Testimonials
Comments from eminent people on the School of Thinking and its work since 1979:
On teaching people how to think:
“I believe the School of Thinking’s work in teaching people how to think may be the most important thing going on in the world today!”
- PROFESSOR GEORGE GALLUP of The Gallup Poll, Princeton NJ.
On School of Thinking lessons:
“When I first saw a School of Thinking lesson in action, I was amazed at how something so simple and so much fun could be so quick and effective in developing a person’s ‘thinking muscle’. We all, as individuals, need these thinking skills.”
- PAUL B. MACCREADY JR, Inventor of the Gossamer Albatross, father of man-powered flight.
Media Support
Some Australian and American media comments supporting Dr Hewitt-Gleeson and the School of Thinking’s work to get ‘thinking skills’ taught in schools…
His system has been adopted by corporate executives, taught in schools and studied by government officials.
- MORTON HUNT, Readers Digest, Cover Story, New York
If Dr. Hewitt-Gleeson has his way, Australian schoolchildren will have the study of ‘thinking’ as much a part of their curriculum as the traditional subjects of maths and english are now.
- PETER FITZSIMONS, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney
Australian kids will soon be taught to think for themselves.
- THE TODAY SHOW, Channel 10 TV, Sydney
If Michael Hewitt-Gleeson has his way, Australia will become the clever country.
- DAVID SMITH, The Sun, Brisbane
He claims schools teach children what to think not how to think.
- CATHY SAWYER, Daily News, Perth
Dr. Hewitt-Gleeson’s mission is to teach Australians to use their whole brains for thinking, not just the left hand side.
- THE WEST AUSTRALIAN, Perth
De Bono and his other mentor Gallup have obviously been influential in the development of Hewitt-Gleeson’s theories.
- TOM SKOTNICKI, The Herald, Melbourne
Now after having appeared in newspapers all over the world, having co-written a book with Dr Edward de Bono, having appeared on many television shows such as “Ray Martin” and his own show in America, this character has shown nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it.
- HANNAH RYAN, The Moorabbin Standard, Melbourne
I want this for my kid.
- RAY MARTIN, Ray Martin Show, Melbourne
Michael Hewitt-Gleeson is the leading authority on lateral thinking in the United States and is a member of Britain’s most prestigious think tank, the Centre for the Study of Thinking.
- DAVID-JOHN DOOSE, The News World, New York
Count Michael de Saint-Arnaud, scientist and lecturer, is an international mover and shaker.
- GQ, Cover Story, Global Style, New York
It’s so simple yet it really works!
- STEVE HELLER, The Steve Heller Show, KREX Colorado
This has been one of the best interviews I have ever done
- MARK PENTRAK, Mark Pentrak Show, Pittsburgh
Gleeson is adamant about America catching up with other nations in the thinking area. Venezuela, for example, regards thinking as a legitimate skill to be taught to children.
- JOSEPH SELDNER, Rocky Mountain News, Denver
Michael Hewitt-Gleeson and the School of Thinking are aggressively marketing their ideas. Some people have dubbed them the “McDonald’s of Thinking”.
- RALPH FLETCHER, USAIR Magazine
Michael Hewitt-Gleeson, the world’s first PhD in lateral thinking, believes that as communication’s technology improves and people are taught to think for themselves, systems such as democracy, socialism and communism - where a few do the thinking for the many, who are, if anything, asked simply to vote on other people’s ideas - will be replaced by cognocracies, societies of individuals who think for themselves.
- PATRICK COX, Reason Magazine, California
Trainee Feedback
More testimonials from SOT trainees:
Michael,
Your training has given me a new view on life, a constant reflection on what’s going on. Have always been fairly positive and focused but this has heightened or re awakened this passion. You are never really there even when you think you are. Thanks for a sensational journey. Can’t believe the impact it has had on my thought patterns.
- Karl (sales executive)
The most important point(s) I will take away from this training is that our ‘old’ norms or memes influence what we think to the point where they can constrain our ability to grow. What is possible is endless and as a company we need to keep pushing the boundaries. For example we need to search for more time with the customer - without always pushing for the sale. I believe the daily training method has been very effective at reinforcing the X10 concept. I would feel comfortable recommending the course to at east 10 people!!!!!!!!!!
- Kylie (business consultant)
That the course increased my confidence in my ability to deal with business and life issues I face. Thanks Michael.
- Ian
For me the “total sum” of all the lessons has provided me with a platform for growth and continuous improvement. Focus, simplicity and repetition of business tools for immediate integration. The understanding that it is possible for me to X10 my business which I would have previously thought was not even remotely achievable. Also, the daily routine becomes daily habits.
- Jennelle (sales)
For me, the most important thing is that the course has expanded the context of my thinking…… it has given me the tools to reach for my goals with a expanded horizon and act on my fears and worries….. see you in a few years’time!!
- Jacques
I enjoy the challenges you present; moreover, your way of thinking expands my own approach and gives me the sense I’m not alone out here. Thanks.
- Suzy
Here are some of my results:
- A stronger measurement of productivity at work. My email and phone statistics have increased.
- I am more accepting of other people’s opinions. I allow others to have opinions that differ from my own. I am much less argumentative and it is difficult for others to bait me into an argument.
- I have become much more participatory in Toastmasters. Through my repetition of participation, I am improving my public speaking skills.
- I don’t get stuck in my CVS nearly as often as I used to. I have been transforming my CVS to a BVS with effectiveness.
- I have a better understanding of why people are the way they are; i.e. PTV. Hence I am much more accepting of other peoples traits.
- Name withheld
To keep questioning myself and others around me, assessing my behaviour and to never assume that best solution has been reached - there’s always a better one, no matter how good the current view is. Thanks Michael, I have found this course extremely interesting and challenging.
- Kellie (sales manager - primary customers)
It has provided me of something to look forward to. Like a bonus in my life at first but then gradually going into a steady routine of arranging my thoughts. CVSTOBVS is now controlling my mind as a beautiful brainwash. Life is looking simple and I feel clever. Things that seem unrealistic at first came closer like being relaxed about CVS and knowing that BVS is only one step ahead. I don’t know where it all will end but heck, I will succeed.
- GJ
The most important insight for me is the history/reason why most of us think and act the way they do. I had never really considered the impact of Plato and the others in any detail before. It has opened my eyes.
- Bruce (businessman)
PTV has a huge influence on our behaviour and most of the time unnoticed by us. We learn from the childhood onwards how to sort and classify things and how to put them into their appropriate boxes. We even try to classify human beings (including ourselves) to put them into categories (star signs, psychological tests like MBT) and we believe them and unconsciously use the syllogism. It suits our nature to have everything in order not to allow any fuzziness and chaos, because order gives us security. Reading this lesson it came clear to me how much I myself tend to think in this “box-pattern” without noticing it and how often this leads to the judgement of something that might have been different otherwise and that is an insight!
- Steph (businesswoman)
I now have much more enjoyable arguments with people because I am not trying to defend my own point of view as much. I can also annoy my girlfriend by suggesting that she try doing a CVS to BVS.
- Nigel
I thank you for the opportunity to do this course. It reinforced for me many of the memes developed in your Newsell book and Software For The Brain. Each day I find myself using CVSTOBVS with results that have been noticed by others around me. Health, work and family life have all benefited. My efforts also to X10 my work practises have been paying off (whilst no X10 yet, things are on the way). Thank you again.
- Tony (IT sales)
Since commencing the course, I have recommended it to several people, some of which already knew about the school of thinking. As long, as this “awareness virus” spreads, there is hope for a future change in thinking…
Constanze
I think the most important thing in this training is that it teaches you the successful behaviour of increasing customer contact as an alternative to closing the sale’. This takes the pressure off the customer. At the same time, the more customer contact, the more chance of people saying YES to what I’m selling. It means putting a focus on the interaction with customers rather than stress on the decision of the customer. Just knowing this, I have done a more focused, complete job of interacting with the customer.
- Adrian (recruitment consultant)