Thread: Copy written, so don't copy me?

Tony Robbins and Brian Tracey worked together for awhile as far as I know. If you look at some of Tracey's development material, it looks a lot like Tony Robbin's. I'm not saying Brian took from Tony.

I think it comes down to interpretation. If you use your own interpretation then I think you may be safe. But there is always a fine line. But there are principles that are simply universal and cannot be copy-writed. The golden rule is probably the most known. I think any personal development guru may follow many of the same lines of principality.

Information cannot be protected.

When you read a book, you are allowed to do whatever you want with that information, but you cannot steal the words, sentences or images directly and reuse them.

Where you draw the line between the two is, of course, up to lawyers to debate, but basically it would be tough to be stealing if you are using your own interpretation. You are certainly allowed to be influenced by your teachers. Many people have developed brilliant original ideas by synthesizing the concepts they learned from others.

None of the personal development gurus you mentioned, did not borrow heavily from people they learned from.

Many of the ideas taught by "life coaches" such as Tony Robbins or "financial coaches" such as RK or MJ are timeless ideas. As Jon said, that is not protected.

They are just packaged differently. You can't use the packaging, but you can use the information. Best thing to do is package it into your own system - then YOU and YOUR PRODUCT are brand-able.

Example: RK: Rat Race, Rich Dad, Doodad, etc. MJ: Fastlane, Slowlane, etc.

Take the info, but put your own "identifiable" twist on it.

Rep++ for taking action and making it happen.

The information provided by others here is great.

Also, I'd like to add, there is nothing wrong with giving the due respect to those that deserve it.

There is nothing wrong with telling people what material has been beneficial for you in the past.
Actually, I encourage that.

In some RK and lots of Tony Robbins' material you will find they refer other people's work. Do the same.

And, now that we mention it... what if... you create your own website (call me, we need to talk about this idea more in detail), and provide a list of suggested material for others to read?

For this page, get your Amazon affiliates account and make a tiny commission from the customer that buy the books referred by your site.

This website will also allow you to publish your own material later. And also may be used to market your next seminars and provide advice and articles to increase the benefits you are providing to your seminar attendants.

Originally Posted by Webjunky

I think it comes down to interpretation. If you use your own interpretation then I think you may be safe.

Exactly, your interpretation of the ideas that you have read is your own thinking, based on your own experiences. This is original. Tony Robins was not the first personal development guru, just like Einstein wasn't the first scientist...and science is all about testing the ideas and theories of others and then building on them.

We don't just develop knowledge in a vacuum. Others influence us. I think reading these personal development books is great for enhancing your expertise and allows you to talk on what you find works, and what you find doesn't.

As you get better and better in your craft, you will probably be able to merge your different sources together and create your own, 100% original stuff.

Just consider yourself a remarketer. A lot of stuff in my book will be new ideas spun from old ideas, some will be entirely new, and some things, will be "I've heard that before!".

It's all about market branding, USP's, and putting your brand in a new light.

You're simply taking something that might be old, and making it new.

The power of marketing can turn a boring old blanket into something that just isn't good enough anymore .... with remarketing, that blanket turns into a Snuggie with millions sold.


PS: USP = Unique Selling Proposition (Sorry about the jargon)

I really appreciate the responses everyone. It makes a lot of sense when you put it like that. It would seem to me that I would be just "re-spinning" the information. Just like all the information that has been passed down to me by my martial arts instructors. I feel I am the best martial arts instructor in Minnesota currently. I am real good at taking information that is quite complex and chunking it down for people to understand.

Throughout my competitive career I always sought out the toughest and best people to train with specifically to get better than them. Because of the quality of people I competed against they made me better than I could have imagined.

Mr. Robbins has been a great influence on me. If there was anyone that I could compete with and because extraordinary I believe it would be him!

While as scary of a goal as that is for me, It excites me to no end.

Maybe some of you guys have some ideas of your own? Is there anything you would rather see in your own personal development programs?

If you remember I started a thread a while back about Tony's financial advice. "Buy. Hold. Diversify." Which obviously I agree with the Fastlane over that.

Maybe my first contribution is to the Fastlane and MJ's teachings . That is - after he gets that book out of course!