One of the interesting byproducts of the economic mess facing us today is a big uptick in interest in being more persuasive. It is a bit like going back to basics, sharpening the tools to do a better job or even to get a job. To say there has been an uptick in interest is a whale of an understatement.

As you may know, the impetus behind The Forbidden Keys to Persuasionmaterial was as follows:
Some cult leaders and con artists can convince people to do virtually anything while the masses struggle to persuade others in even the most trivial of matters. What do these people know that the masses do not?Well, I’ve been asked if [...]

In The Forbidden Keys to PersuasionI teach the concept of Hidden Addictions.  These are unconscious needs we have that, when fulfilled, create a strong sense of reciprocity between people. 
Hidden addictions are extremely powerful, yet underappreciated, or worse, totally ignored, by almost every would-be persuader.  Instead, people look for holy grail “high tech” persuasion solutions when [...]

 My cat loves to sleep on my chest.  She’ll stay there for hours unless I put my hands on her as if I’m holding her down.  If I do that, she’ll growl, squirm and eventually leave.
My son will be starting high school next year at his favorite school in our city.  I recently asked him [...]

“Control the manner in which a man interprets his world, and you have gone a long way toward controlling his behavior.” – Stanley Milgram
A magician using the crudest of methods can baffle the most intelligent of audiences.  With a few simple props and an intriguing story, an experienced conman can make a fool of virtually [...]

One of the lessons in The Forbidden Keys to Persuasion focuses on the power of context.  The reason is simple: context is one of the most overlooked aspects of communication.  Especially persuasive communication. 
People often spend far more time and money honing the specifics of their message than they do contemplating the “frame” around their message.  [...]