When you see a room of 500 people doing the book and balloon test, it might look like I’m trying to hypnotize the entire audience.
But that’s not what’s actually happening.
In a room that size, about 10% of people will naturally be what we call “super subjects.” That means there are roughly 50 rockstar hypnosis subjects sitting somewhere in the audience.
My job isn’t to hypnotize everyone. My job is simply to find 10 or 12 of the best visualizers in the room.
And here’s the fascinating part.
The people who respond the strongest on stage have usually been training that ability long before I ever walked into the room. They just don’t call it hypnosis.
After a show or keynote I’ll often talk with volunteers and hear stories that make perfect sense.
Someone will say, “When I wrestled in school, I broke my wrist during a match and didn’t even feel it until afterwards.”
A salesperson might tell me, “Before every big meeting I take a moment and visualize the client signing the deal.”
Athletes often say they run the entire performance through their mind before the game even begins.
Speakers will say they picture the presentation going perfectly before they step on stage.
What they’re describing is focused imagination. Mental rehearsal. The same mental skill elite performers, athletes, and top producers use every single day.
The truth is we are constantly influencing our own minds. We are constantly shaping expectations, beliefs, and outcomes through the pictures we create internally.
The people who respond strongly to hypnosis usually have something very powerful in common — they can focus deeply and they have a vivid imagination.
Just like riding a bike.
Just like becoming an Olympian.
Just like becoming a top producer.
It takes practice.
And the good news is that the same mental ability that creates powerful responses in hypnosis is the exact same ability that helps people perform at their best in business and in life.
With a little practice, anyone can strengthen that skill.
Focus the Mind. Fire up your Life. – JC
