A Definite Date

Now that I look at the title, imagine me with a big toothy grin spreading from ear to ear. I'm not talking about the beginnings of a new relationship 'a definite date' but one of the six practical steps to wealth. I've been thinking about those compensation plans with the legs-you know strong leg, weak leg. Someone on my team was giving a training on compensation plans and I realized that I'm sure glad I got into network marketing when I did and with the company I'm with. I mean it can get kind of confusing with all of the stairstep breakaway, Aussie 2-up, matrix, pyramid, and binary-that's it! It was the binary plan. Excuse me if I'm rambling but I'm the kind of personality that gets easily distracted-that's why I needed to commit to a definite date.

My definite date is September 17, 2014, God willing on that date several things will happen. One, is that I will turn 45 years old. Two, I will have achieved my financial goal. Having the definite date makes it real as well as helps my mastermind group hold me accountable for my progress to get to that point. If not, I could easily get distracted by the latest and greatest income opportunity offering a turnkey, 'just enter your name and e-mail', 'we'll do all of the work', 'the industry has never seen before'-dare I say it? SCAM. So I've got a checklist which consists of action, self-improvement, upline accountability, proven system, and conference calls. I have a personal mentor that is not bending me over, er um-I mean charging me for their experience of what works in network marketing-how cool is that?

I don't buy leads, I don't sign up for affiliate programs, no cold market calls, and no friend and family recruiting. So what is my job in my mastermind group? Participate. Yep that's all they'll give me right now. But little do they know, I'm in business with them, and I'll be moving on to the things that I excel at-just as soon as I figure out what they are-just kidding. Obviously I'm good at not knowing everything, especially about products. My company has amazing products! Haven't tried all of them but what I have tried are top notch quality. I can let you in on a little industry secret-ALL MLM's have good products-yessir it's true as I'm blue. Blue as in my dominate personality color-not blue like I just maxed out my credit card on the latest get rich quick pyramid scheme. All of this stuff, the training, mentoring, definite date, all of it has come in trade for my most valuable asset-my time. Otherwise free, er um I mean priceless!

Something for Nothing-"Just become an affiliate..."

"Just become an affiliate and watch the $$$ come rolling in, I made $652,287.47 last minute and so can YOU!" I love this stuff. Today I just have to say it, WTF? Sorry for cussing but sometimes there's just no other way to get the point across with the same emphasis. I know some will disagree but that's why there's a comment button at the bottom of the post. I mean, really? Last minute? On autopilot? Without talking to anyone, doing anything? I've been looking for a way to make money without doing anything for quite some time now, I found only one persistent obstacle. A conscience. Yes good old fashion I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror, sleep at night, constantly afraid to give out my home address-conscience.

I can't bring myself to ignore this for the accumulation of money. And the truth is that I wouldn't want to be without the satisfaction that I provided the world with the necessary contributions to acquire it. What does it mean to me at the end of the day? I'm right with God and myself. I used to spend a good deal of time caught up in the fear of criticism of others-not a good way to live life or do business. But over the years this has been replaced with a definite purpose, goals, and the understanding of the wonderful industry I will be a part of for the rest of my days. What is this going to require of me? First, it will require training in network marketing. And guess where that starts? You guessed it, with me.

To be successful I have to know a little bit about people, and if I don't know about myself I will flounder from one affiliate scam to the next. Self-improvement leads eventually to self-confidence, or at least it better! Is that all there is to it, definitely not. Having a plan might be helpful in checking to see if you are indeed making progress. Some of this is beginning to sound like work. Hence the saying you don't get 'something for nothing' I think our government is in the process of finding this out too! Yes, I had to go there too, but you know it's progress and today that's where I'm at.

So how does all of this affect my motivation? Definitely in a positive way. I know why I'm in this industry, why I want to be successful, and why it is I'm still alive and healthy-the most surprising of all. It's because of the people who took the time to help me. Call it a debt of gratitude, but this is what moves me beyond the objections of family, friends, and former colleagues. This is what will push me beyond my current capabilities to realize legitimate royalty income, to say nothing of the residual income. I have never been averse to hard work, but I can say in all honesty that working on myself has been the most difficult and rewarding.

So while $652,287.47 a minute did catch my attention and seems inviting enough, at the end of the day if it doesn't push me beyond my current capabilities it could never be worth it. Why? Because leaders don't inspire without motivating others to become more than what they are now. And also is there the possibility for duplication? Can I mentor the people in my organization to take action to develop the leader relationship with themselves so that they can mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs? Cause network marketing is NOT a sales business, if it was then I'd be able to make $652,287.47 a minute and be able to sleep at night. The truth is it's a people building business that takes commitment and yes, some hard work.

Desire in MLM

What are the elements of a burning desire? Can you just say I want to be the superstar affiliate for my company then POOF! It just happens? Not in a 5 pillar company it doesn't. A burning desire has to be definite, measurable, and take effort to achieve. How many times have you been told to make a list of friends and family? And have any of your friends ever looked at you the same way since? Now you just don't mention the words 'opportunity', 'work from home', 'groundfloor', or 'home-based business' in their presence. Was it your fault? Did you think that the suggestions you received from your upline were comparable to what you would receive getting training in any of your past jobs in the 'real world'? Are you ready for the truth? Can you handle it? They lied to you, or at the very least they told you what the were told to tell you when they were given the 'deal'.

Network marketing is about building relationships with people not about buying leads, promotional materials, paying for the tools (like replicated websites) to build their business for them. The question that you should ask yourself, "Can the average person work to achieve above average results?" Is this even possible in your company? How can you know for sure? There are a few ways to tell. One, read the policies and procedures and decide by asking your upline about them (hint: if it's changed often, more than 12 pages long, or you need a lawyer to understand it-there might be a problem). Two, is there a proven, duplicable system that is provided for free to help you every step of the way? Three, what kind of compensation plan do you have and does it drive the right behavior in the field? And most importantly if you don't understand it can anyone in your upline team explain it to you?

I came into network marketing with a few assumptions. The biggest and most costly assumption was that my upline superstar, space commander guru was actually doing it themself. What am I talking about, you might ask? Are they building a network marketing organization by training their organization how to be successful? I mean, charging you hundreds of dollars for a collection of cd's in a shiny folder and telling you to make a list of friends and family is NOT training you to succeed. It is a good formula to become alienated from family and in some cases that might actually be beneficial but that's not the point. Next, I assumed that since my company was publicly traded that this made them credible. And finally, that I would be able to follow the techniques they did offer to success instead of being offered every affiliate scam disguised as a viable tool.

Again I find myself grateful and consider myself VERY lucky that I haven't been in this wonderful industry long enough to experience all of the horror stories told by some of my team members. I mistakenly thought that MLM is about the lifestyle, then I thought it's about the money, now I understand it's about the people. In the words of my personal friend and mentor, "Build the people and the people will build the business." I know that building a house is easier to do with construction workers, so building a network marketing organization will require training network marketers to be successful. I sure am glad that recruiting friends and family didn't make sense to me and that I found a 5 pillars company that is owned by people who understand the nuts and bolts of this wonderful industry.

Why I Am Proud To Be A Professional Networker

I am proud to be a professional networker because that's what I've
always had a talent for doing. The only problem with where I was
before and where I am now is that I wasn't getting compensated for
networking. For example, I wear some really expensive shoes. The
reason I wear them is because they took the pain from my knees and
lower back away, roughly 2 full days after wearing them-I installed
carpet, sheet goods, hardwood floors and ceramic tiles for a few
years. I have not worn another shoe since-during my daily
activities-unless I am running or really dressed up. I have told many
friends about the shoes and the benefits I have gotten from them. I
wish there was a compensation for word of mouth, with this
company-actually I will be contacting them tomorrow to make sure there
isn't. MBT is the shoe.
I love the fact that I get to help people to
a solution to their problems, whether it's diet, mentoring,
addictions, alcoholism, effects of abuse, what a gift to share with
people. Some of these things pay me with money, the rest satisfy a
spiritual need to pay back for the peace of mind and freedom I
experience daily. My days are filled with gratitude-what an awesome
frame of mind to greet others and the world with. I am proud to be a
network marketer because it not only allows but requires that I be
more than I am, any given day, but also that I get to use constructive
and creative imagination. My imagination is fired with purpose and I
can feel the momentum starting to stir an enthusiasm that is infecting
a larger group of folks around me. I am already there in my mind,
nothing left but the joy of learning the details of the wonderful
people coming with me into my new business life.

Servant Leadership

I really like the sound of this servant leadership. I wake up early on most days and cook myself breakfast and decided to microblog the ingredients to my Twitter and Facebook status. Well, did you know there are hungry folks out there? Well, maybe they didn't realize it until reading my status. A friend of mine on Facebook was kind enough to comment, "did you make enough for everyone? Seriously!" In fact I had. Our student organization at the university Non-Traditional Students Organization was hosting a table for a Marrow Donor Drive and I made a round for my officers and volunteers.

Does that make me a servant leader? Probably not. But it does make me feel good to help out those who help out the organization I lead. I made a commitment to my health to follow a food plan suggested by a personal trainer-he suggested 80/20. And I know what you're thinking, it's 80% good home made, healthy meals and 20% junk-not the other way around! I also made another commitment to my mastermind group, that I would participate in a 30 day mental cleanse. OMG! Has this commitment been life changing! Without going into details, let's just say it has helped me to stop the chatter and focus on the guy who has been the main character in my drama of life-me.

In many areas of my life I have been freed from character traits that have not served me very well. Now it is such a gift to continue to take out the trash so to speak surrounding my business life. Since I am in a people business it seems that the only way to help others is by first ironing out my own kinks and letting the rest fall where it does the greatest good at the end of the day. Life has and continues to bring challenges and gifts by the bucket full. Some days it's a little easier to notice the challenge bucket, which always reminds me of one of my favorite bumper stickers, "Oh no, not another learning experience!" But now the days that are most precious to me are the days where gratitude is the guiding thought for my interactions with all the wonderful people in my life.

Courage

Where does this precious quality come from? Is it nurture or nature? Is it a learned behavior acquired by watching the behaviors of others? I don't know, don't want to know, and further don't really care. I know it when I see it in another and have been attracted to such folks making lasting friendships with them. These are the kinds of people you want not only in your business but in your community and life as well. The courage to tell it like it is, the courage to say that's not a business model I'm willing to associate myself with-no matter how much money is involved.

The courage to really know oneself, the courage to inspire others, the courage to open the conversation so the prison walls of loneliness fade into the far off distance of another lifetime. The courage to give freely of oneself without freely giving oneself away. The courage to pursue one's dreams while understanding that it is only by helping others to a solution to their problems is all of this possible.

So, one might ask how does all of this relate to network marketing? It all sounds aloof and surreal-life is simple not like that. This is where personal commitment and courage meet the status quo. Dreams are not only discouraged but actively attacked from so many fronts in society that very few of make it to a successful realization. As a child my dream was real simple-I just wanted it to stop. All the fighting, the cruel words, all the things that transpired that no one ever talked about.

My dream was not possible then because we didn't have any solutions. We didn't have anything to compare it against, and we didn't have the courage to ask for help. Boy did I learn that lesson well, I look back and can honestly say that asking for help almost killed me-literally. But when I acquired the courage to say, "I don't know what I'm doing, can you please help me?" My life has never been the same since. People have not only shared their dreams with me, but have inspired me to use my creative imagination to create my own-what a gift!

In my mastermind community the amount of courage among the individuals is without equal in any one place, at any one time. There are many things I want to lose and replace with more of this precious quality. What do I want to lose? I want to lose the death grip on the self-sufficiency that served me so well as a child, a survival tool that has no capacity to allow dreams. I want to lose this idea that only a select certain few are capable of success, anyone with the commitment to personal growth can succeed. I want to lose many misconceptions about work, if I come up with results that are above and beyond I want to be paid or pay accordingly.

I know that my company shares my philosophy in many ways-especially the results. I'm inspired by the courage of the people on my team as well as everyone who is in my mastermind group. Courage is what sets one apart from a life of the ordinary to a life capable of the extraordinary. My dream as a youth has been fulfilled because I could finally say with an honest humility, "I don't know what I'm doing, can you please help me?" The courage it took to say those words again and again over the years has led me to a life that people like myself could only dream about, and today it's my reality! I pray that I continue to have the courage to be a light for others to make it from bridge to shore.

Determination

I awoke this morning to the joy of the dog that claims me, Sanyu, just a waggin' his tail overwhelmed with the whole prospect of being alive. I imagine him saying to me, "Let's go, we're alive, we're healthy, isn't it great? Let's go!" Some might say he just needed to go outside to take care of business, but you know I get to choose and I think it's truly the former. Much like my mastermind group, consisting of hundreds of positive, like minded individuals from all over the world up to the challenge of sharing a true altruistic vision of leadership to humanity. Half-empty? Not a chance!

As I settled in last night I was imagining my network marketing organization, the people-yes the people are what it's ALL about, and I was thinking about how incredible it is to choose who you will work with. And I came to the conclusion that only positive people who firmly believe in self-improvement are the only folks I can go that extra mile for in my organization. I mean anyone can get up and go to a job with the sole purpose of earning a paycheck, but at what cost? Health? Time with family? I have always been attracted to companies with a passion for what they were contributing to the world, and then moved into creating homes for people who were living in mere houses. But my passion is people, I like meeting them, helping them, learning from them, listening to them, sharing experiences with them, and conversing with them.

I searched and educated myself and quite by chance ran into the group of people who comprise my mastermind group. I am ever so grateful. I felt like I was pushing a huge round boulder and while I would strain, and strain and make a small bit of progress the cost of moving it by myself was just more than I could handle while achieving a healthy prosperity. I will always look fondly back on this time of my life and laugh with the leaders of my organization. I've finally come to the meat of the post, determination. I turned on the music after letting out the dog and started dancing while making breakfast, you all dance while making breakfast right? Well, anyway my roommate has two dogs as well one big one, and a Chihuahua-the ring leader.

Her name is Sandy and she doesn't have the same enthusiasm as Duke and Sanyu to traipse the yard barking at squirrels and joggers in the neighborhood. Not a chance! She always looks in through the glass door at me dancing and cooking-I know she thinks, "Wow, look at those moves!" or more likely I could concede that she has a solid determination to acquire some kind, any kind of scraps. But that kind of determination has helped me overcome many obstacles and challenges to now have help with that huge boulder-there's nothing like a few extra hands on ANY task. So Sandy and I will stay patiently standing at the door to let in the next group of people who are willing to stop pushing the boulder alone.

Definite Purpose

Having a purpose. A clear and defined purpose. I have met with a wonderful loving community of folks sharing their time and ideas-an amazing mastermind group for a student of the network marketing industry. I will be part of creating a highly prosperous, fun-loving-and having, organization of leaders who will lead the way in taking back the American Dream.

Infectious enthusiasm! Repeat after me, Infectious enthusiasm. Infectious enthusiasm for health, infectious enthusiasm for prosperity, infectious enthusiasm for family, for community, for our world, for our children. As a drop on the calm waters of much needed change for humanity we will ripple through through the world’s communities with this infectious enthusiasm-the vehicle is my loving family-Mentoring for Free.

What a gift to give to a spirit starved world-one leader, one dreamer, one person at a time as a community-the truest altruism! I am so grateful to be a part of the greatest movement in network marketing. Network Marketing, the opportunity that will pay my children’s children and inspire the next generation of leaders.