“There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.” – George Carlin
Welcome to October’s “Mysteries of the Mind” monthly newsletter!
“The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn’t real. I know that, and I also know that if I’m careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never beable to grab my ankle.” – Stephen King
Houdini died on Halloween night 1926 at the age of 52. 52 years later on Halloween night 1978 I was born. -Paul Draper
My first international television appearance from 2003 recently re aired “Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery” Where I was the expert on Houdini and his friendship with Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle as well as Houdini’s work debunking spiritualists. This was shot in the special collections at the University of Nevada Las Vegas while I was still an instructor in the Urban Affairs Department. Watch the whole show now at:
Watch Here
On Halloween this year, I will be appearing on the Hallmark Channel production of “Home & Family” telling haunting stories of the lost souls from the Titanic and communicating with the spirits using the same tools that were used by spiritualists at the turn of the last century. Thank you to everyone who gave suggestions from last months newsletter.
Check out some of my past episodes here
Finally, for the budding anthropologist in you:
Here is a fun page dedicated to helping teach kids about this history of Halloween and day of the dead festivals around the world:
Read Here
For a deeper look may I recommend; “Death Makes a Holiday”
Get it Here
And in preparation for Christmas: “When Santa was a Shaman”
The New York Times says that Magic May Lurk Inside Us All:
Read Here
And Psychology Central teaches us that Laughter may really be the best medicine! Read Here
Very Magical Movie
A wonderful quote from a very magical movie that I am reminded of as I stay here in the historic “Nirvana” apartment across the street from the Magic Castle in Hollywood –
Dr. Lao: “Mike, let me tell you something. The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it. The way the sun goes down when you’re tired, comes up when you want to be on the move. That’s real magic. The way a leaf grows. The song of the birds. The way the desert looks at night,with the moon embracing it. Oh, my boy, that’s… that’s circus enough for anyone. Every time you watch a rainbow and feel wonder in your heart. Every time you pick up a handful of dust, and see not the dust, but a mystery, a marvel, there in your hand. Every time you stop and think, “I’m alive, and being alive is fantastic!” Every time such a thing happens, you’re part of the Circus of Dr. Lao.” – The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao
“I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it” – Thomas Jefferson
This month, I have two potentially life changing lists to share in the main portion of our newsletter. Feel free to write me to discuss these more. I used these as primary ideas to teach a class at the University of Utah this month on the topic of Persuasion. The two topics are “Getting Lucky” and “How to Read Minds”.
Sometimes it feels like everyone else has all of the luck. People often say that I am extremely lucky and ask how I do it. Here is a basic list of how to get lucky and get everything you want:
Seven step program on how to get everything you want:
1. Decide what you want.
2. Find those who have it or have gotten it.
3. Find out what they need.
4. Give it to them.
5. Ask them to help you get what you want.
6. Get it.
7. Repeat
This has been called many things: Win/Win, Reciprocity, Gift Economy. But you are rarely, if ever, offered an actionable 7 step program. I use this as a guidepost on my journey. I continually ask myself if I am giving back more than I receive. If not, the soil I plant my dreams in will dry up and blow away.
Five steps to being a REAL Mindreader:
Step 1: Humanity: Care authentically about the person you are reading by having compassion & empathy for them.
Step 2: Understanding: Realize people are making what they think are the best decisions for themselves given their knowledge and resources. If you judge them, you are almost always wrong. If you try to understand their perspective and decision making process, you will be right more often.
Step 3: Interest: Be honestly interested in everything and be a good listener. Only through having a very diverse knowledge base will you be able to reach deeply into the minds and thoughts of others. Without some understanding, the thoughts of others will be confusing.
Step 4: Vulnerability: Give yourself the chance to make a human connection. You have to be open and vulnerable to others in that moment of deep reading.
Step 5: Mirroring: Subtly match some of their body language and vocal patterns. Become them in your mind, and if you have followed all of the above steps, you will start to know things about others that no one else could know.
Happy Mind Reading!
For more, check out my new site at http://www.MentalMysteries.com
“A key to success is to wake up every morning and push the stone a little bit farther in the direction of your dreams. A little and a littlegoes a long way after a while.” -Paul Draper
Hidden Message
30 Famous logos that have a hidden message
Read Here
Also, I’ll be back performing at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA. October 24th-26th.
I’ll be sharing the stage with Scott Land the lead puppeteer for “Team America”
Watch Here
Need Your Help
What should I perform on TV?!?!
Watch Here
If you visit the link above, you will see on the left hand side of the page: my last 6 appearances on Hallmark Chanel’s “Home & Family”. After winning Emmy’s, they have been picked up for another season and want to bring me back.
What would you like to see me do on this show? (Extra points for creativity) What should I predict, memorize, read, intuit, bend, move, determine, control or otherwise present to get into the minds of the hosts and guest celebrities?
“The caterpillar does all the work, but the butterfly gets all the publicity.” – George Carlin
Welcome to August’s “Mysteries of the Mind” monthly newsletter!
“If you wish to transform, pretend this day until it is so.” – T.F. Hodge
This month I have two great things to share in the main portion of our newsletter. 1) Exciting new beginnings! 2) Wonderful wisdom from the Pope.
1) For years people have stopped me after shows and said:
“You are so much funnier in person than you are on your website” and “After reading your website I didn’t really know what you did until I saw you live!”
This is because my website was built when I was still a full time academic and it was a side page to showcase my love of performance Mentalism.
Also, the demo video on the old site was built from my very first performance at the Magic Castle many years ago.
This week, I am releasing a brand new site! This new site showcases everything in my current show and is completely up to date and ready for you to share-New photos, new video, new everything.
Thank you to my dear friend Michelle at Coda Webworks for all of your hard work and late hours creating this page.
Please look over the new site and let me know if there are any misspelled words or broken links.
You may have to clear your cache to see the new site. If you aren’t able to do that, visit here.
2) Happiness lessons from the Pope:
In the Catholic News Service this week, Pope Francis reveals top 10 secrets to happiness. And he is spot on! I am not a Catholic, but I still find him to be a very wise and spiritual man who has a lot of wonderful ideas to share!
1. “Live and let live.” Everyone should be guided by this principle, he said, which has a similar expression in Rome with the saying, “Move forward and let others do the same.”
2. “Be giving of yourself to others.” People need to be open and generous toward others, he said, because “if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.”
3. “Proceed calmly” in life.“He says that in his youth he was a stream full of rocks that he carried with him; as an adult, a rushing river; and in old age, he was still moving, but slowly, like a pool” of water, the pope said. He said he likes this latter image of a pool of water — to have “the ability to move with kindness and humility, a calmness in life.”
4. “A healthy sense of leisure.”“Consumerism has brought us anxiety” and stress, causing people to lose a “healthy culture of leisure.” Their time is “swallowed up” so people can’t share it with anyone.
Families must turn off the TV when they sit down to eat because, having it on during meal time “doesn’t let you communicate” with each other, the pope said.
5. Sabbath should be a holiday. Workers should have Sabbath off because “Sabbath is for family,” he said.
6. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people. “We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs” and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said.
7. Respect and take care of nature. Environmental degradation “is one of the biggest challenges we have,” he said. “I think a question that we’re not asking ourselves is: ‘Isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?'”
8. Stop being negative. “Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, ‘I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,'” the pope said. “Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy.”
9. Don’t proselytize; respect others’ beliefs. “We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: ‘I am talking with you in order to persuade you,’ No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytizing,” the pope said.
10. Work for peace. “We are living in a time of many wars,” he said, and “the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive” and dynamic.
So much great advice here.
Also, let me know if there is anyone in your organization that I should reach out to help in the development of a positive corporate culture that leads to better customer service. I promise to add a little magic along the way!
“Transformation literally means going beyond your form.“ – Wayne Dyer
Comic Con & Hallmark Channel
Just announced: I’m a celebrity guest for Salt Lake Comic Con. Over 1,200 fans at my live show at FanX a few months ago. Will you be there to experience the show in September? View Here
Also: Part 1 of my latest appearance on “Home & Family” on the Hallmark Channel. Watch what happens when I discover on live TV that an intern threwaway a sheet of paper that I needed. Watch Here
Navigating the Cultural Minefield
Erin Meyer, author of The Culture Map and “Navigating the Cultural Minefield” (HBR May 2014), has identified eight dimensions that together capture a few of the differences within and among cultures – a much more nuanced approach than focusing on just one or two elements, as people usually do.
Using her method, Meyer has developed a new assessment tool for the Harvard Business Review. It allows you to see where you fall on the eight scales. She also offers insights about where people in countries other than your own typically land on the scales.Read Here
“Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.“ -Dalai Lama
Welcome to July’s “Mysteries of the Mind” monthly newsletter!
“You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” -Will Rogers
10 Steps to Making a Fantastic First Impression
Our brains take in a huge amount of verbal and non-verbal cues almost instantaneously when we meet someone.
It takes just a quick glance, less than 7 seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, They will form an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, your tone, and how you are dressed.
These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making those first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for the relationship that follows.
The moment that stranger sees you, they begin to determine: Are you someone to approach or to avoid? Are you friend or foe? Do you have status and authority? Are you trustworthy, competent, likable, and confident?
First impressions are more heavily influenced by nonverbal cues than verbal cues. In fact, studies have found that nonverbal cues have over four times the impact on the impression you make than anything you say.
You can’t stop people from making snap decisions – the human brain is hardwired in this way as a prehistoric survival mechanism – However, you can understand how to make those decisions work in your favor.
So, whether they are in your career or social life, it’s important to know how to create a good first impression.
So how can we make good first impressions? 10 steps!
1.Choose your attitude. People will feel your attitude instantly. Before you turn to greet someone, enter the room, or step on stage, think about the situation and make a conscious choice about the attitude you want to embody.
2.Straighten your posture. Status and power are nonverbally conveyed by height and space. Standing tall, pulling your shoulders back, and holding your head straight are all signals of confidence and competence.
3.Smile. A smile is an invitation. It is welcoming and says ” I’m friendly and approachable.”
4.Eye contact. Looking at someone’s eyes transmits energy and indicates interest and openness. (To improve your eye contact, make a practice of noticing the eye color of everyone you meet.)
5.Raise your eyebrows. Open your eyes slightly more than normal to simulate the “eyebrow flash” that is the universal signal of recognition and acknowledgement. (I sometimes call this “Turning on the sparkle”)
6.Dress appropriately. Your outer appearance is your packaging. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look groomed and well dressed. Brush your hair and trim your nails. Decide, what is the appropriate dress for the meeting or occasion? In a business setting, what is the appropriate business attire? Suit, blazer, casual, jeans? And ask yourself what the person you’ll be meeting is likely to wear. I always try to wear 1 step above what the crowd will be wearing so it looks like I am going somewhere better later.
7.Have something current to talk about. It’s easier than ever to stay in tune with what happens in the world. People who don’t know what’s going on appear uninterested and unaware. Set your computer or mobile browser homepage to a site like Yahoo.com. That way, every time you are on the Internet, you can see what’s happening in the feed. I watch The Daily Show on Hulu and listen to streaming NPR as well. Knowing what’s going on will help you be a better conversationalist and find common ground with whomever you interacting with.
8.Take a genuine interest in others. When you listen to others, listen to listen. Don’t do as many do and ignore what the other is saying simply waiting for a pause so you can continue your thought. Take an honest and genuine interest in their point of view, their thoughts, and what they have to say to you.
9.Be Positive. Your attitude shows through in everything you do. Project a positive attitude, even in the face of criticism or in the case of nervousness. Strive to learn from your meeting and to contribute appropriately, maintaining an upbeat manner and a smile.
10.Tone of voice. Here is a fascinating study on how we interpret just one word: Hello. Listen/Read Here
Now go out and make some great first impressions.
Let me know if there is anyone in your organization that I should reach out to help in the development of a positive corporate culture that leads to better customer service. I promise to add a little magic along the way!
“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure“ -Joseph Campbell
Full Length Demo
A client asked for an unusual demo video for a potential long running show starting this November. They wanted a 16 minute long demo.
As such, here is a “best of” version of my show. My friend Justin Carter sorted through 10 hours of footage and put together a 16-minute reel of some of his favorite effects I perform.
Watch here
Let me know your thoughts!
Zombies, Swashbuckling, & Gangsters
Last month I shared the musical my team made in Las Vegas in 48 hours or less for the film festival. Now you can enjoy the Silent Film we made in Salt Lake City. One of our best yet!
Zombies, Swashbuckling, & Gangsters
Watch here
Written, cast, shot, edited, and turned in in less than 48 hours!
“You don’t build it for yourself. You know what people want and you build it for them.“ -Walt Disney
Welcome to June’s “Mysteries of the Mind” monthly newsletter!
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” -Albert Einstein
Customer service and building a positive corporate culture has been my primary focus this month. How can we create a culture of customer service if we don’t first create a culture of caring within our staff?
I am in preparation of the grand opening of FantasyCon in Salt Lake City this July where we are expecting tens of thousands of guests. and I am providing some of the most talented variety performers that I have met in my 11 years in Las Vegas to entertain.
FANTASYCON
This month, I am also working with the leaders of the Fear Factory haunted attraction to prepare their customer service strategy for this season. Last October, they saw over 45,000 guests, and we are looking forward to an even bigger turnout in 2014.
FEAR FACTORY
It has also been my pleasure to work with the Children’s Hospital in Ft Myers, Florida to help them with their customer experience and culture tools as they start to think about moving into their new facility.
LEE MEMORIAL
Let me now share with you some great tools I acquired from the magic of the Walt Disney Institute:
Six Tips for Culture Building
Keep it simple. Everyone must feel comfortable with the culture. Leave room for individuality and personality
 Make it global. Everyone at the site, including management, must buy in.
 Make it measureable. Create specific guidelines and make them a part of the performance assessment process.
 Provide training and coaching. Incorporate the elements of the culture into employee training and ongoing performance coaching. Encourage peer-to-peer coaching.
Solicit feedback and ideas from the team. Foster a sense of ownership and expand the pool of creative input by allowing employees to contribute to the show.
Recognize and reward performance. Build employee motivation through formal and informal reward and recognition programs.
Let me know if there is anyone in your organization that I should reach out to help in the development of a positive corporate culture that leads to better customer service. I promise to add a little magic along the way!
“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure“ -Joseph Campbell
Full Length Demo
A client asked for an unusual demo video for a potential long running show starting this November. They wanted a 16 minute long demo.
As such, here is a “best of” version of my show. My friend Justin Carter sorted through 10 hours of footage and put together a 16-minute reel of some of his favorite effects I perform.
Watch here
Let me know your thoughts!
Last month I shared the musical my team made in Las Vegas in 48 hours or less for the film festival. Now you can enjoy the Silent Film we made in Salt Lake City. One of our best yet!
Zombies, Swashbuckling, & Gangsters
Watch here
Written, cast, shot, edited, and turned in in less than 48 hours!
“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day“ -E. B. White
Welcome to May’s “Mysteries of the Mind” monthly newsletter!
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Learn from the past, be in the present, build the future!
Below is a list of helpful tools and suggestions for more powerful social interactions.
1) FEET: Pay attention to people’s feet. If people are paying attention to you and want the conversation to continue, they will often point their feet towards you. If they want it to end they will point their feet away from you. If you approach two people in the middle of a conversation, and they only turn their torsos and not their feet, they may not want you to join in their conversation.
2) SILENCE: Silence is the best truth serum. If someone won’t tell you the full truth, just sit in silence for a while in their presence and they will often start talking.
3) EYES: When speaking with people, try to look in their eyes and hold the gaze a few seconds longer than usual. A good way to practice this is to notice peoples eye color while you listen to them. In this world of looking at our smartphones, eye contact is very powerful and shows confidence and interest.
4) BECAUSE: Add the magic word “Because” to get your way. Studies have shown that people are far more likely to give us our way if we have a “because”. And it really doesn’t seem to matter what the because is, “May I cut in line because, I would like to cut in line” is far powerful than simply “May I cut in line”. Try it.
5) NO: If you are dealing with someone who likes to say no, ask for something unreasonable for them to say no to, and they’ll say no, then ask for what you actually want, a much more reasonable task, and they’re more likely to agree. Sometimes people just like to say no.
6) TEACH: When you’re studying/learning something new, teach a friend how/about it. Let them ask questions. If you’re able to teach something well, you understand it. They cycle that I use is Learn, Do, Teach.
7) NAME: When you meet people use their name often. People love being referred to by their name. It is a magic word that activates their mind and attention. It will establish a sense of trust and friendship right away.
8) ENTHUSIASM: If you can make yourself happy and excited to see other people, they will react the same to you. It doesn’t always work the first time, but it is a learned behavior. Share enthusiasm.
9) HANDS: People find others with warm handshakes to be more desirable, warm up your hands before you shake. When I perform spooky shows, I sometimes keep an ice pack in my pocket to cool my hand and make myself more frightening.
10) EMOTIONS:People won’t remember what you say. They will remember what you make them feel. When giving a presentation or meeting a new group of people, remember that they will remember less than 10% of what you say. But they will remember your emotions and how you treated them.
11) SMILE: If you are sad, make a BIG smile, (even if you don’t feel like it) and hold it for 10 seconds. It will release chemicals that will make you believe that you are happier.
12) PASSION: Ask people what they are passionate about, ask them what makes them happy, and ask them what they are looking forward to. These will all create open communication and will make others like being around you. The key here is to be genuinely interested in their answers.
“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure“ -Joseph Campbell
Mentalism
This week at a science fair in Iowa, a young man presented on the topic of Mentalism. That is my Hallmark appearance running on the computer on the table and he convinced his mom to buy him a suit like mine. Only use your powers for good, my brave friend! The force is strong with this one. Watch Paul on the Hallmark Channel
48 Hour Film Project
Here is our musical film-fest short that just premiered in Las Vegas at the Sam’s Town Casino Theater. Watch Enthusiasm here
Written, cast, shot, edited and turned in in less than 48 hours!
