Tony Robbins and the Power of Momentum

If you know me well, then you know that I am a fan of Tony Robbins. For those of you looking to make real change, check out Personal Power II http://www.tonyrobbins.com/Solutions/ProductsDetail.aspx?ProductID=711&SubCategory=Multimedia, it's still a major resource for me to this day.

Last weekend, I went down to NYC to see him speak at the Javits at the Learning Annex Wealth Expo. Besides having to sit through an annoying Bill Zanker intro, it was an incredible experience again, all for $100.

Why should you care? Because if you are committed to success, then all you have to do is priortize success, and all the right 'micro-decisions' ie deciding for the long term rather than the easier short term choice. Assuming you have decided to succeed then you need to get yourself into a peak 'state' to give you massive momentum. At this seminar, you usually end up screaming your head off and jumping up and down, but afterwards you feel incredible....

For someone running my own business, having a plan to smooth out the ups and downs(especially downs) is essential when there is no boss to give you a kick up the backside.

And it was nice to see the Javits, still a busy place, even on the weekend...

Tony Robbins and transformations

This weekend, I am driving down to New York City to see Tony Robbins at the Javits. I saw him earlier this year in Boston, and it was probably the best 'keynote' I have ever seen. I was captivated and 'transformed' in a three hour presentation of how to take action, so much that I was able to march into my favorite German restaurant and get a date with my olive skinned waitress(sometimes you just have to ask).

Why am I telling you this? Sometimes Tony Robbins is seen as a 'figure of fun' and the poster child of the Self Help community, but I see a more global lesson for event organizers. Do your attendees go to your events and come back to the office transformed? Better off? More connected to your brand(or less)?

In the times of fleeting attention, making a solid connection makes a BIG difference. Just ask anyone who has seen Tony, an experience never forgotten.

The Search for Authenticity

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am just 'cracking the cover' on Authenticity: What Consumers Really Want by James Gilmore and B. Joseph Pine. The book(I have read only a chapter so far) is an extension of their book The Experience Economy.

The book's basic premise is that consumers(individuals and enterprises) buy goods and services that are consistent with their self image(ie certain people are OK with being identified as 'Walmart shoppers', while others like to be associated as a 'Starbucks person'(funny because there has been two fronts formed in the Boston area between Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks coffee drinkers).

In the events business, how does this translate? I believe that events must become valuable experiences to survive, but is authenticity just a synonym for value while presenting an experience which is consistent(or improving) one's self image? Obviously authenticity also speaks to whether the promise(perception) equals the reality of the product or service, and is connected to the ROI of attending or sponsoring an event.

I believe ultimately that authenticity relates to having a consistent brand that doesn't change over time, or if it does change only to add value('new and improved').

Can one still buy bars of Ivory Soap? Must get down to the supermarket and check. My own grocery shopping habits are instructive perhaps. I buy the bulk of my groceries at Market Basket(which is the low cost supermarket chain in Central and Northern New England), but buy my meat and eggs at Whole Foods(a legacy while I was with my ex-wife the Nutritionist). I am happy with both and feel both to be authentic, and both are experiences-one more pleasant than the other.

I look forward to continuing the book and will keep you posted...