On Anthony Robbins

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Megan

I grew up in a religious cult

What?!? You surprise me with nearly every post, Megan! What cult was it that you grew up in?

[Megan]

Oh...I'll tell ya some time, she said coyly....

[Liara Covert]

Lots of thought-provoking comments here. Self-help gurus with followings seem to be both loved and despised out of admiration and possibly jealousy.

From the shared views, I agree that if you decide you wish to change anything about yourself, that desire usually evolves before you're drawn to a particular person like Anthony Robbins who could offer you the tools to help yourself. Courses, forums, CDs. DVDs and any other tools will only be as useful as you believe they will be. When you choose to learn something, that's more likely to happen than if you're a skeptic from the start. Some people simply decide someone is a scam artist before they investigate.

The other thing about the comments that stands out for me is in order to be an effective motivator like Anthony Robbins has become, a person must be honest enough with himself to decide he wishes to change and do something about it. if you don't experience the difficulties and prove you can overcome them, why would people wish to listen to you? Realism and integrity build a person's credibility.

[Megan]

Just for the record:

Is Self Help a Scam?

My wife and I left disappointed and jaded, and we obviously didn’t buy the seminars. In fact, since that time (1998), neither of us has bought anything further from Tony Robbins. I felt that Tony had personally lied in this case, and the use of this bait-and-switch tactic seriously damaged his credibility with me (which had previously been pretty good up until he crossed that line).

However, despite this very disappointing experience, I still find value in Tony Robbins’ materials. I know people who attended his expensive Mastery University seminars, and they spoke highly of the experience. On balance I think Tony does more good than harm for this planet. I don’t know him personally, so I can’t attest to his character other than what I’ve experienced. However, I can say that I’ve gained a lot from using the techniques in his books, audio programs, and seminars.

It could be said that if there’s value in his materials, then he should do everything in his power to promote them. But I’m not a subscriber to the theory that the end justifies the means, especially when it comes to self-help.

Although Tony may find such techniques profitable, I’m just not willing to do business like this, even if it means making less money. Perhaps this will limit the long-term growth potential for my own personal development business, but that’s a decision I’m willing to live with. I think what this experience showed me is that Tony Robbins is decidedly human.

While many people either love him or hate him (he tends to polarize people), to me he is a shade of gray, a mixture of the best and worst parts of us.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...f-help-a-scam/

Steve in 2008!


Megan

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Liara Covert

a person must be honest enough with himself to decide he wishes to change and do something about it.

It's amazing when people want to change they look everywhere except to themselves. The overweight person buys programs and diet books and gym membership and all they really have to do is eat less and exercise more, don't put so much in and burn more off, as simple as going for a walk.

So simple, same with PD and self help, Tony Robbins is a very good motivator, but he's not saying anything different just branding it slightly more marketable to him, nothing wrong with that, but at the end of the day after the $5000 seminar, it's just you and you have to do it yourself.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Max Power

but at the end of the day after the $5000 seminar, it's just you and you have to do it yourself.

Of course you have to do it yourself...

A seminar gives gives you information... it does not do the work for you... It is just like getting an education... you could graduate from Harvard, Oxford or Cambridge or from all three of these... but if you back home and sit on your butt... nothing will happen...

That should be a logical non-brainer and should go without saying... but for some reason... some people never got it...

They go to a seminar... come back home and wait for opportunity to knock at the front door... of course it will not happen... so, they turn around and start blaming the messenger with a vengeance... which serves nothing except venting frustration...

.

[Megan]

No one is suggesting that Tony Robbins should magically make our lives work. No one is complaining about his material being inferior. It's obvious that Steve's free advice wont work either unless one follows it.

If Tony Robbins has issues that people need to be aware of, then being aware of those issues will make their experience with him more positive, and will help him in the final analysis.

He's always talking about receiving feedback and acting on it.

Well, this is feedback: the end doesn't justify the means.

Enough said by me.

Megan

[agnostic]

Reflecting upon it, I have to say that it's not really fair to do all this self-help-industry-bashing in a thread called On Anthony Robbins. This guy has some worthwhile lessons to offer. I would be happier about this if it was in a thread called On Robert Kiyosaki or On Kevin Trudeau, who are actually known for fradulent behavior.
I think Shamou is right that this may shed a bad light on lessons that are really worthwhile. I think it's enough by now.

[Shamou]

Well said agnostic...

There are always two options opened for each of us... we can dwell on the positive or on the negative...

Dwelling on the negative gives that sense of superiority but that's all it does... highlighting the positive, on the other hand, is always a source of inspiration and growth...

Nothing worthwhile was ever accomplished by critics... but those who were criticized built the world that we now enjoy...

.

[munish]

If one has read this web site.http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/archives/

No one needs Tony.

[JohnPlace]

I haven't read this entire thread (so I apologize if someone has posted this already), but I figured the gang in here would like this 20 minute Tony Robbins
video.

It's a great video, but be forwarned: I've never heard Tony use so many curse words!

StumbleVideo


Update: Okay, I went back and read the rest of the thread, and now I'm not so sure this is on topic!

Anyway, some of you might like it, and I do think it highlights Tony's extraordinary ability as a communicator.

[Megan]

According to Dick Sutphen, and some people on the Rick Ross forum, using shocking, rough language is just another way to unsettle people preparatory to moving them in the speaker's desired direction.

The people on Rick Ross forum are sure it's done for quite deliberate reasons.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Megan

According to Dick Sutphen, and some people on the Rick Ross forum, using shocking, rough language is just another way to unsettle people preparatory to moving them in the speaker's desired direction.

The people on Rick Ross forum are sure it's done for quite deliberate reasons.

Let's be a little serious here... People who are unsettled by a little rough language should in a loony bin... not at a seminar...

And of course Robbins wants to direct the audience in a "desired direction" Otherwise, what would be the purpose of a seminar...???

.

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by Megan

According to Dick Sutphen, and some people on the Rick Ross forum, using shocking, rough language is just another way to unsettle people preparatory to moving them in the speaker's desired direction.

The people on Rick Ross forum are sure it's done for quite deliberate reasons.

Do you know if profanity is part of Tony's usual MO? I figured he might have been using language like that to fit in with that particular corporate culture -- the same reason he's dressed in a shabby-chic sort of way.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by JohnPlace

I haven't read this entire thread (so I apologize if someone has posted this already), but I figured the gang in here would like this 20 minute Tony Robbins
video.

Thank for sharing that John... however you can see that video anytime by clicking on the "Anthony" hyperlink in my signature...

.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by JohnPlace

Do you know if profanity is part of Tony's usual MO? I figured he might have been using language like that to fit in with that particular corporate culture -- the same reason he's dressed in a shabby-chic sort of way.

I have attended seminars, and listened to countless tapes and that was the first and only time that I heard Robbins saying any such word as the acronym "mofo"

I will grant you that I was a little surprised... but, I don't think that Al Gore, who was in the audience, was shocked... at least... he certainly did not walk out...

.

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by Shamou

Thank for sharing that John... however you can see that video anytime by clicking on the "Anthony" hyperlink in my signature...

.

I guess I should have investigated your hyperlink. Great video.