{{infobox company |company logo	|company_name crowdSPRING |company_type Private |foundation May, 2007 |location Chicago, Illinois, USA |key_people Ross Kimbarovsky, Co-Founder; Mike Samson, Co-Founder |area_served Worldwide |industry Design |products Custom Logo Design, Website Design, Illustration, Marketing Materials, Industrial Design, Copywriting |num_employees 14 |homepage www.crowdspring.com }}

Crowdspring (written "crowdSPRING") is one of the largest marketplaces in the world for crowdsourced creative services. Entrepreneurs, small businesses, startups, big Brands and agencies who need a custom logo design, website design, other graphic design, industrial design or copywriting post what they need, when they need it and how much they'll pay. Once posted, creatives from around the world (over 100,000 from 200 countries) submit actual work. Buyers choose from among actual work (currently an average of more than 110 entries per project), not bids and proposals.

crowdSPRING was co-founded in May 2007 by Ross Kimbarovsky and Michael Samson. crowdSPRING launched its online marketplace publicly in May 2008. crowdSPRING is based in Chicago.

More than 100,000 graphic designers and writers from 200 countries work on crowdSPRING. Unlike traditional marketplaces, where buyers select from among bids and proposals, crowdSPRING uses an innovative business model - buyers select from among actual designs to the buyer's specification, submitted by multiple designers. Buyers average more than 110 designs per project. More than 25,000 entrepreneurs, small businesses and agencies from over 73 countries have leveraged crowdSPRING's creative community for help with graphic, web and industrial design, and for help with written content (including company and product names).

crowdSPRING handles full project management, file transfer, payment, legal contracts, and communication (public and private). Designers can create profiles and create portfolios on the site. The crowdSPRING marketplace offers comprehensive feedback, statistics, ratings, and community forums. crowdSPRING offers all buyers a money back guarantee

Awards

Wired (magazine) Small Biz of 2008, Business.com best people solution, 2008 finalist for the Chicago Innovation Awards, the Illinois Technology Association 2009 Newcomer, a top five finalist worldwide for a 2009 Webby Awards for Community, named an Official Honoree for the Services and Applications Category in the 13th Annual Webby Awards, and 2009 Stevie Awards for best product/service (crowdSPRING was a 2010 finalist for best e-commerce site in the Stevie Awards, and a top five finalist for Tech America Foundation's American Technology Award in the Internet Services and E-Commerce category.

Blog

crowdSPRING maintains a blog which was launched in mid 2008 and is ranked by AdAge to be among the top 50 marketing blogs in the world.

Criticism

When it launched publicly in mid 2008, the company and its business model received some criticism because crowdSPRING's marketplace works on a speculative model and challenges traditional ways of buying and selling graphic design, industrial design, and copywriting services. This is the process of asking professionals to complete custom work for the chance of getting payment. crowdSPRING embraced and actively participates in the debate about its spec work business model.

References

External links

crowdSPRING website

crowdSPRING blog

crowdSPRING forums

Category:Design companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Chicago, Illinois Category:Internet companies of the United States Category:Privately held companies based in Illinois Category:Graphic design

name	Anthony "Tony" Robbins
birth date	February 29, 1960
birth place	North Hollywood, California,United States
occupation	Author Actor Professional speaker Peak Performance Coach
years active	1978–present
height
spouse	}}

Anthony "Tony" Robbins (born February 29, 1960) is an American self-help author and motivational speaker. He became well known through his infomercials and self-help books, ''Unlimited Power: The New Science Of Personal Achievement'' and ''Awaken The Giant Within''. Robbins writes about subjects such as health and energy, overcoming fears, persuasive communication, and enhancing relationships. Robbins began his career learning from many different motivational speakers, and promoted seminars for his personal mentor, Jim Rohn. He is deeply influenced by neuro-linguistic programming and a variety of philosophies. Robbins' books include ''Unlimited Power: The New Science of Personal Achievement'' and ''Awaken The Giant Within''.

Robbins's work has been featured in major media including Time, Newsweek, Fortune, Forbes, Life, GQ, Vanity Fair, Business Week, Tycoon and Success magazines, the CBS Evening News, NBC News, ABC's Prime Time Live, Fox News, CNN and A&E; as well as newspapers, radio programs, and Internet media worldwide. Robbins has been mentioned or featured in 15 major motion pictures, including a cameo role in the hit movie "Shallow Hal." In 2007, he was named to Forbes magazine's "Celebrity 100" list.

His programs have reached over 4 million people from 100 countries around the world.

Anthony Robbins was ranked among the “Top 50 Business Intellectuals in the World” by Accenture’s Institute for Strategic Change. Robbins has spoken at Harvard Business School and was ranked by the school among the “Top 200 Business Gurus” (Harvard Business School Press, 2003).

Early life

Robbins was born Anthony Jay Mahavorick in North Hollywood, California. He later moved to Azusa, California, and attended Glendora High School. Robbins says that he lived in a small low-rent apartment in the Los Angelos area during his early twenties and had dreamed of living in a mansion for years. In 1984, as his career began to take off, he bought Del Mar Castle for $1.7M. He sold the property in 1988 for $3.25M.

Career

Robbins began his career promoting seminars for Jim Rohn. According to Robbins, Jim Rohn taught him that "happiness and success in life are not the result of what we have, but rather of how we live. What we do with the things we have makes the biggest difference in the quality of life."

Later Robbins began his own work as a self-help coach. He taught neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and Ericksonian Hypnosis after training with NLP co-founder John Grinder. In 1983, Robbins learned to firewalk from Tolly Burkan and began to incorporate it into his seminars.

Robbins promoted his services as a "peak performance coach" through his books and TV infomercials, gaining strong public recognition and lucrative sales. He conducts a large range of seminars and live events around the world dedicated to achieving greatness in his participants by unleashing their personal power and helping them align their values with their individual life goals. In 1997, Robbins began the ''Leadership Academy'' seminar, in which participants learn to ''"[c]reate an identity for them self as someone who can help 'anyone', no matter what his/her challenge may be."'' Robbins is a featured speaker on the seminar circuit sponsored by Learning Annex. Robbins appeared as a featured speaker at the 2007 Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference. His talk is among the TOP TEN TED TALKS.

Seminars

Robbins also conducts seminars, including his four-day ''Unleash the Power Within'' (UPW) seminar, ''Mastery University'' and ''Business Mastery''.

The UPW is also known as his firewalk seminar, during which the participants walk barefoot over hot coals at the end of the first evening. The aim of the seminar, demonstrated in the firewalk, is to illustrate that the main quality shared by those who achieve greatness is the ability to take action ('Personal Power').

Mastery University is promoted at the UPW seminar. Life Mastery, espouses Robbins' ideas about what makes for a healthy lifestyle, and has in the past featured guest lecturers including Deepak Chopra and John Gray. Date With Destiny, the only Mastery event at which Robbins is present for the entire event, is said to be designed to help participants align their values so that they are not in conflict, but rather are aligned with the participant's individual goals.

In 1997, Robbins initiated his Leadership Academy seminar, in which he invites participants to learn the skills he uses, with the stated goal of the program to enable the participant to "[c]reate an identity for yourself as someone who can help 'anyone', no matter what his/her challenge may be"

In 2009 Robbins created his Business Mastery program, designed to provide business leaders with tools to manage and grow their businesses. The seminar is conducted live by Robbins and features entrepreneur guest speakers. Past speakers have included Steve Wynn, CEO of Wynn Resorts, Peter Guber (Chairman & CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group) and Tony Hsieh (CEO and Founder of Zappos.com).

Books

Tony Robbins has published two best-selling books, ''Unlimited Power'' and ''Awaken the Giant Within''.

Unlimited Power, published in 1987, discusses the topics of health and energy, overcoming fears, persuasive communication, and enhancing relationships. One reviewer called the book "uplifting and idealistic" and referenced the “dynamic enthusiasm" of the book;" and another describes Robbins as “a persuasive communicator who spends more linage on step-by-step details of his recommendations than in self-boosterism." while another reviewer said it's "too wordy" and "reads like a transcript of a series of talks." Other reviewers dispute the book's originality, pointing to ideological similarities with Maxwell Maltz, Norman Vincent Peale, Napoleon Hill, and Dale Carnegie, all of whom Robbins acknowledges in his book. Some have criticized the chapter called "Energy: The Fuel of Excellence" which includes information on food combining, lymphology, and deep breathing to promote health. Robbins makes reference to the book Fit for Life and its authors, Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, whom he refers to as his "former partners". The National Council for Reliable Health Information wrote a critical review of the chapter and called his sources unreliable.

Awaken the Giant Within, published in 1992, was an expansion of his personal development techniques and strategies taught through a motivational self-help type approach. Robbins made the distinction between his techniques, coined as Neuro-Associative Conditioning as unique from Neuro-Linguistic Programming because the trademarked difference is defined by the application of "conditioning" to a newly learned personal development technique and/or skill or strategy rather than "being programmed" and suggest-ably fixed once and for all by someone else who had more power than the individual to make a change.

Movie Appearances and TV Show

Robbins had a pivitol story-line setting cameo role in the 2001 Jack Black box office hit movie "Shallow Hal.". Robbins also had cameo rolls as himself in the 1994 movie "Reality Bites," in three episodes of "Roseanne" (TV series - 1997 season and 1998 season), and in an episode of hit HBO series "The Sopranos" (TV series - 2004 season).

In July 2010, NBC debuted ''Breakthrough with Tony Robbins'', a reality show that followed Robbins as he helped the show's participants face their personal challenges. NBC canceled the show after airing two of the planned six episodes, due to low viewership.

Anthony Robbins Foundation

In 1991, Robbins launched a charity, the Anthony Robbins Foundation. It is dedicated to empowering students and prisoners through food drives and learning programs based on his teachings. According to the official website, the foundation has "products and programs in more than 2,000 schools, 700 prisons, and 100,000 health and human service organizations." The Foundation and the validity and success of its programs have been written about and featured in many dozens of articles, appearing on various websites. Examples include the following source sites. Despite this, the independent charity watchdog, Charity Navigator, gives the foundation a rating of one out of four stars. The official website states that "''the Foundation is committed to make a difference in the quality of life for children, the homeless, the prison population, and the elderly through its various programs''". The foundation has subsequently led to the forming of "Basket Brigades" across the world that occur each Thanksgiving. Individuals and groups have joined together to assemble and deliver dinner baskets to needy families.

Lawsuits

Federal Trade Commission: In May 1995, Robbins Research Internal (RRI) responded to Federal Trade Commission charges of misrepresentation of potential earnings to franchise investors. RRI and the FTC entered into a stipulated settlement agreement, in which RRI agreeed to pay $221,260 (USD) in consumer redress. There were no findings or admissions of wrong doing on the part of RRI.

Wade Cook: Financial seminar guru Wade Cook also sued Robbins for copyright infringement and plagiarism, alleging that Robbins used proprietary terms in his seminars and in his book, ''Wall Street Money Machine''. In 1998, a Tacoma, Washington, jury ordered Robbins to pay Cook US$650,900 in damages. The order to pay damages was later withdrawn, but the allegations remained.The ninth circuit court ruled in 2000 that the trial judge has misinterpreted the statutes, and the verdict and damages were reinstated, stating, "The Court found that U.S. District Court Judge, Jack Tanner, erred in "finding a conclusion contrary to the jury award," and sent instructions to reinstate the award. "This is a landmark decision by the 9th Circuit Court because of the high profile players and issues at stake," said lead attorney and Wade Cook General Counsel, Troy Romero. "The Court is telling individuals that, no matter who you are, the protection of copyrightable material will be preserved." Robbins was forced to pay the entire amount.

Vancouver Sun Defamation suit: In 2001, Robbins filed a lawsuit against the newspaper the ''Vancouver Sun'', alleging defamation and libel. The judge determined the ''Vancouver Sun'' defamed Tony Robbins when it called him a hypocrite. Awarding Robbins $20,000 in damages, the judge wrote "While damages are presumed, the plaintiff's failure to take the witness stand and to testify about his feelings and the impact of the defamation upon his reputation leaves the court somewhat in the dark about these matters". The court awarded Robbins his attorneys' fees and costs in addition to damages.

Celebrity status

In his book, ''Awaken the Giant Within'', Robbins recalls meetings with various celebrities, saying he was a student of their success. People he mentioned were Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, François Mitterrand, and Princess Diana. During Robbins' infomercials, he had celebrity appearances by Fran Tarkenton, Pamela Anderson, Quincy Jones, Erin Brockovich and Anthony Hopkins. Robbins stated that they came without any compensation.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton invited Robbins, Marianne Williamson and Dr. Steven R. Covey to a meeting at Camp David. All parties "refused to divulge the substance of their meeting with the Clintons".

Personal life

In 1984, Robbins and his ex-girlfriend, Liz Acosta, gave birth to Jairek Robbins.

In 1997, Robbins and his first wife of 15 years, Becky Robbins (née Jenkins), were divorced.

In June 2001, Robbins married Bonnie Humphrey (now known as Sage Robbins) and is the father of four children.

Tony Robbins started his career working for a medium size publishing company in the states. Having a natural gift for sales and communicating he soon rose to the position of director before embarking on peak performance speaking.

Robbins alludes to his personal belief in God in ''Unlimited Power'', giving the grand complexity of life as evidence of an intelligent designer.

See also

Kaizen

Self-help

References

Publications

Books

CD/DVDs

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Other

''Living Health

''The Time of Your Life

''Mastering Influence

''The Ultimate Relationship Program (Robbins-Madanes)

''Leadership In Times of Crisis (Robbins-Madanes)

''Reclaiming Your True Identity (Robbins-Madanes)

''Conquering Overwhelming Loss (Robbins-Madanes)

''Personal Training System

''Unleash The Power Within

External links

Tony Robbins official website

''Breakthrough'' with Tony Robbins on NBC

Category:1960 births Category:American motivational speakers Category:American motivational writers Category:American self-help writers Category:Life coaches Category:Living people Category:Neuro-Linguistic Programming writers Category:People from the San Gabriel Valley Category:Popular psychology

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