Walking the Talk: Tony Robbins Becomes a Success Neuro-Linguistic Programming promised instant results; by directly altering unconscious ‘programs’, Robbins and other proponents of NLP believed that it was one of the most promising new therapeutic techniques. Robbins created a new seminar based on NLP and hit the road with it. He began appearing on television and radio stations throughout first, Canada, and then the U.S. In 1989, he launched a series of infomercials to promote his product, which proved to be a very successful strategy. Since their initial introduction, Robbins’ infomercials have aired on average every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, somewhere in North America. Robbins’s confidence in his new “technology of change” was growing. He began to publicly challenge psychiatrists by asking for a chance to work through their toughest cases in front of a live audience. In one of his early seminars, Robbins brought on stage a woman who had been being treated for her phobia of snakes for over seven years; Robbins cured her in fifteen minutes. Following that experience, Robbins exclaims, “I became a wild man! I stormed across the country demonstrating to people how quickly change could occur.” Robbins also began offering personal therapy sessions, initially at a price of $500 per hour. Soon, he was charging $5,000 per hour and was guaranteeing transformation in one session. “If you see your therapist more than twice, your therapist has no integrity,” Robbins would say. Interest in Robbins’ seminars was growing across the country, the most famous of which was his four-day Unleash the Power Within seminar. It was here where Robbins demonstrated his now-famous firewalk, whereby people would gain mental discipline and confidence by walking over burning coals, and then apply that principle to other aspects of their lives. Over the next decade, Robbins’ reputation as a successful entrepreneur and life coach would continue to soar. He has authored five internationally best-selling books, which have since been published in 14 languages throughout the world. His Personal Power development system has sold over 35 million audiotapes and he has given seminars to over three million people in more than 80 countries. Robbins also founded Mastery University, bringing together world leaders to train future world leaders. Today, Robbins is one of the most sought after international speakers and advisors. From Fortune 500 CEOs to elite athletes to international leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa, Robbins has met with, consulted or advised some of the most influential people in the world. Robbins is also a dedicated philanthropist and humanitarian, having launched the non-profit Anthony Robbins Foundation to help the homeless and disadvantaged and creating the Presidential Summit for America’s Promise. The Anthony Robbins Companies now include Namale Resort & Spa, Twinlab Corporation, Rebus Publishing, and Discovery Toys. Robbins serves as Chairman to each, with all of them being geared towards improving people’s quality of life. When American Express asked its entrepreneurial clients who would be their number one choice of anyone in the world to personally coach them in their business endeavours if price were not an issue, Robbins was selected by an overwhelming margin. He represents not only financial success but also the passion and energy that entrepreneurs need to take their company to the top.