PODCAST: Season 7, Episode 14
This week I’m pulling back the curtain — something I’m making a regular monthly thing. I’m talking about the NLP practitioner course I’ve just finished, what it actually did to my brain (and my nervous system), and a honest look at what’s been happening in the business this month in terms of revenue, what worked, and what really didn’t.
If you’re curious about NLP, identity work, or just want a no-filter peek behind the scenes of a service business, this one’s for you.
Why I Finally Did the NLP Course (And Why Timing Matters)
I’d been watching Rebecca Haydon’s Subconscious Institute for a couple of cohorts before I committed. As a Human Design Generator, if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no — and for a while, it just wasn’t. Then it was. I break down what finally shifted, what the commitment actually looked like week to week, and why four weeks of Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 till 2 meant my brain was essentially done for the day.
- Why I won’t commit to learning until I’m genuinely lit up by it
- What 10 extra hours a week on top of 16 clients actually feels like
- Why I finished it a little run down — and why it was still worth it
My Car Was My Office (And NLP Fixed That)
One of the biggest shifts from the course was one I didn’t expect: my car habit. I was listening and replying to client Voxers on the drive, telling myself it was productive. Turns out my nervous system disagreed. I walk through the NLP concept of environment vs behaviour as separate logical levels, and the specific technique — swish pattern — that broke the habit for good within two weeks.
- Why being “productive” in the wrong environment creates hidden stress
- What a swish pattern is and how it interrupts a habitual trigger
- The additional environmental change that made it stick (hint: notifications)
- What the car feels like now that it’s just a car again
Identity Work: Becoming the Thing Before the Evidence Arrives
The second big thread from the course was identity — specifically, does what you believe about yourself actually match where you’re trying to go? This is where my book comes in. I’ve been drip-feeding this, but here it is: my book launch is on the 21st of July. I’ve already got nearly 70 people signed up for the event before the book is even fully finished. I talk through what the identity work looked like practically and why you have to step into the version of yourself that hasn’t quite arrived yet.
- Why “become the thing first, evidence comes later” is more than a mindset cliche
- How I’m approaching my author era — and what that’s looked like behind the scenes
- The book launch date, the venue, and how to get involved
Listening at a Completely Different Level
NLP has taken client listening to a whole new level. Not just hearing what someone says, but noticing patterns, eye movement, whether someone is visual, auditory or kinaesthetic — and what that actually means for how you coach them. My biggest shift: catching myself planning my next response instead of truly listening. If that lands, it’s worth sitting with.
- The difference between listening to words and listening to what’s underneath
- Visual, auditory and kinaesthetic — a quick breakdown of what these mean
- Why your clients are already telling you everything you need
Most Emotions Aren’t Actually Yours
This one might be the most woo section — you’ve been warned. A lot of what we carry emotionally doesn’t originate with us. It moves through family systems and generational patterns. This came up in timeline therapy during the course and it’s something I’m going to bring straight into my client work. The goal isn’t to fix everything — it’s just to feel a little lighter.
- What timeline therapy is and why I’m implementing it immediately
- Generational patterns and borrowed beliefs
- Why “feel lighter” is actually the right starting point
The Revenue Bit: What I Did This Month to Top Up
I have solid monthly recurring revenue, but I’m always looking at what I can add on top without launching something every month (launch anxiety is real). This month I took on two new clients to replace two who didn’t renew, and I ran my Revenue Audit offer — a focused 90-minute session on gaps in your business. Five clients in total, four of whom I’d worked with before. I also tried a paid workshop that flopped, turned it into a free lead magnet with Facebook ads, and got nearly 500 sign-ups.
- What additional revenue actually looked like this month (around £1,700 on top of MRR)
- Why not everything sells — and what to do when it doesn’t
- How a failed paid workshop became a lead generation win
- The difference between occasional top-up offers and monthly launch pressure
Reflection Questions
- Where in your business are you being “productive” in a way that’s actually costing your nervous system?
- Does your current identity belief match where you’re trying to go?
- Are you listening to your clients — or planning your next response?
- What didn’t work recently that could be repurposed rather than scrapped?
Resources Mentioned
- Rebecca Hayden / Subconscious Institute NLP course @thesubconsiousinstitute
- The Revenue Audit (90-minute session — DM to enquire)
- Book launch event, 21st July — https://millsgray.kartra.com/page/booklaunch
Work With Mills
One private consultancy space is currently open — six months working directly with me on strategy, mindset and in-person quarterly days. If you’ve been sitting on the fence, now’s a good time to get in touch.
- Instagram DMs: @mills_gray
- Email: hello@millsgray.com