Dealing With Dream Thieves

September 8, 2009 By

What to do when the people you care about express their care for you by giving you advice that is clearly a projection of their fears and doubts…

I don’t know if this happens to you at all or if I’m the only one.

I take risks. I believe that in order to truly live my dream I have to put new ideas and tools into action. Sometimes it works out right away. Other times things take a lot longer than it looked like it was going to take. This is NOT failure. It is feedback.

For example: When I finished my NLP trainers training in the Summer of 2003 I thought that I would be teaching my first NLP practitioner course the following month.

It took me something like 5 years to achieve that goal.

Not because I was sitting around watching TV and wasting my time, but because there seemed to be some higher, wiser plan in effect. In order for me to be a congruent trainer, I had to first get some real life experience working with clients of all kinds. Perfect (in retrospect).

But to the people in my life at the time, my lack of earning power IMMEDIATELY after the big training was proof that I was a fool. NLP was supposed to suddenly enable me to start making big bucks right away. And I have seen people’s incomes skyrocket right after an NLP session or a training.

But for me, for my particular life’s purpose of integrating my music and my personal development work, it wasn’t an instant catapault to fame and riches.

Somehow I managed to make it through those first lean months and began to build a practice.

There was so much I didn’t know about marketing, and business. So much I had to learn “on the job”. Because I was so focused on building my practice, I didn’t do as much to get Music/Storytelling gigs that year… so my income actually went down even though I was feeling like I was on track with implementing my goals.

Working towards living my dreams.

Well, as the old saying goes, “Success is Messy”

In the last year or so as I’ve been putting new ways of doing business into practice, getting the word out on the Web. It’s been a huge learning curve, one that has often required 100% of my attention and energy.

If anyone looked in at certain points along this path it might seem to an outside that I was chasing after some “pie in the sky” dream. I am chasing a dream. But it’s not “pie in the sky”.

My dream is to create steady and increasing income from the many areas I’m interested in and passionate about in a way that contributes positively to the lives of others.

NLP, Sales training, storytelling, music, hypnosis, art, personal development, healing, creativity, education, leadership, motivation, Time Line therapy techniques ™ relationships, transformation and on and on. It’s a multi-dimensional approach that sometimes defies “branding”.

I once had a conversation with a business man who had been very successful as a mortgage broker. At some point he had decided to build a company with other mortgage reps working for him. At first, his income went down because he was no longer writing deals. Eventually as he brought more and more mortgage reps on board and he earned a percentage of each rep’s volume, his income soared.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that in any endeavor that is true and congruent for you, there will be times when your family members or friends will try to give you advice. Unfortunately their advice will come from their model of the world which may be an old framwork for you that you are letting go of.

You must acknowledge their loving intention and appreciate it. However, you must also ignore their advice and continue to move beyond it. Even if it causes a temporary rift in the relationship.

Dreams are fragile at certain stages of their fulfillment. Stay with it. Keep doing what you know is right and true. Turn down the noise and the distractions around you and burn the boats. There is no returning to the way you used to be. Sometimes it takes longer to get to where you want to be. So what?

Every outcome that does not look like success is an opportunity to put another piece of the puzzle into place. Eventually it will come together.

Am I saying ignore solid, advice from people who truly know what they’re talking about in fields that are similar or related to what you are trying to accomplish? No. Other entrepreneurs or other people in your field who have done what you are attempting to do, have earned the right to give you guidance. I am only talking about people who have been employees all their life giving an entrepreneur advice about how to run his business.

Just like I know very little about ice skating and would never dream to give an ice skater advice about how to do a leap or a spin, people who trade hours for dollars or who are not able to tolerate the uncertainty of being in business (or sales) haven’t earned the right to give advice in this area. Are they bad people. No! Their intention is one of love and care and concern. It can still wreak havoc with your self confidence if you are going through some tough challenges.

What you do freaks them out and scares the hell out of them. That’s why they are chained to a steady paycheck. Sometimes in the entrepreneurial or artistic journey there are times when the cash flow just isn’t there. Those are moments of your greatest opportunity.

Worrying about someone based upon the false belief that imagining the worst and trying to protect your loved ones from their mistakes is the worst kind of projection.

For 40 years I’ve been pursuing a dream of using my music to positively impact the world. That journey has led me in a lot of different directions, first working on my self and my internal blocks and next learning how to reach out to other people in ways that may be non-traditional. The learning curve has been steep and at times breathtakingly difficult. Every step of the way, no matter how challenging, has been perfect and exactly what I was ready to tackle next.

  • The songs I wrote for Letters To Daddy have been enjoyed by several hundred audience members as the play was performed this past Spring by two different theater companies.
  • Over 6,000 people have seen my Motivation Song on YouTube (see it at the end of this post).

Step by step. Goal by goal. Putting my plan into action.

Have those accomplishments resulted in a steady stream of income? Not yet. Have they touched lives in a postive way? Yes.

Am I on track? Yes. Am I as much a household name as Tony Robbins? Net yet. Do I always know how I’m going to pay this month’s bills? Nope.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Our backs are to the sea, the boats have been burned. There is nowhere to go but forward into the unknown.

So dare to dream folks. Dare to take action to fulfill your dream. Dare to find mentors to model yourself after. Dare to lovingly ignore the advice of parents, relatives, friends or anyone else who doesn’t “get” what you are all about.

Dare to believe in yourself even when outside events seem to conspire to get you to doubt.

Feed the Faith. Starve the Doubt. You gotta have some trust that it all works out…(better than you can possibly imagine)

Just in case you need a little motivation…

Please leave a comment below or share this with someone who many need your support today!

- Mark

Filed Under: nlp Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Christmas 2008: Crisis? Or Opportunity?

December 18, 2008 By

Today, I don’t know where to begin. I have a lot to say.

So I’ll just jump in and hope you’ll join me for a few moments because this is one of the most important announcements I’ve ever made.

By now it’s pretty hard to avoid the panic and the fear all around us. It seems in so many ways to be the worst of times…We may know intellectually that within each failure there lies the seeds for greater success but sometimes it’s really hard to feel it. It’s a full blown “Crisis”.

A wise man once pointed out to me that the Chinese character for “crisis” is a combination of the symbols for “Danger” & “Opportunity”.

As the blanket of Christmas slowly gets pulled up around us and the stories of hardship and uncertainty gather like storm clouds, some of it is hitting pretty hard and close to home. For me personally, the holiday season has always been bittersweet. This year even more so.

In fact the very nature of the traditional Christmas is solemn and beautiful and sad.

A family of meager means, finds lodging in a stable. A child is born without proper medical attention who would soon be the target of assassins, and who would grow up to meet a painful and harsh end.

Even if you are not remotely religious, you can not help but relate to the story.

And so in the face of what can only be called a “major financial challenge” I found myself at the end of my savings. All the marketing and advertising I’d done had basically fizzled. Staring at my bank balance and the pile of unpaid bills on my desk felt really bad.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I’d learned NLP in order to increase my income as well as to clear the junk that was holding me back from getting my music out. Unfortunately it seems like in order to properly honor NLP it would mean putting my music back on hold.

So here I was not feeling very resourceful. It felt like the end of a road that didn’t take me where I thought it was going to take me. Still there was the glimmer that perhaps it had taken me where I needed to go.

As I sat pondering how to pay my past due rent, how to stay positive and hopeful…

As I contemplated how I was going to feed my 3 kids who were coming to visit next week…

As I contemplated how I was going to feed myself…

I got an e-mail.

It was from my friend and mentor, Kathy McAfee, who had commissioned me to do a video of “Motivation” (the song I wrote inspired by her work). She had just sent it out to her list and one of her contacts, Fran Capo, had seen it and wanted a theme song too.

So I got in touch with Fran and began to learn more about her and what her mission and message is.

Get this: she’s the Guinness book of world records “Fastest Talking Female” she also holds the records for deepest book signing (at the Titanic) and highest book signing (on Mt. Kilimanjaro).

So I got inspired. I wrote her a song in a very short time. Because everything about Fran is about speed, and just getting stuff done. And living every day as if it is your last. I sang it to her over the phone and she loved it. By chance, my recording engineer, Joe Mennonna was available that afternoon so I drove over and recorded it. By 6:00 pm the song was mixed and ready to play.

You can hear it here. Listen To Adventure Girl – Fran Capo Theme Song

But that’s not the point of this post!

For me the message was clear. As I was sitting that morning asking for guidance, I was going back and forth between what I thought I “should” do and what my heart was “calling me to do”.

I have worked my brains out the last 5 years to build an NLP practice and an NLP training program. I’ve helped quite a few people and the work is rewarding. But the business model doesn’t work very well. I help people transform their lives and then they don’t need to come back any more! Many of the people I want to help can’t afford me. And I couldn’t help them for free and still pay my bills…In NLP we call that a “double bind”.

The talk therapy business model where the client comes back every week for eternity is much better (at least for the therapist).

But the fact is that when I asked myself a very specific question the answer got my attention.

Here’s the question: “If I had only 6 months to live what would I spend every one of those last precious moments doing?”

The answer had 3 parts:

  1. I would record every single one of the almost 400 songs I’ve written that have yet to be recorded. I don’t write the music down so in order to preserve them I need to record them. Even if only my kids were able to listen to them it would be worth it.
  2. I would get my butt out and perform every chance I got even if it meant going from Starbucks to Starbucks or finding a street corner.
  3. I would spend as much time with my friends and family as possible.

That’s it. Pretty simple.

And I actually am doing that on a small scale. I’ve gone into the studio a lot recently and I just did my first concert in 2 years. But I wasn’t truly giving it 100% because I was so busy with all the other things…

But the main reason I hadn’t given 100% of myself to it was a limiting belief. It was a belief that I couldn’t make enough money to pay my rent and all the other bills I had by merely singing my songs.

But at this point, all the marketing and promotion and advertising I’ve been doing to attract people to my NLP trainings and Anxiety clearing work wasn’t paying the bills either.

In NLP we have a concept that basically says: “You get what you focus on. So focus on what you want.”

So I asked the universe for a sign. What do you really want me to do with my life? How can I serve the most people in the highest way while taking really good care of myself and my family? How can I honor this gift I have of writing songs? (I mean it’s really kind of a “healthy compulsion”. I write songs like a horse gallops or like a bird flies. It’s just totally and complete natural for me. Duh! :o )

Moments later I got the e-mail that Fran Capo wanted a theme song.

If that isn’t an answer I don’t know what is.

So in the next few weeks I will be packing my stuff away and putting everything I own in storage.

I will be letting go of my beautiful apartment overlooking Wooster square and I will be staying with a series of generous friends and family members (see number 3 above).

And I will be using all of my NLP skills to book myself at coffeehouses, and colleges and churches and libraries and yes…Starbucks.

I’m going to be asking you for your help.

  • It may be as simple as asking you to pass a song along to a friend who might need to hear it.
  • It might be as affordable as downloading a single song for $2. bucks.
  • I’m definitely going to ask you to invest in one or more of my CD’s. And when you do I’ll send you a 2nd one for FREE that you can share with a friend. 
    Mark Shepard’s CD’s Available Here
  • I’m going to invite you to come see me perform and I’m going to ask you to bring a friend. Please join my mailing list at the top right hand corner of this site so you’ll get advance invitations.
  • If you have a big enough house, I’m going to ask you to consider having a house concert and inviting all your friends. Together we can change the world. Call me today to get started. 203-804-1208

If you’ve been reading my stuff for a while you know my message is about hope and empowerment and healing and transformation and joy.

Yes, I’m a little scared. Not of performing any more (thanks to NLP that’s totally gone) but of moving out of my comfort zone. And that’s a good thing. We all tend to get comfortable and it soon becomes a rut. Eventually a rut can feel like a prison.

So let’ use these challenging times to challenge ourselves. What would you do if you had only 6 months to live? Leave a comment below and let me know.

And ask yourself honestly “How can I start doing that now? How can I start even in a small way living my life on purpose today?”

Thank you for your support and encouragement!

Mark

p.s. Please leave me a comment below and “stumble” or “dig” this or e-mail it to a friend.
Thanks!

Filed Under: nlp, NLP in Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Anxiety Alert

November 18, 2008 By

If you or someone you love suffers from worry, anxiety or panic attacks this could be the most important message you ever read.

Give me 2 hours on the phone and I’ll give you back your life. Guaranteed.

Have you ever had an idea that was so good and so powerful that it just jolted you up out of bed first thing in the morning? That happened to me today so please forgive me if I get excited about what you are about to read.

Here’s the scoop:

On Thursday November 20 at 7:00 pm Eastern US Time you are invited to join me on a powerful phone call where I will walk you and only 19 other folks step by step through each of my powerful and easy to remember, PROVEN anxiety and stress busting techniques. I’m calling it: “Stop Anxiety Now!”

On this call I will reveal all 17 of my rapid anxiety busting secrets for the 20 people who are most serious about blasting through anxiety and worry now. This week. Not in a while. Not, after weeks and weeks of endless talking about your problem. Now! This Thursday night between 7:00 and 9:00 PM Eastern.

Warning: This is not a “FREE” call. But it is absurdly affordable.

This is not one of those thinly disguised marketing calls where you get teased with just enough info to get hooked into buying some expensive seminar or product. This is real, life changing substance.

On this call I hold nothing back. You get exclusive access to every single usable tool to crush stress, fear, worry and anxiety that I use with my one on one clients as well as in my own life on a daily basis. I personally used every one of these techniques to blast through my fear and anxiety around performing the songs I’ve written over 30 years. I still use these techniques to manage any stray shreds of anxiety about the economy or my teen age children. Every parent experiences worry. It doesn’t have to destroy your life.

You get it all at a fraction of the cost of working with me one on one (1:1)

Normally you would pay $500 per hour to get the benefit of working with me. The results I get with even long term phobia and anxiety sufferers has been proven over and over again to be worth every penny.

“I doubled my income after working with Mark Shepard to clear my telephone anxiety” – Michael Guerin

Worked for me! Thanks a lot! :) – slamedcivic1302

Thanks a lot man, it really helped me right now about my flying anxiety that I will be on a plane in 12 hours and I was very worried but your tool really helped…well done – Blazinhotzulfe

After I did this, I felt really happy! – scubadiverwill

Thank you so much for the this, wow! you’re great – celinademars

Excellent! Brilliant! Well Done! One of the best I’ve tried. Instant impact You will help thousands if not millions of people around the world
- swervemufc

Even with my end of the year  1/2 price telephone coaching special you would still pay $250 per hour to work with me individually and my availability is extremely limited.

This call is cheap. Your satisfaction is totally and completely guaranteed.  And the first 10 to register get a sweet bonus package worth a lot more that the price for 2 hours of sheer life changing value and personal attention.

The Stop Anxiety Now Call on Thursday night is limited to 20 people because I want to be able to answer each and every question you have. I’m committed to getting you permanent, positive results fast.

Please note if you have social phobia or extreme shyness: If your particular anxiety challenge normally keeps you from raising your hand and participating in group situations that’s okay too. If you’re not ready to join the group and fully interact, you can mute your line and get the benefit of listening in. Then during the program, only when you feel ready, you can un-mute and join us at any time.

It’s simple and easy to do: if you can dial a phone number you can manage the technical requirements. It’s that easy.

Of course there are juicy bonuses to reward you for taking action now. I love to spoil my clients with added value.

If you are one of the first 10 people who register you will get these bonuses:

  • 17 Rapid Change Secrets To Stop Anxiety Without Harmful Drugs or Endless Therapy Workbook - instant download  ($59 Value)

  • 20 Part Audio Set containing the entire Stop Anxiety Now! program. – Instant Download ($97 value right there.)
  • Meet Your Unconscious Mind Special Report explains why we can achieve change so rapidly when we engage Your Unconscious Mind. – Instant download
  • This call will also be recorded and added to the bonus set. It will only be available to the people on the call. You’ll be able to listen and reinforce the 17 rapid change patterns over and over again whenever you need to blast through…pretty much anything.
  • You will also get my StressBusters CD ($47 value) – Delivered by US Postal Service
  • You will get my Eyes on the Horizon CD ($20 value)  – Delivered by US Postal Service
  • Plus I’m known for throwing in some extras as a special surprise gift.

Your Satisfaction is totally and completely GUARANTEED. The risk is all on me.

Relax and Feel Totally Comfortable Guarantee: If at the end of the call you don’t feel like you got $97 worth of usable tools and techniques to help you eradicate worry and anxiety, I will simply give you your money back. No tricky language or hidden clauses other than this – you do have to be on the call all the way to the end to qualify for your refund. That’s only fair to give yourself the full program. and it’s only fair to other people who may have wanted your spot. Attendance is limited. There are only 20 spots so if you have no intention of listening to the full call please do not register. Let someone else have your spot. Other than that it’s no questions asked. Your satisfaction is guaranteed..

You can call in from anywhere in the world. (regular long distance charges apply)

The call is at 7:00 pm US Eastern time. as soon as you register you’ll be given the phone number and pass code to call. As well as the down load links to all your bonuses.

Don’t believe me when I say you can stop anxiety this Thursday without harmful drugs or endless therapy? Pay attention:

You were of REALLY GREAT HELP to me!!! All the best. – Inga

Thanks dude. It may sound simple and crazy but it does work… good stuff man! – ssips720

Wicked! Seriously man that was so helpful. I was dreading work today and was also feeling down because another job I applied for were not getting back to me. Using just one anxiety technique I instantly felt better and then I received 2 emails, one saying work was canceled today, and another stating I’ve got an interview! :D It’s so good thinking the best instead of the worst – Badger

Thank you! It does really help. You are a great man! – neskasis

I’m 17 and it seems like most of my day is filled with unhappy thoughts and it really prevents me from having any fun. And after using your  NLP anxiety technique I am usually able to really lower my anxiety level. So I just wanted to write to you and thank you for your help. – Micah

I just wanted to thank You… very helpful with lots of great information. Peace. – Loyd


Check it out for yourself. It’s perfectly natural to be skeptical. Particularly if you’ve tried “everything” and still suffer from debilitating anxiety. Most people mistakenly believe that it takes a long time to change. I’m not promising you will never encounter stress or challenges in your life. That would be absurd. What I do promise is that you will have a whole new set of easy to use tools to deal with the stuff life flings at you.

if you are not 100% satisfied with the program your dough will be on it’s way back to you the very next day.

All you have to lose is your fear, worry, and anxiety. Guaranteed. For only $97.

What psychotherapist or coach has ever offered you this kind of deal? They want their $150 bucks every week and the longer you take to get better…the better for them. Meanwhile you’ve been suffering just talking about it each week.

But now for less than $100 bucks

  • You get 2 hours with me in a small, safe group. ($1,000 value)
  • You get the entire “17 Rapid Change Secrets” manual and audio set that I normally sell for $97 ($97 value)
  • You get my “StressBuster” CD ($47 value)
  • You get my “Eyes on the Horizon CD” with some of my best original songs with NLP language patterns embedded in the lyrics so you feel better just driving down the road listening ($20 value)

If you can’t make this call or if the class is full by the time you read this.  RELAX! If there is an overwhelming response (which I think there just might be), I may be open to other time slots to accommodate folks from the UK, Australia etc. You could also just register to get the bonus package. I regularly sell that for exactly the same price but this way you’ll get the additional recording of the call.

I may possibly offer this again in the future. There’s no guarantee of that but there’s no need to get anxious about whether you can get in to a call to stop anxiety. You know what I mean right? Once the class is full I will put any one else who wants in, on a waiting list and you’ll get first crack on any spot that opens up or if I decided to do another call, you’ll get first notice before anyone else.

So just go for it. Here’s the button to register.

You will be given instructions on how to download the bonuses and the number and passcode for the call.

Talk to you Thursday!

Mark

p.s. if for some reason even the mere $97 bucks for this call seems like something you can’t do, that’s why you need this call. Your mind and your money are totally linked. But I appreciate what that’s like. Been there. done that.

You can still watch my anxiety treatment video series for free. Anxiety Treatment Video Series

You can watch and listen to my Clear the Fear Song

So no matter what, do not allow your fears and anxiety about releasing your fears and anxiety to stop you from releasing your fears and anxiety. Take action. Don’t take my word for it. Test it yourself in your own life.

Filed Under: nlp Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oh the power of words!

June 11, 2008 By

Every Monday I meet with a small group of entrepreneurs in a “mastermind.” We’ve been meeting since last September and have pooled our resources to study some of the best internet information marketers out there like Frank Kern, Eban Pagan, Jeff Walker, Rich Schefren, Jeff Johnson and others.

On more than one occasion this group has helped me keep my stuff together in the midst of stress, uncertainty and the inevitable roller coaster ride that is part of being an entrepreneur. We support each other, educate each other, hold each other accountable, and…

challenge each other…

So last Monday as I was wrapping up my registration for the Modern Jedi NLP Training, Rob Bronson, who we fondly call our “chief technology officer” got really passionate about sending out a challenging e-mail to wrap things up…

Rob can be extremely blunt. But I would rather have in my face honesty than a bunch of “yes” men. He’s been studying a course by uber copy writer John Carlton and frankly he’s been in so deep that he’s been a little bit hard to live with….

He was passionate, almost ranting, about how “you have to light a fire under people to get them to take action.”

Now, I normally take a much kinder, gentler approach to persuasion. I live by the NLP presupposition that “the meaning of your communication is the response you get”. I also live by the NLP presuppositions that “there is no failure, only feedback” and “the most flexible communicator controls the communication.”

So I took Rob’s letter (I actually toned it down a lot) and I sent it out to my e-mail list to see what would happen. Registration was pretty much closed anyway so I didn’t feel there was much to lose and at the very least we’d have a test of whether his ideas were valid or my preferred method was better…

So here is the e-mail:

(Warning this ticked off a lot my readers so as you read it now please keep a little emotional distance from it so you don’t get all offended and huffy okay? :o )

===========================

Subject Line: Bad things are about to happen…

Dear ________________

Rob Bronson is one of my NLP students. He’s also my technology
coach and the main force behind my ability to do video and audio
on line. As part of my weekly master mind group he knows where
my heart is and my passion about this NLP stuff. He insisted on
writing this letter…Parts of it are a little blunt but I
think he makes a powerful point…read on

“Hi %$firstname$%, this is Rob Bronson, and I have a few
things on my mind that I can’t hold in anymore…

================================================
If you’ve already registered for the NLP training,
don’t read this.

If you have no interest in the NLP training,
don’t read this.
================================================

I know for a fact that you want what the Modern Jedi NLP
Training offers…

But if you are sitting there thinking about it.

Then this message is for you.

===============================================
Bad things are about to happen…
===============================================

What scares you the most?

$5 per gallon gas
War in the middle east
Economic uncertainty
Inflation
The mortgage crisis
Crime
Drugs
Healthcare crisis

Are you really prepared to deal with all that’s coming your
way? You’ve got problems you didn’t even know about

The point is what are you doing? Right now? This minute.

You have two choices.

1. Do nothing, and get what you’ve always gotten.

* You can continue to suffer.
* Your struggle will not end,
* You’re probably freaking out [right now],
* feeling sorry for your self.
* Being depressd.

You can try to ignore it, and sit there being afraid.

If you decide not to take action and learn NLP, are you sure you
can live with the consequences?

Are you able to accept that not taking action now is what
you’ve always done…

Ask yourself this:

what would your spouse or parents think about you sitting there
doing nothing?

what would your friends think about you sitting there afraid to
make a decision and move forward?

How are you going to explain to your children that you could
have made a better life for them if only you had made the choice
to take action now… or maybe you can’t afford kids yet?

So what are you going to do about it?

You have a second choice!

2. Take action now.

* Get the right tools, not walmart tools… samurai tools.

* Get help that no one has been offering before now…

* Get support where no one else would support you.

* Take back the power to call the shots in your life.

* Get the power to create your own economic destiny.
NOT the one everybody else is losing sleep over.

Do you want to have that power?
Do you want to be in control regardless of the outcome?
how would it feel to know that you could change anything…

In the end you really have only one choice.

You have until midnight to Take action put your money
down towards something that will change your life.

click here to take action now:

http://www.modernjedi.com/register.htm

============================================
If that’s not enough to jump at this opportunity,
then keep reading.

============================================

After midnight it’s over and there will never again be such a
generous offer.

There will be no bonuses… no private coaching…

No chance to take control..

Unless you Act on this One-Time-Only Offer.

If you buy this training before midnight, you will get:

* 2 hours one on one with Mark Shepard. People routinely
pay $500 per hour to get that (there are only a few of
these left).

You will also get:

* New Multi-Media Online NLP Training Module that
teaches you everything you need so that after you
come to the live training you have all the resources
you need to put it into practice and MASTER the material.
($4,764 value)

* 40 CD NLP Study Set
containing the entire 2007 NLP training for easy
reference at any time. (Value $1,500)

* Ongoing Coaching and Support Program to help you
with implement all you’ve learned there will be regular
“mastermind” sessions and practice sessions by phone as
well as in person. ($5,999 value)

* $1,000 Discount Coupon off of the NLP Master Practitioner
program should you decide to take the next level.
($1,000 value)

click here to take action now:

http://www.modernjedi.com/register.htm

See you in July!

Yours truly,

Rob Bronson”

==================================

Rob lays it out straight huh?

Mark

p.s. As an added Bonus,
Rob has offered a full 30 day free membership
to his “Point and Click Faster” program which is a
guide for the “non technology” professional to stop
wasting time with computer frustration.

I immediately got a very upset e-mail and so I figured I better check in and see what was going on. Here’s my next e-mail:

Dear _______________,

I’ve been getting a lot of mail about last night’s
“Bad things are about to happen” message.

A lot of response was positive. Some wasn’t…

I’d love YOUR opinion. at any point just hit reply
and let me know what you think…

here’s one passionate reaction and my response.

Oh! and there’s a secret at the end…

=======================================================
Dear Mark,

I’m glad I got this on Tuesday because that crap
is not how you would convince me to try to come [to the
NLP training].

That is too bad that a scare tactic was thought to
have been the way to get to me and maybe others.
Maybe it should have been considered that some of
the recipients would have had anxiety and phobias.

That e-mail was done in a tone that might freak them
and I am sure that is not what we all want for
them. Maybe it is just me seeing it that way but
regardless of my decision that was not what I would
want or need to hear from someone. By being negative
that only feeds into the worlds issues and you
are playing their game. One needs to look at the
positive and focus there and you will get more of
that in life.

I thought that is what we were all going for here.
I hope your day is filled with
POSITIVE things coming your way.—Scott

===================================

here’s my response:

===================================

Hey Scott
thanks for your feedback I really appreciate it.

I totally appreciate your reaction….
That’s why I normally take a much gentler approach…

However, NLP is all about being willing to test ideas…

there is no failure, only feedback….

My friend Rob insisted I was being too soft and that’s why
some people weren’t taking action….so I was willing to test
his theory to get feedback…

I agree with you that taking a strong approach like that
might stir some people up….But I would rather get a reaction,
any reaction than bland indifference…

I have to be honest with you Scott….

I have totally put my heart on the line and done
everything short of coming to your house and the
homes of the other folks who are on the fence about the
NLP training….

So I need to know what’s going on in YOUR head.

the people that come either to work with me 1:1 or to my
trainings and workshops get real results. It is typical
for them to totally transform their lives… massively
increase their incomes…improve every area…

But getting them in the door…overcoming their fears, and…
their excuses….getting their butts in the seats is
frustrating…this NLP stuff is so good, I wonder why
it isn’t a no brainer for folks…

what CAN I do to grab peoples attention and get them to
realize this program can make their dreams possible?

If I have to push in order to get people over the edge
of their inertia and doubts…I’m willing to take a chance
and try it….I’ve got nothing to lose.

…by pushing the boundaries…

What do you think? I need your input on this

What would make it so safe for you (moving towards)
that you and others like you would commit to being
at the training?

or what would confront you with the pain of staying the
way you are so much (moving away from) that you would
take a deep breath and say “yes! I’m there”?

I want to know this Scott.

What is the cost in YOUR life of NOT taking action?

How can I confront people with the COST of not changing in a
way that is gentle enough to not scare them but firm enough
to lead them in…

Can you tell me that? I need to know.

I can’t help anybody unless they take the next step
and register and then show up to the class….

I can’t help the millions of people out there who NEED
what I have to offer unless I can figure out how to
either pull them in with love or scare them in with the
consequences of not taking action…

…so I can greet them at the door with love and reassurance
and hand them the proper tools and support so I can prove
the FEAR and LACK is a total illusion….

So talk to me about this.

What would make it possible for you to be with us in July?
What would make it impossible for you to say no?

just hit reply and let me know…
==========================================

so that’s basically my response….

what do YOU think? was yesterday’s e-mail too harsh? or
too restrained? What would cause YOU to absolutely “be
there or be square” in July?

just hit reply and let me know

So that’s what I sent out…all the response is in a separate post labeled “the Big Response”

One thing I noticed in the responses is that while everybody told me whether they liked the e-mail or not (most didn’t) nobody told me the answers to my questions about “what would make you want to come to the training?”

Personally, I’m definitely over the old fears I used to have about offending people or being criticized… :o )

thanks for reading. Please feel free to put your two cents in by clicking the comments link below.

Mark Shepard, NLPT

Filed Under: copy writing, Modern Jedi Launch, nlp in business, persuasion, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Big Response…

June 11, 2008 By

For the record these are the responses I received to my request for feedback. I had sent out an e-mail blast with a letter from my friend Rob Bronson urging (okay more like “haranguing) my list to get off their “buts” and sign up for the NLP training.

I’ll talk about my reasons for doing so in a separate post. The most important thing to remember as you scan through these is that I actually received a HUGE amount of very valuable information about my list. I had always taken a very gentle approach because I instinctively prefer it. Rob’s insistence was that it’s always good to stir up the pot a bit and provoke people to react…

Well people certainly reacted!

-Mark

here’s the buzz: (you can add your two cents in the comments section at the bottom)

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I think this is EXCELLENT – very provocative writing.- Kathy

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It is not blunt… we are in very serious times as you know. – Martha

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I must admit it freaked me out since I just heard about some medical
issues my partner will have to deal with!!!! – k.

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I was turned off by the whole negative theme. – Marie

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I didn’t like that email, as both a marketer and as someone in your circle of followers. It did feel a little too negative, too “salesy”… – Michelle

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Too negative…I deleted it half way through. – Ellen

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did have a negative reaction to the Bad Things subject line; it seemed to run counter to what you teach. – Beverly

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WOW, the content in that email is so negative and depressing. Totally the opposite of your NLP teachings. I actually felt turned off and disturbed — not with the world, but rather with (I’m sorry for saying this) where it came from. I guess the question is “why did you feel compelled to try THAT way?” – Teresa

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Rob’s letter was blunt, to the point, and direct. It probably got a ton of attention! For some, it would be a complete turn off. If you think it was effective, then it worked. You won’t make everyone happy so keep that in mind.
-Julie

==============

It’s funny that I didn’t see the message before looking at your music.
Here’s my initial response:

I love your voice.
I love that you are going forward with your music.
Too often we stuff the good things about us somewhere else while we are out in the world as spiritual helpers. – Melissa

===============

I appreciate you asking my opinion on the matter. Actually I have 2 thoughts on the letter:

1. From the ole’ presuppositions of NLP…”the meaning of a communication is the response that you get.” Some people will respond negatively to that email, especially if that isn’t their motivational strategy. However,

2. For those that have an AWAY metaprogram your letter hit on Modal Operators of both Necessity and Possibility. It could be highly effective.

Will it be popular? Probably not. I might have issued a letter with that content using Softeners and Modal operators of possibility. Again. I don’t have all the training to analyze all of the content the way that I would like to but I think you are going to get a response.

I was once told that any response is a good response. Any publicity can be good publicity.

Personally, I don’t think that I would have sent that letter. I think there are more positive ways to present the same information and after all; Who knows? You may get more enrollment from those who respond to that type of motivational stimulai. You may have touched on a few heart strings.

I personally was not offended by it. I thought you had some valid points and think it could be very effective. I have learned that any thought,word or action will have an effect and that effect can be either positive or negative depending on your frame size. Let me know how things work out. – Tim

=========

By and large these emails don’t impact me because the industry is filled with them. Every chance is always the last chance… There is also an assessment made that people are either signing up for the course or doing nothing. This bifurcated approach only highlights the lack of perspective of the writer.

Stepping back from the hard assessment, it is clear your friend believes in you and your program and is trying to move the fence sitters off their positions. It may work with some and won’t work with others. The problem with this type of approach, as I see it, is that it will attract a certain type of individual and I would think that have a diverse crowd of individuals is always better to a room full of nodding heads. – Michael

===========

So will, some won’t, so what.

If you are fine with what Rob said and you thought it was a good idea then stay with it. After hearing the responses you change your mind, then you learned something about yourself and about your business.

My response to the email….I hope Rob is taking his own advice….LOL -Kim

===========

I thought the email made an assumption that i was not taking steps to change my life. my immediate reaction was, ‘that’s rather presumptuous’. However, my reasons for not signing up are the following:

-I’m not interested in becoming certified
-it’s way out of my price range – even the creative financing
options. too expensive for something i really don’t want to be certified in.
I’m a life learner but not at the level to preach/teach etc…
-the product and service may be overkill for the audience you are speaking to?
or split it up into a certification program vs. modules where people can
learn and grow but they don’t have to go and get certified to teach it.

hope this helps. good luck. i’ll still listen to ya’…:) ~Liz

===============

I am more in agreement with Scott than you. If that is the way something needs marketing, then it should remain unsold is my view. Replying with more marketing hype than one can shake a stick at is just rubbing salt into the wound, and actually serves to prove Scott’s point (to some extent) and certainly mine.

Regards,

Ian

================

When I read the beginning of that email, I immediately said to myself :scare tactic. I filter everything that I read or see
because I don’t operate from a point of fear and guilt; I operate from a point of confident awareness. Since I have chosen to separate myself and am not part of the fear and guilt culture that permeates our society these days, and since I do NOT consider this the Jedi-way of training, I find that your resorting to this tactic may be your part of your Journey; however, it is not part of mine. I don’t purchase or buy or believe in something because I am coerced or manipulated by the
fear and guilt we have been conditioned to respond to by today’s media and popular Christian views.

I am requesting that you remove me from your mailing list. Thank you. Kim H.

=================

Nah, I don’t think you were too harsh at all your just getting you point across, and if I didn’t live in the UK I would be there! cheers Daniel

================

Since you asking for more feedback: Frankly, I found your headline last night so off-putting in its tone I threw the email away w/o reading it. -GW

===============

My reaction was also negative. My reaction is tempered by having met you a couple of times, understanding the heart that you put into this and recognizing your authenticity. Still, the volume of emails, the length of some of them, and the tone of that last one can come across as harder core marketing even though that may not be where you’re coming from.

I commiserate with your position. It’s a difficult balance trying to get the message out, stoke people into action, and yet coming across as your genuine self. I fail on the side of not getting started on e-marketing despite my IT background and might do well to take some lessons from your concerted effort. I applaud you for your thoughtfulness, your energy and stick-to-it-iveness! – Jeff

==============

With all due respect, I too thought it was in poor taste, and not a marketing technique I would recommend to you or anyone else I care about. I wasn’t going to say anything, but since you explicitly asked for feedback, there you have it!

Chalk this one up to a “life lesson”!

- Tom

==============

As far as the tone of the email… I agree with Scott but I don’t take it as a threat or even freaky, I see it more like a ploy and a possible indication that you may be having difficulty filling the class. Marketing can be a tricky business so it’s important to be true to yourself and it will shine through to your audience

- Len

=============

I agree with Scott.

Chris

============

I hadn’t read you “bad things about to happen” email until I got this one. But I would have to agree that it is motivation by fear and shame/guilt. It is inconsistent with most of the stuff you put out. I didn’t have any problem with grabbing our attention by framing the “itch.” This section….

>If you decide not to take action and learn NLP, are you sure you
can live with the consequences?

>Are you able to accept that not taking action now is what
you’ve always done…

>Ask yourself this:

>what would your spouse or parents think about you sitting there
doing nothing?

>what would your friends think about you sitting there afraid to
make a decision and move forward?

>How are you going to explain to your children that you could
have made a better life for them if only you had made the choice
to take action now… or maybe you can’t afford kids yet?

… is really bogus and make you sound desperate for clients (which I doubt is the case). It smacks of a religious fervor with NLP as the source of salvation.

However, you got me to respond for the first time to one of your emails. Maybe some paradoxical intent?

You can and have done better with your invitations.

peace,

Greg C.

==================

Mark,

I must admit I didn’t even read that email you referred to, until I received this email today. The other one was still in my “delete” box so I looked at parts of it. It did not impress me much at all. Whatever impact it did have on me was not positive–it made me even less interested in reading further.

I am not interested in the training to begin with, and the whole “Jedi” theme is a major turn-off to me. I pretty much stopped reading the emails that have anything to do with that whole gimmick in their subject line. It’s too gimmicky for my taste. If your own stuff is good enough, why do you need to take someone else’s idea and use their material to sell yours? It makes me feel like you are grabbing at straws. While I am interested in learning more about EFT and related topics, I am not interested in spending a ton of money on any of it right now.

Sorry.

Peggy

======================

I read the latest exchanges about the NLP Prac Training with a good deal of interest. For my two cents, I think you did an excellent job with the whole situation. – BC

=================

I have to say that I agree with Scott that this type of message, with all its’ good intentions and support of your work, is not something I respond to favorably.

I believe that I, as business person, I can put out what I have to offer and then take the spiritual approach to the responses. As long as I know I have been clear and in my truth about what I have to offer, the right people will connect with it.

-Rosemary

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I must say that i would never really join if got that mail.

but it does sound interesting it’s just so sad that I’m not as old so I’m still in school. Anyway, I’d prefer a milder way to tell that it’ll change my or someone elses life :)

keep up the good work ;)

Hanne

=================

It just reads like the pitch at one of those “free” or nearly free seminars where they push their package of books and tapes.
“How much are you worth to yourself?” “I only charge because nobody takes anything seriously unless they have a financial commitment to it.” “I just want to give back..” (this one’s usually accompanied by slides of kids and vacations) “Imagine having more time for your family.”

It’s just marketing, I’m numb to it.

What would cause me to sign up? Pretty much nothing. Couldn’t afford the airfare or time off. I work and go to school full time, but I work for nearly nothing for a school district that had huge financial problems up until just this year. It’s time for better job, but school’s gotta be first since I put it off for 20 years mostly for other peoples’ priorities.

I don’t know any special marketing approach, I do everything online these days. A DVD package or webcast might be more appealing, but whether it’d be of as much value would obviously depend on how well the material works with that delivery method.

Then again, I have a pile of DVD’s I’ve purchased but not taken the time to view yet.

-Patrick

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You guys are good. Keep it up! – Andy

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silly letter.  Although I did read the whole thing. Still…….silly
letter – Jon

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I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments just click the little “comments” link below and express yourself! -Mark

Filed Under: Modern Jedi Launch, nlp in business, nlp marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,