Tony Robbins – zackeeney.com

Which one are you?

This extremely powerful advice was shared by the one and only Tony Robbins.  I just heard this on the Tim Ferris Show Podcast and had to dive into more detail.  My addictive personality is really tuned into Tony right now and I loved the simplicity and realness in this statement.

Losers react, winners anticipate.

Maybe we don’t want to be called a loser (who does), so lets put this into a different context I’ve written about before.  Very simple question.

Do things happen to you, or because of you?

There is a great deal of shared value in the bolded statement and question above.  But, instead of casting a shadow of name calling and labeling, lets look deeper into each action and see how it makes you feel.  Better yet, lets paint a real world scenario for us to live and accurately depict two sides of the same story.  What this does to a person emotionally is very eye opening.

THE STORY – You have a client.  A client with high expectations of your work and your results.  You have an upcoming meeting scheduled with the client in 48 hours.  Both of you are aware of the date, time and location. How does this scenario play out with losers and winners?

LOSER (Reacts):

1. Lacks preparation and insight (knowledge)
2. Spends no time looking for solutions and ideas prior to the meeting
3. Your relationship resembles more of a punching bag than a resource
4. You leave with tons of work to do because you showed up with zero plans
5. Never asks the questions: How can we provide more? How can we do better?
6. Likely all of this is the client’s fault, certainly it can’t be you. This client can’t be pleased!
7. The client controls the entire agenda (you have zero control)
8. No matter what, you can’t get what you want out of the relationship
9. How do I get all the bad clients?

WINNER (Anticipates):

1. Prepares for multiple angles and directions the meeting can go
2. Delivers fresh new ideas to the client without their asking
3. The client places a great deal of value and trust in your relationship
4. You leave with a plan and likely some (if not most) of the work already done
5. Asks the questions: What more can we be providing? How else can we help you?
6. The winner frequently demands more of himself and those around him
7. You call the client, with a plan (and a great deal of control)
8. Get what you want on your terms
9. Loves the challenge and opportunity the client presents and can’t wait for the next opportunity

 Now the million dollar question. How did each scenario make you feel?

The loser feels like a weak-minded loser.  A weak, unenergized, unorganized, negative person.  To me, it is exhausting and draining just reading through the scenario.  IT SUCKS!  But yet we see it every day.

Contrast this with the feelings of reading about the optimistic winner.  An energized, enthusiastic, go-getter and nothing can stand in his way.  He creates his own luck.  This is invigorating.  My eyebrows lift in excitement as I was making my way through the list.  This guy is BADASS!

ACTION ITEM: Anticipating can be a learned skill.  The only investment needed to obtain this skill is focused time and energy.  If you can think about it, you can anticipate it and create it.