Qd. One of the interviewees talks about validation and fear. Validation and fear of what and why do you think it was so important for him?
The speaker speaks about validation and fear of our desired goals. Thus, when one experiences a desire for something, he usually fears the failure, thinking that his struggling will only bring him disappointment. That is the fear, which keeps the majority from doing anything about their dreams. However, by validating it is possible, one is motivated to move towards his target with even higher persistence. "Your brain says it works, it may not work on the level I want to, but it works" (Robbins), thus an individual feels personal satisfaction and knows he is already a winner, because he has already proven himself that his actions are not useless. This issue was so important for the speaker due to his own experience, which made him realize, he just had to continue pushing his idea further, try harder to achieve the desired level of results.
Q1. Tony talks about being in “a must situation,” in “a situation of having no choice,” or “burning the boat.” Most of us would be very worried about being in that situation; so, why do they speak so positively about it? Have you ever been in that situation? What were the results?
The speakers see a great motivational opportunity in "burning the boat" experience. Once one has hit the bottom, there are only two options: either to start changing your life and climbing up, either deal with your life as it is. People are exited with the progress, not with the fact they have got what they want. The bottom makes you face with what you must to do to make a change, and that is the point you are going to do whatever it takes to break through, thus, one conditions his mind for something bigger.
Q2. Why 2,500 excited one of the interviewees more than making $18,000,000 in one day? What is the driving force behind his excitement?
The point is that an interviewer was dreaming about earning $300 per week. At that time he was pushed to the wall, he needed those numbers to be real, and he failed. And at some point being on vacation, doing nothing at all, he had earned $2,500 within 5 days. It was a victory. He then felt his targets were more than achievable, moreover, he could make up a plan for more. It was impossible for him to realize he could earn more before he got those $2,500, it was a complete life changer, while by the time he managed to earn $18,000,000 he already knew it was possible. The $2,500 was harder for him to get emotionally, since he had to ruin certain walls of his previous perceptions.
Q3. Some of the discussion revolves around the “why” behind having a goal. Please share what you understand about the "why" and the reason of its importance.
Before stating your willingness to change anything in your life one needs to determine the deepest reason "why" is he doing this. First of all, the "why" works as a great reminder for the moments of failure, disbelief and concern and pushes you towards your goals. Secondly, by thinking about "why" one will be thinking about the necessary actions to take to make that happen, thus, he will be creating an action plan. Thirdly, "why" shows you who you are and whom you're willing to be, giving you a chance to change.
Q4. Tony shows a drawing with four squares to explain four critical steps, namely potential, action, result, and belief. Please relate his explanation of those steps to the belief assignments—last week’s homework and last in-class discussion—you have performed so far. Where is that you find yourself stuck and/or have made progress?
Rituals are the list of small actions, which one should take to make his moves towards his desires. Since no big change can come overnight, rituals are the small steps to make progress within short periods of time. Do one thing a day, learn one subject a week. These actions will lead to you gaining the momentum, conditioning yourself into it, so the farther progress is possible. Moreover, people are defined by rituals, something they would still stick on doing, never quitting.
Q6. Do you have a story similar to the "Porsche" story? In other words, have you ever experienced something that you knew was going to happen?
Q7. How can you apply the basketball story to your life? Offer specific, practical examples.
Q8. Why does Tony Robbins insist so much on certainty?
Certainty is the most important mindset if one once to achieve anything. The point is that there are four factors, which influence the results once can receive, and those are: potential, personal belief, actions applied, and results received. When one is certain in his success, he will take more actions to succeed, thus, increasing his potential and receiving better results at the end. However, if originally an individual does not believe in his own success, his potential significantly drops, thus, he takes less actions to achieve and gets insufficient results. This is the case why rich people get richer and the poor become poorer. Even if one takes more actions to succeed, but has disbelief , his potential falls right there, and thus, the results are poor. It is not practicing that makes it happen, but your certainty that convinces you and expands the expectations. Moreover, there are numbers of examples, when something was thought to be impossible, until one had managed to complete it.
Q 9. Do you share (or not share) Tony's point of view on skeptical people? Explain why.
Q10. You either get results or you get a story; what does it mean?
When people fail, they usually blame whatever possible event or circumstance they can, describing, how the entire universe had turned its back on them, how difficult were the obstacles, and how hard it was for them to keep trying. This can turn into a good book of "why I have failed". However, when one reaches the aim, the first think he thinks about is what to do next. His process of chewing the situation is much shorter, since he is busy doing things to get to the next level.
Q11. What are the areas of your life where you would like to have some new “conditioning” (Tony’s way of defining programming new, supportive beliefs)? Why?
Works cited:
(10th of January, 2013). Tony Robbins Interview with Frank Kern and John Reese. Youtube.
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ImIuAvkUMo
