Many people assume I volunteer at Tony Robbins’ events to attend the event for free, but that’s not it. Here’s what I get from my time and effort.

Success Leaves Clues. So Does Fulfillment.

One of my daily rituals is an evening journaling practice that I created to give me momentum heading into my next day. My Daily Recap™️ is a 5-part framework (backed by science, of course) that helps me capture the essence of the day and take what was great into the next day.

I send each day’s entry to a master note in Evernote that I create for each year. At the end of the year, I love reviewing the entire note to see all I’ve felt and done throughout the year.

The other day, while searching for something in my Drafts app — in which I do most of my writing (and there’s a lot there)— I found one of those random Daily Recaps. I hadn’t yet created the 5-part structure that I use today, but the recap itself was no less thrilling to review.

A Snapshot from Unleash the Power Within

As it happens, it was from 4 years ago today — November 8, 2013. It was the first day of Tony Robbins’ Unleash the Power Within event in New Jersey. I was serving on the volunteer crew — aka “crewing” the event (FYI, the photo above is from the 2017 UPW in New Jersey, at which I served on the crew).

It feels appropriate to share it here today, four years to the date, and a day before UPW starts in Palm Beach. I am not serving on the crew at this event, but I’ll be there in energy, and the energy of the weekend will be with me. That’s how it works.

Brief Context: The Crew Experience

Before I share the journal entry, some brief context:

Crewing is a volunteer role. We don’t get paid to be there, and we pay for our travel, hotel and food. We arrive 1–2 days before the event and stay through its conclusion, often until the next day. We spend a lot of time on our feet. If you’ve ever been to a Tony event, you know the hours are long. Crew starts each day earlier and ends later than the participants.

I crewed my first UPW in 2011, and since then I’ve served at 9 UPWs and once at Date With Destiny (an even longer commitment). People often ask me why I crew Tony’s events. They think perhaps I get to hang with him backstage or that I go as a way to attend the event for free. Neither is the case. In fact, I tend to work at the Products Booth; over the course of the 4-day UPW, I only step into the main room a few times.

There are so many reasons why I crew, but I think this journal entry and the insights that follow sum it up well.

My full entry from that day is below. I actually wrote it early the next morning (that sometimes happens after a long night).

Following the entry are the insights I wrote at the moment when I rediscovered this the other day.

I am publishing these as I wrote them — journal entries to myself— because I think it illustrates the power of journaling, both as a tool in the moment and as a way to remind yourself of all you’ve done and become.

Daily Recap: 11/8/2013

Yesterday: a 21-hour day that started at 4:30 am. Early workout before crew day started.

I supported the Products team through a challenging (and fun) morning, working in the parking garage because that was the only place we could set up. We wouldn’t have been able to set up there and sell product if not for the iPads — an idea I brought to Rich on my first crew in 2011. He had been skeptical, but he acknowledged I had a point. I had a role in this. 🙂

I supported UPW participants as they started their journey to a higher standard of living. I helped people reach awareness about their present and make decisions about their future.

In my 30 minutes in the main room today, I experienced a breakthrough moment of my own.

In between all of that, I got a fully-signed contract on a new deal for clients who decided only last week to buy, and I signed a new listing contract.

I stepped up to opportunity and embraced a role I feared — as a lead-in on the fire lane — then helped a few hundred participants step up to walk the hot coals. I walked my lane TWICE — because the first time wasn’t on fresh coals and I wasn’t leaving anything on the table.

In bed at 2:15 am today, and slept for a few hours before a 20 minute workout and another full day of breakthroughs and shifts.

I’m meeting extraordinary new people and forging deeper connections with current friends.

My Insights, 4 Years Later

Remember the Journey

I forgot that I had tried to make My Daily Recap a daily practice before I started it in earnest on January 1, 2014. Reading this reminds me that I had tried over that previous summer to integrate this and it didn’t take.

People often comment on my long streaks, but before my streaks, there were lots of starts and stops while I struggled to find the formula that would help me create consistency.

It helps to remember how much work and effort you put into something. We often take for granted the things that now come easily to us; we forget about the learning curve and the struggle. I won’t forget. I know how difficult it can be.

And this is why I know The Ritual Revolution will be so valuable to people who desire to create sustainable daily rituals.

Never Underestimate What You Can Do

Look at all the amazing things I did in that one day. On little sleep. Notice how I wasn’t tired. I was energized by it. I can feel the positive energy of all that I did on this extremely full day. I can feel the love of what I was doing.

I am noticing how I was able to hold space for all of it: to be at UPW and still be caring for my clients and moving things forward.

People who say you must be “on the ground” for real estate don’t understand what I do. That’s their limiting belief. I served my clients at the highest level without being there. They didn’t doubt that I could still help them. And neither did I.

Why I Love to Crew UPW

This really captures why I love to crew Tony Robbins events. When people ask me why do you crew? Why would you spend your time and energy to volunteer, without getting paid?

This is why.

Look at all that this gave me in ONE day. Life Purpose. Connection. Confidence. Collaboration. Breakthroughs. Service. Support. FUN.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve at Tony’s events and receive these gifts. So grateful for every moment of growth, for the opportunities to step up as a leader and to help others. So incredibly grateful.

Productivity Isn’t Always Apparent in the Moment

So often, I think “Why did I spend so much time journaling my thoughts instead of doing something more productive with my time?” but this reinforces for me the value in the practice.

Seeing this reminds me of my purpose.

It’s like a voice from my past self saying “This is who you are in your truth.”

Success Leaves Clues. So Does Fulfillment.

Tony often says “Success leaves clues.” So does fulfillment.

While one entry doesn’t tell me much, reading this in the context of 4 years worth of My Daily Recap tells me a lot.

I must create more days like this. Working in collaboration with other mission- and service-oriented agents of change. Supporting great work of mentors who I admire and respect. Changing lives. Helping others. Coaching. Having fun. Creating breakthroughs.

Feeling aligned with my purpose. Feeling alive.

Yes, I would like more days like this, please.

What are the patterns that comprise your best days? Please share. I would love to hear what trends you notice.