GET NAKED

It's a cold December day in New York City. The high is 24 degrees, with winds coming from the south at 32 mph. Thousands are roaming the streets, wearing their winter jackets and warm wool hats as they search for that perfect Christmas gift.

As many walk through Times Square, their eyes lose focus on the storefronts. They are not focused on MTV Studios, the flashy lights, or the huge monitors. Instead, their attention turns to a man who has defied the odds. He wears no scarf or gloves, but instead, a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and a flashy pair of white underpants. While he plays his guitar, he has sucked them in; they now have their eyes set on the Naked Cowboy.

Robert John Burck, better known as Naked Cowboy, is a prominent fixture in New York City. A man of many trades, Naked Cowboy never thought he would become the icon into which he has developed. He said that reading a book was the catalyst to his success.

"Basically, I read a book called Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins," Naked Cowboy said. "That was the first major turning point in my life. I also was good at living unconsciously if you will, doing whatever caught my wind. I was very determined to do what I wanted to do."

Before he read the book, Naked Cowboy had a rough past, leading him down a path of wrong-doing.

"I was a juvenile delinquent, running around a small town leading a pack of idiots into a pack of stupid situations," Naked Cowboy said. "I was notorious for being a bad kid in my town, as far as causing trouble, burning things down, drinking, basically illicit behavior. After reading Unlimited Power, I was made aware my life in its totality was being created by the decision I was making and I instantly knew I could do whatever I want."

After reading the novel, Naked Cowboy was a man on a mission. In 1998, Naked Cowboy took part in a photo shoot in South Beach, Fla. The photos were sent to Playgirl magazine, which led to a professional shoot in Venice Beach, Calif.

"I was a stripper; pursuing modeling, hoping modeling would lead me into movie roles, and be a hot movie star," Naked Cowboy said. "I hoped to become a celebrity, and run for president or something like that."

As he graced the beaches of California, Naked Cowboy decided he wanted to take it to the next level. He grabbed a cowboy hat, a guitar, and headed to the beach to perform for the locals - fully clothed.