“The smallest of actions is always better than the noblest of intentions.” - Robin Sharma
Today I am thrilled to be able to share with you this interview with one of my heroes, Robin Sharma.
Robin Sharma is one of the world’s top experts on leadership and personal success. He is the author of 10 major international bestsellers, including The Greatness Guide
If you enjoy the interview, be sure to visit Robin at his website robinsharma.com.
Pick The Brain: My first question relates to the life you were living prior to writing The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
Robin Sharma: like Julian Mantle in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
It wasn’t until I began to work on my inner life and know myself that my life changed. Success really does begin within. The size and quality of your outer life is only limited by the size and quality of your inner life. And life is a mirror - giving us not what we want but who we are. It took me years to get that.
PTB: Perhaps the single most important lesson I have learned from you is the value in waking early and, in particular, the idea of having a “Holy Hour”. May I ask you what you how you spend your Holy Hour each morning and the importance of this ritual in your life?
Robin: The Holy Hour, as you know, is simply 60 minutes at the beginning of your day that you devote to self-mastery and personal development. If your outer life is really a reflection of the quality of your inner life, then it’s a brilliant move to spend at least an hour a day working on yourself. This simple idea alone has helped so many of our clients from around the world get to world-class in business and in life.
During my Holy Hour, I journal, I read inspirational books, I review my goals and plans and I simply make the time to think. Because clarity precedes mastery and the more clear you can get on what you want to create in life, the more focused you will be in your daily behaviors. Every day can be a platform to get you closer to your mountaintop. And yet, too many people live life by accident.
PTB: I know the most important thing in the world to you is your two kids, Colby and Bianca. I am a father myself, and I am interested to hear any suggestions you having for maintaining an optimal work-life balance.
Robin: My two kids are my heroes. As I wrote in The Greatness Guide
With my kids, I know I only have a small window of opportunity before they get older - so I carve out time for them now. I’ve worked with too many CEOs who arrived at the mountaintop of success but got there alone. Family matters.
PTB: One of my favourite quotes which you introduced me to is: “the price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret”. I have used this quote a number of times in my articles, and it always gets a response. Do you have any specific advice for people who struggle with discipline?
Robin: To be more disciplined:
- Get up early for 30 days
- Surround yourself with excellent people
- Finish what your start
- Keep your promises
- Be punctual
- Set and realize small goals
- Get brilliant at visualization
I know you love to read whenever you get the chance. What was the last good book you read and why would you recommend it?
I re-read The Message of a Master
PTB: Robin, through my blog I come across a lot of people who want to change but don’t know where to start. What do you suggest people in this situation do? In particular, is there anything they can do today that can help put them on a new course?
The smallest of actions is always better than the noblest of intentions. High performers have a bias towards action. There’s great power in just starting. Taking a single step towards a goal/dream/result sets forces in play that create consequences. In my leadership programs I share an idea that has helped our clients like Microsoft, FedEx and Nike: “small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results.” Also remember that most of the things we fear never happen. So why let these hallucinations called fears keep us small in our lives.
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You can learn more about Robin Sharma by visiting robinsharma.com, one of the most popular leadership and personal success destinations on the Internet. You may also like to download Robin’s free audio program, “Extraordinary Leadership: 5 Best Practices to Lead the Field“.
(6 votes, average: 4.83 out of 5)
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I am a big fan of Robin Sharma.
Thanks for the enlightening interview
Cheers
Ganesh
i like u because ur thinking is very much similar to mine i also want to a famous wriiter in short &sweet i want to work on ur foot step
Thanks Peter for bringing this interview to us. I really like Robin’s thinking and especially liked his line “small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results.” I’m going to use that with my people at work.
Great stuff!
Simon
Sharma does a fine job of communicating what the greatest thinkers in history have been saying for over 3,000 years: Self-awareness is the key to success in all areas of our lives, whether it be relationships, personal finance, or business.
I would add that followers of Sharma and people like him should not remain followers but find their own way — just as Sharma did…
“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” ~ Basho
I don’t call it “Holy Hour”, but I spend about 90 minutes, first thing every morning, meditating in my dry sauna in my garage. It’s quiet (at least most of the time) and very relaxing.
It’s amazing how that can start out your day.
Stanley F. Bronstein
Mr Achievement
Attorney, CPA, Author & Professional Motivational Speaker
Whether it’s your “Holy Hour” or “Hour of Power”, “small daily improvements” or living a philosophy of “Constant and Never-Ending Improvement” or whatever it is you want to call it, time for daily self reflection is crucial to self awareness and keeping in mind of where we ultimately want to be or achieve.
I don’t know what else there is to say about or research that needs to be done in attaining success apart from the usual visualization, affirmations, daily reflection … Tony Robbins, Robin Sharma, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn (the list goes on..), are they coming up with new ways to state the same principles perhaps?
I guess there will always be a market for self improvement, no matter how good or bad the product it may be.
- Will
I love the idea of a morning ritual. Doing an hour of yoga everyday and then having a quiet breakfast really sets me up for success. Great interview!
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hi there…..
i never use to read books apart from the regular school books but after i graduated is started working with the BPO industry there i met one of the best person who is now my close and best Friend she referred me to read books by Robin Sharma so i started the moment i started my life changed totally i started implementing those things on the books in my life and since then i m a great follower of Mr.Sharma.
Hi
I really Admire Robin Sharma .
His Every Single Word Inspires you to Actually Imagine that its Possible …….Just Keep your thought Process Simple !!!!!
Thanks Robin !!!
Happy Reading Guys
Robin you are really awesome
Digging out the hidden potentials is really a great art and you are definitely a geuine artist.
Thanks a lot for all your values and quality wisdom.
Mr. Robin is endowed with special gifts (qualities) by God. And the good thing is that he wants everyone to acquire/ develope these qualities. I love a man who likes something for others what he likes for himself. Thats great.
Very excited. Just confirmed my place at Robin Sharma’s one day workshop next month in Sydney. It’s his first time here in Australia. I can’t wait!
Simon
Robin as ever neever ceases to impress by providing insights into living a full life. Of late though my deal for a subscription has run out i miss those monthly messages.
Please Sharma get me back on.
i feel proud to think that this remarkable work have been done by an indian. i place Robin along with Bhagat SINGH and arindam chaudhary. i dare say robin is near perfection
hi sir
this is sumit thakur here.i’ve read your 2 books,the monk who soldhis ferrari and the greatness guide.im still unable to what to do.why i am here
please tell me im very much disappointed by the reaction of people to whom i have told about my thinking and about you.please make reply
male 20, from bhopal india
I read Robin Sharma’s ‘The Monk who sold his Ferrari’ recently and found it absolutely amazing. I just wish I had read it earlier.
[…] of my favorite personal development coaches, Robin Sharma, advocates taking a “Holy Hour” each morning. Basically this is an hour you devote to working […]
[…] Robin Sharma is one smooth talker - I love listening to his voice. He backs this up with some of the most inspiring, yet down-to-earth, advice you will come across. While he doesn’t seem to record many new podcasts these days, there are 35 podcasts available free on his site. […]
Robin
You are great. I first read your book THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI and yesterday when I was browsing through your collections in book store the catchy book title”WHO WILL CRY WHEN YOU DIE” really jolted me. The books nowadays are so costly that sometimes I have to do windowshopping but your above book who will…..
inspired me to read for which I may have to curtail
my expenses.
I was very fortunate to participate in an all day workshop with Robin last week. It was a thought provoking, inspiring day that saw me take copious notes and leave with so many ideas on how I can improve myself. There were some great one-liners and a bunch of fantastic lists that he shared. I have documented some of this here:
http://freeflowlife.net/2008/07/27/an-open-thank-you-to-robin-sharma/
Cheers
Simon
great interview,
the book “the monk who sold his ferrari”
is awsome..no words to express.very motivational.
simply awsome.
i really love the book
Excellency your honour,
You have shown the art of living to the planet…
Personally,I have benifitted a lot from your book-’The monk who sold his ferrari’and ‘Megaliving’.
You have enlightened me…
Thank You So Much!!!
-B.K.Saha
Robin I have read your book “THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI” and I am an ardent fan of yours. I use to browse many of your books in the bookshop but they are too costly and unaffordable for me. I would be really obliged if you can present atleast two of your latest publications at my address: G V S SASTRY, Lane No.4, House No.VS 30, Bank Colony, Kokar, Ranchi 834 001, INDIA. That would really motivate me.
Really I liked all your books. The Monk who sold his ferrari and Mega living are the best and life changing. This can mould a person. those are really master piece.
Robin,
you know the secret of life…and has applied that as a channel for today’s prosperity….you are really living in the present………and also building the same in others..
hello well i m fan of chetan bhagat &shiv khera but 1 of my friend told about u i recently read about u that why my keen interest to know abou u &i really impressed by your idea of early awakening &holy hour
i promise u to go through ur best book THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI
Hai there, thank you for sharing your interview with Robin Sharma
The first Robin Sharma’s book that I read is : Discover Your Destiny and I have to admit that I haven’t finished reading it, haha, that book is a lot deeper than I thought it would be
But so far I enjoy what I read and can’t wait to get it done
Happy weekend ^o^