HypnoThoughts is Three Years Old! -please read

HypnoThoughts is three years old this month!

It’s amazing to think how far we have come in such a short period of time. As some of you know, when I first created this site my goal was to some day in the distant future get as many as five hundred members to join this site. We’ve had that many join in a single month on more than one occasion as we have grown to nearly 7,000 members in this short time.

So before I say my thank you’s to some specific people, I want to tell you what’s in it for you: Presents. That’s right, you get presents this month. All kinds of stuff that I don’t even know about yet (and not because they are wrapped).

The first present I’m giving away is simple: It’s a two hour video conference with me on the topic of practice building. I’m going to do 2 hours of live question and answer with anyone and everyone who wants to show up and pick my brain about how I’ve built a six figure income. If you want to ask a question on a different subject that’s absolutely cool with me too. We will get as much info jam packed into that video lecture as possible.

So what else do you get, you may ask? Well, my greedy hypno-friends, this is where it gets fun. You get the gift of giving. Some of you may remember the Not-So-Secret-Santa we did a while back that was a great success, so we are doing it again. You decide the rest of the party favors. Allow me to explain.

If you see someone with a question in the discussion forum about inductions and you happen to have book, DVD, or upcoming workshop on inductions: give it to them! When you do this, you will be advertising your product and creating amazing good will. Have a stage show coming up? Give away
some tickets! What about active mentorship hours, an audio recording, an interview for your blog?

This fun time isn’t reserved only for those who create products or hold events. If you have a book you found valuable or a DVD that helped your development, share it with someone who could use it. I’m not talking about violating copyrights or duplicating anything. This is about giving to other hypnotists in our community. Everyone is in a position to give and receive.

Here’s how it works:

~ If you see a question or comment in the discussion thread this month that moves you in some way, contact the author directly and let them know what you want to give them.

~You are then welcome to announce the giving of that gift in the forum after you have contacted the individual directly.

~ You do not have to announce that you are giving the gift publically. That is completely up to you.

~The recipient is also welcome to post a thank you/review of the product in the blog section of the site or as a follow up within the discussion that inspired the gift.

~ Please refrain for asking for things directly or fishing for handouts, as that goes against the spirit of giving and receiving gifts.

~ This is not a place for blatant promotions or mass discounts. This is for specific and thoughtful giving.

~ You may only describe/promote a product one time. If you want to give 5 copies of your book away, that’s great and you can say so, but please limit the description to the first gift.

~ Please keep things fun and festive and respect the spirit in which this is intended without taking advantage of it.

I will go over this again in its own discussion in a few days. For now, I want to take a second to say some thank you’s.

Thank You’s

First and Foremost, I need to thank Fable and Richard, the two active moderators on HypnoThoughts who have helped keep me sane by taking a lot of the load off my back. They do an amazing job of working so well most of the time you don’t even realize what they are doing. As this site has grown their responsibilities have become more important and demanding and I can’t say enough how much I appreciate them.

I’ve also gotta thank FAQ Mark and all the tech teams at Ning, Expos 2, Site Suites, and Apps.io for giving me the tools and platforms we use and abuse day in and day out. As always, more fun toys are on the way.

Thanks to Melissa Roth for approaching me with the idea of creating what has become the HypnoSummit and trusting me to geek out with her brainchild. Melissa does an amazing job of recruiting speakers and organizing the lecture times, which is no small task when factoring in all those international time zones. She trusts me when she doesn’t understand what I’m talking about and knows that for the two weeks before the Summit we agree to hate each other for the hard work we put each other through and agree to laugh about it later.

Thank you to the advertisers who pay the bills and help keep the lights on. This web stuff isn’t cheap.

And finally, I want to extend a very sincere and humble thank you to those of you who contribute and invite your friends and colleagues to join this site. Thanks for sharing your insights and questions and letting people know about this. When I flipped the switch on this thing three years ago I had the email addresses of about 25 hypnotists, of whom about 10 showed up to check this out.

This site has grown into a community, and continues to grow because of all of your participation. I know you all have lives, and it’s really incredible to see that you guys continue to make this a
small part of your life. I study the data and see how often people return and how long they stay, and it really makes all the effort worth it when I see my little map light up with dozens of
countries every day. We have been viewed on all seven continents and have shared well over a million pieces of information and have helped foster friendships among peers around the
world. I couldn’t have done that if it had been my goal. This is the part that you guys did. You turned this website into something truly special. The overwhelming respect you show for this site and its members can’t be overstated.

Thank you to everyone who is part of this global hypnosis community.

Tags: community, grow, hypnosis, hypnothoughts, learn, network, share, social, success

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Permalink Reply by Lindsay Baker on August 3, 2010 at 9:04pm

I can't believe it has been three years!! Part of me thinks wow 3 years already, the other part thinks no? you have been here forever 3 years is not enough!

Happy Birthday Hypnothoughts

lots of love
Lindsay xxxx

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Cole-NLPTrainingQuest.com on August 3, 2010 at 9:13pm

Damn Dude (meaning you Scott)... I can honestly say you are the most humble human being I've ever met in the Hypno/NLP world. In a world filled with tremendous egos and "what's in it for me", you just f*&%ing give and give... and give some more...

I know how much work goes into all that you do for this community and I know how much you do in your private practice and beyond...

I certainly work my bumm off as well but damn... You make me feel like a slacker sometimes (in a good way)...

It's truly an honor to call you friend and colleague. Keep up the great work and always feel free to ask for a hand should you ever desire or need it. You've got a whole community here that's got your back...

Kevin

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Permalink Reply by Andreas Tenhagen on August 3, 2010 at 10:11pm

As always: great idea Scott.

I m here, I think since nearly 2 years. So many inputs and that is worth a ton.

What I like to give:
- well its not that easy (esp. with german books), but if someone is interested to give seminars here in Germany, let me know. I will do my best to promote it. The closeness of switzerland may be also very interesting.

Greetings

Andreas

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Permalink Reply by David Ebel on August 3, 2010 at 10:23pm

Amazing!!! Scott, you have done the "impossible" so regularly that the word no longer fits you and your team of hypno-wonders!

I found this site as a result of creating my own site on Ning and went for a search for a place for managing my chronic back pain. Your site was my first hypno experience and through the friends I have met on the site ... I now am not only certified in NLP and Hypnosis, but am managing most days with much less pain (nearing pain free) than in years.

I have met some of my best friends in years on this site and am entirely thankful for understanding, encouragement, relationships and good friends in my life that can all be traced back to this site!

Congratulations to you all. Thanks for going the extra miles all the time... I am among the many who are better off because you gave it a shot and began.

Blessings,

David Ebel

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Permalink Reply by Jason Keen on August 4, 2010 at 12:35am

Scott,

I can't adequately express how much I appreciate what you've done by creating this space and allowing so much incredible energy to move through it.

I have to second what Kevin said above: Your balance of confidence and humility is an inspiration. I've been a member here for at least a year now, and I've learned so much from reading and occasionally taking part in discussions. But as we all know, sometimes what we learn is more subtle than the raw information we absorb. And if our work is indeed the art of persuasion, your manner of handling this incredible community is one of the most persuasive qualities I've seen in many people. I've learned a lot (I hope) from your example where some (including me) can tend to fall short by injecting too much of their ego into the conversation.

In addition to the tools and techniques we employ, our success depends largely on our ability to hold space and get out of the damn way. The extent to which Hypnothoughts.com is successful is the extent to which you have mastered exactly that.

Thank you and Happy Birthday!

Jason

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on August 4, 2010 at 1:38am

They just grow up sooooo fast--

Many Happy Returns --

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Permalink Reply by Ron Franks on August 4, 2010 at 1:58am

What a marvelous party, Scott! My thanks to you and all who support you in these valued activities.

Appreciatively,

Ron

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Permalink Reply by Nancy McCune on August 4, 2010 at 2:21am

Scott, When I met you at my first IACT conference in Florida a few years back I knew that you were a very special person. Your dedication to hypnosis and educating hypnotists and the public about our wonderful profession is admirable. Thanks for all you do!

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl Jeffries on August 4, 2010 at 2:29am

Yes, this website is VERY SPECIAL! Thank You!
What a wonderful happening to have colleagues share their experience and wisdom so freely...and you have made this possible Scott. It has provided a sense of community among many, I would think, who practice in areas as an alternative practitioner of one or few and certainly not finding another hypnotherapist in close proximity. Are we in the shift of the ages? Is our vibration increasing? Well this site surely contributes to the world's consciousness and healing.

Joy and Happy Birthday All,
Cheryl

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Permalink Reply by Margaret Arthur on August 4, 2010 at 5:47am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Hypnothoughts!!! Thank you Scott & Melissa for all the work you do.

Margaret

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Permalink Reply by tc_Burt on August 4, 2010 at 6:00am

Even though I am a "johnny come lately" Congrats and Happy Birthday Scott, well done

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on August 4, 2010 at 6:11am

Happy, Happy Birthday to HypnoThoughts!!

Thank you for the marvelous opportunities for professional and personal advancement. I feel I have been growing up along with you!

Best wishes forever,

Kelley