The success of your business is driven by the energy you put into it. This is why personal transformation is so critically important.

When was the last time you felt unstoppable? Think back to a time in your life when you felt that you could do no wrong. When you felt that you were doing exactly what you were put on this earth to achieve. If you’re honest with yourself, it’s been far too long since you felt that way. But, the truth is, it’s all in your head. And the best part of this is that you can change your state of mind in an instant.

This weekend I was transformed. After four of the most intense and awe-inspiring days of my life, I can honestly say without an ounce of hesitation that I am who I was born to be; and I challenge you to do the same–specifically, to live your life to the absolute fullest and seize every moment and opportunity that is in front of you. It’s not nearly as hard as it might seem.

Before I go any further, let me fully acknowledge the Kool-Aid I’m guzzling. About a month ago, Lewis Schiff, co-founder of the New York Inc. Owners Council, presented me with the opportunity to join him for a Tony Robbins conference called Unleash the Power Within. If you haven’t attended one of Tony Robbins’s conferences, you owe it to yourself to check them out. I have been to hundreds of conferences in the past two decades and I tell you that there is nothing like the amazing event that Tony Robbins has created. It stands in a category all by itself.

The success of your business is driven by the energy you put into it. This is why personal transformation is so critically important. If you feel sluggish, tired, overwhelmed, and out of control, how can you possibly reach the peak performance your team and your customers expect of you? When you are feeling uncertain and lost, how can you possibly lead? The simple truth is, you can’t–at least, not effectively, anyway.

So what’s so transformational about the Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within event? To quote Schiff, “Do you have at least 30 minutes for me to explain?” In a similar vein, I will do my best to summarize something that deserves more explanation than can be truly captured in this short article.

Would you believe that I’ve lost seven pounds in as many days? Or that I will drop 40 pounds in the next four months–extra weight that I’ve been carrying around for at least the past 10 years? Let’s be clear. This was in no way a conference about weight loss–it was about destroying your limiting beliefs and seeing the truth about who you really are. I’m not that fat guy I have seen in the mirror for so long. But somewhere along the line, I had created limiting beliefs that were self-destructive and not just about my weight.

We all have limiting beliefs that hold us back. It comes from that negative voice inside our heads that says the meanest and cruelest things that we would never say about someone else. You know what I’m talking about. “I’m not ________ enough.” I’m not … good enough, successful enough, strong enough, etc. And the worst voice of all is the one that says the people closest to me will judge me and they won’t love me. It’s all nonsense, but the longer we let that voice tell us whom we can’t be, we start to believe it and act accordingly.

I realize that all of this makes intellectual sense to you and that you probably feel that you can just change it yourself without going to an event like Unleash the Power Within. But here’s the thing. You haven’t. I know because I hadn’t. There was no mystery as to what my problems were–I just kept sabotaging my own efforts to change because I had these incredibly powerful limiting beliefs that prevented me from doing the things I knew I had to do. But never again. Not another moment will go by in my life when I feel powerless to change the things that need to change.

To quote Tony Robbins, “Now I am the Voice. I will LEAD, not follow. I will BELIEVE, not doubt. I will CREATE, not destroy. I am a Force for GOOD. I am a Leader. Defy the odds! Set a new standard! Step up!”

This is his mantra and it’s really great. I use it to help keep me centered and focused. There is, however, a substantial gap between knowing how to live and fully committing to the life you were born to lead. The difference is all about letting go of your limiting beliefs and internalizing the truth of who you really are. I am so grateful to Lewis Schiff for introducing me to this life-long transformation and to Tony Robbins for having the courage to “play full out.” I am and always will be a raving fan of Robbins and I urge you to check this out for yourself.

One last thing. If your life has been transformed by Robbins and you’re willing to share your story, please reach out to me on Twitter or leave a comment below. I know I’m not alone here and I would love the opportunity to listen to your story and even help you share it if you are so moved. Thank you! I appreciate your reading this article and sharing your story.