CREATOR'S STORY

The guy who proved that kindness is cool 

Tony's story reminded us of someone who has made giving his primary mission, and our team got a peek behind the scenes into what makes him who he is.  

Meet Zach (@MdMotivator), who's touched millions of lives through random acts of kindness. With over 34 million followers and millions of dollars given away to strangers, you might think Zach's success is what drew us to him. But when we chatted with him, he shared something far more powerful—the moment that changed everything. 

Picture this: it’s a rainy night during the pandemic. Zach sits alone on a curb, wrestling with depression, hoping his medical school roommate won't notice his pain. That's when something beautiful happens—two strangers stop, sit down right there in the wet cement beside him, and simply listen. 

"I'll never forget how great it felt to be heard," Zach shared with us. "No advice, no solutions—just pure connection. Right then, I knew I wanted to be that for somebody else." 

That moment sparked something extraordinary. Zach started giving out blindfolded hugs to strangers—no cameras, no social media, just pure human connection. It was his way of passing on the gift those two strangers had given him. 

After a while, he was encouraged to share this experience online and something magical happened. Those simple acts of connection have grown into a worldwide movement of giving that's touched millions of lives. In three years, Zach has given away over $7.5 million dollars, but when you ask him about his proudest moment—it's still that first free hug. 

"Those who have the least give the most," Zach tells us, emphasizing that you don't need money to make a difference. "It's the small acts that matter," he says. "Giving someone a hug. Really asking how they're doing. Pay for someone's coffee—when you think 'should I do something?' That's your moment to act." 

Zach ended the conversation with a powerful reminder: every person you pass is fighting their own battle. Behind every face is a story we don't know. "There's often a heavy mask on people," he said. "So just really lead with kindness—it goes a long way because you never know." 

Sometimes the smallest act of giving—like two strangers sitting with someone in pain—can create ripples that transform countless lives.  

We recommend watching Zach’s inspiring chat with us as well as captivating moments of kindness like this one on his channel. They not only move us to tears, but they have helped prove his motto, which we love—kindness is cool.

ENTREPRENEUR’S ACTION 

Two Swiftie tickets—one beautiful gift of giving 

Speaking of moments that remind you why giving is the ultimate gift, we’ve got another recent story that shows how giving can be applied to almost anything! 

When one of this year's Business Mastery* guest speakers Dan Martell and his wife Renée Warren scored tickets to see Taylor Swift (yes, those impossible-to-get tickets!), they could have just enjoyed an epic night out together. But they saw an opportunity to turn their concert experience into something more meaningful by giving back.  

They made a post on their social media with the mission to find a mom and daughter in their local Okanagan community who would want to share in an unforgettable experience. Nominations poured in by the hundreds, but one story stood out to them.  

It was Rachelle and her daughter Kendra, whose lives had been forever changed after losing Kendra’s 14-year-old sister, Danica, to cancer in April 2024. Taylor's song "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" became their special family tribute to Danica.  

Without hesitation, Dan and Renée flew the Swiftie mom and daughter duo across Canada to Taylor’s Eras Tour in Toronto, where they all sparkled with glitter on their faces, dancing to their favorite songs.  

“The concert was amazing,” Dan shared with us in an interview following the concert, “but seeing their faces light up was the ultimate gift.”   

"The best part wasn't even when Taylor appeared on stage—it was when Kendra told me about her outfit. It turned out to be her sister Danica's old dance costume, which I hadn't realized until the end of the concert!" 

"Was it cool wearing your sister's outfit?" Dan asked in a video they recently shared online. “I love that you did that,” he said as Kendra nodded with pride, keeping her sister's memory alive.  

This is what Tony means when he says the secret to living is giving. It's not just about the concert—it's those unexpected moments of connection that remind us we're all part of something greater.  

Watch this story unfold in Dan Martell’s recent reel. 

This holiday season, what could you give that might create ripples of joy beyond anything you could imagine? Sometimes the smallest acts of giving turn into the most magical moments of all. 

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*Business Mastery is a Tony Robbins program for business owners. Read more & apply to supercharge your business in 2025. 

PHILANTHROPIC BREAKTHROUGH 

The little device that’s heating up hope worldwide 

Every time we hear Tony’s restaurant story about that little gentleman, it reminds us that true wealth isn’t measured by what we have, but by the impact we have on others. In that spirit, we’re thrilled to highlight a powerful, life-saving breakthrough that reflects Tony’s core belief: The secret to living is giving.  

Across the globe, countless newborns struggle to receive their most precious gift of life. Most people are unaware of the fact that every year, 2.6 million babies die in their first 28 days of life. Many of these infants simply can’t stay warm, leaving them vulnerable in ways most of us can’t imagine. Incubators—specialized devices that help regulate the baby’s body temperature—seem like a standard solution, but traditional models are often inaccessible in developing countries.  

This is where Embrace Global steps in to deliver a life-giving solution.  

Embrace Global saves thousands of these newborns with their portable baby incubators which can be used hundreds of times. These next-level incubators maintain a constant temperature of 98 degrees for up to eight hours before they need reheating, giving premature and low-birth-weight infants their best chance at survival.  

Embrace has already saved over 700,000 lives in 25 countries, and their goal is to reach 1 million—and ultimately 10 million—vulnerable babies within the next decade.  

Tony’s pledge and our collective mission  

Inspired by this breakthrough, Tony and The Tony Robbins Foundation have pledged $1 million over 10 years to help scale Embrace’s reach.  

This is the impact of embracing the secret to living: giving. It combines innovation, resourcefulness, and heartfelt care. Every small act of generosity you make has the power to transform scarcity into abundance—not just for you, but for the world’s most vulnerable beings. 

And what’s better than giving the gift of life?  

When we commit to a cause like Embrace Global, we stand on the brink of something extraordinary: a world where every baby can have the chance they deserve. This is more than a story—it’s a living, breathing breakthrough. And we’re honored to share it with you.