I can remember it almost like it was yesterday…
It must’ve been 1996 and I was getting ready to go to work at the law firm in Charlotte, N.C.
The TV was on and this infomercial appeared on screen with this dude with sculptured hair, big, brilliant white teeth and a deep, booming voice…
it was Tony Robbins.
He was raving about his CD audio program, Personal Power, which he claimed was guaranteed to transform your life.
He captured my attention, as Tony is an expert at doing, and I ended up ordering the program.
I was about to finish the executive MBA program at the University of S.C. and I’d been offered a management position with a company in Myrtle Beach.
It was a bold move to step outside of the career I’d studied so hard for and spent the last 7 years working in…
and I knew, once you leave the legal profession, it can be hard to ever come back.
So, I felt I could use exactly the type of motivational kick in the pants that Tony was offering.
That was the start of a relationship with Tony that bordered on cultish obsession.
After that initial experience walking the beach with my walkman blasting Robbins’ distinctive voice against my eardrums and into the cerebral cortex…
I embarked on an all-out Tony Robbins immersion phase that lasted the better part of a decade.
I attended his one day business seminar, twice to be exact. One of those was his last event, for which I chartered a private plane, so that my entire Live Oak staff could attend the event in New York City.
I did his signature Unleash the Power Within event, a three day affair that includes the famous fire walk experience.
During that event I signed up for Date with Destiny, which is the first of a series of three events that Tony calls, Mastery University.
I did all three.
I was at the famous last Life Mastery event on the big island of Hawaii when the planes hit the twin towers on 9-11.
All in all, I guess I spent around $25,000 during this Tony Robbins life phase…including extensive travel expenses, as Tony’s events were always held at the swankiest and most expensive hotels.
So, I believe I speak with some level of experience when I write this morning about the misguided message of Tony Robbins…misguided, at least, in my opinion, holding the worldview that I do today.
Now, granted, my worldview has shifted…dramatically.
Back when I was doing my Robbins thing I was a devout fundamentalist Christian. I never really had trouble reconciling that fact with what Robbins taught.
After all, God wanted me to succeed, right?
I do remember often praying for Tony’s salvation.
Did I ever actually meet him? Actually I did, a couple times, but only to briefly shake his hand and tell him how much his life had meant to mine.
And it did…Tony’s teaching did change me. It released me from many of the doubts about myself that had held me back.
But it also caused me to fixate on that aspect of life that Tony claims we all must deal with…
becoming financially free.
That means having enough money to do what you want, when you want, where you want…etc., etc.
I see now that Tony has written a new book about, take a guess,…
money.
I caught him on Maria Forleo this morning being interviewed about the book.
One of the events in Mastery University was called Wealth Mastery. In it Tony divulged investing secrets of the mega-rich. Seems now Tony has decided all those “secrets” are a bunch of hooey and the best thing to do is put your money in low cost market index funds…yawn!
So, in what manner do I believe Tony to be misguided?
You see, I don’t believe a focus on attaining financial freedom is a sustainable concept, not on personal, nor planetary, levels.
Tony taught me, or so I interpreted his teaching, that I had to fix myself, especially from a financial perspective, before I could fix the world.
I just no longer believe that’s true.
That is, a life where impact is the motivation, rather than self-interest (especially rather than economic self-interest), is what will give our lives meaning and fulfilment.
Tony tells us there is nothing wrong with money, with having things.
Oh, but I believe that there definitely is.
You see, the world can no longer sustain the wealth of a whole bunch of Tony Robbins wannabes.
Tony is an entertainer and in our society entertainers make a lot of money. And Tony has indeed made a lot of money…some of it off of me!
And his message basically is, hey, if I can do it, so can you.
That might be true, but it doesn’t make it a good thing…not on a personal or a planetary level.
People who couldn’t give a flip about absolute financial freedom, but who care passionately about absolute human freedom.
That is, the freedom that comes when all people on this planet can live lives of health and dignity.
Right now, we’re far from that and as the rich keep getting richer and the poor poorer…with many of those rich taking the very advice Tony is peddling…
that level of human freedom is becoming more and more elusive for millions upon millions that inhabit this planet.
I admire Tony Robbins. He has done a lot of good for a lot of people.
He always ends his books and seminars with a call to impact and that’s a good thing.
But, you see, I believe rather than leave that for the end…
it should come at the beginning.
image credit: exploringmarkets via Compfight cc
Wow Incredible testimony! Simply I can say the same. The first time I heard Tony talk in his ‘Personal Power 2″ program… just blew my mind! Tony Robbins and others motivational speakers (Jim Rohn and Les brown) began to be part of my routine. At that time I just wanted to be “sucessful” like my mentors. That’s my misguided interpretation about personal development. Fortunately my need to answers lead me to the spiritual path and now I can the the whole frame about being a human (especially by my Christian religion). I’m still following my “mundane goals” but with much more level of awareness about reality and it’s “games”. Tony is a great person I admire him, but if you don’t be careful, you can be trapped by greed, not being sincere with yourself and wanting something that is not from you. Money is good but is must to be just a “toy” that you that you play. All that matters is spiritual peace, knowing that life is more meaning when you see more the others and love them like you love yourself. (sorry for my english) see ya
excellent comment…I don’t get nearly as many as I’d like to, but this one was really appreciated! Pura Vida!!
Thank you for posting this! I just came back from UPW a month ago. I got so much out of it but was skeptical about the financial aspect. Too much focus on wealth. I got the impression that he was saying that you will experience more peace and joy with financial freedom. I don’t believe that any kind of peace comes from anything external. It’s about the internal. I know of people that struggle financially and still experience great peace. Nothing wrong with financial freedom or wealth but I agree about too many rich people. What would the planet look like if every person in the world had the kind of money that Tony Robbins has? UPW did help me become more focused on my passion and I’m grateful for that. I guess it’s like any other seminar, take what works for you and leave the rest behind.
Hi there, I just came across your blog post received Tony Robbins because I have been thinking about possibly attending one of his events for a while but there was always something that made me think twice about it.
I’ve been on a path to spirituality over the past few years and had come to the realisation that the only way this world is ever going to change is for me to 1. Change the way I view the world, and 2. To be the change I want to see, i.e. be loving and compassionate towards others (note: to me, others includes all life forms not just human beings). But at the same time I had come across some of TR’s work and was beginning to buy into the idea that I should also be focusing on gaining financial freedom and this had me feeling very confused and I didn’t completely understand why until I read your post. So I just wanted to say thank you for helping me figure out what was nagging my soul and wish you the very best with your mission.
I can’t thank you enough for that and I am very pleased that my post had a positive impact on you…
I respect your opinion. I don’t know if you ever attended Date With Destiny but one of the big things he talks about is living your life for Contribution- which means Giving. He says Giving is the secret to life (not money). Giving can mean giving tangibles, experiences, time, etc. He shares that money should not be looked at as evil (which you haven’t quite called Money evil in your article but your article doesn’t speak of money in the most positive sense). If you can accumulate wealth you can use it as a catapult to improve the world & the lives of others. Which tony has done to help so many people around the world change their lives around by GIVING his time & expertise. & tony is so wealthy he was able to create his charity to those who can’t afford food. Personally.. I love being able to GIVE my parents experiences. Fly them around the world. TIP graciously to waiters, GIVE to the guy who’s asking for change, etc. This takes money. Money can be a catapult to help the world. The world DOES need more rich people! Rich people with a PURPOSE to GIVE & HELP others…which are what Tony’s teachings are about
I essentially agree with what you’re saying…but inequality is seriously harming people and planet and your purpose in life should not be about accumulating vastly more wealth than you could ever actually need in order to live a fulfilled and impactful life…there are other, better and higher purposes…yes, I did attend Date with Destiny and it was wonderful and changed my life forever…I admit the post is perhaps a bit too hard on Tony…he’s done a tremendous amount of good in this world…