A Journey of Transformation

My Encounter with Tony Robbins

It's intriguing to consider that it took the US Marines five weeks to capture the island of Iwo Jima, yet my journey to self-improvement seemed to take an eternity. (Well, at least 35 years) Thankfully, the only life at risk was my own—my mundane, unfulfilled life, waiting for a nudge to transform into something remarkable.

The only thing, that will change your life, change your business, change your money, change your relationship, is you must raise your standard. Now I know that sounds boring, stupid, basic, but it’s the truth.

The only thing that changes our life for the long term is when we raise our standards. What does that mean? That sounds so boring and dumb. It means that all of us in life have things we want. We don’t get what we want, we get what we have. Remember what I said earlier, we all get what we tolerate in ourselves and other people, but when you’re no longer willing to tolerate something that’s when your life changes. The difference in people is their standards, period. The difference in people is their standards, period, and what do I mean by standards? Everyone in the world has a list of things they think they should do. I should lose weight. I should work out. I should spend more time with my kids. I should work harder. I should make more calls. I should. I should. I should. I should, and then you know what, people don’t do their shoulds, and they get mad at themselves, and they what I call “should all over themselves.” They beat themselves up about it. What changes people is when you’re should becomes a must. When suddenly the thing you said should happen has to happen. That’s when human beings change. It’s like, if you want to take the island, and you’re the head of the Army, the most powerful way to take the island is to burn the boats, because if there’s no way to go back it’s amazing what happens when it’s a must to do something versus the should. That’s what makes human beings succeed. — Tony Robbins

You see, my odyssey with Tony Robbins didn't start in a dramatic fashion; it began years ago through a seemingly random encounter with a high school friend. But we’re not here to dwell on beginnings; we're here to dissect the aftermath of attending a Robbins event. Tony himself says, "We all get what we tolerate in ourselves and other people, but when you're no longer willing to tolerate something, that's when your life changes." When I first set foot into Unleash the Power Within (UPW), all I knew was that I had faith there was something on the other side.

So, What's the Deal with UPW?

Explaining a Tony Robbins event is akin to describing the color blue to someone who’s never seen it. Yes, the seminar has content, but the magic is not in the slides or lectures (if you can even call them that); it's in the transformational experience, unique to each participant. Picture a room filled with people teetering between despair and ambition, each leaving with a revolutionized outlook on life. Some come close to writing the last chapter of their lives, only to discover that they've merely finished the introduction. Others are high-achievers looking for that extra push over the summit. For me, it was a realization that life held more; I couldn't bear the thought of another year of stagnation, especially knowing that if someone could escape the grip of life-threatening despair through this seminar, my journey could be exponential. "When suddenly the thing you said should happen has to happen, that's when human beings change." And let me tell you, after two decades, I’m not only living a dream but also redefining what dreams can be.

I realized my two biggest hurdles were fear of rejection and lingering anger. Now, you'd be hard-pressed to even catch a whiff of either in my demeanor. "The difference in people is their standards, period," says Robbins. I've so elevated my standards that old irritants now seem trivial. And it's not because I chant mantras or take deep breaths; these hindrances have simply ceased to exist within me. This transformation wasn't an agenda item at the seminar; it was the outcome of the seminar.

Where Do You Stand on Your 'Shoulds' and 'Musts'?

Jim Rohn famously said:

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

It's a thought as nourishing as a slow-cooked stew on a winter night. To that, I'd add a dash of personal insight: you, yourself, should be counted in that equation. In other words, before the people you spend time with can elevate you, you need to recalibrate your own internal machinery. I, for one, grappled with this nuanced dance of inner and outer worlds. Robbins teaches us that the greatest transmutation starts with our internal dialogue—our "shoulds," to be precise.

So, in my quest for self-improvement, the "should lose weight" morphed into an irrevocable commitment to bodily wellness. "Should be more financially secure" became a robust pursuit of investing excellence. "Should make more of my life"—well, that transformed into a personal mandate to nurture and invest in my own latent talents. In essence, I refined my standards and made them unassailable.

Here's the kicker—once I did that, the universe conspired to surround me with individuals who further boosted my newfound standards. It's as if I had lit a beacon that attracted fellow wayfarers on the road to self-betterment. And if you're stuck wondering how to begin, remember, you likely already know people who align with your aspirational self. They are just beyond your current circle. Reach for their wisdom, and in doing so, you'll find a cavalcade of new guides that will propel you further than you ever dared to dream.

So, it's not mere folklore—it's transformational alchemy. Yes, Jim Rohn, you're right. And, Tony, thank you for arming me with the understanding that my own "standards" are the ultimate game-changer. After all, it's your personal standards that define you; they are your invisible but invincible army. When these standards rise, your life follows suit, and suddenly, you're no longer just living—you're thriving.

Leo Buscaglia aptly puts it:

"Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God."

UPW, Date with Destiny, or any other Robbins event is not a quick fix; it's an arsenal for change. It offers you the mental, emotional, and physical toolkit to transform your life. And once you truly internalize the act of raising your standards, change doesn't take a lifetime, or five weeks; it occurs in an electrifying moment of realization. That’s the magic.

In a world obsessed with hacks, shortcuts, and instant gratification, my journey, enriched by Robbins' wisdom, reminds me that monumental change is but a 'standard' away. So, I now find myself asking others who've achieved the extraordinary—what was the moment they decided life will never be the same? Because, dear reader, that moment is where magic lives. Ah, but let's not forget—the extra magic lies in the revelations gleaned from other people's transformative moments. By understanding their 'aha' instances, you not only admire their journeys but also add invaluable tools to your own life toolbox. It's akin to a master painter learning a new brushstroke; it expands your canvas of possibilities, making your own transformational journey not just a solo expedition, but a continually enriching pilgrimage through the landscapes of human experience.