You know, when Tony Robbins said “Success is doing what you want, when you want…” he was really getting at the core of personal freedom. It’s not just about money; it’s about designing a life with zero compromises. Let’s break down what makes this definition so powerful.
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Meaning
At its heart, this quote defines success not as an accumulation of things, but as the ultimate expression of personal autonomy and freedom.
Explanation
Look, we often get sold this idea that success is a corner office or a fancy car. But Tony flips that entirely. He’s talking about agency. The power to call your own shots. Every part of that sentence—the what, when, where, who, how much—is a variable you get to control. It’s a litmus test for your life. If you can’t do what you want with your time, with the people you choose, in a place that inspires you… then, by this definition, you’ve got some work to do. It’s a high bar, but man, it’s a clarifying one.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Success (341) |
| Topics | freedom (82), independence (8), success general (86) |
| Literary Style | concise (408) |
| Emotion / Mood | liberating (29) |
| Overall Quote Score | 83 (302) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from his 1991 book, Awaken the Giant Within, which was a massive hit in the US and really cemented his place in the personal development world. You sometimes see this quote floating around unattributed, but it’s 100% pure Tony Robbins from that era.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Tony Robbins (102) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! (44) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Born Anthony J. Mahavoric in 1960, Tony Robbins rose from a challenging childhood to become a leading voice in personal development. He started as Jim Rohn’s assistant, then built Robbins Research International and created globally attended seminars such as Unleash the Power Within and Date With Destiny. The Tony Robbins book list spans self-help, business, finance, and health, with several No. 1 bestsellers. He co-authored finance works with Peter Mallouk and a longevity guide with Peter H. Diamandis and Robert Hariri. Robbins’ foundation supports youth, prison, and hunger-relief programs.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Success is doing what you want, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 1991; ISBN: 978-0-671-79154-8; Last edition: Simon & Schuster, 2013; Number of pages: 544. |
| Where is it? | Chapter: Defining Success, Approximate page from 2013 edition: 295 |