Network Marketing Today and Beyond

The Invitation

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I listened to this being read on the CD set of Mach II by Richard Bliss Brooke and was touched to tears.
So often we make a blanket statement of what we "desire, dream, envision" but Oriah cuts to the bone with "what you ACHE" for. A longing so deep it hurts.

Have you dug deep enough?

Enjoy!

Kelly Wissink

The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

© Mountaindreaming, from the book The Invitation published by HarperSanFrancisco, 1999
http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/

100 Bite Sized Pieces

What is it about the number 100 that has caught my eye and has me fascinated by the potential?

While reading a local paper on health and wellness, I noticed a challenge,
"Walk 100 miles in 100 days". Besides my running regiment, my children and I created a 100 day chart and have all agreed to walk 100 miles in 100 days. Even my 8 year old son said, "That's easy! That is only 1 mile a day. I can do that!"

What has my head caught up in this concept is that any seemingly HUGE task is manageable when you break it down into small, bite-sized actions. I know, I know, YOU know that all ready. Right? Are you doing it?

Today, that is my number one priority - take my big ugly frogs, my goals for the summer, my "I really don't want to do this BUT, I know it will benefit my business, my health, my ______ (you fill in the blank)" and break it into 100 (or less) tiny, manageable daily steps that will be painless.

I challenge you to do this activity as well.

What activity/goal feels so very big that it is virtually impossible to you right now?

What steps/actions will you need to do to finish this goal?

Take a sheet of lined paper, and number it 1-100.

Now, write down those steps that you may have outlined in your mind but have not gotten down on paper.

Each day for the next 100 days, or however many days it takes to complete it, do just one activity on your paper each day. Just one.

Look back on what you have accomplished after one week and celebrate the accomplishment! You deserve it.

A wise philosopher once said that a cow is best eaten "one burger at a time".

Join me?

The Network Marketing Race

I started “running” this morning. I had set an intention to do this last week but I…

*didn’t have time.
*the weather was too cold, too hot, too rainy, too sunny…
*the road was too busy.
*I didn’t have anything to wear.
*(Insert an excuse – I would accept it)

My goal, a 5K in our cozy town of Caledonia at the end of June.

My reasons are many – get in better shape, lose some extra pounds, discipline, and focus.
While I was gutting it out and dragging my dog who was wondering what in the heck I was doing, I found myself trying to think positively when I really just wanted to quit, go home and eat a bowl of Rice Krispies. With each pounding footstep, and yes, pounding is the correct word, I kept repeating, “I am strong!” “I am healthy!” and surprise, surprise, I did feel healthy and strong despite the pain.

Now, I would love to say that when I got home I was thin, toned and looking like a model but nope, didn’t happen. I didn’t even step on the scale because I knew that I may not see a difference there either. Not yet, that is.

Time after time I see new distributors getting started in their business and they want to avoid the pain or to see immediate results and that just isn’t how it works. Setting a goal for each step of the journey and making it realistic is so important. Starting to run at one stop sign and setting a goal to run to the next sign, tree or land mark made me feel successful. I was thrilled with my progress! Those little steps of success will help these new distributors get to their ultimate goal in such a way that they don’t realize the difficulty of the journey along the way. Being successful and achieving a goal is hard. If they don’t realize that from the get go, their chances of dropping off along the way side have just doubled and they will become just another statistic.

I didn’t read a book to figure out how to run because I have been walking for quite some time now. I did however consult an expert and get a schedule of what I needed to do to work up running consistently for 3.1 miles, my ultimate goal. I learned what type of shoes are the best for running, that clothes “wick” sweat…cool; and that if I go out expecting to run 3.1 miles on day one, I will die. Well, maybe not die, but be really sore and not able to get out of bed the following morning.

Being honest about what it takes to build a successful business and then sharing the action steps needed to get there will help your new distributor finish the race.

As I came up to the last hill before home I was laughing.

Why?

Eddie Money was teasing me with, “Gimme Some Water “, a classic!

What we do is hard; and the rewards are fabulous!

Telling your new distributor that they need to take care of and nourish themselves is
so important. They need to get to local, regional and national events; read books that will encourage them when they are dry and think positively, “I am successful!” “I am confident” though
out their training.

Network Marketing is a race, an individual race of training, patience, persistence, discipline, goal setting and positive thinking. Only YOU can drag or sprint yourself over the finish line!

Ready?

The 100 day Challenge

Image by Stephen Poff via Flickr

Kuddos to Tim Sales who asked this excellent question,
"Do you want to be in the same place 100 days from now?"

Do you?

If the answer is "yes", then you are either in a great place, or you are in denial.

If the answer is "no", good for you!

What is lacking in the place you are now, physically, financially, spiritually?
Or for that matter, what is overabundant that needs to be thinned?

Where would you like to be 100 days from now? If you can create a plan by tomorrow,
April 27th, you could be in a new "place" by August 4. For many network marketers, the months of August through December are the "ripest" months. Imagine where you could be with a 100 day plan and a belief to go with it prior to this incredible time.

Do you actually believe that where you want to be can become reality?
This is the key now isn't it.

For changes to take place and stick, you need to "Act as though it were impossible to fail",
Dorthea Brande. Do you have the FAITH to believe?

What will it take to drive you to this new place 100 days from now?
What actions, changes, thoughts will you need to create or eliminate to get you to your new destination in 100 days?

I have my new "place", my new belief and my actions to drive me there.

Want to meet me on the "other side?"

LET'S GO!

Going Mo-bile!

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The latest statistic reports that there are 4 billion mobile phone users with 80% of those users in the United States alone.  Now, why does this not surprise me? Driving down the highway, in coffee shops, walking through the mall or even at school athletic events, for that matter, it seems that everywhere I look, someone is on a cell phone.

Another fact that I heard while on a training call with Kim Dushinski, was that "people who use social networking on their phone will also look at blogs".

The transition is occurring with more blogs becoming "mobilized" and sharing information through mobile marketing.  This excites me!

It's new...it's hot...but is it a fad?

It is a wide open opportunity for those that will work through the kinks of "beta" and the patience needed during this just launching phase.  But is it just that...a phase?

What do you think? Will it last? 
How will it affect blog growth and expansion?

Inquiring minds want to know so please, do share!

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The field of networking marketing has gone through incredible transitions in its years of offering unique and gourmet products to its millions of consumers.  One benefit that has always been boasted, no matter which company was promoting, was the high quality of its products, from nutritional supplements to laundry soap; from candles to car wax.  It didn’t matter…it was unique and you needed it.   
 
But times are a changing and consumers in this recession are looking for VALUE! They want value in the product and don’t want to lose the quality of what they are buying. Just create more value or “bang for their buck” and they will be happy.  
 
Companies that adopt a “department store product for discount prices” are going to come out on top.

These companies will see incredible growth and momentum as new distributors see the value of purchasing at wholesale prices and having the choice to market to friends or replace a full time income which may have been sadly stripped from them.  
 
VALUE is the new buzz word and network marketing can offer that through its products, but more importantly, through its opportunity. Where else can you create an insanely wild income, in many cases on less than a $1.50 a day investment?  

Enjoying the power of social networking to build a team in the 21st century!

What is your Primary Social Media Connection?

In preparation for an upcoming webinar and presentation at an event in Las Vegas
the last weekend in March, I asked my "tweeps" (friends from Twitter.com) the following
question:

"What is your main source of social media connection. i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Squidoo, MySpace...? and WHY?"

Their responses are below!
As a "Thank you", please make sure you check them out and give them a follow.

robinmbnm  Twitter, because it's simple and I don't have to feel guilty about not returning hugs, gifts, or Easter eggs like on FB.

YourSavvyVA My main source is of course Twitter! I like that its real time! Makes interacting much more personable. :)

YourSavvyVA 2/2 I like feeling like i'm speaking with a person rather than a page!

Shesgotherown I like cafemoms, why, I'm still thinking. I have a myspace, blackplanet, a couple of ning pages, but CM is the best.

ShannonGrissom  Twitter. Short and sweet!

jake_buehler  Facebook, then Twitter. FB because lots of people I know are there and Twitter because it's FUN! Great places to connect.

JoJoTabares  I still can't figure squidoo. I like Twitter and Facebook.

AudreyMcClellan Twitter and Facebook. Hands down.

So what about you?  What is your main source of media connection and why? 
Please respond with your links so we can call you a fellow "tweep" or friend.

How to Beat the Recession by Todd Falcone

My note :  Todd Falcone says it better than most. Thank you, Mr. Falcone, for sharing how to use our amazing Network Marketing Industry to thumb our noses at this so called, "Recession".
For more training from Network Marketing Master, Todd Falcone, visit him at ToddFalcone.com

Everywhere you look it's recession this, recession that, this company going out of business, that company laying people off, unemployment statistics climbing, the list goes on. 
 
The media is really good at promoting the recession, aren't they?  Now...I'm not saying at all that things aren't bad in our country.  They are. 
 
But...it doesn't at all mean that YOU personally have to be dramatically impacted by it.  In fact...during this trying time, and ALL trying times, there are many people who are able to create significant wealth as a result of taking ACTION. 
 
Do yourself a favor and don't become a statistic during this or any recessionary period by doing some of this:
 
1.     Work Harder than anyone else.  Tough times are no time for laying back.  The only way out of any slow period is to "produce" your way out of it.

2.    Don't let opportunity pass you by. Right now, there are more people seeking out opportunity than ever before as a result of downsizing and layoffs.  These people are waiting to hear from someone who can help them.  Let it be you.

3.    Recruit UP.  Professionals in specific categories are hurting more than ever before as well.  These people have the talent you are looking for...and the NEED to take action. Contact Realtors and mortgage people NOW!

4.    Be VERY Consistent.  I am going to reiterate a point I made earlier about working HARDER than anyone else.  This is no time to be flaky.  This is the time to be "ON the gas" and STAY on the gas.  Put your pedal to the metal and stay there. 

5.    Be the LEADER of the pack.  Now is also the time for you to STEP UP and start inspiring.  In trying times, people need someone who is positive, upbeat, and doesn't allow circumstances to get them. down.  BE that person now and lead these people through to the other side.
 
6.    SMILE more.  The more you smile and the more you stay positive will do nothing but GOOD for your business.  Trust me. It works. 

7.    Surround yourself with Positivity!  This is NOT the time to be hanging around with a bunch of negative people.  Create a support group around you of positive doers and spend your time with them.  It rubs off. 
 

 
Todd Falcone
ToddFalcone.com

Lego Business Cards

image by blog.wired.com

I found this fascinating quote today:

Reportedly, LEGO even attempts to match an employee's features with their own minifigs. I think we've got a winner for the coolest business card ever. What kind of geeky business cards have you had? Let us know in the comments.LEGO Business Card, Feb 2009

You should read the whole article.

What did you think?

Dr. Seuss Quote of the Day

Image by United States Postal Service

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose"- Dr. Seuss

Even though my children love Dr. Seuss, the message he shared is one for all ages. 

Which direction will you choose?