This episode discusses the power of music and sound in persuasion and influencing emotions. Kurt explores how different types of music can trigger specific emotional responses and affect behaviors, such as enhancing shopping experiences, reducing stress, and increasing productivity. 5 Ways to Make Sweet Music for Your Business The Monkey Business Illusion Through anecdotes and research findings, he explains that music can be a strategic tool in sales, customer service, and personal interactions ...
Mar 13, 2025•22 min
In this episode, Mortensen discusses strategies to handle hecklers, critics, and disruptive individuals in various settings, from business meetings to public speaking engagements. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining composure, using humor, and understanding the motivations of hecklers to effectively manage disruptions. Being a selfish jerk doesn't get you ahead, research finds Mortensen also shares research findings on the negative long-term impact of disagreeable behaviors in profession...
Mar 06, 2025•22 min
This episode discusses strategies for building charisma and confidence, particularly in the context of persuasion and public speaking. Kurt provides tips on body language, vocal variety, and mental preparation. He also emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy, using Albert Bandura's research to outline methods for boosting confidence. Additional topics include cause marketing, the significance of appearance, and the difference between confidence and arrogance. Self‐Efficacy - Albert Bandura Un...
Feb 27, 2025•21 min
This episode delves into the concept of the "fake no" and knee-jerk reactions. Mortensen explores how subconscious triggers can lead to unwarranted objections and resistance from prospects. He uses various anecdotes, including a wedding reception at a funeral home and a study on desk organization, to illustrate how perceptions and subconscious triggers play a role in influencing decisions. Mortensen also addresses how salespeople can sometimes create their own resistance through their expectatio...
Feb 20, 2025•20 min
This episode explores the Law of Dissonance, a key strategy in persuasion that helps individuals convince themselves. Kurt introduces the concept by explaining cognitive dissonance, a psychological conflict between beliefs and actions that causes discomfort and leads individuals to change their attitudes or behaviors. Immortality in the afterlife as cognitive default He shares personal anecdotes and studies demonstrating this phenomenon, such as people hesitating to sign a contract selling their...
Feb 13, 2025•21 min
In this episode Kurt discusses the impact of humor on persuasion, motivation, and influence. He explains how humor can build rapport, capture attention, and create positive emotional connections. Kurt also talks about the benefits of using humor in the workplace, including increased creativity, job satisfaction, and team performance. He shares tips on how to effectively incorporate humor into sales and presentations, and addresses the importance of being relevant and appropriate to avoid offendi...
Feb 06, 2025•21 min
In this episode, Kurt Mortensen delves into the intricacies of motivation, brain function, and making buying decisions. Key topics include goal setting, minimizing risk, maximizing reward, and effective follow-up strategies in marketing and sales. The episode also covers the latest in psychological science on self-awareness and behavior change. Understanding Trust Issues: What They Are and How to Overcome Them Offer of the week...
Jan 30, 2025•20 min
This episode delves into strategies for enhancing influence, motivation, and success, featuring elements like goal setting and mindfulness. Kurt Mortensen shares personal anecdotes, such as a dentist's poor follow-up, to highlight the importance of persistence. He discusses human motivation, emphasizing the balance between minimizing risk and maximizing reward in decision-making. Listening to audience feedback and personal motivation techniques are explored, including intrinsic versus extrinsic ...
Jan 23, 2025•21 min
This episode explores the science behind effective goal setting and achieving maximum success. Kurt discusses common pitfalls like failing to set goals correctly and pre-excusing failure. He highlights the importance of mindset, motivation, and self-persuasion in maintaining goal pursuit. The podcast also covers practical steps for setting and achieving goals, such as writing them down, creating an action plan, and having accountability. Kurt illustrates these points with examples and studies, o...
Jan 15, 2025•21 min
This episode explores techniques to understand and influence people by decoding their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Kurt Mortensen delves into methods like hot and cold reading used by psychics, explaining how these techniques can be applied in everyday persuasion. Going up against a rival makes us take more risks This episode also covers various studies on rivalry and risk-taking, body language cues, and the psychological principles behind effective communication and influence. Kurt also g...
Jan 08, 2025•21 min
In this episode, Kurt delves into the power of mindset and its critical role in success. Starting with insights from his recent four-day event on Millionaire Psychology, Kurt explains the fundamental differences between learned optimism and learned helplessness, concepts introduced by Dr. Martin Seligman. Listeners will learn the significance of adopting a millionaire mindset, improving persuasion and negotiation skills, and the importance of continuous self-improvement. The Power of Small Wins ...
Dec 27, 2024•21 min
In this episode, Kurt Mortensen explores the effectiveness of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and its techniques for persuasion, motivation, and influence. Kurt discusses handling emotions like fear, shares insights from recent studies on the brain's role in fear inhibition, and answers a listener's questions about NLP. He also introduces methods like mirroring, framing, future pacing, embedded commands, and anchoring, explaining how these tools can enhance personal and professional communica...
Dec 18, 2024•21 min
As a salesperson, you know how crucial communication is. But have you ever stopped to think about common mistakes that could sabotage your presentations and cost you deals? These aren't just minor missteps - they're the ones that can lose you a sale before you even realize it. Michael Bay Fails (Meltdown) CES - Walks Off Stage - heckled by technology The bottom line: Be intentional with your communication, and don't just rely on your product to do the talking. Your presentation is the first step...
Dec 12, 2024•23 min
Sales isn't about an excellent presentation - it's also about how you read your potential customers. Body language is one of the most powerful tools in your persuasion toolkit, and understanding it can be the difference between closing a deal and getting a NO. People are constantly sending signals with their bodies, even when their mouths are silent. So, how can you harness the art of reading body language to increase your sales and influence? Let's find out! How Hope Beats Mindfulness When Time...
Dec 05, 2024•21 min
"Breaking the mirror" is a term used to describe how lawyers intentionally disrupt the psychological connection, or rapport, with a witness on the stand. That disconnect is also called antipathy. During questioning, attorneys may initially mirror the witness's tone, energy, rate, and body language to connect and build trust but then strategically break that alignment to create discomfort. This shift is particularly effective in creating pressure and undermining a witness's confidence. Harvard Ps...
Nov 21, 2024•21 min
The importance of the RAS in persuasion extends to various fields, from marketing and advertising to public speaking and education. By leveraging the power of the RAS, persuaders can enhance their ability to keep their prospect's attention and motivate them to action. Understanding and utilizing the RAS is critical to involvement and making a lasting impression in a world overflowing with information. Latent Learning - How We Subconsciously Pick Up Information Join me for this week's podcast on ...
Nov 13, 2024•21 min
Influencers use closing skills to guide potential customers in making a decision. Effective closing skills ensure both the salesperson and the customer feel confident about the purchase, minimize resistance, and create a smooth transition to get the YES. Closing skills also enable salespeople to address last-minute objections and encourage customers to commit to the solution. Deal or No Deal - The Role of Emotions in Negotiating Offers A little anger in negotiation pays What do your prospect's h...
Nov 07, 2024•21 min
Credibility is based on 3 things: your knowledge, track record, and appearance. What it comes down to is that you are believable and have the expertise to make things happen or solve their challenge. The perception could be based on your demeanor, mannerisms, or dress. Rage clicks - Study shows how political outrage fuels social media engagement If you are experiencing any of the above, it is time to borrow credibility. What? Can you borrow credibility? The answer is absolutely. Join me for this...
Oct 31, 2024•21 min
Researchers suggest that willpower and self-discipline can weaken after doing sequential tasks, much like an overused muscle strained to fatigue or a battery that has lost its charge. The results proved interesting in looking at the two groups—one that ate cookies (requiring no willpower) and one that ate radishes (exercising their willpower against the tantalizing cookie smell). Do you want more success? Increase your willpower? Have unlimited confidence? Join me for this week's podcast on Get ...
Oct 23, 2024•23 min
Praise and compliments can backfire or be disbelieved for several reasons, especially when perceived as fake or insincere. Here are the top 4 reasons why praise could backfire on you. That 'Compliment' Might Actually Be Offensive Praise must be genuine, specific, and aligned with reality to be effective and credible. Overpraising or manipulating through praise can make people uneasy or skeptical, undermining its intended effects. Join me for this week's podcast on Why Your Compliments And Praise...
Oct 17, 2024•20 min
Identifying whether someone is a narcissist requires looking for key behaviors and personality traits that align with narcissistic tendencies Why You Should Sleep on it Before Making an Important Decision Finding a narcissist involves looking for patterns of behavior that revolve around self-importance, lack of empathy, and manipulative tendencies. Want to know how to persuade a narcissist? Join me for this week's podcast on How To Persuade And Earn The Respect Of A Narcissist. Discover why a na...
Oct 09, 2024•21 min
Numerous studies have been conducted on the impact of scent and fragrances on association. A study conducted among undergraduate students found that female students wearing perfume were rated more attractive by male students. Scents were even found to improve scores on job evaluations. Of course, offensive odors can also be used (and have been used) to evoke a negative response. Sensory Marketing; The Smell of Cinnamon That Made Me Buy Want to know more about sensory marketing? Get your prospect...
Oct 02, 2024•20 min
This Law of Persuasion states that the more skillful a person is in the use of language, the more persuasive they are. Words affect our perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and emotions. Language misused will trigger the wrong response and decrease your ability to persuade. All words have emotional meanings that are different from their dictionary definitions. Understanding words and their emotional triggers will enhance your ability to persuade and influence. Facts alone fall short in correcting sc...
Sep 25, 2024•21 min
Fear comes from uncertainty, financial challenges, past experience, or the fear of making a wrong decision. So, how do you switch them from fear to focus? Horror films offer a psychological thrill ride When you shift the emotional energy from fear and doubt to confidence and anticipation, you will close the sale and leave your prospect feeling good about their choice. Join me for this week's podcast on Science Of Horror Movies - Turning Prospect Fear Into Focus. You will discover the science of ...
Sep 19, 2024•21 min
Whether you're meeting someone for the first time, closing a business deal, or deepening a personal relationship, your body language is crucial in establishing rapport and trust - or inadvertently causing resistance. Understanding and mastering these nonverbal signals can transform how you connect with others. Here's how to recognize the signs that show you're making a connection and those that indicate you are triggering distrust Jobs That Need People Skills Are The Most Recession Proof Want to...
Sep 12, 2024•21 min
EQ, or Emotional Intelligence, refers to the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and influence your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is a crucial aspect of relationships, influence, and leadership. Unlike IQ, which is relatively stable throughout life, EQ can be developed and improved through practice and self-awareness. Emotional Intelligence Has 12 Elements. Which Do You Need to Work On? What are the other elements of EQ that are critical to helping you influence others? How c...
Sep 05, 2024•21 min
Have you ever witnessed someone lose their temper over a hotel room upgrade? It happened to me while traveling with a famous personal development speaker who shall remain nameless. After a long day, we arrived late at night for our speaking engagement, and He asked the clerk for an upgrade. She politely declined, which didn't go over well. 6 Reasons Salespeople Win or Lose a Sale Finally, we need to know when to connect and when to build credibility. With some people, we sense an instant connect...
Aug 22, 2024•21 min
FOMO has gained significant traction in the digital age, where social media and online marketing amplify our awareness of what others are doing, buying, or experiencing. This heightened awareness can lead to a powerful emotional response, driving people to purchase or engage in activities they might otherwise pass on. The Psychology Behind FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) FOMO taps into a powerful psychological drive that motivates people to take action to avoid missing out on something valuable. You ...
Aug 15, 2024•21 min
Obligation has been used as a persuasive technique since the beginning of time. We see companies offering free downloads, free estimates, or gifts in the hope of opening the door to persuasion. The Law of Obligation, also known as pre-giving or reciprocity, states that when others do something for us, we feel a strong need, or urge, to return the favor. Returning the favor rids us of the obligation created by the first good deed. The adage "one good turn deserves another" is a part of social con...
Aug 08, 2024•21 min
I was reading this great article in Harvard Business Review, which focuses on how we CAN'T recognize our weaknesses. The other challenge is that most people feel responsible for their successes (internal), and external factors are the cause of their failures. Leaders and managers today must be more aware of others' needs due to the challenges of a global pandemic, a fragile economy, and social unrest. Many workplace challenges stem not from bad intentions but from leaders' lack of awareness of h...
Aug 01, 2024•20 min
