A student of mine posted a comment on my blog recently. She noticed I used an example of a presupposition with the relationship between a teacher and student and suggested that maybe I was being sneaky using the example, as if my intention was to persuade her.

This has been a struggle for me. When people find out that I am an expert in persuasion, they think that I am using my skills on them and they become very guarded and defensive. People actually say, 'It's hard to trust that he's not trying to persuade me, because, after all, he's one of the top persuaders in the world.'

I've gotten used to this sort of thing, though at first I'll admit it upset me. People will believe what they want to believe.

I am always genuinely myself. And I've done my best to stay un-jaded. My intention, at all time, is to operate with integrity and not to work with ulterior motives.

Ulterior is what lies beyond what is obvious, evident and apparent. This can be framed as negative, especially if the motive is deceptive or concealed, but ulterior motives don't have to be sneaky.

I have no problem with ulterior motives that are supportive. Ulterior is behind the scenes. When I use my skills to help clients stay involved with me, especially because I know that I'm really giving them a valuable service, then I don't see any lack of integrity in that whatsoever.

For my suspicious student, I would suggest that people find I'm providing value regardless of me attempting to install it or not. And you'll find the same is true for you.

This is sort of humorous to me and I just thought I'd show a little bit of what goes on in my mind and how I deal with unique problems I deal with all the time.

Early in my career, I too would find myself asking those who I was studying with, if they were using persuasion on me because I wanted to see where their minds would really go.

It doesn't mean I'm actively attempting to do it, though I know full well that my intention is to not only provide information but entertainment. Not only information and entertainment, but longevity for my clients and me to be work together.

That's going to come out. These are my intentions. And my intention is to help and help and help some more. As long as that is comprehended then I feel really satisfied and I think this is something you might want to examine in your own life because it will be something that comes up from time to time and it's nice to have thought it through so that you know where you stand on it.

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Kenrick Cleveland teaches techniques to earn the business of affluent prospects using persuasion. He runs public and private seminars and offers home study courses and coaching programs in persuasion techniques.