I had the privilege of being introduced to an organization with hnorable goals. The organization is called Playing for Change. From their website (www.PlayingForChange.org):
They are, of course, dependent upon donations which can be made right on their website.
But the work they are doing it truly inspirational. So take a few minutes to enjoy this video - you won’t regret it! <smile>
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop..swf?clip_id=2539741
Peace through music sounds like a great plan to me!
Michael Clouse is smart and generous man. In addition to publishing his own material, he freely shares the material of other professional network marketers on a regular basis. Today he sent the following post. I simply couldn’t have said it any better. Enjoy!
Success Is Easy To Do
by Jim Rohn
People often ask me how I became so successful in such a relatively short period of time while many other people in our company did not. The answer is simple: The things I found easy to do, those other people found just as easy not to do.
For example, I found it easy to set the goals that could change my life. They found it just as easy not to set goals. I found it easy to read the books that could affect my thinking. They found it just as easy not to read. I found it easy to attend the classes and the seminars and to get around other successful people. They said getting around other successful people wouldn’t help…
So what happened? Well, a few short years later I’m a millionaire and those other people are still blaming the economy, the government, and their company’s policies…while continuing to neglect the basic business-building activities that are easy to do.
In fact, the primary reason most people are not doing as well as they could, and should, can be summed up in a single word: neglect.
It’s not the lack of money—banks still have money. It’s not the lack of opportunity—much of the free world continues to offer the most unprecedented and abundant opportunities we’ve seen in the last six thousand years of recorded history. And it’s not the lack of how-to information either—because the basic MLM systems we need to achieve success have already been created.
Indeed, everything we need to succeed is well within our reach. The major reason, again, that only a few people every take advantage of what is already available is simply, neglect.
Neglect is like an infection. Left unchecked it will spread throughout everything we do and eventually lead to a complete breakdown of a potentially joy-filled and prosperous human life…
Not doing the things we know we should be doing causes us to feel guilty, and that guilt then leads to an erosion of self-confidence. As our self-confidence diminishes, so does our level of activity. And as our activity diminishes, our results inevitably decline. As our results suffer, our attitude begins to weaken. And as our attitude begins the slow shift from positive to negative, our self-confidence diminishes even more.
Therefore, if you want to reverse the downward-spiral of neglect and become successful, my suggestion is this: The next time there is a choice between, something that is easy to do and something that is just as easy not to do, choose the easy to do business-building activities that, over time, will allow you to create the Network Marketing business and the life you really want!
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
P.S. If you’re ready for something that is easy to do and will make a BIG difference in your Network Marketing business, then you’ll want to follow the suggestions on this CD program, How to Build the Network Marketing Business YOU Really Want, as it walks you through a very effective five-step formula for success and explains how to put together the MLM success plan that’s right for YOU! Visit www.Nexera.com
© 2009 by Jim Rohn International. All Rights Reserved.
About the author: Jim Rohn is considered to be America’s Foremost Business Philosopher, with a career that has spanned over 37 years and touched the lives of over three million people worldwide. He has been internationally hailed over the years as one of the most influential thinkers of our time and has helped motivate an entire generation of personal development trainers as well as hundreds of executives from America’s top corporations. He’s been described as everything from a master motivator, to a modern day Will Rogers, to a legend!
When you are working your first job, you don’t believe you will ever make $30,00 or $50,000 or $100,000 a year. When you are looking for a new home, you don’t believe you can own a million dollar mansion - and are happy when you are approved for a $200,000 starter home. When are driving on the freeway and see the car of your dreams, in my case, a purple roadster, you say a quick prayer of gratitude that your car is paid for - but you don’t really believe you will ever have that dream car.
Why not? Because we have placed limitations on our dreams. Because it hasn’t happened before so we don’t really - and I mean REALLY - believe it will happen ever. Sure, we might say, “I am going to have that car someday” but it’s a quick passing dream.
Take a quick inventory! Quick, no cheating. How much does your dream car cost? How much does your dream home cost? Where is the location of your dream vacation and what does that cost?
How BIG did you think? Did you limit yourself to a boring sedan because it’s something that might come true? Did you picture a nicer home but not a mansion? Did you silently plan a trip to Disney when you could have had the white sands of Fiji?
To achieve BIG dreams you have to change the definition in your mind about what is possible. Don’t limit yourself - because ANYTHING is possible. Just ask our President!
Take some time for yourself today. Go through old magazines or google images on the internet and find pictures to represent your new BIG dreams. Post them in an area you will see your BIG dreams daily. Eventually your mind will catch up and BELIEVE you can achieve those BIG dreams.
Dream big dreams! Imagine that you have no limitations and then decide what’s right before you decide what’s possible. - Brian Tracy
You know, we used to tease that the ones who could never commit were bachelors. I am here to say they are not the only ones.
This is so true. I am interested in losing weight (or really I would just like the weight to lose me!) I am interested in developing an exercise plan. I am interested in traveling the world. Good interests I think. But truth is, I am not COMMITTED - yet.
Anyone in Network Marketing knows - or will know - that to see success there must be commitment. Not just occasional commitment but consistent and persistent commitment. You have to show up. You have to do the work. You have to learn. You have to develop yourself personally and professionally if you want to see success.
I know there are many who think they can just work the business on weekends. They can. The beauty of Network Marketing is that you have a whole lot of flexibility. The downside is that you have a whole lot of flexibility for those who aren’t committed. It’s sort of like trying to diet on the weekends only. Sure, it’s better than nothing, but it’s going to take a whole lot longer to see any positive results.
So what’s your level of commitment? I think we all fall into 1 of 4 categories…
1. The fully committed (some call them crazy and rich!). They consistently do the tasks necessary to move their businesses forward. They stay connected and involved daily. Their teams trust that they will be there for them as they learn and grow.
2. Yo-Yo committers. They are great and really working the business, life is good and success seems eminent. Then, the next thing you know, they have dropped off the face of the earth into some dark abyss. But no fear, yo-yo committers come back! Their teams wonder what the heck happened? They wonder if they did something wrong? They don’t understand why one month they are getting lots of support and the next they are lost in the black hole.
3. Chameleons - fake committers. These folks act like they are committed but when pushed the truth comes out. They have been talking the talk but not walking the walk. This leaves teams confused and hurt. Trust and integrity are lost.
4. Cats - non-committers. These are the folks who aren’t committed and make not bones about it. They really just want product at a discount or to make a few extra bucks. This leaves any team they may have (and they may not have any or they have a team by default) feeling a bit abandoned although at least, if communicated, the team members can contact upline for support.
So, do you have an interest in your home business or are you committed? And if you are “committed”, then are you fully committed to building your business and supporting your team or are you a yo-yo, chameleon or cat? Which type of leader would you want?
Good news! Like always, today is a new day if your commitment hasn’t been where you would like it to be. Make the change. It really feels GOOD to make the commitment.
I have been thinking about people and their dreams a lot lately. Then I came across an interesting statistic that, well, frankly made me sad. Seventy-Three percent of Americans want to start their own home business but are afraid to take the plunge. That seems fair. Starting anything new can cause uncertainty and many people come with lots of self-defeating thoughts.
But then you have to wonder. If 73% of Americans are too afraid to take the plunge, what happens to their dreams? Surely they have them. Maybe they want to be home for their children. Maybe they want some of the finer things in life. Maybe they want to help their church or an organization on a grand scale. So the dreams do exist. But when you match that with most people’s reality, the two shall never meet.
With unemployment and underemployment at all time highs, frozen wages, bankruptcies at very high levels, how can most people achieve their dreams if they can’t “take the plunge?” But what is worse - and often overlooked - is that these statistics, these 73% are real people. With real stories. With real dreams. It truly saddens me to think that all these faces, names, real people are so paralyzed by fear that their dreams and reality will never be one in the same.
A good friend of mine gave me a mug when I was probably 20 years old that said “No Guts, No Glory” and had a picture of a dragon and dragon slayer on it. I have looked at that mug many times over the years and have grown to appreciate it more and more each time. I am so grateful that I have chosen to be in the 27% who DO take the plunge. Because with action there is at least a chance that my dreams and my reality will merge.
What choice did you make? Can you see your dreams coming true? Can you see yourself on the top of a mountain taking in the fresh air and scenery? Can you see yourself on the most beautiful beach in the world? Can you see yourself attending all your children’s events - without having a cell phone and laptop distracting you from what’s really important?
The best news? If you are in the 73% group, today is a new day and TODAY you can make a different choice.
My daughter came home from school today and told me that she had a story to tell me about. She was excited because the story had to go with goals. And she proceeded to tell me the story of Billie Mills.
Do you know Billie Mills? Many of you may not. I certainly didn’t. Billie reached his goal the year I was born. 1964.
If you read yesterday’s post you know it was about using “the situation” as an excuse. Well Billie had plenty of opportunities to use “the situation” but had been taught - challenged even - to follow his dreams, reach for his goals, and succeed in life. Billie’s life wasn’t easy. He is a Oglala Lakota (Sioux) who was grew up in South Dakota. His mother died when he was just 7 and his father died when he was 12, leaving him to grow up in an orphanage.
Young Billie was a boxer who was running as part of his training. Over time he found that he enjoyed running more than boxing and began to place his focus on improving his running. And continued running until he eventually qualified for the olympics to be held in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan.
Billie had not been expected to win anything. Some were surprised he was even running. No American had ever won this event. But what they didn’t know was that Billie had long used visualization and had seen a young Lakota boy winning the 10K event. He had written GOLD MEDAL in his notebooks. And when negative thoughts or doubt crept in he spent hours making sure his goal was firmly and positively back in place in his mind.
But when the time for the race came, the two top contenders raced ahead. As Billie ran, he paced himself and kept steady and everyone expected the two top guys to get the Gold and Silver. Billie, in his mind, would not accept Bronze. As the end neared and the stands were filled with mostly quiet Japanese citizens, something changed. Billie started edging closer and closer to overcoming the two contenders and the crowd went wild! Billie kept his pace and won the Gold Medal - even breaking a new world record. Billie had a goal and had accomplished the goal he had set.
To this day, no American has won the Gold Medal in the 10K event except for Billie Mills.
In Lakota culture, when one has achieved success, it is customary to have a “giveaway.” In the spirit of the culture, Billie helped found Running Strong for American Indian Youth, an organization that provides many services to underserved American Indian communities.
To learn more about Billie Mills or the Running Strong for American Indian Youth organization, visit: http://www.indianyouth.org/
Hang on to those dreams - spend time on your goals.
I just read a really great post on another blog (www.SidSavara.com) about personal development roadblocks and using “the situation” as an excuse.
In all honesty I never really thought about the actual excuses I am using or hearing from others, but he is right - often it is “the situation.”
Sid wrote, “Often however, I have found that “the situation” is an excuse used to avoid confronting a difficult problem that has a difficult, uncomfortable or uncertain solution. Rather than tackling the actual issue head on, we instead pretend there is no way to resolve some solvable problem, work around it and then say we “did our best, given the situation.”
Man is that the TRUTH! It’s just way to easy to blame the situation. Now in reality, there are times when “the situation” is unavoidable. But how many times is it just the easy out?
Now, like I said, some of these may be completely true reasons. But who are those excuses hurting? And what is REALLY behind those excuses? Fear? Shame? Embarrassment? Lack of self-confidence?
Guess who is in charge of “the situation?” YOU ARE! You are DECIDING to allow “the situation” to control the outcome. It makes it safe. It’s not your fault. It’s okay. Or not. It just seems okay.
Aw heck. I’ll quit now because Sid says it really well. Read the article for yourself at: http://tr.im/situation
Enjoy!
No, it’s not New Years. No, I am not talking about the superficial goals - or rather wishes - that we throw about sometimes. I am talking GOALS!
There was an interesting study that was done (maybe - more on that later.) In this “study”, Harvard MBA students were asked if they had clear, written goals for their future and plans to achieve them. Only 3% stated they had clear, written goals with plans. Another 13% stated they had goals in their head and a whopping 84% had no goals whatsoever (makes you wonder what they teach at Harvard!)
Ten years later, the former MBA students are reinterviewed about their goals and accomplishments. Among the results are that the 13% who had goals (but not written) were earning twice as much as the 84% who didn’t have goals. But - and here’s the message - the 3% who had written goals were earning 10 times as much as the 97% put together!
That alone should have you reaching for paper and a pencil.
So why doesn’t everyone have written goals?
Just do it! You really have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain.
If you really don’t know how to write goals or realize the importance, there are a couple of great resources. My favorite is a little book - truly a gem - called The Oracle’s Secret by Anthony Fernando. It is one of the best investments I ever made and it’s easy enough that the whole family can get in on goal writing - or scroll writing as the case is with this book. You can pick this up at www.Nexera.com
Of course there is Brian Tracy’s GOALS as well. The library or local bookstore should have a copy on hand for you.
Now, remember how I said earlier that there was a “study” done? Well, as it turns out, there may not have ever been that study. It has been cited as happening at Yale in 1953 in some sources and Harvard in 1979 in other sources. Some claim to have thoroughly researched the history and found neither actually did this study.
But here’s the bottom line - who cares. If the study was done then great. If the study hasn’t been done then it should be. But regardless, there isn’t a personal development expert anywhere that will tell you, “just keep your goals in your head.”
That’s the recipe for success!
Here’s some homework for you. Spend a day recording your thoughts. Nothing elaborate, just a simple checklist - positive/negative works for now. Although if you notice a pattern, it would be worth noting if you are repeatedly giving yourself the same negative messages throughout the day. Just for one day.
According to researchers, the average person speaks about 12,000 words an hour to themselves. So what ARE you saying to yourself? I would be willing to bet that you have some messages that are not helping you become the person you strive to be. How about messages like, “I can’t believe I am so stupid?” Or, “I am so fat!”
Your mind has incredible power! And keeping it positive will only help you grow. So what if you are (and we all do) giving yourself negative messages?
Note them. Then restate them in the positive. For example, if the message you keep hearing is, “I am terrible at this business!” Restate that to, “I am learning about my business and growing everyday.” If your message is, “I am a bad leader. Nobody wants to learn about the business from me.” Change that message to, “I enjoy helping my team learn and grow.”
Here’s the beauty - even if it doesn’t feel true TODAY, your mind can’t really tell the difference and when the message is repeated over and over again…We Believe and We Achieve. After all, isn’t that how we started believing the negative messages? We played them over and over again in our heads like a built in iPod.
Here’s the kicker - the part people start to groan about - only YOU can change the message. And it might take a great deal of effort on your part if a message is particularly ingrained. This is one area that no matter how you try, you can’t blame anyone else. Oh sure, you may have heard negative messages growing up or from a boss - but you hung on to them. Did you know research shows that for every negative comment received it takes 17 positive comments to counteract that negative statement (note to parents - watch what you say to your children!) That means you may have to do this exercise CONSISTENTLY, many times a day for many days before you mind starts to go, “Yeah, I am talented!”
The good news? YOU are so worth the effort. <smile>
I read this quote this morning:
“All truth passes through three stages.
First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
Schopenhauer (German Philosopher)
And so is the path of the Network Marketer.
In Vegas we heard Michael Clouse talk about why people quit the business. Statistically when someone quits the business in the first 90 days it is because someone told them Network Marketing is bad.
What a shame. These poor folks didn’t even have a chance to experience success on any larger level in that time period. Many distributors have heard from loved ones, friends and acquaintances that their new business is a scam. That they are involved in a pyramid scheme. That they are stupid if they think something like this will work.
These hurtful words are often enough to push the distributor to “close the shop doors” for good. THEY aren’t going to be called stupid again. THEY aren’t going to be ridiculed like that again.
But what’s really behind those hurtful words? Maybe the speaker had been involved in a business that didn’t go as planned themselves. Maybe they have a basement full of products they couldn’t sell. Maybe they were with a company or sponsor that vanished as soon as they signed on the dotted line. Or maybe they don’t want to see the new distributor succeed where they have failed.
It takes a lot of fortitude for a new distributor to hear those types of comments and commit to working their business anyway. They must have focus and determination and “thick skin” to endure the difficult comments. And they must BELIEVE for if they don’t, the first sign of difficulty will have them agreeing with the naysayers.
Next, the distributor will experience “violent opposition.” Now, I have never been punched over having a business but I have certainly dealt with opposition on many levels - from speaking with friends and family to speaking with leads who have incorrect information about network marketing. A little education can go a long way in overcoming opposition. And again, YOUR focus, ability to get things done, and belief will get you through the rough times.
Finally, we come to a point when your network marketing business is accepted and the previous myths that were held are dispelled. After all, if Warren Buffett and Donald Trump can be involved in network marketing it can’t be all bad!
There is certainly a sense of satisfaction when you reach the point when people are asking about your business and surprised and happy to hear of your success. This isn’t an “I told you so” moment - that won’t help anyone. But rather a moment of appreciation when you realize you have achieved a certain level of respect for going out on a limb and trying that crazy business - and succeeding!
For those of you who are newer distributors, keep the faith! You came into the business for a very personal reason and YOU have the ability to see it through. Keep your support close, your focus sharp and your belief strong as you reach for the stars.
