I know Tony Robbins needs no introduction. However, if you’re joining us from a country or are new to this space he is a motivational speaker and mentor to many.
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 reading his books and listening to his tapes (yes, tapes!), for several years, I decided to attend a weekend event of his in New York City.
Lessons Learned
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 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 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 spent the past year touching base and talking about how we might work together, and this meeting 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 wrote so furiously, while maintaining 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. His incredible presence energized us, helped us think bigger, 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, but people will also 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 focus, relax, and 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, try yoga, whatever it takes to mentally prepare for the day, 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 focus, to be productive, AND have fun? What can you do to bring some joy and playfulness into your life?
To learn more about Tony Robbins and the influential work he’s doing around the world, visit https://www.tonyrobbins.com/
Until next time…
Keep Tapping!
Nick Ortner
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