From PR expert to transformation partner

How Linda Graanoogst uses hypnosis to make entrepreneurs more visible, powerful and successful

For many entrepreneurs, publicity feels like an elusive goal. They know that visibility is important, but find it difficult to tell their story in a way that catches the media’s attention and resonates with the public.

Often this is not just because of the strategy, but also because of something deeper: how a person sees themselves, how much confidence a person feels and whether the story being put out really matches what is on the inside.

Linda Graanoogst has a unique perspective on this. Originally a PR expert and journalist, her work has evolved in recent years into a combination of strategic PR consulting, personal empowerment and development, and hypnotherapy.

They help entrepreneurs not only get their story in the media, but also become the person who can carry that story convincingly.

“I make sure that authors and entrepreneurs who want to make the world a better place get media coverage with ease, so that customers flock to them,” says Linda.

But those who work with her soon find that her approach goes beyond media coverage.

"PR is actually the signboard. I look at the person, the business, the revenue model and where someone can empower themselves. It has become much broader than just PR."

A career in journalism and communications

Before hypnosis played a role in her work, Linda already had a solid foundation in communications and journalism. She studied European Studies and then attended the College of Journalism. During those years, she developed a keen eye for stories and a deep understanding of how media work.

As a journalist, she interviewed thousands of people over the years. That experience greatly honed her sense of communication.

"I have done literally thousands of interviews. My goal was always to find the sweet spot with the person across from me. If you interview well, you have rapport with that person and then you get the best stories."

The ability to quickly connect with people proved to be a crucial skill in her work. Without realizing it at the time, she was using techniques that she would later be able to identify as coming from the world of hypnosis.

"When I looked back at old recordings of conversations, I thought, wait a minute ... I was actually already doing conversational hypnosis. I didn't know that then, but I do now."

That discovery gave her a new perspective on her own work and communication.

The moment that changed everything

Although Linda had been involved in personal development for years, hypnosis didn’t really come into her life until the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, she attended a webinar by Edwin Selij, founder of the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands.

Initially, she had no particular expectations. She was mostly curious.

But during that webinar, something unexpected happened.

“At the time, I’d been suffering from severe lower back pain for three months. I’d already tried everything, knew what was causing it, and really wanted to get rid of it. At the time, I couldn’t sit in a chair for more than thirty minutes. During that webinar, I was sitting on a stool, and an hour and a half later, I was still there.”

That moment made her curious about what exactly was happening. "Edwin repeated a famous quote in his webinar, "Your faith heals you." And that clicked with me."

"When I got up, I literally heard 'crack, crack' and about 75 percent of the pain was gone. Then I thought: if this is possible, what else is possible?"

That experience was the starting point for her new quest.

“I signed up for the 1.0 course right away. If this is even possible during a webinar, then I want to know how it works.”

Training at the Hypnosis Institute Netherlands

What began as curiosity grew into an intensive learning process. Linda decided not only to take the basic course but to continue all the way through the 3.0 program at the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands.

"I ended up doing everything up to the 3.0 because I wanted to learn everything there was to learn."

Most of the training took place during the corona period, when many trainings were conducted online. According to Linda, that only improved the quality.

"Just because it was online, it was incredibly tightly organized. The level was really high. I've attended a lot of trainings in my life, so I know when something is quality."

What she said was the most valuable part of the training was the practical exercises.

"The gold is in doing the sessions. If you learn the techniques but don't practice then you miss the most important thing. I started practicing on people right away." That approach allowed her to build experience quickly. "Not one session a week, but several a day. As a result, I became sharp quickly and really learned what works and what doesn't."

Hypnosis integrated into its work

Today, hypnosis is an important part of Linda's coaching of entrepreneurs. Her pathways go beyond traditional PR strategies.

She looks at the big picture: the person, their story, and the way they present themselves .

"PR has to be felt from the inside out. If your story is not 'aligned' with who you are, you're not going to make it. People pierce through that right away."

That’s why she works with entrepreneurs on both their visibility and their inner beliefs. “I look at how someone communicates, how their revenue model works, and where they can still grow in terms of personality. Overall, I help strengthen the person.”

That approach often proves surprisingly effective. "Since I started working with one client, he has realized an additional 120,000 euros in sales in a few months and has been strategically featured in the media."

According to Linda, this is no accident. "When someone changes inside, the way they communicate and behave automatically changes. Then suddenly things go much easier."

Working with entrepreneurs with a mission

Linda consciously chooses who she works with. Not every entrepreneur fits her approach.

She works primarily with people who have a clear mission. "I only work with entrepreneurs who want to make the world a better, more beautiful or cleaner place. I don't go for greenwashing. It has to be sincere."

That also means she looks critically at the big picture. "When someone releases a book, everything has to be right. The website, the pictures, the title, the message. It all has to line up."

In her coaching, she combines strategy, mentoring, and personal development. “It’s actually become more like mentoring. I work alongside someone in many areas and help strengthen both the person and the entire brand from the inside out.”

Personal development as a lifestyle

Since her training with the Hypnosis Institute Netherlands, Linda has continued to evolve. For her, learning is a continuous process.

She takes training courses with international experts and invests a lot of time in personal growth. “In May, I’ll be working with Richard Bandler in London for three days on ‘Personal Enhancement,’ with just 14 others. That’s truly a dream come true .”

She also takes courses with Eelco de Boer and Tony Robbins and other business mentors, among others. "I keep sharpening myself. I get better every day, and my clients benefit from that too."

This continuous development ensures that its 1-on-1 coaching is becoming more in-depth.

The impact of hypnosis outside of work

The techniques Linda teaches are not only used in her work. Over time, they have become a natural part of her daily life.

For her, self-hypnosis and conscious communication are no longer separate tools, but ways of seeing and listening that are present everywhere: in conversations with clients, with people on the street, and even in personal situations.

"I use self-hypnosis every day. It's really woven into my life," she says.

That way of working has made her not only sharper in communication, but also milder in how she views others. She better sees where behavior is coming from and understands more quickly why people react the way they do.

At the same time, she has also learned to set clearer boundaries for herself. “I’ve become sharper and much more understanding. I see through patterns even faster. And there’s always a reason why someone reacts the way they do.”

It is precisely this combination of empathy and clarity—understanding where someone is coming from without losing sight of yourself—that, according to her, forms the basis of how she guides people today.

The power of hypnosis

For Linda, the essence of hypnotherapy is relatively simple to explain. It’s about changing old patterns that are no longer helpful.

"With hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis, you can change old programming that no longer serves you. That's the bottom line."

Many of the limitations people experience, she says, are stories they once came to believe about themselves. "They are often bullshit stories we tell ourselves. If you can turn those stories into strengths, everything changes."

That sometimes takes courage, as she explains: “You have to be willing to let go of old stories. But when you do, life can become so much lighter.”

An enrichment of her life

When Linda looks back on her training at the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands, she is still grateful for it.

Not only because of the techniques, but also because of the people she has met.

"It has really enriched my life on many fronts. The training, the trainers and the people I met there. I'm still in touch with many people from the 3.0 group. That's really valuable."

For her, one thing is certain.

"I definitely wouldn't have missed it," he said.

And her advice to others in doubt is clear.

"People are crazy if they don't do that training. You just have to complete it all the way through to the 3.0."

For Linda Graanoogst, hypnosis is no longer just a technique, but a way of life and work. It’s a way to help people find their story, discover their strength, and confidently claim their place in the world.

Or as they summarize it themselves:

"Once you feel that you can change something in yourself, you understand that an enormous amount is possible."

Would you like to learn more about the support Linda offers to entrepreneurs? Click here for more information.

Hypnosis for your business?

You can take the training in person or online. Would you like to have a no-obligation chat to see if this is right for you? Schedule a one-on-one consultation here. You won’t be speaking with a salesperson, but with an experienced HIN coach who works with this training program and clients on a daily basis. In 20–30 minutes, you’ll get a clear sense of whether this is the right step for you and which start date suits you best.

The schedule for these sessions fills up quickly around the start of each group. Is there still a time slot available that works for you? Then book it now.