else to do with their parent birds.]]>English SayingsTravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-17T05:11:16ZAnother night, another bedhttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/16/another-night-another-bed.aspx
I came to Istanbul for a few nights, then flew down to Gaziantep for two nights, back up to Istanbul, staying on the European side in the Seminal Hotel for a few more nights.

As the venue has been changed for the NLP Practitioner course I am now giving, to the Asian side of Istanbul, I have been move across the Bosphorus, to Kadikoy to a hotel overlooking the ferry port.

The hotel is called the Deniz Hotel, deniz means sea in English, and I was told I would have sea views.

The Deniz Hotel, Kadikoy

The view from the 6th floor breakfast room of the Deniz Hotel, Kadikoy

Well I can see an island from my bedroom window. An island with car and bus traffic racing round it.

Not an island at sea

I can see the sea, if I lean out of the window, and strain to look between some buildings.

I do have a mosque opposite. Early morning prayer call starts at 5:30am. I know, it wakes me up as they call for believers from the loud speakers on the minarets.

The mosque which wakes me up at 5:30am in Kadikoy, Istanbul

The mosque which wakes me up at 5:30am in Kadikoy, Istanbul

The next door room seems to have a group, (more than two) young German tourists. At least between midnight and 7am they were quiet.

It is good to have variety, to have noise, to have life about me, because it means I am alive, and long may it last.]]>TravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-16T12:07:39ZPhotoReading in Gaziantephttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/11/photoreading-in-gaziantep.aspxGap Consultancy in Gaziantep, met to learn PhotoReading, the ability to absorb 20,000 - 30,000 words per minute (WPM), or a page a second, with a comprehension of 80% for the purpose of the reading.

Participants of PhotoReading in Gaziantep

The earth moved for us as we gained over the two and a half days information from the five individual's books, plus articles, onto a giant Mind Map. I think the person who took the photograph was having a similar experience to the participants.]]>PhotoReadingPhillip Holt2008-04-15T05:07:02ZA talk for Vodafone (Turkey) Staffhttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/11/a-talk-for-vodafone-turkey-staff.aspxVodafone (Turkey), to give a talk, ablely assisted in translation by their translator, Asu Yildirim.

Phillip Holt and translator Asu Yildirim at Vodafone

I was pleasantly surprised by the high attendance to the talk and the interaction and warmth I received.

Staff of Vodafone Turkey listening to Phillip Holt, April 2008

Again like my presentations at Denizbank, Global Communications, Turkcell in Turkey, it is refreshing to see how much companies are investing in their staff by providing education and training in thier own academy buildings and facilities.

Vodafone Logo

]]>NLPPhillip Holt2008-04-14T04:33:36ZA seminar soon in Turkey, Kuantum Liderlik.http://nlpnow.com/2008/04/11/a-seminar-soon-in-turkey-kuantum-liderlik.aspxAsemble, for the 5th May 2008, in the Conrad Hotel Istanbul.

Although written in Turkish I think it says "One of the most expensive speaker of the world Gordon M.Bethune in Turkey!!!"

Looking down the flier, is non other than me. Yes, I will be making a presentation at the same seminar, along with Antony Galie, R. Şanal Günseli and Professor Stefano D'anna.

                    The seminar title is QUANTUM LEADERSHIP


                                         Kuantum Liderlik, 5th May 2008, Conrad Hotel Istanbul

Kuantum Liderlik, 5th May 2008, Conrad Hotel Istanbul

My talk is scheduled to be on Mind Mapping and will include :-

            The application of Mind Mapping in business life.

            Mind Mapping applications for people in order to reach their goals and dreams.

            Mind Mapping techniques for leaders in order to impress and manage their group.

I will look forward to meeting old friends at the seminar along with new.

Translation of the above flier reads :-

"We are trying to implement many new disciplines to increase profitability in the business world, and maintain an everlasting company. In this seminar we will find the way to our roots. We will share the secrets of creating our future from today."

SUBJECTS TO BE COVERED

    Quantum Leadership.

    How to become an everlasting company.

    Are you and your company ready for the next twenty years?

    Positive leadership in reaching goals

    Quantum leap.

    Mind mapping.
]]>NLPTürkçeMind MapsPhillip Holt2008-04-13T18:17:05ZIt is not what you seehttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/11/it-is-not-what-you-see.aspx
I do like a breakfast, and sometimes rather than going to have breakfast in the hotel restaurant, I will have a supply of breakfast cereal and some milk. Having a cereal means I can have a snack whenever I care to.

I decided to buy some muesli breakfast cereal from a local supermarket in Istanbul, Dia, (owned by Carrefour), and came across a box showing Dia's logo, with a small window insert in the box which allowed me to see the contents, which was suitable to my requirements.

Getting back to my accommodation and with my mouth watering, I opened the box to get at that healthy muesli, I was shocked to see how much was actually in the box. Less than a quarter of the box was taken-up by the plastic bag containing the cereal.

Dia (Turkey) own brand muesli.

Going to Gaziantep, my host Mehpare of Gap Consultancy, had provided me a new box of muesli from another manufacturer, Dr Oetker Vitalis Müsli, and that box was nearly full. What a difference.

Dr. Oetker muesli (müsli)

What a con Dia in Turkey are pulling on their customers. If they do that with a box of muesli, what are they doing with their other own name branded products?

Will I visit a Dia supermarket again?

No.

That made me think about some of the couples I see as I travel.

How is it that an old man can attract and marry a younger woman, and visa versa?

How is it that an ugly looking person can marry and make a lasting relationship with a beauty queen or a hunk of a man?

It is obviously what is on the inside and not what is on the outside. It is their character, the love, the friendship and kindness that they give each other, that gives such happiness, not what they look like or what they wear.

Sometimes we do not like what we see in ourselves. We are over weight, our hair is too short or too long, the wrong colour, our teeth are crooked, our legs are too fat or too thin. Some people need help to see them through this self dislike, to help them to accept themselves as they are, to learn what is on the inside is more important.

It is when the falseness of the outside packaging is stripped away that the truth emerges.

Dia SA, do not expect me to shop with you again. How many customers have you lost due to the false lies of your packaging?]]>TravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-12T04:15:32ZA week of hard but enjoyable work.http://nlpnow.com/2008/04/11/a-week-of-hard-but-enjoyable-work.aspx After my trip into Istanbul, Turkey, enjoying the sights of the tulips of the 3rd International Tulip Festival of Istanbul, and the dolphins in the Bosphorus, (click to see article), it has been a week of continuous work and travel, hard but enjoyable.

After my arrival on Thursday, that evening I gave a talk to a full room of very receptive Vodafone staff.

Friday was taken-up with meetings and preparing for the weekend with Denizbank, presenting to over 300 members of staff, skills that will help them in their work and private life.

Monday morning saw me up at 4:45am to catch the 6:20am flight from Istanbul Ataturk Airport, to the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep to start a two and a half PhotoReading course, organised by Gap Consultancy.

At the end of the PhotoReading course I caught the last flight that evening back to Istanbul, to be ready for another presentation to over 150 Denizbank staff in their wonderfully presented Academy building.

Today, Friday sees me with a spare day to reorganise my brain, catch-up on paperwork and emails, as we reschedule one of the training days, enabling me to prepare for the next stint of sixteen days of continuous training, both in Istanbul and back in Gaziantep, a corporate training for Amway, and two NLP Practitioner level trainings, organised by Gap Consultancy in Gaziantep and NLP-Time in Istanbul.

Access to the internet has been limited, so this has allowed me to concentrate on the presentations and training, but has meant that the daily blog has fallen behind, plus being unable to answer my many emails.

This is a catch-up day.]]>PhotoReadingNLPTravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-11T09:07:50ZArrived in Istanbulhttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/04/arrived-in-istanbul.aspxTurkish Airlines flight to Istanbul.

I had a talk scheduled for the staff at Vodafone (Turkey) at 5:30 that afternoon, and I was tired, I needed sleep and rest. I think I got some on the four hour flight, interrupted by the serving of breakfast, the crying young babies, and the endless throbbing noise from the engines and air conditioning.

Upon arrival in Istanbul, should I take a coach into the center of Istanbul, to my hotel in Taxim Square, The Seminal Hotel, or should I take a taxi. The coach should be 15 Turkish Lira compared to say 30 Turkish Liar for a taxi? I was getting late, 1:30 pm, I needed to get to Vodafone for about 4:30pm to prepare myself and the venue. Taxi was the only answer.

I quickly got into the standard public yellow taxi (34 TDH 59), and in broken English the taxi driver made some conversation with me, playing some Hip Pop CD music, and wearing some wrap-around sunglasses.

Then I heard the words, "Traffic, Istanbul, problem."

Whenever I hear those words I know that the driver will take me a long route. so that the meter will charge even more.

Oh well what can I do? I need to get to Taxim Square, and there is no other way. There was nothing else to do but to relax, stay calm and enjoy the ride. And, it was a great ride, because it is the 3rd International Tulip Festival of Istanbul, and along the road they had planted thousands of tulips, now fully in bloom. I could not capture the true wonder and splendor of the colour.

2008, 3rd International Tulip Festival, Istanbul, from taxi 34 TDH 59

Sure enough, when it was time to leave the coast road to head into the center of Istanbul, he said again, "Traffic, Istanbul, problem." I could see a queue of cars, and said OK as he headed straight on, following the coast road.

All was well until we hit another queue of traffic. He lost his temper, hitting the steering wheel and shouting in Turkish.

Me? I just laughed and said "yavaş, yavaş." This means "slowly, slowly."

We edged slowly forward, him complaining, me looking at the ever increasing charges on the meter. There was nothing to do but keep my cool, stay calm and centered. (Mustapha, Fred, Antonio).

It was then as I glanced out of the side window overlooking the Bosphorus that my eye caught a dolphin breaking surface, its' dorsal fin and tail fully visible. Then another dolphin, and another. They just kept appearing. There must have been fifty or more, obviously feeding on fish. A TV cameraman was trying capture to this sight. I had only my mobile phone to capture this scene, so believe me there are at least three dolphins in this picture.

Really there are dolphins in the picture not just TV cameraman Realy there are dolphins in the picture not just TV cameraman

Realy there are dolphins in the picture not just TV cameraman

After 15 minutes watching this sight and crawling slowly forward, we came to a break in the central barrier, and without a word he sped quickly through it and raced back in the opposite direction, the meter still adding up, to join the queue he had originally tried to avoid.

Oh Poo Poo. Keep centered and strong Phillip. (Mustapha, Fred, Antonio). Nothing you can do.

Half an hour later we arrived in Taxim Square, and the meter read 43 Turkish Lira. Oh Poo Poo. I gave him a 50 Lira bank note.

He looked at me and said "OK?"

I was having none of it, I wanted my change and a receipt. And this was not the first time this has happened to me. (click to see previous article).

I had one hour to get to my hotel, and then start my journey to Vodafone, but I had seen some great sights, sights that those who have lived a lifetime in Istanbul have never seen.

]]>TravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-05T19:10:58ZAn Early Starthttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/03/an-early-start.aspx Today I have an early start to catch the 6:55am Turkish Airlines flight from London to Istanbul. Thank goodness it is not British Airways, with all the trouble with the new Heathrow Terminal Five. Knowing my luck, my bags would arrive in Ataturk airport and I would be in New York.

There is a lesson to be learned from the BA move into Terminal 5. It is a lesson I learned from my days in computers.

Never buy something that has just launched, the product or service has not bedded down, has not been snagged, that is, had all the faults identified.

So, tomorrow night, I am giving a talk to Vodafone (Turkey).

I am well rehearsed, and my translator knows me well. So, I am looking forward to a great night, and the start of nearly one months training. ]]>TravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-03T12:18:31ZDid I upset you? Unwanted telephone calls.http://nlpnow.com/2008/04/01/did-i-upset-you-unwanted-telephone-calls.aspx Am I sorry that I upset you?

No I'm not, if you were the man who telephoned me from Weatherseal, the British double glazing, replacement window company.

I am fed-up to the teeth with unwanted telephone calls, offering me free holidays, phones, loans, replacement kitchens, insurance, or "Do I mind if I answer a couple of questions?".

If I want something, I will go on-line, go on the internet, or I will go to the shops. Thank you.

        Ring. Ring. Ring. "Can I speak to Mr Holt please?"

If I hear an Indian accent, I can feel the hairs starting to stand-up on the back of my neck. I know it is a call center in India wanting to sell me something.

        "What are you selling?" I ask.

        "Oh nothing sir. Can I ask you some questions? Do you have a mortgage?"

That is it.

        "No I do not have a mortgage, I am 95, and paid it off years ago. But I tell you what, I have some money
         to spare, would you like a loan from me, I will only charge you 4% APR, instead of your 16% , and .........."

The phone goes silent, as my reply is not on their script. They are stumped. NLPers? Pattern interrupt.

Or I will reply :-

        "Do you give loans to bankrupt people?"

I just asked a question, there is no need for them to put the phone down on me.

But Mr Weatherseal Windows, why does your company keep interrupting my day? On your Weatherseal computer database, you can see that we have had windows installed only a few years ago, and because of that, why should I want to have them replaced again?

If I did know people in the rest of the flats here in Norbiton Hall, (click to read about), why should I recommend you, a company that keeps calling me up, intruding into my personal space.

All I said to you was :-

        "We have your windows already thank you, but I might be interested in a conservatory."

to which you replied :-

        "We do conservatories."

I could tell from the tone of your voice you were suddenly interested in me.

        "Yes I know, but we are on the second floor."

There was no need to say back to me, "Ha. Ha. Very funny", and put the phone down on me. I do want a conservatory installed, but not here.

Norbiton Hall, Kingston upon Thames from the rear.

Norbiton Hall, Kingston upon Thames from the rear.

So Mr Weatherseal Windows, you lost yourself a potential sale.

Then we get the silent calls. No-one on the other end. I end up shouting down the phone, but no-one hears me except for the neighbours and the shoppers across the road.

Yes for those of you who have similar problems, there is a service here in the UK called the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) (click to visit web page). This is an opt out service or register. It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make cold calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so.

But they still keep coming. Perhaps the call centers in India do not know about it, or even know where Britain is.

So Mr Weatherseal Windows and the many cold callers who interrupt my day and evenings, I am going to have fun with you. Please don't put the telephone down, as I do know you have a job to do, and my fun may be a waste of time to you, but then, so is your call to me.

Oh yes Mr Weatherseal Windows, do you install the conservatories in Malaysia?]]>RecommendationTravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-02T14:58:28ZA Hospital Visit - Time Distortionhttp://nlpnow.com/2008/04/01/a-hospital-visit--time-distortion.aspx I had to go to my local hospital here in Kingston upon Thames, (see some views), a very large place and expanding all the time.

Part of Kingston upon Thames hospital, Main Entrance

I suppose I am becoming like an old vintage wine, I need to be turned, or like an old car, I need attention and some of my parts, oiled and overhauled, with tenderness, love and affection.

I collected a numbered ticket - 78, so that I knew when it would be my turn to be seen, and sat in a waiting area, watching the other patients and members of staff. There seemed to be a representative from nearly every country in the world there, from the Far East, South East Asia, Asia, Africa, Europe, but I did not hear an American accent.

Britain does seem to be less British and more world with every day that passes. As I walk around the shops, I hear so many languages, Polish, Pakistani, Korean, so many I have no idea where they are from. The shop assistants have a foreign accent, waiters and waitresses in the restaurants seem to be there to learn English.

Today a Government report by a House of Lords Committee chaired by Lord Wakeham on recent mass immigration into Britain concluded that there has been little or no positive impact on the living standards of the existing population, and suggests an "explicit and reasoned" limit should be set for net immigration from outside the EU.

It seems that there is a figure of nearly 200,000 net immigrants into Britain each year, that is those seeking to live in Britain, and those leaving, yes, the Brits leave the shores of the UK to become immigrants to other countries. A figure of 200,000 would make a very large town every year, and those are only the "official" figures, it does not take into consideration the illegal immigrants plus their families.

I sat there, watching the second hand of a clock going what seemed to be backwards, time was going so slow, just like standing in a queue in a bank, time just stops. My ticket number 78 was a long time away.

Patient number 60 gets ready to be seen in Kingston Hospital

Patient number 60 gets ready to be seen in Kingston Hospital

I then began to remember great times, when at a party, when I was a small boy playing, when giving a course. Time just went so fast then. In fact I remember being with a girlfriend, being totally absorbed, then looking at my watch to see that it was not 9pm at night, but mid night.

Where had time gone?

How did time pass so quickly?

It is only our mind that distorts time, makes it go quickly or slowly.

My strongest memory of time going so slow was when I was a student at the Staffordshire College of Commerce in Wednesbury, sitting in a history lesson. The teacher was bad. He did not give me any enthusiasm, he did not light my candle. I sat there watching the second hand of the big clock on the wall facing me, tick, tick, tick away, I can even remember seeing the sight movement of the minute hand. Oh time went so slow waiting for the end of lesson bell.

So sitting there in the waiting area, I got my mind to go back and remember a time where time had been so fast, and that I will keep to myself, and relived that time, seeing everything I saw, hearing everything I heard, and feeling all the good things about that time, all over again. I fully associated myself into that time.

Oops. It is my turn to be seen, ticket 78.

Doesn't time fly if you are having fun?

Download a desktop timepiece by Maurice Lacroix. Click here.

                                                    ]]>NLPTravelsPhillip Holt2008-04-02T07:14:39ZStrategy Elicitation Notationhttp://nlpnow.com/2008/03/26/strategy-elicitation-notation.aspxStrategy Elicitation in NLP, we need to write down in an easy way what we have found, so that we can use the strategy again in the future or to make changes to it.

The standard NLP Notation can be coded thus :-

The Representation System used.

            V    -    visual
            A    -    auditory
            K    -    kinesthetic
            O    -    olfactory
            G    -    gustatory

Internal or External Processing

            Is what is happening to them their thoughts, their feeling taking place their minds or body, or
            is there some other outside stimulus, i.e. they remember some incident would be internal, notated
            by a small "i", (ⁱ), whereas seeing something actually happening would be external, notated by a
            small "e", (^e). Having butterflies in the tummy will be an kinesthetic internal, (Kⁱ), whereas feeling
            the quality of cloth would be kinesthetic external, (K^e).

                V^e    -    visual external                Vⁱ    -    visual internal
                A^e    -    auditory external            Aⁱ    -    auditory internal
                K^e    -    kinesthetic external        Kⁱ    -    kinesthetic internal
                O^e    -    olfactory external           Oⁱ    -    olfactory internal
                G^e    -    gustatory external         Gⁱ    -    gustatory internal

Remembered or Constructed

            Has the person remembered something from the past, or are they constructing for example what
            they would look like wearing a certain suit? The representation for visual remembered can be
            notated by a small "r", (Vⁱ_r), here meaning a visual internal remembered, whereas for a visual
            constructed, imagining what they would look like by a small "c", (Vⁱ_c).

Other Notations

                ^_m_about the previous step when linking steps. "m" standing for meta. For example getting a feeling about some stimulus.

see example soon]]>NLPExercisesPhillip Holt2008-03-31T10:33:13ZStrategy Elicitationhttp://nlpnow.com/2008/03/26/strategy-elicitation.aspxStrategy Elicitation is the how an NLPer models how another achieves excellence or how they do something using internal representational systems and external influences.

Knowing what strategies are being used in oneself and other people, can result in powerful changes, resulting in the change in a response to situations.

Firstly, get into rapport (the "t" is silent when spoken in English) with the client, and explain that you will be asking questions on how they do what they do.

It is important during the strategy elicitation that the person eliciting the strategy, keeps out of the situation, does not involve themselves in the process by saying such things as, "Oh yes I do that as well", or "Oh I do it this way". They should only aim to keep the person on-track in the process they run.

Notation of the strategy will use the modalities, VAKOG, rep systems, along with other coding. (Click to see list). Only write down the notation, not notes nor sentences.

Ask the person to fully associate into the thing they have/will do, the strategy, as if they are doing that process now. You can keep that person associated in the strategy by asking present tense language questions, "What is the next thing that you do?"
Ask the person "What is the first thing that happens?" and "How do you know?"
Continue through the strategy, step by step, by asking "What is the next thing that happens?" and again "How do you know?".
Keep looking for clues which will help you identify which modalities, VAKOG, they are using, by observing Eye Accessing Cues (click to view), body language, hand movements, language patterns along with their predicates (click to view).
As you notice the representation system being used, VAKOG, write it down in the notation described.
Do not get involved with the content of the strategy. You do not need to know how many eggs or how many grammes of flower are needed to make a chocolate cake, just the representational systems in use.
Keep asking the questions in item 3. "What is the next thing that happens?" until you find the EXIT or the trigger that tells them that the strategy has ended, that they have completed. What is the modality that tells them it is complete? "How do you know?"
Be aware of the TOTE Model, Test, Operate, Test, Exit. (click to view).

KISS the strategy elicitation process, that is Keep It Simple Stupid, do not over complicate the process, only look for the main rep' systems.

]]>NLPExercisesPhillip Holt2008-03-30T11:47:27ZNorton 360 v Kasperski Internet Securityhttp://nlpnow.com/2008/03/29/norton-360-v-kasperski-internet-security.aspxSee entries My 'annus mirabilis', A day of travel , and I hate Computers .

An old friend, Nick Milonakis, a Greek national, A blast from the past , sent me a recommendation for a new software called Kasperski.

I have loaded and used Kasperski internet security now for over a month, and all my troubles with Norton 360 have disappeared. Thank you Nick. I can now go to the airport, get on the WiFi and surf the internet, download my emails.

I had never heard of Kasperski before Nick told me about it. But walking around a local PCWorld shop, I spied a display of the software. On asking an assistant about Kasperski software, he said that in his opinion, and the awards it had received, it was the best on the market. He added that one offering had dropped in popularity, (Mcfee) as they were not keeping-up with protection against new virus and spams, and that Norton 360, seemed to have lost the plot, that they had problems which were not being resolved, whereas, Kasperski were on top.

Why then were PCWorld still promoting Norton's software on every shelf?

Why were PCWorld offering half price deals on Norton 360?

Perhaps they have a special deal from Norton, giving them more profit.

Perhaps they have a contract to sell so many packs.

Perhaps there is more commission to be earned by the sales people.

Perhaps they know that the general public often do not complain if things do not work.

Perhaps they know that Norton will bring out a replacement in a few months, so the problems will disappear.

Perhaps they know that the vast majority of purchasers will not realise that the software does not protect their computers as the package purports to do.

Perhaps they have buried their head in the sand, hoping the problems of Norton 360 will disappear.

I recommend Kasperski internet software from my own experiences, and you can by it from Amazon, or download it from Kaspersky.

Buy from Amazon

Download from Kaspersky

]]>TravelsPhillip Holt2008-03-29T11:06:54ZStrategieshttp://nlpnow.com/2008/03/25/strategies.aspx A strategy in NLP can be defined as particular actions leading to an outcome, which can be reproduced repeatably by a sequence of thoughts, and or a sequence of internal representational systems and external experiences that lead to an outcome.

Whether we realise it or not, everything we do in our life will involve a strategy, and mostly the strategy will be at a subconscious level, that is, we are not aware at a conscious level that we will be running a procedure/strategy.

A strategy is how we process the actions that we do, these actions could be for making decisions, learning, remembering, doing our job, taking part in sport activities, being motivated. How do we do what we do, by using our internal representational systems (click for more information), and being influenced by external experiences.

Each person will use a different strategy than the next person, and it will explain why there are differences in peoples capabilities, how for example Gianni Golfera, the man with the biggest memory in the world, can remember more than other people. Has Gianni got a different brain than other people? Tests say no, he has the same brain structure as the next person, it is how he uses it, the strategies he uses to retain information that make the difference. http://www.c4memory.com

There are good decision makers, good leaders, and good sales people. Each will adopt or employ a strategy that works for them to achieve excellence in what they do,

It is a presupposition in NLP, that if anyone can do something, then you too can do it, by learning the strategy employed, and reproducing it or teaching it to others so you/they too can achieve the same excellence. I disagree with this statement, for example I am 95 years old and want to become a marathon runner. If I modeled or found the strategies used by Paula Radcliffe, a world marathon record holder, and ran the same strategies employed by Paula on myself, would I be as good as her? No. I am a man, I am older, and my physical build is not the same, but perhaps if the strategy is ecologically acceptable to me, I could achieve an excellence to my level.

We elicit strategies by modeling the internal and external representational systems of a person.

A strategy will always work to give an outcome or result. If that result is not what is wanted, then the strategy should be changed.

Often a person has only one strategy to achieve and outcome. If we can provide another alternative strategy to get the same outcome, then that person has choice.

Consider that the only way you know how to get to work is to drive your car, what would happen if the car broke down?

If I taught you how you could catch a bus to get to work, now you have two strategies or ways to get to work.

Teach you how to get there by walking, yet another. Riding a bike, another, so on and so forth.

It has been said that if a General of an army has one more strategy to fight the battle than the enemy, he will have more chance to win the battle.]]>NLPPhillip Holt2008-03-28T09:32:42ZThe Fort of Gaziantephttp://nlpnow.com/2008/03/24/the-fort-of-gaziantep.aspx

On my last trip to Gaziantep in the South of Turkey to give training with Gap Consulting, we flew over the city as we came into land on a clear night. Down below, illuminated in a bright orange light, was the round fortress that once stood guard over Gaziantep from invaders.

To visit the fortress of Gaziantep was not on my timetable, nor in fact any sightseeing trip, but I found that I had a spare day with no training. A Sunday, with nothing to do, so I decided to go for a walk, just around the shops near to my hotel.

It surprised me that even though it was 11am, there were very few shoppers, and very few shops open, so I just walked and walked, taking in the sights, sounds and smells.

hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil, sit over a café in Gaziantep

I then noticed the fort in the distance, and aimed myself towards it, keeping track of the landmarks, so that I could find my way back to the hotel.

Turning a corner, there in front of me was the fort, sitting on top of a hill. I could see visitors on the battlements, and walking into the fort through a dark doorway entrance.


                                                                   The Fortress of Gaziantep

I followed the road around the base of the hill and fort passing a mosque with a beautifully decorated minaret, until I came to the entrance to Gaziantep Fortress. It is obvious that in the near future, visitors will have to pay to gain entrance to the Fort, as they are building a visitor center and ticket booths, rebuilding the entrance, but today it was free.

A mosque at the base of the Fortress of Gaziantep
                               A mosque with a beautifully decorated minaret at the base of the Fortress of Gaziantep


                                               Perhaps the site of a drawbridge of the Fortress of Gaziantep

Once passing the yet to be completed visitor entrance to the Fortress, I passed through a stone gateway and over what would have been a drawbridge to climb a steep set of stairs to the doorway into a dark corridor leading up and into the Fort its' self.

The dark entrance of the Fortress of Gaziantep                              The steep interior climb of the Fortress of Gaziantep
                                               The dark entrance and steep interior climb of the Fortress of Gaziantep

Once into the sunlight within the walls of the Fortress of Gaziantep, it is obvious that there is a lot of restoration work being undertaken, with one area covered by a corrugated steel roof. But there was not much to see, just an empty interior, with what appears to be the foundations of what would have been buildings.


                                                           Views of the interior of the Fortress of Gaziantep

Old guns, from what year I have know idea, were on display, and from the Fort walls, looking sometimes through cuttings/windows in the thick stonework, the views over Gaziantep were spectacular, the flat roofs of the houses and buildings, some of the old historical areas, and the newer buildings, plus the big football ground. I think there was a match on, and Gaziantep lost. The view also showed where some of the pollution was coming from. (click to read previous article).


                                                           Views from the walls of the Fortress of Gaziantep

The History of Gaziantep Fort

The history of the site may be older than 6,000 years, but the first fortress of Gaziantep, having several towers but none to be seen today, was believed to have been built in the 3rd Century BC by the Romans.

In the 6th Century, the Fortress was repaired and expanded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, with more towers added.

Further repairs were undertaken by the Egyptian Sultan Kayitbay (1481), and by Sultan Sulieman in the Ottoman period of 1557. Later additional buildings and towers were added by Melik Sahil Ahmet.

The Fort of Gaziantep has been used for defense, even up to and including Turkey's War of Independence.]]>TravelsPhillip Holt2008-03-27T06:52:12Z