A professional magician and illusionistâthe head magic consultant for the hit film Now You See Meâreveals how to bridge the gap between perception and reality to increase your powers of persuasion and influence.
David Kwong has astounded corporate CEOs, TED talk audiences, and thousands of other hyper-rational people, making them see, believe, and even remember what he wants them to. Illusion is an ancient art that centers on control: commanding a room, building anticipation, and appearing to work wonders. Illusion works because the human brain is wired to fill the gap between seeing and believing. Successful leadersâlike Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, and Ted Turnerâare masters of control and command who understand how to sway opinions and achieve goals.
In his years of research and practice, David has discovered seven fundamental principles of illusion. With these rules anyone can learn to:
Mind the Gapârecognize and employ the perceptual space between your audienceâs ability to see and their impulse to believe. Load Upâprepare to amaze your audience. Write the Scriptâdiscover the importance of shaping the narrative that surrounds your illusion. Control the Frameâexplore the real life value of a magicianâs best friend: misdirection. Design Free Choiceâcommand your audience by giving them agency. Employ the Familiarâtake secret advantage of habits, patterns, and audience expectations. Conjure an Outâdevelop backup plans that will keep you one, two, three, or more steps ahead of the competition. With Spellbound youâll discover a different way to sell your idea, product, or skills, and make your best shot better than everyone elseâs.