Nick Kemp Blog

 I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.”

Bertrand Russell

In the world of Changework and NLP one of the most useful skills is exploring how to change and create beliefs. However in many instances this can lead to a highly unrealistic mind set where people actually believe that they have a capability which doesn’t translate in real life. Of course the seminar generation business is to a great extent responsible for fostering this idea as it helps sell courses! It’s in my view a shame that this focus has in some instances eclipsed a focus on generating real skills. Of course believing you have skills doesn’t make it so…

I read a thread online recently about a bunch of people reading a new book called “I can make you rich” and following the exercises in the belief that they will become rich! Time will tell if this manifests in real life, but in my experience hard work requires application and also an ability to identify opportunities and create opportunities. It’s said in show business that it takes ten years to become an overnight success and in my experience perseverance  is a key ingredient in creating any form of wealth whether this e financial or otherwise. Again believing its possible is useful, but don’t make it so…

I have previously blogged about how especially how the commercialization of some training companies has led to issuing certificates for almost anything in an attempt to create “ownership”. As I have said before we now have NLP certificates regarded by some as “qualifications” and NLP has attempted to make inroads into being seen as credible in the worlds of medicine and education while at the same time attaching itself to some quite wacky ideas including Shamanism! Amazingly people still believe that these are “qualifications” and there is a lot of whooping online as people obtain “new certificates” believing that these will create work opportunities when in reality it will make no real difference from a work opportunity perspective.

Perhaps the co creators would have benefited from some brand advice as the “NLP brand” has become so diluted it’s almost impossible to determine what NLP is with many holding the belief that NLP is “a cure all for all ills!” If only the co creators had been able to read Donna Heckler and Brian D Till’s “The Truth about Brands” it could all have been very different, especially chapter 50…