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Anthony Robbins or Tony Robbins, (born Anthony J. Mahavorick on February 29, 1960 in North Hollywood, California, U.S.) is an American life coach, writer, and professional speaker. Some of his well known audio programs include Personal Power II, Get the Edge! and Lessons in Mastery. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Innerstrength. ... February 29 is a day added into a leap year of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Glendora in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1911-11-13 [3] Government  - Mayor Ken Herman [1]  - City Manager Eric. ... For other uses, see Author (disambiguation). ... A motivational speaker is a professional speaker, facilitator or trainer who speaks to audiences, usually for a fee. ... February 29 is a day added into a leap year of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... North Hollywood is a district in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles, California. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Life coaching is used by a growing number of psychologists to aid clients with transitions in their personal life, and in the process of self-actualization. ...

Personal life

Robbins was born in 1960 and raised in Azusa, California. He attended Glendora High School. His parents divorced when he was seven years old, and his mother later remarried twice. Tony took on the surname of his second stepfather, Jim Robbins. Azusa is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Location of Glendora in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1911-11-13 [3] Government  - Mayor Ken Herman [1]  - City Manager Eric. ...

Inspired by motivational speaker Jim Rohn, Robbins began selling his own seminars. He then went on to study neurolinguistic programming and to establish his career. In 1989, Robbins saw success using infomercials to promote his products. A motivational speaker is a professional speaker, facilitator or trainer who speaks to audiences, usually for a fee. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a field of human endeavor concerned with empirically studying and modeling human performance and excellence, with the goal of creating transferable skill sets. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Infomercials are television commercials that run as long as a typical television program (roughly thirty minutes or an hour). ...

In 1994, a routine medical check revealed a tumor in Robbins' pituitary gland. According to his recounting in Personal Power the tumor was actually an adenoma that had infarcted several years prior. Due to the pressure of the adenoma on his pituitary gland, he had circulating levels of growth hormone several times higher than what would be normal for an adult his age. This had resulted in a subclinical manifestation of the disease known as acromegaly, which doctors told Robbins was responsible for his remarkable growth spurts as a teenager, as well as his large hands and feet (He is 6 feet 7 inches tall, (201cm)). After consultation with a number of different physicians, Tony eventually decided not to have the adenoma resected, as it was not causing any clinical manifestations, such as organomegaly or heart valve defects. Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... For malignant tumors specifically, see cancer. ... | Latin = hypophysis, glandula pituitaria | GraySubject = 275 | GrayPage = 1275 | Image = Gray1180. ... For malignant tumors specifically, see cancer. ... An adenoma is a collection of growths (-oma) of glandular origin. ... Growth hormone (GH) or somatotropin (STH) is a protein hormone which stimulates growth and cell reproduction in humans and other animals. ... Acromegaly (from Greek akros high and megas large - extremities enlargement) is a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (hGH). ... Resection has multiple meanings: Resectioning involves enlarging the cross-section of a river channel by deepening or widening the river to increase its hydraulic efficiency. ... Organomegaly Abnormal enlargement of organs, for example heart, liver etc. ...

On a CNN interview in 2001, Robbins stated that he found it difficult to end his 15-year marriage to Becky Robbins, who is 10 years his senior, saying "it was the toughest decision of his life" and yet that he knew if he stayed with her, he'd be ruining her life and his.^[1] Robbins reiterates similar comments about his previous relationship in his recent Ultimate Relationship Program (recorded with family therapist Cloe Mandanes and also Sage Robbins). The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

In the same year he married Bonnie Humphrey (now Sage Robbins).^[2]

Robbins is the founder of the Anthony Robbins Foundation, which proclaims its mission is to empower students, help prisoners to improve their lives, organize food drives, and fund Robbins' summer "Discovery Camp".^[3] Charity Navigator gives the foundation an overall rating of four out of four stars.^[4] Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. ...

Seminars and claims

Anthony Robbins calls himself a peak performance coach as opposed to a motivational speaker. Robbins claims that he tries to find out what people do when they are at their peak, and then help them access that peak state whenever necessary, and he believes what he does is more effective than providing a rousing half-time speech and temporary motivation.^[5]

Robbins started his career promoting seminars for Jim Rohn, and then started teaching neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) after learning it from NLP co-founder John Grinder, who encouraged him to look into the firewalking experience. In 1983, Robbins located Tolly Burkan and learned how to firewalk from him.^[6] Robbins then added firewalking to his seminars, which enabled him to gain media coverage and launch his celebrity status. Robbins later began to teach what he referred to as Neuro-Associative Conditioning (NAC), and recently collaborated with Dr. Cloe Madanes on what they call Human Needs Psychology. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article is not about the academic discipline of neurolinguistics which investigates the brain mechanisms underlying language. ... John Grinder, Ph. ... Fire-walking is the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot coals. ... Tolly Burkan, also known as Bruce Burkan, (born May 17, 1948 in New York City) is a firewalking spokesman. ... Conditioning is a psychological term for what Ivan Pavlov described as the learning of conditional behavior. ...

In his Personal Power program, he says that the difference between NAC and NLP, lies in the use of the word 'conditioning' as opposed to 'programming'. Robbins says his use of the word 'conditioning' implies that the subject has greater responsibility for his or her own change, as opposed to being programmed by someone else.

His first book, Unlimited Power, was originally published in 1986 before he began calling his technique NAC. Robbins' second book, Awaken the Giant Within (1993), discusses similar topics to those in his Date With Destiny seminar.^{[citation needed]}

Human Needs Psychology

More recently, Robbins has partnered with Dr. Cloe Madanes in founding the Robbins Madanes Center for Strategic Intervention. to create what they call "Human Needs Psychology". Robbins believes that all people must meet six human needs:

1. Certainty
2. Variety
3. Significance
4. Love/Connection
5. Growth
6. Contribution

Unlike Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Robbins' needs are not hierarchical. The first two, certainty and variety, counterbalance each other, as do significance and connection. Too much of one leads to the desire for the other. Too much certainty, for example, can cause one to become bored and crave variety, and vice versa. Too much significance can cause one to seek out love, though people often settle for connection. Robbins claims that the first four needs can be met by almost any vehicle, from smoking to one's job, to one's family, to joining a cult. If a vehicle meets any three needs at a high level, this is an addiction. It is in the last two needs, growth and contribution, where Robbins believes humanity meets its highest potential. ^[7] Maslows Hierarchy of Needs is a theory in psychology that Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1945 paper A Theory of Human Motivation, which he subsequently extended to include his observations of humans innate curiosity. ...

Seminars

Robbins also conducts seminars, including his four-day Unleash the Power Within(UPW) seminar, also known as the Firewalk Seminar, and his Mastery University, which includes Life Mastery, Date With Destiny, and Wealth Mastery.

The UPW is his most well known seminar^{[citation needed]}, during which the participants walk barefoot over hot coals at the end of the first evening. The aim of the seminar, demonstrated in the firewalk, is to illustrate that the main quality shared by those who achieve greatness is the ability to take action ('Personal Power').^{[citation needed]} Robbins' philosophy asserts that fear often holds people back from achieving what they want with their life, and that fear is a more powerful motivator than desire or attraction. Walking safely on burning coals (with the correct preparation of the coals, and instruction of the participants) requires no special physical skills, you simply have to have the courage to brave it. Applying that same principle to other aspects of life can, Robbins claims, empower the individual to attempt tasks he or she would previously (erroneously) have considered impossible. Once the participants have walked safely over the coals, Robbins teaches them some NLP, and other beliefs which he claims will help them make the changes they desire in their lives.^{[citation needed]} Anthony J. Mahavorick, also known as Tony Robbins, pen name Anthony Robbins, (born on 29 February 1960 in Glendora, California, USA) is an American life coach, writer, and professional speaker. ...

Recently Robbins has appeared at many of The Learning Annex Real Estate Wealth Expos as a headline speaker, and at the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED conference) conference.^[8] The Learning Annex is a private continuing adult education school based in New York. ... TED (short for Technlogy Entertainment Design) is an annual conference in Monterey, California founded by Richard Saul Wurman. ...

Robbins promotes a mainly vegetarian and vegan lifestyle and endorses the views of Robert Young and Natural Hygiene practices regarding the need for an alkaline diet, in which proteins and carbohydrates are consumed separately. In recent events, he has included fish into his diet plan, citing the need for omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids in a complete diet. He has also praised John Robbins' book Diet for a New America. He previously promoted a concept of diet based on a predetermined value or "electrical energy" of foods, although this no longer forms part of his recent "Living Health" materials. Prior to his promotion of these dietary practices, Robbins ghost-wrote the book Fit for Life.^{[citation needed]} For animals adapted to eat primarily plants, sometimes referred to as vegetarian animals, see Herbivore. ... Hens kept in cramped conditions — the avoidance of animal suffering is the primary motivation of people who become vegans A vegan is a person who avoids the ingestion or use of animal products. ... For other persons named Robert Young, see Robert Young (disambiguation). ... Natural Hygiene is a branch of alternative medicine that claims that the human body can and will heal itself if the causes of disease are removed. ... Robert O. Young is an author of books relating to alternative medicine and the alkaline diet. ... John Robbins is an American author known for his books on food and health. ...

Lawsuits

In May of 1995, Robbins and his company, RRI (Robbins Research International), agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they misrepresented the potential earnings of franchises for his motivational seminars, agreeing to refund $221,260 (USD) in redress.^[9] Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... | logo_caption = | seal = US-FederalTradeCommission-Seal. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

Financial seminar guru Wade Cook also sued Robbins for copyright infringement, claiming that Robbins lifted concepts and terms from his seminars and his book, Wall Street Money Machine, during the creation of a competing financial course. In 1998, a Tacoma, Washington jury ordered Robbins to pay Cook over $650,000 in damages.^[10] Wade Bruce Cook (born 1945) is an American author and financial guru. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Nickname: Location of Tacoma in Pierce County and Washington State Coordinates: , Country State County Pierce Government  - Mayor Bill Baarsma (D) Area  - City  62. ...

Criticism

Skeptic James Randi, a notable critic of Tony Robbins, has stated that the applied kinesiology used by TR's associate in testing a product being sold at one of TR's seminars is a "scam".^[11] In a 2002 newsletter for the James Randi Educational Foundation, Michael Roes, a participant in a Tony Robbins seminar, recounted his experiences.^[11] Roes describes an intense hard close selling technique that encouraged participants to sign up for later workshops, which cost as much as $10,000.^[11] James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. ... The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. ... Selling technique is the body of methods used in the profession of sales, also often called personal selling. ...

Roes also relates that some participants arriving with their partners or spouses found themselves separated and paired with strangers, and then were directed to repeatedly massage and confide in these strangers.^[11] Some participants were surprised and uncomfortable with this. ^[11]

Freelance writer Steve Salerno in his book Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless states "NLP has shown up in many settings inside and outside SHAM" (his acronym for the Self-Help and Actualization Movement) but particularly aims his opinion at Anthony (Tony) Robbins who he claims "made NLP his own, refining it and personalizing it into what he christened "neuroassociative conditioning" (a claim with which other proponents of NLP would disagree; see history section in NLP article). Salerno criticizes proponents of self-help, including Tony Robbins, stating it "actually fans the fires of discontent, making people feel impaired or somehow deficient as a prelude to (supposedly) curing them." Salerno opines that there are contradictions in Richard Bandler and John Grinder (the co-founders of NLP) ending up in court over who owned the rights to NLP given NLP's promotion in business for negotiations and conflict resolution and also in Tony Robbins having become divorced while marketing products for the "perfect marriage".^[12] This article is not about the academic discipline of neurolinguistics which investigates the brain mechanisms underlying language. ... This article is not about the academic discipline of neurolinguistics which investigates the brain mechanisms underlying language. ... Coherentism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Richard Wayne Bandler (born February 24, 1950) is an American author on personal development. ... John Grinder, Ph. ... For other uses, see Negotiation (disambiguation). ... For the episode of the television series The Office, see Conflict Resolution (The Office episode) As you know, wikipedia. ...

According to the National Council Against Health Fraud, Robbins' book Unlimited Power promotes unsubstantiated and potentially harmful notions about health and nutrition.^[13] The National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) is a voluntary private nonprofit health agency that focuses on health misinformation, fraud, and quackery related to public health problems. ...

Another example of unsubstantiated claims made by Robbins is his reference to the "Yale Study of Goals" in Unlimited Power as scientific evidence of the power of positive thought. The anecdote claims that a survey was taken of the 1953 graduating class at Yale, and only 3% of the class had written goals regarding their financial situations. Twenty years later the class was interviewed again, and the 3% of the class who had written goals were worth more than the other 97% of the students combined. This would have been strong evidence of the power of written goal setting, but the alleged Yale study has been debunked as an urban legend. ^[14]

Celebrity meetings

In his book, Awaken the Giant Within, Robbins recounts meetings with a variety of public figures, such as Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Francois Mitterand, and Princess Diana.^[15] For other people named Mandela, or other uses, see Mandela. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev[1] (Russian: , IPA: ; born 2 March 1931) is a Russian politician. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (née Roberts; born 13 October 1925) served as British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 until 1990, being the first and only woman to hold either post. ... François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (October 26, 1916 - January 8, 1996) was a French politician and President of France from May 1981, re-elected in 1988, until 1995. ... Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances Mountbatten-Windsor, née Spencer) (1 July 1961–31 August 1997), commonly, but incorrectly, known as Princess Diana, was for fifteen years the wife of HRH The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. ...

Acting

In Shallow Hal Robbins appears in a scene with Jack Black's character in an elevator where Robbins hypnotizes Black's character in order to change Black's mental state. Black's character can now see people's outward appearance based on their inner personality. The scene is pivotal to the plot. In this scene, Black's character riffs on Robbins's large hands calling them "banana hands". Shallow Hal is a 2001 romantic comedy film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black and Jason Alexander. ... For other persons named Jack Black, see Jack Black (disambiguation). ...

Robbins is also in an upcoming movie The Singularity Is Near: A True Story About The Future, which is based on the book The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology (2005) by Ray Kurzweil. In the movie, an AI hires Robbins to help her become more human. The movie is scheduled for late 2008 release.^[16] Cover of the book The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology (Viking Penguin, ISBN 0-670-03384-7) is a 2005 update of Raymond Kurzweils 1999 book, The Age of Spiritual Machines and his 1987 book The Age of Intelligent Machines. ... Dr. Raymond Kurzweil (born February 12, 1948) is a pioneer in the fields of optical character recognition (OCR), text-to-speech synthesis, speech recognition technology, and electronic musical keyboards. ... // This disambiguation page covers alternative uses of the terms Ai, AI, and A.I. Ai (as a word, proper noun and set of initials) can refer to many things. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Fit for Life
• Human potential movement
• Self-help

Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Though the term self-help can refer to any case whereby an individual or a group betters themselves economically, intellectually or emotionally, the connotations of the phrase have come to apply particularly to psychological or psychotherapeutic nostrums, often purveyed through the popular genre of the self-help book. ...

References

Bibliography

DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Asin is a Pinoy rock and folk rock band from the Philippines. ...

External links

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• Tony Robbins official site
• James Randi Critical article by an attendee of a Robbins weekend.
• Video → Tony Robbins - Charlie Rose interview from 2000 (55 min)
• Anthony Robbins by William T. Jarvis, The National Council Against Health Fraud
• Financial Statistics on Anthony Robbins Foundation from Charity Navigator
• Tony Robbins at TED Talks
• Anthony Robbins at the Internet Movie Database
• National Council Against Health Fraud Article on Tony Robbins
• Tony Robbins Interview on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos