Business strategist Tony Robbins explains how reframing obstacles, building real value, and harnessing technology can revolutionize the way small businesses approach growth and resilience.
Many small business owners feel overwhelmed by constant challenges. What are your top strategies for overcoming fear and maintaining resilience during tough times?
Overcoming fear and building resilience starts with a shift in focus — because where focus goes, energy flows. Fear lives in the unknown. When you focus on what you can control, instead of what you cannot control, you take your power back. You stop being at the mercy of circumstances and start becoming the creator of your outcomes.
Here are a few strategies for overcoming fear and maintaining resilience:
- Preparation. Anticipate challenges. Strategize. When you’re prepared, you’re not reacting — you’re leading. Fear loses its grip when you’ve already mapped the terrain.
- Master your emotional state. Your emotions are the fuel behind every decision. Create rituals that ground you, like practicing gratitude daily, reflecting on wins (even the small ones), and priming your mind for possibility. When you’re in a beautiful state, you make better decisions.
- Recognize patterns. Break the patterns that don’t serve you. Identify the triggers that spark fear or overwhelm, and replace them with empowering habits that move you forward.
- Commit to growth. Life isn’t happening to you, it’s happening for you. Challenges are not roadblocks — they’re training grounds. When you embrace that mindset, resilience stops being something you chase and it becomes who you are.
Many entrepreneurs struggle with pricing their products and services effectively. What’s your advice on how to price confidently without undervaluing their business?
Confident pricing begins with clarity. Entrepreneurs need to understand the outcome they deliver and the difference they make. When you’re clear on the value — not just the product, but the transformation — you naturally price with confidence. Pricing should not be based on time or effort; it should be based on impact. When you change someone’s life or business in a meaningful way, that’s worth a premium.
Here’s the key: don’t just create happy customers — create raving fans. When you go beyond expectations, when you truly serve, people don’t just buy from you, they champion you.
Stay close to your clients and ask what they value, what they need, what they’d tell their friends about you, etc. Keep refining, and keep leveling up. When you lead with heart, deliver with excellence, and focus on results, pricing becomes a reflection of the real value you bring.
AI is transforming industries, yet many small business owners fear it will replace jobs. How do you see AI as an opportunity rather than a threat for small businesses?
AI isn’t here to replace us, it’s here to free us to do what we do best. It can take on the repetitive, time-consuming tasks like scheduling and data crunching so you and your team can focus on what really matters: creating, connecting, and innovating.
That’s the mindset I’ve brought into developing my new AI coaching app. It brings together decades of my tools and strategies, powered by AI, to help people around the world get real-time coaching and support anytime they need it. It’s just one example of how AI can be used to empower and elevate, not replace.
Small business owners have that same opportunity. AI can handle the repetitive, time-consuming tasks — like scheduling and data crunching — so you and your team can focus on what really matters: creating, connecting, and innovating.
The businesses that will win aren’t the ones resisting change; they’re the ones who leverage it. Use AI to understand your customers better, personalize your services, and scale your vision. When you embrace technology as your ally, not your enemy, you unlock a whole new level of possibility.
Many entrepreneurs feel like they’re working in their business instead of on their business. How can they shift from being operators to true business leaders?
Making the shift from operator to leader begins with a mindset change. As a business owner, your role isn’t just to do the work — it’s to build the vision.
Start by identifying tasks you handle personally that could be delegated. Delegation frees up time for high-level strategy, allowing you to focus on growth rather than day-to-day operations. Whether it’s outsourcing administrative tasks or empowering a team member to take on more responsibility, small steps in delegation can have a big impact.
Additionally, develop systems and processes that streamline your operations. A business that relies solely on the owner’s involvement isn’t scalable. When you implement clear workflows and train your team to handle essential tasks, you create a business that can thrive independently of you.
Lastly, prioritize leadership development. Invest time in refining your vision, communicating effectively with your team, and making decisions that align with long-term goals. When you shift your role from “doing” to “leading,” you unlock new levels of business success.
You’ve coached countless high performers. What time management techniques or productivity hacks do you swear by for maximizing results?
Time management isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about getting what matters most done. That’s why I created the RPM system — it stands for Results, Purpose, Massive Action. It’s not a time management system; it’s a life management system.
Most people operate from a to-do list that keeps them busy but not fulfilled. RPM flips that script. Instead of asking “What do I need to do?”, you ask:
- What result do I want? Get crystal clear on your outcome.
- Why does it matter? Purpose is the fuel. When your ‘why’ is strong enough, you’ll find the ‘how’.
- What’s my massive action plan? Lay out the key steps that will move you forward fast.
This system helps you chunk your goals, align your daily actions with your life vision, and focus your energy on what actually drives progress — not just activity.
Another powerful tactic? Scheduling your outcomes, not just your tasks. I plan my week around the results I want to create, not time blocks filled with tasks. I review it constantly. Life is dynamic — your plan should be, too. When you operate from RPM, you don’t just manage your time — you own it. You move from reaction to creation, and that’s where real freedom and fulfillment live.
Scaling a business can be risky. What are the key factors small business owners should consider before scaling to ensure they do it sustainably?
Sustainable scaling requires a strategic approach. Here are the key factors to consider:
- Market Demand: Ensure there’s a strong and growing demand for your product or service. Conduct market research to understand trends and customer needs.
- Financial Health: Assess your cash flow and profitability to determine if your business can sustain expansion without overextending resources.
- Team Capability: Evaluate whether your team has the skills and capacity to support growth. Hiring and training the right people at the right time is key.
- Customer Experience: Assess whether scaling will compromise the quality of your product or service. Maintaining excellence as you grow is essential to long-term success.
Scaling isn’t just about getting bigger — it’s about getting better in a way that’s sustainable and strategic. Once you’ve decided you’re ready to scale, make sure you have operational efficiency and flexible planning. Streamlining workflows will help prevent inefficiencies from multiplying, while adaptable strategies will allow you to adjust based on market feedback and performance.
