The little-known truth about Tony Robbins! These are the facts behind the celebrity motivational speaker’s origins, techniques, and legacy.
What goes on at those rock arena-style seminars? Who is the man who claims to be the top life coach to the stars? Find out as we look at the Truth About Tony Robbins.
#9 Weird Claps
At 6’7” and 250-plus pounds of muscle, the motivational speaker and entrepreneur Tony Robbins already has an intriguing physical presence. If you’ve seen his work or watched his documentaries, you know his mannerisms can be imposing, aggressive, and downright eye-catching. But what seems to stick out most from his live events, to those observant few who aren’t distracted by the rock concert-esque celebration going on around them — are his claps. Leaving his fingers spread loose and pulling backwards as if scared to touch, his palms corkscrew to clang together. It almost resembles an applause by someone who just had their nails done or like he’s trying to knock the mud off of a pair of dirty boots. Regardless of the oddity of his celebratory ovation, it does appear to be infection as Robbins has utilized his trademark clap to rally groups by the thousand.
#8 A Career In Leadership
Robbins, born Anthony J. Mahavoric, grew up in Glendora, California and was the adopted stepson of former semi-pro baseball player Jim Robbins. His young life wasn’t easy as he often had to find work as a handyman in high school to help his younger siblings get by. He would further take on a role of leadership in the classroom as Robbins was voted student body president his senior year of high school. But that would be where his formal education ended since, at the age of 17, Robbins decided to leave home and never return.
Instead of pursuing college, Robbins would go on to work as a janitor before going on to serve as an understudy of sorts to author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn. Robbins wasn’t alone in his mentorship as Rohn also inspired the founder of Herbalife and the co-founders of the Chicken Soup book series among other supposed life coaches. Rohn had made a living on seminars at major organizations and companies like Standard Oil and Rotary International, and at the time of Robbins apparent apprenticeship there were few options of such high caliber to learn from. This would only be the beginning, though, of Robbins three-and-a-half decade long career.