If You Want To Be Awesome, Study Awesome People

Use Tony Robbins’ modeling method to achieve your goals

Do you ever look at someone who you admire and wonder if you could ever do what they’ve done? It can seem like an impossible mountain to climb. That’s because you only see the result of all their effort.

You have excuses for why you can’t do what they’ve done, right? You’re too busy with life or work. Maybe you’re not talented enough. Those people you look up to have achieved so much. They must have some natural talent. Wrong!

The reason they achieved what they did was because of the actions they took every day. So, what if you did exactly what they did? You could achieve their success. In fact, you could probably learn from their mistakes, and your potential could be even higher.

This is the basis for Tony Robbins’ modeling method. By looking to the people who have already achieved what you want, you can have similar results. It won’t be easy, and you’ll have to work your ass off. But it’ll be worth it.

Why modeling is good for learning

When I studied to be a teacher, modeling was a concept I learned during my first year. I was taught that if you show the students examples of what they are supposed to achieve, they’ll be more motivated and likely to achieve it.

Whenever I gave them an assignment, I would either create or find an example of what a well-completed assignment would look like. I’d also explain the steps they needed to take to achieve a similar result to what I showed them.

The students were usually more motivated to work if shown an example first. Their completed assignments would be like the example. However, sometimes they would go beyond what the example showed and surprise me.

Modeling has a clear basis in the psychology of learning. It’s at the core of Bandura’s social learning theory. Children grow up modeling behavior that they observe around them. First, they encode the behavior so that they may remember it. Later, they may imitate the behavior.

You’ve been modeling behavior your whole life. It’s time to do it with intention.

Children are more likely to copy the behavior of people who are like themselves. They will also pay attention to the consequences of the behavior. If the person they’re observing is rewarded for doing something, children are more likely to imitate them.

So, what does this have to do with you? Well, if you know what motivates children to model behavior, you’ll know more about what to look for in a role model. If you choose to model someone who is rewarded by their actions and is like you, you may feel more motivated.

Follow these 4 steps to learn from the best

Tony Robbins outlines some straightforward steps you can take to achieve your goals in any aspect of your life. Remember that simple doesn’t mean easy. You’ll face obstacles, and it will take a lot of work and dedication to overcome them.

Step 1: Find the right person to model

Whether it is success in a particular field of interest, a certain lifestyle, or a mental state, someone has probably achieved what you want. You can pick one person to model your whole life after, or you can choose several people to model certain aspects of your life after. It all depends on what you want.

Look at where they came from and how they got where they are. You may find that they came from a similar background as yourself. This can give you some extra motivation because they would have had to overcome many of the same obstacles you will. If you’re motivated, there’s a higher chance that you’ll follow through.

Step 2: Study the person you want to model

When you’ve found the right person, study their every move, background, how they got where they are, and what they are doing today. If you can, try to contact them or people who have achieved similar results to ask for help. People are often more willing to help than you’d believe.

If the person you’re modeling is very famous, it might be hard to get in touch and ask for help. In that case, there are probably videos, interviews, or books where they talk about how they got to where they are. Don’t stop at what they tell you, though. The person might not be aware of everything that is contributing to their success. Analyze their actions for yourself, too.

What you focus on will depend on what you want to achieve. If you want to achieve someone’s lifestyle, a good place to start would be their areas of focus, daily habits, and philosophy on life.

If you want to achieve similar results as your favorite athlete, you may start by analyzing their training schedule, how they move, and how they eat. You should learn everything you can to have the best starting point for what comes next.

Step 3: Formulate your strategy

Now, you figure out how you can apply everything you’ve learned to your own life. It’s important to consider that your circumstances are not necessarily the same as the person you’ve studied. To get where you want, you need to put their methods into practice in a way that makes sense to your situation.

Look at what you’re currently doing that will help you reach your goal. Then look at what the person you want to model is doing that can be applied to your own life. How can you plan that into actions and goals that will work for you? It’s great if you can build on your existing habits.

Don’t commit to something that simply won’t work for you or your situation. Set ambitious, but realistic goals that focus on the process.

Let’s look at an example. Gina wants to become a professional musician. She selects a famous musician who has already succeeded in what she wants to do. Then she studies this musician to learn their practice routines and how they broke into the music industry.

Gina might then look at her own life and see that she has about 2–3 hours of free time on a typical day. She practices singing for 1 hour every day and spends 30 minutes promoting herself on social media. She’ll also write one song every week. Goals that focus on the process can be more effective than goals where you focus on the outcome.

Over time, you might develop or expand your habits and goals, but it’s good to set an achievable starting point.

Step 4: Put your strategy into action

All the knowledge and wisdom in the world won’t help you get where you want if you don’t put it into action. Carve some time out of your day and commit to your plan. You may not have more than an hour or two every day, but if you’re consistent, that can get you far.

As you’re moving towards your goal, it’s a good idea to reevaluate your strategy continually. Is it bringing you closer to where you want to be? If not, maybe switch things up.

You should also pay attention to your own potential. While you may start small, once you get into the habit of things, you might find that you are capable of more. If you are, look at stepping up your goals or adding new ones.

Key takeaways

• Whatever you want to achieve, someone else has likely done it first.
• Modeling is a key factor in how humans learn.
• Studying and emulating the people who have come before you is a shortcut to achieving similar results.
• Use what you learn from them to plan a strategy comprising goals that focus on the process.
• Put your plan into action and reevaluate it continually to see if it’s working or if you can do more.