“Mike is an extraordinary man. He's brought me insights on how to reach people on the Internet that are so valuable. This is a man you should deal with. Take advantage of what he has to offer.”

Tony Robbins

In 1996, after a devastating divorce, a spiritual, health and financial crisis in my life, I was introduced to Tony Robbins by one of my best friends, Ben Willmore. Ben had gone through his own personal struggles and I was amazed at how quickly he turned his own life around.

I remember seeing him and thinking, “whatever Ben is taking, I've got to get some too.” I personally witnessed Ben go from struggling employee to start a successful training company, write a book, become an authority in Adobe Photoshop (and still is) in less than a year…not to mention achieving fantastic financial success.

During a dinner, Ben told me he had gone through Tony's training and courses. I vowed that the next time I saw that “goofy guy with big teeth on TV”, that I'd buy his course too.

That very evening as I sat down with a bag of Doritos and a beer after working 16 hours in my nearly bankrupt company, in front of the tube, guess who was on TV?

You guessed it. Tony Robbins.

A promise is a promise, so I picked up the phone, called the number and two days later had my big box of Tony CDs.

After listening to two discs, I called the offices and plunked down $7,000 for Tony's “Mastery University” program on the only remaining credit card that wasn't maxed out because I knew in my heart that this was the best way to get out of the pain I was experiencing.

What I DIDN'T know at the time was that my account rep, Chris Hendrickson, would become one of my best friends in six years.

Despite all of this, I was skeptical for the first two days of the big “Life Mastery” event in Hawaii… But after two days, I couldn't help buy say “if the rest of the planet had access to this guy, the world would be a better place.

Impressed and overwhelmed (in a good way) with Tony's presence, teaching style and charisma, I vowed that someday I'd return the favor he gave me in some small way.

There's much more to this story than I can share now, but I'll simply say that after 12 years, I've been given the privilege of returning the favor to Tony.

Several of my peers and good friends (Frank Kern, Mike Filsaime, Jeff Walker, Eben Pagan, Brendon Burchard) and I are consulting with Tony and his executive team – providing insights and resources to help him with his Internet presence.

And to make that dream even bigger still, Tony spent a day in my studio with me and my good friend, Frank Kern shooting videos for an upcoming campaign.

There are only a few celebrities I've really wanted to spend time time and get to know – Tony is one of them. It's been a magical experience that I'll never forget.

Now back to chopping wood and carrying water.