What Tony Robbins Taught Me
I know Tony Robbins needs no introduction, but if you’ve just arrived from Mars or perhaps are joining us from a country that just got an internet connection (it’s possible- the world is expanding at all times!), Tony Robbins has been known for the past thirty years as an inspirational/motivational speaker, writing books, leading packed seminars around the country, and coaching Presidents and celebrities alike.
In late 2002, after having read his books and listened to his tapes (yes, tapes!), for several years, I decided to attend a weekend event of his in New York City.
I went by myself, following an ad I saw on the streets of New York and a gut feeling that this was something I needed to pursue, and the weekend was simply transformational. There’s a lot I can write about what I learned that weekend, but the primary breakthrough for me was to step up and finally start taking responsibility for my life. It’s easy to believe that life just HAPPENS to us, but it’s not until we recognize that we are at CHOICE, every moment of every day, that things truly change.
12 years ago Tony taught me that and much more, and it has made a massive difference in my life. So it was a special day last week when I got to spend some time with him at his house in Florida. Tony and I had connected a year earlier when he heard about our work in my hometown of Newtown, CT and what we were doing to help those struggling from the tragic shooting here. We’d spent the past year touching base and talking about how we might be able to work together, and this meeting was intended to further that discussion.
We got a lot done and I’ll be reporting in the coming months about what we’re doing together, but today I want to share three simple things I learned from being with him, and which you might find helpful in your life. They all start with “P” and you can apply them to your life in minutes.
What Tony Robbins Taught Me…
1. PRESENCE.
You’re probably familiar with the outsized physical stature and presence of Tony. Standing 6’7”, with massive hands and feet, muscles that at 54, still look rock solid, it’s easy to be impressed with his physical presence. But that’s not what Impressed me most about him, it was his emotional presence. Coming off a 5-day event he runs called “Business Mastery”, he could have easily been drained, distracted or simply just a little tired. But his engagement was laser focused, taking copious notes as Dr. Leyden (the director of The Tapping Solution Foundation) and I spoke about what we were doing.
He was writing so furiously, while still making eye contact and asking penetrating questions, that I longed to see what that notepad actually said! Tony was WITH us. There was no doubt about it. Listening, caring, and looking to go deeper, to get beyond the surface of the discussion, to innovate, collaborate and create magic in the world. What was incredible about his presence was the way it energized us, helped us to think bigger, and to clarify our vision.
Your takeaway: Being present to someone is the greatest gift you can give them. When you’re talking to someone, talk to them. If your phone buzzes in your pocket, leave it be. If you find your mind wandering to other tasks and responsibilities, bring it back. Be here now. Not only will you change the quality of your experience, people will notice and appreciate it in ways you can’t even imagine.
2. PRIMING.
Tony talks a lot about his absolute devotion to what he calls “priming”. For him, it’s a commitment to 10 minutes of daily meditation, which he says usually stretches to 25-30 minutes, but he keeps his goal small so no matter what’s going on, he can achieve it on a daily basis. This priming is the time for him to get focused, to relax, to envision his day and his life. And the result is obvious. He’s able to be PRESENT because of this PRIMING!
Your takeaway: Set a goal, start small, to spend 5-10 minutes a day doing something to “prime” yourself for the day. Tap, meditate, do yoga, whatever it takes to get yourself mentally prepared for the day to come, to release stress and feel good.
3. PLAYFULNESS.
When you’re running 12 companies, publishing a #1 NY Times bestselling book, doing media, and being in-demand around the world, there are a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders. It would be easy to become harried, to rush people, to have worry lines on your face, but Tony was the exact opposite. Calm and relaxed, joking around as his wife walked by moving some outdoor furniture pillows, playfully teasing his brother-in-law in the kitchen, giving us big hugs – he was having FUN. You could sense his joy for life, his joy being with others, his joy in being of service.
Your takeaway: Find places in your life where you can have a little (or a lot) of fun. Can you find ways to work, to be focused, to be productive AND have fun? What can you do to bring some joy and playfulness into your life?
Has Tony Robbins influenced your life in any way? Let me know below! And what do you think about the three “P”s? Tell me how you can implement them in your life today.
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