Richard Bandler: The Ultimate Introduction to NLP: How to build a successful life

There is a huge need in the world today for a change in mentality. There is a huge need to inject hope for a better world. We stand at an important crossroads between letting ourselves be pushed along by the accelerating momentum of challenging circumstances or deciding to steer ourselves to where we want to go. We need a change of direction. We need a change of consciousness. We need to know that we can have a say in how the world turns out.

NLP is a movement. You can be part of it. Start now – it’s your time!

Alessio and Owen

Joe put his phone back into his pocket, took a deep breath and composed himself. Having just had an argument with his girlfriend, he certainly wasn’t in the best of moods. That said, he knew it was really important to get the most out of the day. He walked into the lobby of the hotel, where he immediately noticed a familiar face among the assistants taking care of registration.

Joe smiled. Seeing Alan cheered him up a bit.

‘Joe!’ Alan called out. ‘Fantastic to see you again.’

‘Likewise,’ Joe replied. ‘Yeah, I’ve been really looking forward to today. Finally I decided to find out more about this NLP stuff.’

NLP stood for ‘Neuro-Linguistic Programming’. Having seen many books on the topic, Joe had a sense of how popular it was. He’d understood it was an attitude and methodology that allowed people to think and communicate more effectively, and he needed to do both. Up until a year before, he had resigned himself to the idea that he was the way he was and his life was what it was and there was nothing he could do about it. But then he had learned that things could change, and now he really wanted to work on himself and make some improvements.

‘Just to give you the heads up on what’s in store,’ Alan began, ‘you’ve already seen Richard in action. Today, you’ll learn about the field of NLP itself.’

Alan was referring to Dr Richard Bandler, the co-founder of NLP. Joe had met Richard at a course he had attended a year previously. At the time, he had been alone and depressed. To help out, his sister, Maria, had given him a flyer for a three-day course entitled ‘Choose Freedom’, which had involved a workshop with Dr Bandler. That was where he had met Alan, who had been an assistant at the course.

Now Alan was saying, ‘And as ever, I’ll be around to help in any way I can.’

‘Great,’ Joe replied. ‘It’s much appreciated.’

Over the three days of the previous course, Joe had gradually come to the realization that it was possible to change things even when challenges seemed insurmountable. Now he was keen to learn more.

‘So, what are the highlights of today?’

‘Well, you’ll learn some remarkable strategies for accessing powerful emotional states, getting better at communicating with others and really improving the different areas of your life. Probably the best way to describe this stuff is that it’s the difference that makes the difference. It’s how to build a successful life.’

Joe really needed to succeed at this moment in time. He was facing two important issues. You see, after the first course, things had really changed for him. He had a good job now and a good relationship with a girl he was crazy about. He had everything he could wish for. But that meant he had a lot to lose. In fact he was feeling more nervous now than he had 12 months before! When he hadn’t really had much of a life, it hadn’t mattered much what happened to him or what he did. But now he knew that he needed to do something, and soon, if he wanted to hold on to the things that mattered to him.

Alan took him to one side. ‘So, how’s everything going? How’s that beautiful girlfriend of yours?’

‘She’s fine. I mean, we were getting on great … but nothing’s perfect, I suppose. It’s just that now – well, we’re considering moving in together.’

‘Moving in together? Wow! That’s fantastic news, Joe. I expect an invite to the big day!’

‘Hold your horses, Alan. Marriage is a whole other story! It is great, though.’

Joe paused. He knew he wasn’t sounding convincing.

‘Obviously, we’re getting to know each other a lot more now … and we have our differences. So that’s taking some getting used to.’

Joe looked down, thinking about the argument he’d just had with his girlfriend.

‘Joe,’ Alan said seriously, ‘if you feel she’s the one, you need to make sure you hold on to her. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t.’

As Joe looked up, he noticed a certain intensity in Alan’s eyes. What was all that about? He knew Alan was right, but even talking about his relationship made him feel worse. He decided to change the subject.

‘Work is a lot better,’ he said confidently. ‘I got a promotion, so I’m obviously delighted with that. Although,’ he went on more slowly, ‘I have found myself struggling with the new role at times. I have a lot more interaction with customers now and it’s just … I don’t think I’m a very good people person.’

Suddenly aware that Alan was studying him, he felt embarrassed.

‘Anyway, I make it sound worse than it actually is. I just think there are a few things NLP could help me with. You asked!’

He smiled sheepishly.

‘Just remember,’ Alan said, smiling back, ‘there’s no such thing as a people person . What can help is to learn to feel comfortable around others and become better at communicating with them.’

Joe nodded.

‘The seminar should help,’ Alan said reassuringly. ‘That’s it, you’re registered now, Joe. Best of luck!’

‘Thanks!’

No sooner had Joe turned around and started to walk towards the seminar room than he saw another familiar face.

Teresa, an Irish doctor he had met at his first seminar with Richard Bandler, threw her arms around him.

‘Joe, what a lovely surprise! Allow me to introduce my beautiful daughter, Emily.’

Emily looked to be in her mid to late teens. She had long red hair and was dressed in jeans and a Minnie Mouse t-shirt. She smiled politely as she shook hands with Joe.

‘So,’ Joe said, hoping to break the ice, ‘are you also new to all this, or am I the only one?’

‘I’m a first-timer,’ Emily replied. ‘I’ve just read a couple of books we have at home, that’s all. She’s the NLP expert of the family.’ She gestured towards her mother with her thumb. ‘You know what they say: “An old broom knows the dirty corners best.”’

‘Very funny, dear, but the only dirty corners I know are in your room!’ Teresa said in her warm, maternal voice. ‘Sure, I’ve been studying NLP for a couple of years, and I use it in my daily practice as well as in my personal life, but I’m no expert. In fact, the best lesson I learned from NLP is that “you’re never done learning”, as they say, so if you have the feeling that you know everything there is to know, you’re obviously missing out on something! And the worst thing is that you’re so blinded by your own certainty that you don’t even realize that you’re missing it.’

‘Wow,’ Joe said to Emily with a cheeky smile, ‘your mum’s cool!’

‘The best,’ Emily confirmed. ‘Sometimes I wonder if she’s for real!’

‘Oh, come on, you two!’ And with that, Teresa playfully slapped Joe’s shoulder.

As the three of them made their way towards the seminar room, Joe and Teresa began to catch up on what had been happening since they had last met. At one point, they stopped talking for a moment as they noticed a lady rummaging through her handbag. She was red-faced and looked extremely worried. Then, just as Joe and Teresa were about to ask if she was OK, she heaved a deep sigh of relief as she pulled a small mirror out of her bag.