I believe in the Law of Attraction. What if you could create that for someone without them knowing? I hit the streets with my wife and a couple friends to see if it was possible. In this social experiment, we decided to give a homeless man a "lucky chip" and see if it would have any affect on him. It was a success! As they day went on, we could clearly see this guy named Brandon become more connected with people, engaged and happy. Later in the afternoon, I happen to run into him again and he had crafted a holder and necklace for the poker chip... which he called his "lucky chip!"
Watch the video and stop by anyone like "Bongo" and say hi. You never know who you'll find hidden under dirty clothes and crazy hair!
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
I wanted to share a new body scanning prank and social experiment we did this week. Most of our prank videos involved magic or psychology that shock or surprise people. It's all bout large or funny reactions. This time, we turned up the heat on the meaning of the prank and tested people ability to put up with ridiculous rules and regulations.
We set up a mobile booth to scan people before they could go into a store. What they saw was us stopping a young lady, scanning her and revealing her naked body for all to see. Of course, she was in on it. Once she was scanned and allowed into the store, we turned to the next person in line... Boy did they have mixed reactions! Enjoy!
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
It's time to prank and scare people for Halloween! What better way than do an entire series of pranks and tricks on people than a whole month of practical jokes and scams!? We set up a dozen pranks at Rocket Fizz in San Luis Obispo. Many more to come! Enjoy and Happy Halloween!
Here's the return of the Human Chair prank, but this time, it's the Halloween edition!
Here's some fake candy container pranks. Watch as people dig for candy and get the shock of a face screaming at them. Another prank involves the candy container with an apparent fake arm ... that secretly switches for a real arm! It's prank within a prank to get those who think they know what we are up to!
Of course, I can't leave you without showing you our favorite Halloween Scare ever!
Imagine walking into a creepy, gum covered alley and finding a guy that looses his head...
If you are coming through the Central Coast, be sure to stop by Rocket Fizz and say hello to my friends there... and take a seat... I dare you!
Rocket Fizz, 699 Higuera Sreet, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 543-07632
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
I'm shocked that several, large, artistic performance groups were cut out of the finals. We are left with some serious solo acts but it really opens the door to anyone's chance at winning this season of America's Got Talent. However, considering the demographics and types of acts left, I am not going to be too surprised to see the first magician win this show! As a consultant to this act, I will keep my personal opinions out of the equation and look at this very subjectively and honestly.
Acts from the finals
Here my breakdown:
Some of the acts I figured would have posed the biggest threat are now gone. It was somewhat disappointing, but that's what demographics/marketing/looks/editing/postioning will do to acts in a show like this. We can only look at the six remaining acts at this point. What we have left are THREE music/singing acts. One comedian, one performance dance artist and one magician. In my humble opinion, the most creative, skilled and experienced performer is clearly Kenichi Ebina. He creates most of his own technology and choreographing. His stuff is amazing. As a comedian, Taylor Williamson has a fun character people love. He stands out to me as well. The opera styled trio of Forte is great, but I can not connect with them since they admit to coming together for the show last minute and do not know each other. Demographically speaking, the country singer might pose the biggest challenge to Collin's since half of America connects with country music. That said, it's looking pretty strong for magician Collins Key because of the package he has become marketing wise and the followers he's gained during the show. Let's break this down more:
• Until Collins, nobody has ever crashed AGT's Twitter account before.
• No contestant that was a complete unknown has gained so much popularity that there are literally mobs of fans to see him outside the show.
• To top it off, AGT producers would likely see long term potential in a very young 17 year old.
• He has a tremendously large fan base.
• He is very young and has the package look which ties into the marketing of a show like this.
• Magic is at an all time popularity.
• A magician has NEVER made it to this point of the show.
It's anyone's game this year... But one can dream that because magic is so popular outside of AGT this year that it's the time a magician wins this thing. In fact, I know first hand since producers called me nine times this year to discuss me doing magic pranks on the show. They recognize how popular magic is right now. It has to help. People appear to be ready for magic. It feels like it's time to pass on a musician. That's my gut feeling this year. As I said before, it's anyone's game at this point but it sure feels like Collins is able to pull this off for numerous reasons. The stars have aligned amazingly for this opportunity. He has a "different" type of act that appeals to most demographics.
Those are just some reason's I would not be shocked if it happened. I'll be supportive either way it goes down. Good luck to you all;)
Check out some of the performances from all the amazing performers in the top 6.
America's Got Talent, Final 6:
Magician Collins Key:
Regardless, we will know the results this week! It's pretty exciting stuff. Here's wishing everyone the best of luck in their career and chance on AGT. If Kenichi pulls out the win, I would not be shocked at all - plus he gets an extra point for also incorporating magic in his acts!
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
MSN contacted me to see if I could be their magician for a 18 part series called "From the Streets" based around unique people or entertainers around the country. Since I came "from the streets" before being adopted so to speak, it was a perfect fit. Of course, I agreed. It's a short and sweet clip, but was super fun to make that afternoon. Santa Monica has a lot of great people to mess with! Let's face it, 90 degrees out, beautiful people, tourist trap... equals easy pickings;)
Here's me and some of the crew form inside.com who was hired to do this series "From the Streets" for MSN. This was shot in Santa Monica, California on the popular 3rd street promenade.
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
Looking to learn magic tricks? Look no further! Jay Sankey, one of my favorite thinkers in magic, stopped by my YouTube Channel to share some fun tricks anyone can do anytime. Check out these FOUR FREE TRICKS you can set up in seconds! I love teaching easy to do magic that have big impact. Unless you are going to do magic for a living, it's pointless to learn advanced psychology, pick-picketing and sleight of hand when you can be up and running in one minute! Enjoy my friends!
Was that not a blast to watch? 11 minutes went by in a blink. No, it was not hypnosis. It's the clean and fun teaching of my bud Jay Sankey. He teaches ENDLESS tricks over in his camp. Check it out at InsideDeception.com - You can tell him "The Ice Breaker" sent you. It's great stuff for all ages and skill levels. While you are here, check out my "Dating Magic" book.
If you are still reading and did not watch the video, the four tricks consist of:
1. Breaking a piece of stir stick off and making it vanish and appear under any location... a friends purse, a friends coffee, etc. 2. A hilarious "phone" trick! Make your phone vanish, catch on fire, break it, crush it or roll it into a ball and kick it away. 3. An awesome prediction with fire and fingers... No, don't worry, we are professionals: Imagine drawing a hand on a napkin. Let your friend light a match and burn the underside of any finger they choose(on the napkin silly, not you!). "OUCH!" you say... and immediately show a massive blister PHYSICALLY on your finger tip THEY burned on the paper. I know you will be doing this today! :) 4. Lastly, a great bar bet to get a girls phone number!
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
If you watch America's Got Talent, you certainly know the name and face of Collins Key! He took America by storm with his amazing auditions with mental magic. Unlike large, glamourous acts, Collins charms and defies logic with seemingly everyday, simple items. From predictions and influence to magic and sleight of hand, this kid is someone to keep on eye on! Isn't it refreshing to see a fun magic act by someone just being themselves? No Glitter, no hype.
After a couple days of brainstorming in the "secret lair"
I'm so proud to see him attack this pressure and television show engine like a pro. I can tell you first hand, as their creative consultant behind the scenes, that he has everything it takes to be the next superstar of magic. He has the hole package: hard work ethic you have to see to believe, supportive family, serious chops (that's magic talk for being a bad ass with your hands!), connection with fans and ridiculous charm and looks. Did I mention he's 6'4"?! In fact, he shut down the AGT twitter feed from so much female attraction. Very rarely does a contestant start of on a show as a completely unknown and generate this type of following so rapidly. Keep in mind he just turned 17. The host of AGT, Nick, said he's like the Justin Bieber of magic.
Collin's before it all took off. He aint a bad editor either!
If you do not watch AGT, here's some of the early auditions before he went to the finals. Trust me, there's a lot more in store with Collins. You've seen nothing yet.
Watch a dollar vanish to a popcorn bag:
Watch a chosen page from a book transport to an envelope:
A premonition appears in the most impossible place:
Using magic to get a date:
Collins smashes a $250,000 watch and alters time:
At AGT Finals. A YouTube Prediction:
At AGT Finals. Collins gets cards to switch in judges mouths:
And the show end with a new twist on some old tricks!
(UPDATE: As you very well may know, Collins made the top 6 finals day. We learn tonight the results!... The results are in and he made #5 in 2013! Not bad for a young, new magician!! We are going to see some great things from him in the future! You'll see;))
So funny - the emails and comments floating around... Listen, I'm proud of Collins Key for PUTTING HIMSELF OUT THERE on AGT at 16, now 17. I/he never said he was the most experienced magician... but he's the only one to make it far (and NO magician has ever made the finals) on the show and he has my respect and support for taking on the challenge and opportunity. So many people sit at home and complain about others who TRY. Get over yourselves, show some respect and wish others well. :) Life is short, support each other and you'll be rewarded.
Please SHARE this page and I'll be sure to add more of his AGT videos in one, nice concise spot.
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
Want to learn card handling and magic tricks? Get the UNORTHODOX collection - a DVD on card magic plus some other strange techniques with rubber bands, coins and more.
This DVD is like your own private lecture on card techniques and more outside the box ideas with cards and other objects. This DVD is 15 years in the making and ripped right from Rich's working material.
"I didn't start doing magic until my late 20's. If I saw magic on television, I'd try to come up with a way it was done. Most of my thinking was 'wrong'... but led to some very useful tools I use in my magic today! It's time to share it." - Magician Rich Ferguson
Learn a KILLER utility move that's a strange hybrid of a second deal, palm and double lift. Imagine being able to secretly switch cards, visually change cards, hide cards, add cards, produce cards and do dozens of other sleights using ONE unusual move.
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
The Sal Paradise - Bakery, Sandwiches & Focacceria (formerly Sal's Sandwiches and Beer) is located in beautiful downtown San Luis Obispo just catty-corner to the Mission. It's a magical place! Why do you ask? Well, first of all, the food is great and it's perfect for people watching. However, they are extra magical for asking yours truly to create one of their sandwiches. It's called The Magician. Let's me break it down for you...
This has been one of my favorite sandwich forever. The avocado takes down the spice a bit and makes it more creamy... you might say it's makes it "vanish" a little. It's a nice level medium spice with lots of FLAVOR vs just hot for the sake of hot. The cucumber gives it some more crunch and a tiny refreshing taste and texture. You might say that cucumber is "invisible" and subtle. You would not really notice it was there unless I told you. It's freaking GOOD. Try it. There is a tiny surprising kick of flavor and spice after you finnish eating. You might say it "appears." Warning, it's thick like most of their sandwiches. Beware of rooftop mouth damage! Take you time eating it;)
If you are looking for places to eat in San Luis Obispo, visit Sal's. Ask for "The Magician"... It's so gratifying to make that sandwich "disappear!"
As you can see from Sal's Menu, The Magician consists of:
Speaking of magic combined with eating, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
Masters of Illusion showcases some of the greatest magicians from around the globe on one stage! Masters of Illusion LIVE is a traveling broadway level stage production, while Masters of Illusion is a made for TV magic special. They are produced by the same talented minds included Gay Blackstone, David Martin and Al Shwartz.
Sneak peek at the stage set up on MOI!
Yours truly will be featured in the 2013-2014 magic special Masters of Illusion on the CW network. This primetime television show will be unprecedented with 13 full episodes of magic! It's created by Associated Television International. Sony Pictures will be handling international programing. Stay tuned!
Later after filming with spectators on stage
A variety of magic and performers including escapes, grand illusions, comedy, mind reading, animals, sleight of hand and much more will be showcased. Performers include greats such as Franz Harary, Rick Thomas, Andrew Goldenhersh, Jonathan Pendragon, Christopher Hart and Ed Alonzo. It's a star-filled line up not to miss.
What did I do on the show? A great collection of magicians did a couple tricks each for various episodes. My two effects were quite different from one another. One was a comedy mind reading trick that goes wrong again and again... then is finally saved by someone randomly picked from the audience by the spectator on stage. It must be a weird feeling to freely think of a word and choose someone random that tells you the word! This type of effect leaves people someone confused, so it will be interesting to see how it looks on TV! The second effects was a bizarre demonstration of coincidence vs. fate. A couple is asked onto the stage. A deck of cards are shuffled and placed onto her hand. I take one card and place it in my jacket pocket sticking out, facing me. He picks a card out-loud... it is the one in my pocket. Coincidence, luck, chance? I think not! He holds his chosen card. He turns his card over and the mate to the card turns over in her hand. Fate? Luck? Chance? Next, we tear one card while the other is being held by the lady and the tear goes to the other card... then he writes something secret and special on the card and it also appears on the back of her card... Fate. I do not know how they do this stuff!!! Oh, wait a second...
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
Levitate a dollar anytime, anywhere! If you are looking for a fun magic trick that takes no set up, practice or special powers, this is for you. If you have 5 cents, you can do this trick! The next time you are at a party, trying to impress a kid or goofing off at work, try this out. Enjoy.
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
I was on the Today Show Live on April 1st doing a secret prank followed by a segment where I'll teach some quick tricks you can do at home. If you missed it, take a look!
First... What makes a good prank? To begin with, catching someone in a vulnerable position! Secondly, a prank should not be expensive, harm anyone or cause damage. Thirdly, it's great when the "victim" does the prank on themselves after you set it up and walk away. Most importantly, there needs to be some sort of cleverness involved. For instance, jumping out of a trashcan. WEAK. It's nothing more than scaring someone. The reason the head-drop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsL_JDtVbww) works so well is because it's surprising...AND they were not only surprised but wondered HOW it could be happening. Speaking of adding more layers to a prank, it does not get much more vulnerable and simple than this spider prank: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6DaU4qoSQA
Being that April Fools falls on a workday this year, perhaps you need a good one for the office! Here's some simple ones:
1. Something like making a bunch of copies of a paperclip. Then take that stack of paper and put it back in the machine for use. When someone makes a copy, they will assume there is a paperclip (or whatever you copied) under the lid. But when they look for the paperclip under the copy lid, they can not find it. They try a copy again. Then again... Oh, the "fun" keeps delivering...
2. Take a drawer out of a desk (if it's that type of desk) and put a squeaky toy (like a dog toy) behind it so it squeaks when they open and shut the door.
3. Place a pair of shoes with a couple shipping tubes inside to act like legs with pants or shorts over them and down to the shoes to appear like someone is sitting/occupying a toilet stall. Just leave it there all day...
4. If you happen to work in an office with foam ceiling tiles, place a persons cell phone ABOVE a panel over their desk... then repeatedly call them and watch them search for their phone. The sound will be muffled to throw off where it is.
5. Get everyone you can to call in sick. Of course, you better have a really nice boss since they are going to stress out for a day trying to figure out what to do! When they arrive to work, be sure everyone is there before the boss arrives.
Here's a handful of a great pranks that do not cost much to create and can be implemented quickly:
1. Spider on toilet paper prank. KILLER. It cost nothing if you have a fake plastic spider or very little to get one. It is attached to the BACKSIDE of a paper roll. This causes the victim to give the illusion the spider is running after them when the vicim pulls the paper. Awesome effect. This certainly gets people in a very vulnerable position as well. Check, check. check.
2. No-suck straw. It's a fun and harmless prank to tie a knot in the end of a straw and wait for the quick opportunity to swap it with a friends straw in their drink. Then you wait for them to take a sip... Easy and fun joke.
3. Spider on string. Enough said... Having a spider "drop" near you or on you is a classic and will work forever. See some reactions here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57o3QAP2QWU
4. For husbands and wives... something "clean" like the endless soapy head. Basically, lets say you are showering and rinsing out your hair... Meanwhile, your husband secretly adds much more shampoo to the top of your head! You keep rinsing and rinsing...
5. Epoxy money to the ground and watch people try to grab it... doing it an evening before at a busy walkway is great.
6. Putting salt into someone's toothbrush.
7. Moving someone's car somewhere else can really freak them out depending on when and where you do it.
8. Replacing salt with sugar at the table.
9. Stick a slightly wet sponge (or piece of sponge) deep into the toe of someone's shoe. They wont know what hit them when they put the shoe on...
10. If it's raining, dropping shredded paper or confetti into a closed umbrella. It takes a second to drop it in as you walk by.
11. Change every clock in the house back and hour so they arrive an hour early to whatever starts their day.
12. Of course, the classic rubber band on the hose sprayer at the kitchen sink! It can really make someone upset though if they are running off to work! They turn on the faucet and get sprayed.
13. Reverse a lock and handle on a door so someone locks themselves IN a room.
14. Adjust volumes on radios, computers and TV's really loud then turn them off so when they are turned on it will be crazy loud.
15. Take a screen capture of someone's computer screen and open that image full screen. They will not be able to click what they think are their folders and documents!
16. Crushing a plastic cup under your armpit as it looks like you twist your neck, crack your wrist, break your neck, etc. Always gets a reaction.
17. Fake spoiled milk... Add a little green or blue food coloring to some milk to make it looks spoiled.
18. Balance a cup of water on the ledge of a open slightly door so it falls onto someone when they push it open.
19. Switch yogurt for mayo or sour cream, etc...
20. A simple one for students is to suggest to a few friends that "there is a test today"... a group can easily convince a single person of anything!
21. A classic that you can make at home is put someone's personal belonging in a plastic bag and stick it in jello after you just make it... let it harden up and serve it later.
22. Print out a fake ticket. There are great sites on line. You can make a parking ticket, concert tickets as a "gift" and much more! http://prudentbaby.com/2011/03/by-craft/april-fools-prank-the-fake-parking-ticket-with-free-downloads-2 and http://faketicketgenerator.com are simple examples.
23. Break/chew up a piece of stripped white and red mint candy... Act like you smashed your face against a pole... or fake fall down. Come up with what looks to be a tooth or two broken.
24. Adding a layer a clear cling wrap over a toilet bowl is simple and "creative" because it is somewhat an illusion, but it can really make a mess. If you feel like helping to clean up a potential mess, have fun...
25. The worst thing you could do is set up a prank that could ruin someone's day instead adding fun to their day... However, INCASE, you need to get back at someone, I'll remind you of this one: Add a little baby powder to the front end of a hair-dryer. When they turn it on, it will be a massive mess. You could also add some baby powder to the top of a ceiling fan and wait for them to turn it on another time for a shower of powder. Again, this is a revenge type prank and not recommended otherwise.
The lists go on and on… Enjoy this April Fools and try not to do anything too stupid… and if you do, send me a link. I want to see it.
Feel free to share this page with anyone you know that needs some simple ideas.
By the way, here's more of the Hidden Man inside the Chair Prank!! Enjoy and share with friends:
As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!
"The Magic of Body Language: It's no Illusion" is an in depth training program and keynote program by me, Rich Ferguson. It's designed for sales people and managers alike. Programs run up to 2.5 hours and include the fundamentals of body language and human behavior before digging deeper into shift of behavior and how to capitalize on opportunities. Once we are familiar with the various aspects of body language, we shift to influence and NLP and how it can dramatically improve your sales, life and relationships. It covers all these areas in an order than makes sense and is digestible by complete novices and intriguing by those quite familiar with human behavior. I can guarantee you have not looked at body language this way before. Why? It's because it's my technology based on real-wrold application, observation and survival.
Curious what subtle messages you might be sending that you shouldn't?
Interested in knowing how to adjust in sticky situations or when to walk away?
Want to know how to CLOSE THE DEAL?
Do you want to outsell your competition?
These are just a few areas that scratch the surface of what's possible with my real-world approach to body language, influence and psychology of sales. As an award winning mentalist and magician, I've adopted certain skills and methods that work. This is not theoretical psychological guess work that leaves you wondering what to do. I share techniques and principles based on common sense and human tendencies. I share exactly what I use to capitalize on opportunities and persuade people to help create those opportunities.
Consider having me at your next retreat or convention. Having me as your specialized expert in body language and psychology is fun. You are treated to a coupe psychological tricks and learn how these techniques are the complete backbone to HOW I do what I do as a mentalist. In addition to the training, I'm there for you and your staff as the entertainer for the after parties in the event you have one. I make the experience of learning heavy material quite engaging and fun. Here's a fun video followed by just a few of the hundreds of slides in the full program
Did you know that when someone shakes your hand and brings up a bag, purse, folder or some sort of object between you, that they are subconsciously blocking you. It could be from fear, intimidation, lack of confidence or a variety of reasons. My full program will give you the tools to decipher exactly what it means based on each situation. It's all about what I call a "shift in behavior."
Here's an important question regrading the misuse of power. Have you ever sat on the other side of your desk? You might be surprised at what you discover. Think of it this way; you are already in the power position since someone is entering your office and sitting across from you. It's essentially your territory. Why is it then that so many people offer a seat to a worker or potential client that is uncomfortable? Uncomfortable how? There are numerous reasons. Here's just one example: The person on the left is sitting at the bosses large, intimidating table and has to be crowded by all those personal items. It might look good from the bosses side, but it psychologically puts the other person in a position that is not inviting or comfortable. You will get 35% less out of a person put in this position.
There is a huge difference between confidence and dominance. These are often misused in daily life, dating, business, sales and more. In this picture, the guy on the left is dominating me by forcing my palm to turn upwards and literally taking "the upper hand." In the program, I discuss many ways to deal with or avoid these sitautions. You will learn the strategy to body language and see it in a new light. For instance, I can regain the power in this position by simply stepping forward and initiating an invasion of the other person's space a bit. On the other hand, you may choose to do nothing except take note of this persons controlling intentions! The simple fact that you are now aware gives you the upper hand in negotiating.
Along the way, you get some great tips to deciphering truths. For instance, in this next photo, notice the difference in how I shrug. On the left, I shrug with two shoulders. Subconsciously, I've revealed that I likely do not know. However, on the right, I've revealed that I know much, much more and am not interested in telling you. A single shrug may reveal some deception. We visit a tremendous amount of easy to spot positions pertaining to hand movements, finger movements, facial expressions, shift of feet and much more.
I've developed a whole new take on body language called Shift in Behavior. In my line of work as a mentalist and magician, I have to be a step ahead of people or my effects or demonstrations will not work. I must gain knowledge of what someone is truly thinking regardless of the acting they are putting on. In my explorations and growth as a mentalist, I realized that all the books and common knowledge regarding body language was missing a key point. What's that? Body language means very little without context! For instance, someone has their arms crossed at a party. It might mean a dozen things if the arms where already crossed when you arrive to the person. However, if they crossed their arms after you said something, that might be a strong sign that you caused it. What you do with that information depends on your strategy. We talk about influence and strategy.
There is a lot going on in this simple picture. Without a full seminar, I can simplify it by revealing that the girl is enjoying whatever the guy on the right is dishing out. Her arms and palms are upwards, revealing a very strong subconscious sign of security and attraction. It's a vulnerable position to be in and nobody would every turn their hands upwards if they were uncomfortable or not interested in whatever message you were feeding them.
I bet you'd think the guy on the right is the confident one. You'd be wrong. The guy on the right is flexing to purposefully convey he's "confident." How do I know? Look at how much room he is trying to take up. He's trying to appear big and confident. Secondly, the smile appears to be forced. Thirdly, his thumbs vanished. That's right! His thumbs vanished. On the picture to the left, he is leaning forward a bit, revealing a strong interest and engagement. His thumbs are also upward, revealing a strong sign of confidence. In the full training, we cover so many misinterpretations like this. The goal is to help you avoid loosing sales or not seeing doors that are wide open for you. I will show you how to capitalize on opportunities... or avoid assumptions.
Here's a shot from the various photos in the program explaining things as subtle as thumb placement. In these shots, the man is showing high confidence due to the thumbs being exposed or upward.
One of the most fundamental aspects of body language is determining the difference between dominance and confidence. It is not okay to be controlled. However, it's entirely fine to be in close proximity to someone that exudes power or confidence. In fact, it's attractive. Knowing the difference is very simple and we cover dozens of scenarios. This simple handshake below reveals a tremendous amount about someone's intentions. The guy offers his hand face up and allows the girl to have the "upper hand." She will "feel" like he can be trusted, is there for her needs and will listen. However, if the girl turned him to this same position, it means something entirely different. It would reveal that she is taking strong control, asserting her dominance (not confidence), revealing that he is not equal to her, and revealing the he is weak. The two roads will end in very different sales, relationships and negotiations. I reveal how to notice these behaviors easily and how to adjust for them.
Did you know it's not uncommon for people to mingle at a business function with a stack of businesses cards in their hand? Do you realize, if you do this, that the message being subtly sent to those you give your card to is, "I do not care about your services. I just care about getting my card into your hand." Be careful of the intention you might be sending. An important aspect of body language is realizing what message you might be sending, intentional or not. Many more warning signs and tips are shared within my programs.
I've created two simple golden rules for body language and here are the basic two rules for influence. In short, you must observe and read people before you can influence them. Otherwise, you are just pushing your agenda without any care of their needs or interest in absorbing what you have to offer. With simple observation, you can adjust your strategy or message to be accepted by someone who would not have otherwise been receptive. The real magic of body language and influence is putting those arts together to help with your goals, sales or relationships.
There are many forms of influence from right and left brain conflict, association, conditioning, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) to visualization and more. Here's a simple point about the power of visualization. A parent might tell a child, "Do not knock that glass over!" In the very act of saying what you do not want, you paint the picture in the kids mind of a glass being knocked over. You see, the brain can not decipher negatives. If I asked you to NOT think of a dog, you'd think of a dog. Therefore, you can realize that it's just as much the parent fault for a glass being knocked over as it is the kids. A glass might have been precariously placed or a child might have been roughhousing... but the kid never was hoping or thinking of knocking a glass over. What's a simple remedy? It's as easy as asking what you want. For instance, "Hold that glass securely." Painting a picture of what you want is essential in influence.
There's many areas where we can see how we reduce our success in deals. Here's just an example of how common language has negative results. There are subtle suggestions and influence in how we phrase things. It also reveals someone's arrogance, dominance, comfort, respect and much more by how we structure our points. See the examples below for some insight.
The holy grail of influence is NLP (your re-framing of information). We discuss the many forms and uses of NLP, the framework and strategy. Here's a basic form of structure that will give you great results in business and sales. I give you the tools to avoid situations or capitalize on opportunities. We dive into several type of uses and structures of NLP.
Finally, the program ends with some humorous common sense... or lack thereof!
We have just scratched the surface of how a program like mine can help you in sales and I hope I can talk to you more at a convention, retreat, training seminar or sales meeting soon. I've have a unique perspective of how body language works with influence. From learning to read at the late age of 12 and having to learn to be a step ahead of people to having a career in the arts of magic and metalism, I truly believe I can help you and others see the science of human behavior in a powerful new way. Let me join you and show how revealing the world is around us.
Please visit my official site to book me or discuss details. I hope this introduction was useful, fun and intriguing.
