Peter Dawson - NLP Master Trainer
Integrating NLP into all parts of life
Hi. Great to see you on my NLP site. I hope you enjoy your time here and find it useful. I began my NLP journey back in 1987 in what seems like a heartbeat ago. It was a time in my life when I was deeply searching for the more significant things in life. I had just finished a 10 year career working on oil rigs all around South East Asia, Pakistan and Bass Strait Australia. This was a magnificent period of my life - perfect for a guy in his '20s. From the scorpions and giant snakes of Borneo to 5 star luxury on my time off to near back breaking work at other times. I loved it. However, after the last contract in 1986 I was over 30 and didn't feel like continuing in the game - my back wasn't ready to start again plus I felt like I was spinning my wheels and going nowhere new in life. Then I was hit with a startling realization - outside of an oil rig my skills were useless - what was that about over specialisation and extinction? I didn't want to go back to formal study - too slow. I didn't want to sacrifice $$ and time so I started doing a huge number of small courses - business courses, investing, speed reading, personal development and so on. A Brave New World
As part of this, raising the Phoenix from the ashes, I did a weekend training in NLP and was fascinated. In this weekend there was a hand out regarding the major influences and applications and had in it one word that no-one could explain to me: the mysterious 'Feldenkrais'. As luck would have it there was an article in the Wellbeing Magazine that month on Feldenkrais and explained it as a system of learning that involved movement. As an avid sports person and martial artist it was a slam dunk that I had to get involved. I phoned up and found out there was a Professional Feldenkrais Training starting soon so I signed up. In those days a A$12,000 commitment. Yikes. Only after I started the training did I realize the full range of applications which made me even more determined. This began the most exhilarating and stimulating period of my life and continues to be so today. At the same time as this Feldenkrais training I was completing my NLP Practitioner, Master Practitioner and Trainers level. They both finished at around the same time - 1991. One of lifes punctuation points. It was later, in 1994 that I became a Master Trainer. Unlimited Opportunity
I felt I had somehow been handed these two magnificent tools with a licence to just go explore what can be done here. I still feel that way today and believe we have just scratched the surface. You are invited to join this adventure on this site. During this 'study' period 1986 - 1991 I had been surviving on a combination of stock market investing and part time work. From 1991 onwards my career was that of a consultant / practitioner combining the skills and attributes of both modalities. Movement classes here, one on one sessions at another time, corporate trainings and then in 1994 starting my own formal NLP Practitioner and Master Practitioner trainings after a 7 year immersion and apprenticeship. My 'development' period was longer than most peoples entire careers in this field. In the very early part of my career I was really only interested in health and healing and this made up most of my private practice. It was a sweet deal - I was doing what I loved - again! I gained a great many insights in working with the body and healing during this period which I intend to share on this site. As I developed more into training, my corporate applications developed and this become a significant part of my business and still is today. I have also developed applications for and worked with many performers - sports, singers, dancers, musicians, martial artists and much more. I find the applications of these modalities in these areas to be very stimulating and enjoyable. Again, I will share these ideas with you on this site. Freestyle NLP
After about 7 years of running my NLP Practitioner and Master Practitioner programs along INLPTA lines - similar to standard NLP trainings everywhere really, I began to become very frustrated. Keep in mind I was the Australasian INLPTA representative and their first Australian Master Trainer - I was dedicated. I found myself in trainings forcing students to pedantically do old techniques that were based on therapy - next to useless for the corporate manager, the student, the artist etc etc. Along with this there is the near incomprehensible jargon around the language patterns reflecting a system that isn't even taught in universities now it is so outdated. It was over a quarter of a century ago - get over it. These people had given me their $$ in good faith and I felt I was letting them down. I was going to walk away from NLP as I didn't think anyone would want to come if I wasn't under the auspices of INLPTA or some such other body. I mentioned this to one of my students and actually said 'Who would come?' When she said 'I would' the die was cast. I stopped teaching the rigid creaky techniques and Latinesque jargon and just started teaching NLP from first principles with freed up language patterns devoid of the complex jargon and theories. I learned this from martial arts. Simplify techniques and operate from principles - you become creative and can express yourself through the art with flow. The calibre of Practitioner I produce now is far superior to what was possible before - and I considered our trainings second to none then. All people want coming to this work is 'skill'. You don't get that by being chained to pre-set techniques, jargon and procedures. Importantly, the trainings now are extremely useful and relevant to everyone there regardless of background and application. When you know and can use first principles you can do anything. As you have surely already ascertained, I term this 'Freestyle NLP'. The Present
At this time of my development and career it feels more like a time of taking stock and ordering my body of work over the years. I have so many trainings and programs video taped waiting to be developed - many predating the internet even - sheesh fancy being that old. Who can remember back that far. Was there really life before the iPod? Bear with me as I unpack all this and begin to put it out here. I would like this NLP site to become a place where everyone can contribute and we all continue to learn from each other. I am sure you have many insights and experiences of your own that could add to our collective richness and diversity. You are most welcome here. Return from Peter Dawson to Freestyle NLP Home Page.
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