There are few people on this planet as captivating as Tony Robbins. When he speaks, people listen. And you can’t take your eyes off of him. This is the power of charisma and positive energy.
He presents seminars and workshops around the globe, is an advisor to some of the biggest and wealthiest names in business, and has a net worth of nearly $500 million. What’s even more amazing is that Robbins comes from humble origins.
His father left the family when he was young, and he certainly wasn’t handed down success of any kind. Robbins left home at age 17, and never even attended college.
Here are 10 success lessons from Tony Robbins – “Life Coach, Motivational Speaker” for entrepreneurs,
1. Where focus goes, energy flows
Tony’s excellent at guiding the focus of a room full of thousands of people in his seminars, and you can be too. He does this most effectively by asking specific questions. It’s our questions that direct our focus.
And when we get to the root of it, we all have at least one primary question that drives our lives, that drives our focus, that directs our energy, and that creates our story and our life.
Where’s your focus at right now? Where does it need to be to grow and contribute more in your life?
2. The 6 human needs
No matter where you’re from, what your background or story is, Tony says that there are 6 fundamental human needs that we all share and that drive our lives.
We generally value two out of the six needs most and we filter our life choices, decisions, and habits based on meeting these primary needs first. The 6 human needs are…
Certainty—assurance you can avoid pain and gain pleasure
Uncertainty/Variety—the need for the unknown, change, new stimuli
Significance—feeling unique, important, special or needed
Connection/Love—a strong feeling of closeness or union with someone or something
Growth—an expansion of capacity, capability or understanding
Contribution—a sense of service and focus on helping, giving to, and supporting others
Tony said that whenever we have a habit, emotion, or thought that meets at least three of our needs on at least a level of 6 out of 10, then we form an addiction. The fastest way to break an addiction is to replace the addiction with a vehicle that meets the needs or more needs in a better way.
3. Decisions lead to destiny
“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” – Tony Robbins
It is not your circumstances that define our destiny, rather the decisions you make, because each decision you make leads you to a destination in your lives. There are three decisions you’re always making consciously or subconsciously: what am I going to focus on, what does it mean to me, and what am I going to do about it?
4. Raise your standards
Tony Robbins often says that the way we frame the things that we want to achieve often defines whether or not we will achieve them. If we only think of our objectives as “goals” or things we “should” get done, we’re not likely to make it. But if we make them “musts,” we’re a lot more likely to achieve.
5. Progress leads to happiness
Moving forward on your goals and dreams is the highest expression of human happiness. There is nothing better that facing a difficult challenge and meeting it.
Therefore, if you want to be happy, don’t put aside your goals and aspirations; instead embrace the hardship with the knowledge that happiness is the reward. Push through fear. Once you make progress you will then be encouraged to set higher goals and reach new levels of success.
6. Prepare an exit strategy
Not every dream works out, but that’s ok — as long as you know this is the case, and you’re not putting all your energy, time, and resources into one goal, you can still find success and happiness.
You’ve just got to be prepared to move on to the next thing. Even if you have a successful business, have an exit strategy: be prepared to sell and move on if needed. This can not be confused with quitting – NEVER QUIT!
7. Proximity is important
In a live Q&A event with Product Hunt last year, Robbins revealed that one of the greatest pieces of advice he ever got was that “proximity is power.” By positioning himself closely to people who possessed the expertise, skills, qualities and connections he desired, Robbins explained, he had a direct line of access to opportunities that helped him achieve his goals.
To be an effective leader, it is important that you make your “followers” feel like they can trust you. And that means you have to be accessible. The power of proximity is also applicable to leadership development when it comes to working alongside, rather than above, your employees.
8. Look for leverage
Sometimes we end up fighting uphill battles that we’re just not suited for. Don’t try to fight gravity. Instead, look for levers that will make your goals more attainable. Break down big problems into small sections, and address them one by one. Outsourcing is a great way to leverage.
9. Love your customers
Tony Robbins teaches that you must embrace your customers in order to find success. Your customers are the people who make your dreams possible, and the more you can do for them, the more you can express your care, the better they will reward you.
10. Intensify your emotions
You’re going to go through crap on the way to your goals. It won’t be fun, I promise. However, it’s an incredible opportunity. You see, successful people take those setbacks and use them as fuel for their determination.
You see, successful people are the ones that have to win, so they won’t let setbacks defeat them. You may say, “But I’m not a competitive person!” To that I tell you to find a reason to become one. When faced with a challenge, beat it. Come out a winner and success is yours.