Once you start learning language patterns, you feel like a kid in a candy story.
You start to imagine all the amazing fun you can have with people, all the extra money you can earn, and all the more fun you can build into your relationships.
However, do not forget that language patterns, NLP tricks and subconscious mind programming methods are just tools.
Without strong intent, they are pretty useless.
For example, let’s say you took a course at Home Depot on how to use the 15 most popular home improvement tools.
You studied for weeks and finally wrote it all down.
You even got your Practicing Teacher Certificate in a nice frame, hanging prominently in your studio.
So one day you decided to build something.
You bought a lot of wood, nails and other raw materials.
So you started hitting, hammering, sawing.
You didn’t really know what you were building, but it felt good to use the tools.
Your neighbors might give you funny looks when they asked what you were doing and you said something like, “I still don’t know…”.
Halfway through, you may have decided you were building a dog house (even though you don’t have a dog), but then decided a wine rack might be a better idea. Still later, the idea of it was transformed into an organizer for his closet.
Obviously, without a set of plans, you won’t come up with anything useful.
But any old blueprint won’t work. You have to build something you really want.
Something you know you will need.
And here is the secret that you will not learn in any NLP seminar.
Once you have a solid goal and a set of blueprints for how to build, the skills and tools will come naturally.
Sure, you may need to make a few trips to the hardware store to buy tools (who you’ve never heard of) and ask that pimple-faced kid how to use them, but you’ve figured it out.
The trick is to first set an intention. With strong intention.
The tools and skills you need to get there will come naturally.
If you have never conscientiously set and held an intention, don’t worry. Most people haven’t. Fortunately, like a muscle, you can strengthen the intention-setting part of your brain with practice.
And just like building your muscles, start slowly and build up over time. Start by setting and keeping a relatively easy intention. Like tomorrow you won’t use bad words. Or tonight you’ll be in bed with the lights off at 10 pm or something.
Then, once it gets easier and easier, focus on the intentions during the conversations. Like seeing a stranger across the room and creating the intent to get his name.
Once this becomes easy, play around with other intentions. Have them say the word “blue.” Get them to give you the time. Get them to name a college on the East Coast. Just keep choosing stronger and stronger conversational intentions, and watch your persuasion skills skyrocket.