Hey Trevor - Scott & Mike Talk About Their Florida Trip
About Richard Bandler and NLP
Richard Wayne Bandler (born February 24, 1950) is an American author and trainer in the field of self-help. He is best known as the co-creator of Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), a methodology to understand and change human behavior-patterns. He also developed other systems named Design Human Engineering and Neuro Hypnotic Repatterning.
Since that time, Bandler's career has focused on developing and presenting NLP and related concepts as an author, publisher, public speaker and consultant. Audiences include individuals seeking life improvement and businesses using these concepts and techniques to improve sales.
Since that time, Bandler's career has focused on developing and presenting NLP and related concepts as an author, publisher, public speaker and consultant. Audiences include individuals seeking life improvement and businesses using these concepts and techniques to improve sales.
Michael's Story: Set Them Free
I should tell you my story of how this SETTHEMFREE.TV project was created from the beginning. It was started by the man who would be the catalyst that positively changed the direction of my life. The man I’m alluding to is Scott Gallagher. Scott and I created this project initiative to support the wants and needs we hear when we speak to First Nation communities.
Why First Nations? I feel very connected to First Nations people. Whenever I speak with a First Nation person I often feel like they are longtime friends. They are people who love the earth, in tune with the spirit, and who are healing from generational abuse similar to my story.
Let me tell you my story…
Two years ago, I was a young man with no real direction in my life. I was unemployed, struggling to find a decent job, and contemplating whether or not I should go on social assistance. I spent my time doing free graphic and web design work for people, and wasn’t making any income.
I grew up in poverty and was raised in government funded housing. The kind of neighbourhood I grew up in fostered a victim mentality: it was the world’s job to make me happy and the world owed me a living.
In my culture, which is Middle Eastern, it was normal for the man of the house to beat his wife and children. The physical and verbal abuse I experienced was a common occurrence in my home. My school mates and I casually joked about the beatings we got the night before. I had no idea that these experiences would have negatively shaped my life so dramatically.
My parents were deeply religious and often scared me and my siblings into obeying rules by telling us that our spirits would burn for eternity if I we were not ‘good boys and girls’. I would only go to heaven if I was absolutely perfect. My parents constantly fought over money – I kept my needs to myself and tried not to cost them anything. I lived my life feeling like I was a burden to everybody and always trying to be the ‘perfect son’. I was driven by the need to be a ‘good boy’ so I wouldn’t get punished. In my core I thought I deserved to be punished because I was ‘so bad.’ I never felt worthy enough to stand up for myself and allowed myself to be bullied in school and in my life.
I was afraid of authority figures, always on the watch for other people’s reactions to dictate how I should act. I suppressed my feelings and in the process I lost my ability to feel or express myself.
I was going through the motions of life, but I felt dead inside.
By some kind of divine intervention I met a man who would dramatically change my life beyond anything I could have imagined. Fate had brought me to meet Scott Gallagher. He was able to help me clearly see what I wanted and needed - which I didn't believe I would ever achieve.
I’ll explain how I went from someone who thought of himself as a TOTAL LOSER to leading programs and co-creating the SETTHEMFREE.TV project.
Initially, I started out as one of Scott's goodwill pro-bono clients. After meeting him for a 4 hour coaching session I knew my life would never be the same again!
We sat down in Scott’s studio and instantly I knew I could trust him – his eyes didn’t lie. I felt safe to share anything that was in my heart or on my mind with this man. Until that point, I had never met anyone who listened to what was important to me so intently and who was so committed to helping me get what was important to me... no matter how stupid I thought I was!
I left the session that with a new found hope. My body felt so light and my mind was at peace.
There was something special about Scott – he was a man who was changing the world. I had heard only a little bit about the work he was doing with revolutionizing the way people work together in organizations, and also his work with marginalized youth.
During that session, Scott saw something special in me that I couldn't see for myself.
He invited me to see him deliver a series school programs he created that help kids get rid of unproductive and destructive habits of ALL kinds. We traveled to Peterborough, Ontario visit Adam Scott Vocational High School.
I was moved to tears as I watched Scott connect heart-to-heart with 1200 kids that day. He shared his story of childhood abuse, addiction, and his profound spiritual journey helping others.
The participants felt so safe around Scott. I witnessed kids who were suffering in silence take down their barriers and talk about what they never would tell their friends or parents. Some students approached Scott afterward and told him that nobody else had ever made them feel that safe.
Seeing the healing that began happening in those kids in Peterborough, I noticed a part of me healed as well. What he gave them was the same unconditional love and attention that he gave me in our first session.
After that profound experience, Scott, invited me to join him for an opportunity to see another school program in Winnipeg, Alberta. The kids Scott would be working with were the most extreme cases of "at-risk youth" that I have ever heard of.
I had no money to fly out with him, so he offered to pay for my flight! Scott saw something special in me and wanted me to have a chance to help change these kids lives. He gave me the opportunity of a lifetime... to deliver a talk in front a group of "Highly At-Risk Youth."
To be in peak state while delivering his programs, Scott often runs a marathon a few days before. The night before the marathon he urged me to run the full 42.5km with him – I had never run a marathon before, let alone trained for one.
He saw that what I was capable of was greater than what I believed I could achieve.
That’s what he does, he helps people and organizations achieve WAY above and beyond what they ever imagined was possible.
Early the next morning, Scott we started the race an hour and a half before the marathon actually began. This disqualified Scott from being an official racer, but he knew that’s what it would take to have me make it to the end in one piece. A marathon is a huge undertaking, and it is very easy for someone who isn't trained to injure themselves.
It was 6:30 am when we started. Together we walked for the first hour an a half, until we saw the first official runner. Then we ran the FULL marathon with Scott by my side, every step of the way. It took us 8 whole hours to complete the entire distance. Scott patiently stayed by my side making sure I would finish.
The next day, I shared my story of poverty and abuse to those kids, which Scott helped me write. He knew I was terrified, so he sat at the back of the auditorium smiling and nodding like everything I said was perfect. It gave me the confidence to speak powerfully to those kids – (You can see my first talk here http://www.setthemfree.tv/schools.html)
He knew that I never believed I would have had that opportunity, and he supported me to make it happen.
Why First Nations? I feel very connected to First Nations people. Whenever I speak with a First Nation person I often feel like they are longtime friends. They are people who love the earth, in tune with the spirit, and who are healing from generational abuse similar to my story.
Let me tell you my story…
Two years ago, I was a young man with no real direction in my life. I was unemployed, struggling to find a decent job, and contemplating whether or not I should go on social assistance. I spent my time doing free graphic and web design work for people, and wasn’t making any income.
I grew up in poverty and was raised in government funded housing. The kind of neighbourhood I grew up in fostered a victim mentality: it was the world’s job to make me happy and the world owed me a living.
In my culture, which is Middle Eastern, it was normal for the man of the house to beat his wife and children. The physical and verbal abuse I experienced was a common occurrence in my home. My school mates and I casually joked about the beatings we got the night before. I had no idea that these experiences would have negatively shaped my life so dramatically.
My parents were deeply religious and often scared me and my siblings into obeying rules by telling us that our spirits would burn for eternity if I we were not ‘good boys and girls’. I would only go to heaven if I was absolutely perfect. My parents constantly fought over money – I kept my needs to myself and tried not to cost them anything. I lived my life feeling like I was a burden to everybody and always trying to be the ‘perfect son’. I was driven by the need to be a ‘good boy’ so I wouldn’t get punished. In my core I thought I deserved to be punished because I was ‘so bad.’ I never felt worthy enough to stand up for myself and allowed myself to be bullied in school and in my life.
I was afraid of authority figures, always on the watch for other people’s reactions to dictate how I should act. I suppressed my feelings and in the process I lost my ability to feel or express myself.
I was going through the motions of life, but I felt dead inside.
By some kind of divine intervention I met a man who would dramatically change my life beyond anything I could have imagined. Fate had brought me to meet Scott Gallagher. He was able to help me clearly see what I wanted and needed - which I didn't believe I would ever achieve.
I’ll explain how I went from someone who thought of himself as a TOTAL LOSER to leading programs and co-creating the SETTHEMFREE.TV project.
Initially, I started out as one of Scott's goodwill pro-bono clients. After meeting him for a 4 hour coaching session I knew my life would never be the same again!
We sat down in Scott’s studio and instantly I knew I could trust him – his eyes didn’t lie. I felt safe to share anything that was in my heart or on my mind with this man. Until that point, I had never met anyone who listened to what was important to me so intently and who was so committed to helping me get what was important to me... no matter how stupid I thought I was!
I left the session that with a new found hope. My body felt so light and my mind was at peace.
There was something special about Scott – he was a man who was changing the world. I had heard only a little bit about the work he was doing with revolutionizing the way people work together in organizations, and also his work with marginalized youth.
During that session, Scott saw something special in me that I couldn't see for myself.
He invited me to see him deliver a series school programs he created that help kids get rid of unproductive and destructive habits of ALL kinds. We traveled to Peterborough, Ontario visit Adam Scott Vocational High School.
I was moved to tears as I watched Scott connect heart-to-heart with 1200 kids that day. He shared his story of childhood abuse, addiction, and his profound spiritual journey helping others.
The participants felt so safe around Scott. I witnessed kids who were suffering in silence take down their barriers and talk about what they never would tell their friends or parents. Some students approached Scott afterward and told him that nobody else had ever made them feel that safe.
Seeing the healing that began happening in those kids in Peterborough, I noticed a part of me healed as well. What he gave them was the same unconditional love and attention that he gave me in our first session.
After that profound experience, Scott, invited me to join him for an opportunity to see another school program in Winnipeg, Alberta. The kids Scott would be working with were the most extreme cases of "at-risk youth" that I have ever heard of.
I had no money to fly out with him, so he offered to pay for my flight! Scott saw something special in me and wanted me to have a chance to help change these kids lives. He gave me the opportunity of a lifetime... to deliver a talk in front a group of "Highly At-Risk Youth."
To be in peak state while delivering his programs, Scott often runs a marathon a few days before. The night before the marathon he urged me to run the full 42.5km with him – I had never run a marathon before, let alone trained for one.
He saw that what I was capable of was greater than what I believed I could achieve.
That’s what he does, he helps people and organizations achieve WAY above and beyond what they ever imagined was possible.
Early the next morning, Scott we started the race an hour and a half before the marathon actually began. This disqualified Scott from being an official racer, but he knew that’s what it would take to have me make it to the end in one piece. A marathon is a huge undertaking, and it is very easy for someone who isn't trained to injure themselves.
It was 6:30 am when we started. Together we walked for the first hour an a half, until we saw the first official runner. Then we ran the FULL marathon with Scott by my side, every step of the way. It took us 8 whole hours to complete the entire distance. Scott patiently stayed by my side making sure I would finish.
The next day, I shared my story of poverty and abuse to those kids, which Scott helped me write. He knew I was terrified, so he sat at the back of the auditorium smiling and nodding like everything I said was perfect. It gave me the confidence to speak powerfully to those kids – (You can see my first talk here http://www.setthemfree.tv/schools.html)
He knew that I never believed I would have had that opportunity, and he supported me to make it happen.
Thanks to Scott, I was on top of the world traveling, running marathons, delivering programs – doing things I never imagined I would be doing. However, every time I went home I would feel defeated.
I would go back to my uninspired home in the projects.
If I was to continue to grow, and pursue my dreams, I couldn’t stay in that toxic environment.
Scott offered me a place to stay at his home. He said “you can stay here as long as you need to. I’ll make sure you have food to eat, and a place to sleep until you're successful.”
I was blown away by his unconditional love and support for my happiness and success. He truly gives people want and need in order to achieve what they want. I had no idea that I would have to leave home to begin my profound healing.
He began to closely mentor and train me. Often it meant advocating to have me take on challenging roles with incredible responsibility. I resisted because I thought I was a loser. He fought for me in board meetings and I was elected as for the role of Executive Director of the non-profit Scott founded called Choice Empowered Youth.
I struggled a lot and I screwed up often. I lost thousands of dollars in potential projects because I was careless and sabotaged things at the last minute, I lost staff because I didn’t care about them – I was a disaster! Never once did Scott even think about firing me or go back on his commitment to support me. He ONLY ever unconditionally supported me to achieved more than what I thought a ‘loser’ like me deserved. No matter how many screw ups, missed opportunities, and lost staff - he always pointed out the greatest in me, even when the evidence said otherwise. He told me "You know what's great about you, Mike? No matter how many times you fail, you never give up. That's what it takes to be successful. I know you're going to be successful!"
After 2 years as Executive Director I was finally successful in
Once again Scott surprised me - they asked him to come out and for him to give the talk. IT was a critical even and just before the talk, he got alignment with the program coordinator for the community to have me and my team come up on stage to also do a talk. getting substantial funding to support bringing in programs to a Northern Ontario First Nation community, which included a Parent/Community Evening Talk with the Elders, Programs for Youth!
Although I would normally stumble nervously through public speaking, for some reason I spoke more confidently and eloquently to the elders gathered there. It was almost as if I was watching myself speak. I never had that experience before as I spoke to those elders. I shared my story of emotional and physical abuse and how I met Scott. The audience LOVED my story, I still can't believe it!
It hadn't dawned on me, but Scott was able to see the passion that I couldn't see. He had a talk with me after this tour and he said "it seems to me, although you love these school programs and working with youth, that you LOVE the First Nations communities even more than just delivering school programs to different communities like you were doing."
I couldn't see it for myself, let alone telling Scott that it was the case, especially after all he had done for me. He was right! As soon as Scott knew that was my truth and that was what I wanted to do wholeheartedly - he provided the next opportunity in my career. He helped me recruit a replacement for my role as Executive Director so I could leave with honour. He helped me create a special project initiative around everything I love - and that's you've stumbled upon today.
I really look forward to talking to you further.
I would go back to my uninspired home in the projects.
If I was to continue to grow, and pursue my dreams, I couldn’t stay in that toxic environment.
Scott offered me a place to stay at his home. He said “you can stay here as long as you need to. I’ll make sure you have food to eat, and a place to sleep until you're successful.”
I was blown away by his unconditional love and support for my happiness and success. He truly gives people want and need in order to achieve what they want. I had no idea that I would have to leave home to begin my profound healing.
He began to closely mentor and train me. Often it meant advocating to have me take on challenging roles with incredible responsibility. I resisted because I thought I was a loser. He fought for me in board meetings and I was elected as for the role of Executive Director of the non-profit Scott founded called Choice Empowered Youth.
I struggled a lot and I screwed up often. I lost thousands of dollars in potential projects because I was careless and sabotaged things at the last minute, I lost staff because I didn’t care about them – I was a disaster! Never once did Scott even think about firing me or go back on his commitment to support me. He ONLY ever unconditionally supported me to achieved more than what I thought a ‘loser’ like me deserved. No matter how many screw ups, missed opportunities, and lost staff - he always pointed out the greatest in me, even when the evidence said otherwise. He told me "You know what's great about you, Mike? No matter how many times you fail, you never give up. That's what it takes to be successful. I know you're going to be successful!"
After 2 years as Executive Director I was finally successful in
Once again Scott surprised me - they asked him to come out and for him to give the talk. IT was a critical even and just before the talk, he got alignment with the program coordinator for the community to have me and my team come up on stage to also do a talk. getting substantial funding to support bringing in programs to a Northern Ontario First Nation community, which included a Parent/Community Evening Talk with the Elders, Programs for Youth!
Although I would normally stumble nervously through public speaking, for some reason I spoke more confidently and eloquently to the elders gathered there. It was almost as if I was watching myself speak. I never had that experience before as I spoke to those elders. I shared my story of emotional and physical abuse and how I met Scott. The audience LOVED my story, I still can't believe it!
It hadn't dawned on me, but Scott was able to see the passion that I couldn't see. He had a talk with me after this tour and he said "it seems to me, although you love these school programs and working with youth, that you LOVE the First Nations communities even more than just delivering school programs to different communities like you were doing."
I couldn't see it for myself, let alone telling Scott that it was the case, especially after all he had done for me. He was right! As soon as Scott knew that was my truth and that was what I wanted to do wholeheartedly - he provided the next opportunity in my career. He helped me recruit a replacement for my role as Executive Director so I could leave with honour. He helped me create a special project initiative around everything I love - and that's you've stumbled upon today.
I really look forward to talking to you further.
Give Me a Call at 416-424-1200 or Email Me at [email protected]