Leaving Tony Robbins and the Price I Paid to Write a Bestseller
Download the FULL podcast here. There's always more to a story, and if you know anything about my story, you know that in 1999-2000 I worked with @TonyRobbins. After a year, as I was sitting in one of Tony Robbin's breakthrough events along with 5,000 participants, I heard Tony say to the audience, "When would NOW be a good time – to live your dreams?" Sitting there as an employee, something in me said, "Now is your time. Stop making excuses out of fear, " and I leaned over to my wife, who was sitting next to me and said, "It's time!" It's time to leave what is familiar and live my own dream life. The very next day, I called the vice president and gave him my two-week’s notice.
My situation at the time was a bit complicated. My second child, Connor, was soon to be born, and with our Utah home being rented to tenants, we opted to live with my in-laws for a few months. The plan was to then move to Seattle after the baby had been born and start the career I had dreamt about ever since I was fifteen years old.
Fast-forward four years later, and despite many setbacks, I wrote my first book, If You Think You Can! in the backseat of my car in 2004. (I will share more about that process and what compelled me to write in the first place at a later time.) It's a miraculous story, and it still boggles my mind today that If You Think You Can! became a bestseller and sold in 34 countries in a matter of a few short months. It took on a life of its own with NO ADVERTISING!
However, one may wonder what happened immediately after my leaving Tony Robbins. What did I do that put me on the path of becoming an author? How did I qualify myself? What price did I pay? I've rarely shared this part of the story, so here it is. Watch the video and get an inside look into my world after leaving the Tony Robbins organization in early 2000.
I had all the passion, energy, focus, and an unwavering belief that I was going to CRUSH IT! I was determined to succeed. So, one of the places that I found refuge, peace, and tranquility to think as I began to put ideas together was in the library, and it soon became my sanctuary–my holy place. They were filled with knowledge, and with that knowledge, I would change my life. Knowledge is power!
During that time, I poured my heart and mind into studying. I researched and wrote in my journals, filling several of them at that time of my life, and even today, as I scan through them, I think, "WOW." They contain some insightful nuggets, and I will be sharing them with you in the coming weeks and months. Follow me on my Youtube channel, my Apple Podcast, and Instagram.
Question: What price are you willing to pay to live your dreams, expand your potential, or achieve the results you want in life?
Start wherever you are now! Nobody gets to the top alone. Fortunately, in those early years (and still today), I had the companionship of great thinkers like Napoleon Hill, W. Clement Stone, Jack Welch, Nelson Mandela, Howard Schultz, George Lucas, and more. Charles 'Tremendous' Jones would tell me, "You will be the same person in five years as you are today, except for the people you meet and the books you read." And Jim Rohn would say, "If you don't read, you'll get rickets of the mind."
The reality is that few success legends started at the top. In fact, those who do usually fail in one way or another because they haven't become acclimated to their newfound success, so their subconscious mind creatively finds ways to "get them back where you belong." Struggling, learning, experiencing difficulties, and rising above them is how people sustain their success. Through experience, we 'become' strong, resilient, and equal to the success we are seeking.
Advice: Begin looking at your mistakes, failures, obstacles, and misfortunes differently. See them as a blessing preparing you for what is to come. Change your paradigm. Find the blessings in disguise. Work your tail off and never give up!
About TJ Hoisington:
TJ Hoisington is the bestselling author of If You Think You Can!, The Secret of the Slight Edge, and Return to Robinson Island. He has authored several high-performance training programs focused on personal development, leadership, customer service, sales, and creating thriving cultures. TJ's insights and workshops have been shared with many organizations around the world. (client list) Whether he speaks to audiences of 10 or 15,000 people, his mission is the same: to provide inspiration and tools that help people and organizations unleash their greatness within. He is the co-founder of Dunn Hoisington Leadership International.
