If you've been reading my articles in the past 18 months, you know that I've had an incredible journey with Tony Robbins, which culminated in an incredible opportunity to sit down and speak with him. I've broken this interview into 4 parts and want to begin with the most important one that most business owner overlook; what Tony Robbins calls The Art of Fulfillment.

Why Success Without Fulfillment Is the Ultimate Failure

Tony Robbins believes that success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure. Most people believe that when they reach a certain point in their careers, that they will instantly become fulfilled. You know what I'm talking about, as it can take the form of any of the following:

So why are so many successful entrepreneurs depressed? I can speak from personal experience here. I distinctly remembering going to St. Lucia with my wife and children and thinking to myself, "Is this all there is?" I was feeling depressed -- ON VACATION! All because I had reached several of my goals and the expectations of how I would feel when I got there simply weren't there.

As entrepreneurs, we're achievers! Every time we achieve something, we systematically move the goal post even further. What we don't do is stop and celebrate our wins and acknowledge our accomplishments. The bottom line is that if you can't be happy with who you are and can't be satisfied with what you have accomplished, then this really is the ultimate failure, isn't it?

Fulfillment is About Gratitude, Celebration and Contribution

What is even more crazy is just how easy it is to be fulfilled. And I don't mean sometime in the future when you achieve a certain goal. I mean right now. If you're feeling down about yourself or your accomplishments, then listen up. We're going to set you on a course to fulfillment right now in three easy steps courtesy of Tony Robbins:

Begin each day with gratitude.

Next, Celebrate Your Future Accomplishments

And Finally, Find a Way to Give Generously. Regardless of where you are in your career, you are full of abundance and it is your responsibility to give of yourself. This can be in the form of time, money or anyway that feels right for you. Find a cause you truly care about and give your time, money and ideally both. The act of contribution will remind you of just how successful and fortunate you really are. And giving is addictive. Once you shift from a model of scarcity to one of abundance, you will feel a flood of fulfillment.