Identity Reframes Disadvantages

A story about how Tony Robbins helped transform a young man's mindset by reframing his perceived disadvantages into advantages.

"At the Tony Robbins event, he tells this story about a kid he met who was overweight and wanted to be fit. The kid had all these excuses - no time to exercise, couldn't talk to women, couldn't get a better job. When he saw a beautiful woman, he wouldn't approach her saying 'Why would she want a guy like me? I'm too young, don't have a good job.' He was working as a bus boy but wanted to run a dealership, but wouldn't apply because he had no college education.

He was labeling himself with all these identities - overweight, no college education, too young, too dumb. So Tony drew a line and completely reframed it. 'No experience? That means I'm not stuck in old ways like everyone else. I've got fresh ideas, the energy of a young stallion. I'm not like some 50-year-old dragging into work every day. I'll hustle harder than anybody else to prove myself.'

At the end of the story, Tony reveals that kid was him. He says 'Right now you guys see me on stage with energy and confidence and wisdom - what people don't realize is I created this Tony Robbins. I created him.' The point was that you can create that ideal version of yourself - you choose that identity and then live up to it day by day."