Which NLP Trainer would you like to hear about?

Just checking, because I only seem to find the time to write about one blog post every few weeks.

The trainers on my shortlist that I will review soon are

• Richard Bandler
• John LaValle
• John La Tourrette
• Michael Breen
• John Grinder
• Michael Hall
• Shelle Rose Charvet
• Rodger Bailey

There are dozens of trainers I met over the years, mostly from the UK. If there is anyone who you would like me to look at, do let me know. I might have met them or might have heard some interesting gossip...

Reviewing the NLP Trainers: Tom Vizzini

Tom Vizzini is the guy behind Essential Skills Seminars and the 3D Mind technique/process.

I never met him in person, but we had quite a few fights on the old alt.psychology.nlp message board. The closest I got to him was (if I remember correctly) one time in Manchester, where I presented to an NLP practice group and one of the attendees asked me if I had met Tom, because he had presented at the same venue the day before.

So my experience with him and his stuff stems from video tapes (tapes, yes, he's been around for a while...).
I am not privy to any inside information, so I don't know how much influence his partner Kim McFarland has/had on the whole Essential Skills and 3D Mind thing, but I will just focus on Tom Vizzini for now.

Would you like to hear the good stuff or the bad stuff first?

Sorry, I'll be starting with the good stuff:

The 3D Mind technique is fantastic! One of the best change techniques I have ever encountered and I recommend it unreservedly. I hear that he updated the technique a few years ago, but even without an update, it is an essential tool for every NLP/Change/Whatever practitioner.
Really. No snarky comment from me. Go out and buy it!

Now the bad stuff:
Tom is an absolutely horrible presenter. Granted, he might have improved (the last info my spies gave me was from 2008), but he certainly used to be so bad that I nearly missed the greatness of the 3D Mind technique, because I was so annoyed with his presentation style. Horrible sense of humour, always laughing at his own jokes - just awful. And, Tom, here is a piece of advice from someone who is a good presenter: STOP FIDDLING WITH THE PEN!

Rant over.

His Essential Skills tapes are very basic, probably far too basic for anyone who has attended an NLP intro session, but again, the 3D Mind stuff is fantastic, and you can easily tweak it to fit your own style. Highly recommended!

Update:
Tom was kind enough to point out that the tapes I was talking about are not available anymore and they now ensure that only their newest stuff is available on their website.