Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Xavi Perla, a Licensed Master Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming™ based in Barcelona, shares the unlikely journey that led him from struggling through a civil engineering degree to becoming one of the leading NLP trainers specializing in persuasion and linguistic patterns. Xavi explains how discovering NLP while desperately trying to pass a difficult university exam changed the trajectory of his life and opened the door to mastering the psychology of influence and communication.

Xavi takes us back to his early career in Barcelona, where he initially dreamed of becoming a commercial pilot before being convinced it was impossible without the right connections. After ending up in a degree that didn’t suit him, he encountered NLP through a practitioner who helped him pass a critical exam. That experience sparked a deep curiosity about how language and mental strategies shape human performance, eventually leading him to pursue formal NLP training.

We also dive into one of Xavi’s core teaching principles: persuasion must begin with self-influence. Before attempting to change someone else’s mind, leaders must learn to regulate their own emotional state and challenge their own assumptions. Xavi shares how tools like the Meta Model of language and critical thinking help people understand their internal maps of the world and negotiate ideas without attacking another person’s reality.

Throughout the episode, Xavi introduces concepts from his book **“Conscious Persuasion”**, where he breaks down the relationship between influence, persuasion, and manipulation. He explains how influence is the effect we create in others, persuasion is the deliberate process that produces that effect, and manipulation occurs only when persuasion is used without integrity or mutual benefit.

If you are an entrepreneur, leader, coach, communicator, or NLP practitioner looking to understand how language patterns shape perception, relationships, and decision-making, this episode offers powerful insights into conscious persuasion and ethical influence.

If you are looking for a place to develop true NLP mastery, apply it in business, and practice consistently with high-level professionals, the Next Level Pro Institute offers weekly practice sessions, live trainings, Q&A calls, and immersive bootcamps designed to move you from understanding NLP to living it.

https://www.youtube.com/@Xavier_Pirla
https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavierpirla/
https://www.instagram.com/xavierpirla/
www.talentinstitut.com
www.xavierpirla.com

If you are ready to stop consuming content and start applying NLP with clarity and precision, join the NLPI community here:
[https://nextlevelproinstitute.com/our-courses/nlpi-membership/](https://nextlevelproinstitute.com/our-courses/nlpi-membership/)

Official Website: [https://nextlevelproinstitute.com](https://nextlevelproinstitute.com)
Training Calendar: [https://nlpi.com/calendar](https://nlpi.com/calendar)
NLPI App: [https://nlpi.passion.io](https://nlpi.passion.io)
Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelproinstitute](https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelproinstitute)
Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelproinstitute](https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelproinstitute)


Episode Chapters

0:00 – The Myth of “Forbidden Words”
Why avoiding certain words like “but” doesn’t improve persuasion — mindset does.

0:33 – Meeting Xavi Perla
Introduction to the Barcelona-based NLP Master Trainer and persuasion specialist.

1:09 – Discovering NLP by Accident
How a desperate attempt to pass a difficult university exam led to NLP.
3:30 – The First NLP Training Experience
Realizing the difference between early NLP training and the Society of NLP.
5:00 – Training w

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Chris Cummings, a Licensed Master Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming™ (NLP), shares his journey from senior pharmaceutical executive to building a global training organization with over 100 trainers operating in more than 20 languages. Chris explains how discovering NLP reshaped the way he leads teams, pitches major clients, and designs transformational learning experiences — and why clarity of outcome is the first principle he teaches any CEO.

Chris takes us back to the early 2000s, when he was managing large corporate teams during a merger filled with mistrust and internal conflict. He describes the moment a two-day experiential workshop completely shifted team dynamics — and how that experience eventually led him to study NLP directly with Dr. Richard Bandler and Paul McKenna. From his first skeptical seminar experience to becoming a Master Trainer, Chris shares how immersion, repetition, and application shaped his mastery.

This conversation is designed for entrepreneurs, executives, sales leaders, trainers, and aspiring NLP practitioners who want to understand how NLP works in real business environments. We explore how well-formed outcomes transform meetings, why turning up to a pitch with a notebook instead of slides can win major contracts, and how anchoring, language precision, and submodalities can immediately improve leadership communication.

You will hear powerful real-world examples, including how Chris used outcome-focused questioning to secure one of his company’s first major pharmaceutical clients, how small language shifts dramatically changed team performance, and how he integrates NLP into sales conversations, email communication, and company culture. Chris also addresses skepticism around NLP, explaining why neuroscience has increasingly aligned with many core principles and why measurable results dissolve doubt.

We also explore his background as a competitive athlete and how visualization, internal dialogue control, and submodality adjustments improved his 100-meter performance long before he consciously knew it was NLP. Chris explains why teaching sharpens mastery, why slides don’t create transformation — experiences do — and why leaders must “think on purpose” in every interaction.

If you are looking for a place to develop true NLP mastery, apply it in business, and practice consistently with high-level professionals, the Next Level Pro Institute offers weekly practice sessions, live trainings, Q&A calls, and immersive bootcamps designed to move you from understanding NLP to living it.

Instagram - cmcummins67 & info@baselinementoring.com
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/chris-cummins-co-founder-1957901
www.dpushpa.com/nlp

If you are ready to stop consuming content and start applying NLP with clarity and precision, join the NLPI community here:
[https://nextlevelproinstitute.com/our-courses/nlpi-membership/](https://nextlevelproinstitute.com/our-courses/nlpi-membership/)

Official Website: [https://nextlevelproinstitute.com](https://nextlevelproinstitute.com)
Training Calendar: [https://nlpi.com/calendar](https://nlpi.com/calendar)
NLPI App: [https://nlpi.passion.io](https://nlpi.passion.io)
Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelproinstitute](https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelproinstitute)
Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelproinstitute](https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelproinstitute)

Episode Chapters

0:00 – Why Clarity of Outcome Is the CEO’s First Skill
Chris explains why defining success before any meeting changes results.

4:10 – Leading Through Mistrust During Corporate Mergers
The two-day workshop that transformed divided managers.

11:30 – First Encounter with NLP
Attending a seminar with Dr. Richard Bandler and Paul

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Pollyanna Chavez sits down with John La Valle, President of the Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programming™, co-author of Persuasion Engineering®, and internationally known master troubleshooter. John shares candid stories from his early work seeing clients one-on-one, his transition into the corporate world, and how NLP became a practical tool for navigating leadership, business, and high-stakes decision making. Throughout the conversation, John emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with who you are, using language intentionally, and developing real-world competence rather than imitation.

This conversation is designed for current and future NLP practitioners, coaches, consultants, trainers, and entrepreneurs who want to understand how NLP operates beyond theory. We explore how language shapes authority and trust, how NLP can be applied inside organizations, and why congruence and skill matter more than titles. John breaks down how he used NLP principles in human resources, management, and executive environments to influence outcomes, manage relationships, and create leverage without manipulation.

You will hear powerful insights on leadership communication, pricing and value, confidence in difficult conversations, and how NLP supports consulting, training, and business development. John shares real stories of negotiating budgets, handling mergers and acquisitions, transitioning into consulting, and positioning yourself as indispensable inside an organization. He also explains why practice is more important than perfection, why most issues can be resolved quickly with skill, and how mastery comes from real application, not isolation.

Follow / Connect with John La Valle:
https://www.purenlp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/john.j.lavalle
https://www.facebook.com/realjohnlavalle
https://www.facebook.com/nlpsgi/
https://www.facebook.com/TheSocietyofNeuroLinguisticProgramming/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-la-valle-3a69ab5/
X: @johnlavalle

https://www.purenlp.com/events

If you are looking for a place to practice consistently, sharpen your NLP and hypnosis skills, and learn how to apply these tools in business, consulting, and leadership settings, the Next Level Pro Institute offers a global community focused on real-world application. Weekly practice sessions, live trainings, Q&A calls, and immersive bootcamps are designed to help you move from learning concepts to using NLP confidently and effectively.

If you are ready to stop learning in isolation and start practicing with intention, join the NLPI community here: https://nextlevelproinstitute.com/our-courses/nlpi-membership/

Official Website: https://nextlevelproinstitute.com
Training Calendar: https://nlpi.com/calendar
NLPI App: https://nlpi.passion.io
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelproinstitute
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelproinstitute