So there I was laying in bed recovering from my third month of paralysis. My arms were slowly and steadily regaining movement. I did everything I could not to lose muscle memory from the little energy I was regaining. Upon seeing this, I grab my laptop and place it on my chest not too far from my hands; I now know what a T-Rex went through. I needed something to complement the newfound motivation I was feeling so I get on YouTube and start browsing. After a few minutes, I run into a Tony Robbins video titled “New Year, New Life”. Seeing as how it was early 2012, it seemed fitting. That half hour video was honestly all it took for me to see things differently, for my outlook to change. I felt reborn in a way; I felt as if life was giving me a second chance and Tony slapped some sense into me. It felt good! A month or two later and with plenty of medical treatment, I was back on my feet and headed to therapy. I knew the road ahead would be long and challenging but I was up for anything. Three years later, here I am still struggling from time to time (my condition is chronic) but when I feel like taking a break, I close my eyes and envision myself looking down at that bed where I once lay helplessly; that’s all the inspiration I need to regain focus. It’s after you hit rock bottom that you realize the only way to go from here is up.
Tony didn’t need to be at my bedside to light a fire inside of me. He did, however, provide that much-needed spark for me to shift my life into a direction I never knew existed; a new path I didn’t know I was willing to take. He’s one to preach about action constantly so I took it to heart and made arrangements. I created a Facebook page in which I not only share my story with others but convey a message of living with passion on an everyday basis (among many other things). What I’m trying to say is that Tony not only created a follower but he awoke this leader that would have otherwise slumbered for eternity. I have people coming up to me saying they’ve been inspired to change their own lives through my experience and I’m at a loss for words. I guess that’s what Tony feels like everyday; it’s rather extraordinary to know that your life impacts others greatly. Granted, I would never want anyone to go through what I went through as a catalyst to change their life so I encourage you to do so before adversity of that magnitude kicks your front door open. As a result, I’m getting certified by the ICF as a life coach as well and I must say the experience has been phenomenal. I’m grabbing the bull by the horns and taking charge of my life.
When a leader speaks, people listen. I was one of those people. Tony’s words made a smooth transition into my brain and embedded themselves there. It’s almost as if we’ve been buddies for life and he’s just giving me a pep-talk. Leadership is composed of so many empowering qualities that its effect is borderline contagious if instilled in the right people; I’d like to think I was one of those people. Honesty is one of those qualities. One thing I like about Tony’s style is that he tells it like it is which is one thing I find we have in common. I’m not afraid to hurt your feelings a little if it’s going to put you in check. A little tough love goes a long way with me. Tony says that “if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten”. I hold that to be true. Taking action is also another leadership quality because without action, dreams are nothing more than just illusions. Taking action delegates action in others and, as a result, creates more leaders. It’s a chain reaction where everyone benefits; a win/win situation so to speak. Confidence is also a must. I feel confident that what I’m doing is for the improvement of everyone around me. I am confident that what I am doing matters and that my purpose in life is being fulfilled.
My recurring medical condition forces me to maintain a positive attitude at all times. A leader must always do this because the spotlight is constantly on him/her. I suffer from relapses when my syndrome rears its ugly head every so often and if I’m not in the right frame of mind, I’ll be in for a rough week. Now that people look up to me, I need to make sure that I’m top of my game, smiling and doing what’s best for everyone. Tony has made me aware of the importance of positivity and I need to make sure I never succumb to negative energy. With that positivity comes the ability to inspire. I always do my best to provide my followers with something to look forward to everyday so that they could perform their very best. We all have common ground if we look hard enough and that’s when I feel I thrive: I often speak of situations we can all relate to as human beings which focuses your attention on the things you could be doing better.
All in all, Tony created a leader in me. Sure, I’ll follow him for guidance from here on out but I think he’d be happy knowing he’s a constant source of inspiring motivation not just for me but for every life he’s touched one way or another. All modesty aside, he’s even retweeted my thoughts on Twitter a few times and that lets me know that I must be doing something right! I hope one day I can shake his hand, look him dead in the eye and say: “Thank you”. Until then, I’ll stick to my motto: “Let the world know you exist. Give it something to remember you by.”
Be relentless.
Francisco Alvarez 