Mastering “The Unstoppable Formula”
Sean Clinch Stephenson (May 5, 1979 – August 28, 2019) was an American therapist, self-help author and motivational speaker.[1] Because he was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, Stephenson stood three feet tall, had fragile bones, and used a wheelchair.[2]
Stephenson began delivering motivational speeches at the age of 17.[2] With the assistance of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in 1998 Stephenson met his motivational speaking hero, Tony Robbins. Robbins became his mentor and encouraged him to change his lifestyle to improve his health.[3] While attending DePaul University, Stephenson worked as an intern for President Bill Clinton and for Illinois Congressman Bill Lipinski.[2] After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2001 from DePaul University, he published his first book, How You(th) Can Succeed!: Transforming Dreams into Reality for Young Adults, and returned to motivational speaking.[4]
After his speeches, Stephenson found he was often approached by people seeking advice on personal issues. Feeling ill-equipped to advise them, he decided to go back to school and become certified as a therapist.[5] He took courses at Bennett/Stellar University, a private institution specializing in neuro-linguistic programming and hypnotherapy,[6] and at American Pacific University (since renamed Kona University). In March 2004, Stephenson began work on a Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy degree at American Pacific.[5][7] He operated a therapy practice from offices in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.[5][8] He also continued to work as a motivational speaker, earning $15,000 to $30,000 per appearance.[9]
His second book, Get Off Your “But”: How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself, was published in 2009. It was a self-help book that recounted his own personal story along with the stories of others, and provided exercises for readers to perform while they read. Tony Robbins provided a foreword.[10] That same year, Stephenson was the subject of Three Foot Giant, a television documentary that aired on The Biography Channel in November 2009.[11]
Personal life and death[edit]
Stephenson married Mindie Kniss in 2012. On August 28, 2019, Stephenson suffered a serious concussion which resulted in his death.[12] His last words were “This didn’t happen to me, but for me.”[12]
