the Free Hypnosis Social Network
2012- here we go
For each of the past few calendar years I've written and posted my goals for this site. If you look at the last three years you will see we do a pretty good job of focusing on something and working to help it grow in the industry. Sometimes our ideas take more than a year to make a difference, because things that are worth doing usually aren't easy.
BACKSTORY:
It was never my intention or expectation to have HypnoThoughts get this big. Many of you have heard me say that my goal was to someday get to 500 members. We will be hitting 20 times that goal in a couple months. So with that unexpected audience came a responsibility to to bring great content and tools to the community. It's never been my goal to monetize this site, because I don't think you owe me anything for showing up and contributing to a community. I think I owe you all a big thank you for making this site so valuable, so every year I try to focus the site on a goal.
A few years ago it was the HypnoSummit, which we created to help expose hypnotists to schools of thought and ideas from all over the world. Within 2 years we had hundreds of attendees from over a dozen countries at each of our virtual events.
Last year my goal was to focus on business, so we put out a financial census that got well over a thousand responses, held free teleseminars on hypnosis marketing tips (thanks Craig for all the great info and getting cool guests to interview), and we built TheHypnoStore, which is a place to sell your own hypnosis products without having to build your own website.
2012:
HypnoThoughts is big. People are getting more comfortable with the internet. The tools are getting more accessible and affordable. Hypnosis is showing up more and more in the mainstream media in a positive light. We have most of the most important hypnotists in the world as members of this community.
This month we are launching the Hypnosis Practitioner Training Institute. It's not the first online hypnosis school, and it won't be the last. What it is, in my opinion, is the right idea at the right time. We are going to be working hard this year to bring those students the best education we can from a wide variety of instructors. I think our curriculum and approach is unique enough to make a difference.
This summer will be HypnoThoughts' fifth birthday.
This site has come into it's own and become something bigger than the number of members, videos, blogs, and discussions hosted on this site. In just the last couple years it's become something special.
I'm really excited about 2012 and the opportunities we have to work together as a community. I'm looking forward to meeting more of you in person at the various conferences, classes, etc. this year, and I'm happy to say that the IM system on the site will be up and running really soon.
As always, we want your feedback, insights, requests, and ideas about how to make this site even more valuable. The moderators (who do a great job) are here to help. If you want to know how to do something, ask. The more people get involved, the more valuable this site is.
Looking forward to an exciting 2012 with all of you,
Scott
Tags: blog, hypnothoughts, hypnsis, learn, online, school, video
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bob Brown, CHt, CNLP on -
Scott:
Hypnosis in the wrong hands is bad.... agree?
Hypnosis in the right hands is good.. agree?
Listen to this.. Money in the right hands is brilliant.
I am 110% committed that you will make a bigger impact in the community by making a profit and re-investing in new strategic initiatives. You have few options when you have no money. That one little shift oculd be huge... What impact would $5 a month per member have to what you could do for the hypno community?
Stop thinking profit is a bad thing... No member who is committed to being successful would ever begrudge you making money or deny that you would make great decisions if you had more money!!
HOPE YOU ARE LISTENING BIG GUY!!
bob
Make a profit!!
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Permalink Reply by David Chervick on -
Scott, Hypnosis is a dynamic force. You give and you receive. Everything that is happening to you and this wonderful website for the advancement of hypnosis, is your due. In the deep south they say, Scott, you are getting your come uppins! Happy New Year 2012 and happy 5th for Hypnothoughts.com. Respectfully, Dave
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Permalink Reply by Jackie Spencer on -
The beginning is near? The beginning is here. Lots of beginnings for lots of beginners. Whether we are beginning our journey with hypnosis education, beginning our practices or performances, beginning teaching, writing books, holding events, creating seminars and workshops and websites and schools...Lots of beginnings for beginners who complete and move forward always looking ahead.
Scott, your vision, creativity and determination are contagious and I count myself fortunate to to be among the many who have caught the bug. I was thinking tonight about the people I've had the opportunity to train with and the more who are in my future. It's not an overstatement, an exaggeration or brown-nosing to say I owe it to you and all those who make what you do possible.
Happy New Year, Hypnothoughts.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Andrade on -
Scott,
It is thrilling inside.
When I hear that the goal is about raising awareness, lifting up a profession that can do so much good for so many.
It's thrilling inside.
When a group that I belong to comes together while still doing all their own things and becomes a voice without words all saying the same thing, we are all part of this thing that has amazed us from day one and continue to be amazed at the empowering of something called hypnosis.
There is greatness here. There are people who do care. The are nice people. And damn it there are people who enjoy helping.
It thrills me.
To see an internet social network led by a few who are not out to take, but to give.
It thrills the heck out of me when someone not only understands my point or I feel I understand someone else's point, but shares a similar story.
It thrills me to be part of a group that is not out to take from each other, but in what ever way they know how, they share who they are.....by sharing.....this is what I know, this is my experience, this is what I suspect, this is what I suggest, this is me thinking outside of the box, this the box speaking as if it had a voice.
I suspect there are hundreds and thousands of members following and learning, it thrills me when someone unspoken speaks.
Mr. Scott Sandland, you are doing a greater service than meets the eye, you are leading a group that is part of something great and will be even greater with each and everyday. I look forward to meeting you in a couple of weeks. You give me a voice and soon many tools to understand better how to help others help themselves. I'm very lucky. Right place, right time, right frame of mind.
Happy New Year,
Steve
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Permalink Reply by Brunhilde (Bruni) Brewin on -
When we have a vision, our subconscious looks for the opportunity to bring it into fruitition. So many books have been written - Acres of Diamonds... Think and Grow Rich... The Science of Growing Rich... The Richest Man in Babylon... The Science of Being Well... and the like. What all of these teach us is that 1. We have to have a vision... 2. We need to learn from others how to do this... 3. We need to believe that WE can also make this happen. 4. We need to make a plan of action, follow it and make it happen. Now when all that happens, you get the results of those that run HypnoThoughts. So I am not in the least surprised that you have ventured so far so soon. Well done!
I don't necessarily agree with Bob Brown. I gave my time voluntarily for 12 years to help to promote the association and hypnotherapy on a voluntary basis. This has achieved great results for me as well as others.
As you say, the energy of this site is because there are people with knowledge sharing with the whole. Do we want to start a system that says; "I'll respond to you providing you send me $5.00? That is not what this site is about. There are plenty of opportunities such as perhaps charging for your Seminars that you do so well.
These are much like our workshops in our Association in Australia. The money we make goes towards increasing and making the association better and using the funds towards fighting restrictions etc. etc. We don't pay our workshop presenters. The presenter donates something useful to the workshop attendee, something they are able to use in their practice right now, but it also gives the presenter the opportunity to advise attendees of a more in-depth workshop that they may attend. Those who find the initial workshop interesting might want to learn more in the presenters own workshops. It's called Advertising... What better way then getting to know your presenter through presenting at a free seminar. We did need to make sure the presenters had something of value to give, otherwise the workshop becomes boring and people don't want to attend the next one.
I just recently traveled from Sydney to Melbourne to give a workshop at Monash University to Gastroenterologists, Dieticians and Hypnotherapist sharing knowledge in how to teach clients to use their minds to change how their gut works. In this instance, I did not get paid. Admittedly my air fare and to-fro the airport were paid by Monash, but I gave my whole day for free because I knew the value of what the workshop would do for the profession of hypnotherapy. And what was so aptly put by David Shervick - only I will put it into the words of a therapist I once heard saying on the Oprah Show; "Wherever your Mind is, Your Butt Follows!"
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on -
Hi Scott,
The chat feature (IM). I was wondering if it will allow for the user creation of areas to chat in? I am rather fond of how Skype does text chat. It allows people to create special interest groups. One of the useful features of this is that it allows you to get together with a group you are working on a project with and discuss it away from a main chat general group area. I really think that would be very useful in a chat function on HT.
gentle day.
Lisa
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Permalink Reply by Roy Hunter on
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While I believe that you are correct about Scott earning a profit for his time, a membership fee would immediately reduce the number of members by THOUSANDS and slow the growth of Hypnothoughts. Scott can offset the free membership by promoting HPTI and other products and programs...as well as selling advertising space.
I greatly appreciate this forum the way it is, and do not wish to see it shrink with membership dues.
Roy Hunter
Bob Brown, CHt, CNLP said:Scott:
Hypnosis in the wrong hands is bad.... agree?
Hypnosis in the right hands is good.. agree?
Listen to this.. Money in the right hands is brilliant.
I am 110% committed that you will make a bigger impact in the community by making a profit and re-investing in new strategic initiatives. You have few options when you have no money. That one little shift oculd be huge... What impact would $5 a month per member have to what you could do for the hypno community?
Stop thinking profit is a bad thing... No member who is committed to being successful would ever begrudge you making money or deny that you would make great decisions if you had more money!!
HOPE YOU ARE LISTENING BIG GUY!!
bob
Make a profit!!
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mulcahy on -
Steve,
Gratitude is definitely "where it's at"!
A wise man reportedly once said: "Ye shall know them by their fruits."
Our community, our leaders, and the new school that's blossoming due to a convergence of love and vision are vivid examples that "the sum is greater than the parts".
Your words about being in the "Right place, right time, right frame of mind" remind me of something written by Malcom Gladwell in his book Outliers.
There's something in the book about paying attention to exceptional opportunities and
infusing them with our own passion. What a good idea!
And as hypnotists, don't we just love to visualize wonderful outcomes?
Robert
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Permalink Reply by Bob Brown, CHt, CNLP on
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I think I must have communicated my message wrong. My point wasn't about Scott making a HUGE PROFIT ifor himself (although I am OK with that) it was about putting more $$ in his hands so he can continue his groundbreaking work. The reality is if someone can't afford $5 a month then a) Scott can create some type of exemption program based on merit/contribution.
b) one must ask why they can't
My question to the group is why not give Scott more POWER to do more things by giving him more money. One thing about our community is we seem to be afraid of money. A really simple question is how many quality members would HYPNOTHOUGHTS lose with a $5 monthly fee, My bet is you would only lose the non contributors. Its QUALITY not QUANTITY that creates value.
As a professional speaker I love feedback forms because everyone says I am great. However I have to be real because in my world words mean nothing... hiring me to speak again is the only measurement that counts.
It seems a lot of people jump up and say GREAT SITE Scott great value a real game changer but when I suggest people put money on it ($5 monthly) everyone runs! I just happen to think if we put $5K-$10K in Scott's pockets every month he would do exponentially more and the only people he would lose are those who weren't contributors in the first place.
Call me crazy...
bob
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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on -
I know what you mean Bob, and respect where you are coming from.
I thought about having a program a while back that would work something like this:
- Every year (or month or whatever time limit) there is a new project/goal for the hypnosis world.
- People donate to the cause whatever amount they want.
- once you donate, you can vote on what the next project would be.
The idea was basically creating share holders in the stuff I'm doing anyway, but then I decided it would be too much herding cats and it was more effective to just pay for it myself. I like seeing clients and do okay financially, and don't want to be a certifying body or run one, but I know that if I had the membership dues the mid to large organizations have that I would do some cool things with that funding.
I like that HypnoThoughts is free and don't want to change it, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to find a way to have more funding for my ideas. Right now I pay for everything so that I can call the shots, which is convenient for me. Of course, we have a few people who click the "donate" button at the bottom of the screen every now and then, which is awesome, but for the most part it's just me doing what I do: See clients, tinker on HypnoThoughts, and see if I can make something a little more accessible or do something better for the industry that gave me a cool career.
If someone wants to figure out a way to get me a grant or private funding I'd be more than happy to do some cool stuff with it. If anyone knows a dying billionaire or a person handing out grants, give them my number.
until then...
Scott
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Hi Scott,
I believe that hypnosis professionals will be reading about you in the 22nd Century because of your leadership in creating Hypnothoughts.
Regardless of whether current members ever pay a fee, keeping it free will cause the growth to be stronger than it would be if Hypnothoughts was fee-based.
That being said, it is IMO totally appropriate for you to occasionally ask for donations to keep the website active.
Happy New Year,
Roy
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Permalink Reply by Bob Brown, CHt, CNLP on
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Roy:
I suspect you are like me.. You have books, clients and material that you offer to people for a price. You meet clients and charge them, you sell your books and when you feel like you give your time and material away (at your option). That is all I am suggesting for Scott. He will be able to do tons more. It sounds like he is working to support others
I would be really interested to know how many people would leave Hypnothoughts if there was a $2.50 monthly fee. You and I and many others could help by donating intellect of value (eg e-books, consult time, hypno sessions) so that every month paying members get great value for their fee.
How about this .. You and I and others who can pay $10 a month. That will cover my $2.50 and give Scott three memberships he can give to others.
Or put in a volunteer membership fee (one time fee or recurring). Call me Robin Hood but I want to see our man quadruple his influence and efforts.
bob
PS. I am an adult site so I am not allowed to advertise here or I definitely would.
I am not trying to be a pest i just know that from my experience we grew faster and got a better reputation when we started to charge.
My big fear is no one will pay.. which is sad
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