Human being vs human doing:

“I don’t want your life to be about being a human doing. I want to be a human being where you experience what you really deserve, what you really want.”
– Tony Robbins

Meaning of quote:

This idea of human BEing vs human DOing pushes the same old adage “stop and smell the roses”. Charlie Munger gave me a lesson that I think you’d appreciate which is, “what trite, is often right.”

This dance that we call life can feel both long and short – the perception of which you’ll realize will be based on how you use your time.

It comes down to knowing what your priorities are and analyzing experiences that bring the most satisfaction. Once you narrow it down to the things that matter to you the most, figure out a way to fill your day with more of that.

Truth is we don’t give appreciation to time and just let it slip away even though we faintly know “time is the most valuable asset” or that “we can have more money, but you can’t get more time.”

There’s a great story to really illustrate the meaning behind this quote:

The short story of a Mexican fisherman

There was an investment banker who took a much needed vacation and went to the pier of a small coastal Mexican village. When the small boat had docked the banker noticed that the man had several fish and was impressed by the quality and he started doing the math in his head and wondered how long it took to catch.

The Mexican replied, “only a little while. The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”

He replied, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”

The banker scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution.”

He then added he would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City where you would run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisher man asked, “but how long will this take”.

To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”

“But then what?” The Mexican asked.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”

“Millions – señor? Then what?”

To which the investment banker replied, “Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

Jim Rohn has entered the chat…

Here’s one of Jim Rohn’s teaching I wrote down:

A first grader became curious because her father brought home a briefcase full of papers every evening. Her mother explained, “Daddy has so much to do that he can’t finish it all at the office. That’s why he has to bring work home at night.” “Well then,” asked the child innocently, “why don’t they put him in a slower group?”

Don’t sacrifice too much in the pursuit of more, there’s beauty in being small and joining the slower group.

Slow Dance Poem

by: David L

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask “How are you?”, do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
’cause you never had time to call and say hi?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life isn’t a race, so take it slower,
hear the music before your song is over.

Other Famous Tony Robbins Quotes:

Feel free to add or start a conversation in the comment thread below with your interpretation of this quote.

Do you agree or disagree with Tony on this quote?

What other quote comes to mind when you read this?