Back then, I wasn't aware of it, but the adventure of go-PARALLAX began more than two decades ago. Let me take you along and experience the events of the past.
At that time, I was working for a company that sold products to distributors who were supposed to resell them to end users. Initially, we were successful, but after about six months, our strategy failed: there were no repeat orders, only customer complaints. We discovered that end users found our products unusable!
Amidst the chaos that this discovery caused, I was inspired by one of my musical idols, Brian Eno. He was a kind of philosopher who had developed a card system called Oblique Strategies to overcome creative blocks. Intrigued, I wondered if this approach could offer us a breakthrough for our problems. And behold, I had a revelation:
> Train the sales teams of our distributors to effectively sell our products!
We decided to test this idea. Before I knew it, I embarked on a journey, giving presentations and conducting training sessions all over the world. The impact was remarkable, and it revitalized our product, making us the market leader.
Train, train, train – that became my mantra.
Days were spent flying, driving, staying in hotels, and taking taxis and trains. But at the end of each trip, there was the opportunity to conduct a training session and witness the impact on the participants. Let me tell you, that feeling was simply exhilarating.
After many years, my desire for less travel and a more intensive training experience grew stronger. Eventually, I said goodbye to the company and pursued my career as an independent sales and communication trainer. During subsequent training sessions, I noticed that many participants were stuck in their thinking.
I knew that Miles Davis, another musical hero, had the habit of helping band members who got stuck in long improvisations with a few notes from his trumpet. This technique, consciously interrupting thought patterns, proved to be extremely effective in my training sessions. Participants developed new perspectives and freed themselves from mental obstacles. Observing their growth and transformation fueled my passion even more. Now it was time for me to grow too.
The trainer trained.
In search of ways to further enhance my training skills, I joined a renowned training company. This time, I became a student, acquiring knowledge, undergoing intensive training, and benefiting from the collective wisdom of nearly a hundred fellow trainers. Nevertheless, I remained true to my own path – the path of freeing participants from their mental obstacles, in „the Miles Davis way.“
Over time, I compiled a collection of these „conscious interruptions,“ refined their effectiveness, and experimented with new approaches. This extensive collection has now evolved into a powerful product called go-PARALLAX. With over two decades of experience guiding individuals on the path to breakthroughs, go-PARALLAX stands ready to support you when you need it.
Rob van der Laak
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