Network Marketing Today and Beyond

ArtPrize Connects with the Crowd

Photo by Fellowship of the Rich

ArtPrize has brought out and brought together a community to enjoy the talents of artists from as far away as New York and as close as the city of Grand Rapids itself, and taught all of us to laugh, think and embrace art in all shapes and sizes.   Instead of the winners of this event being chosen by those trained in art, it was those that appreciate art that were able to vote and determine who won the first place prize of $250,000.  Embracing social media, the organizers of this walk around town event used the power of texting to allow viewers to give a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to vote for each exhibit.  The top 10 “thumbs up” recipients were in the running
for the top money prizes. 

ArtPrize itself was a great way to see various art forms as well as to experience venues in Grand Rapids that I had never stepped foot in, until this event.  Many kudos go to the organizers as well as the coffee shops and restaurants who often ran out of food feeding the happy crowds that poured into their establishments. 

So where am I going with this flowing review of this event and how can it help you build your business?

On the day I attended Art Prize, my goal was to experience the chosen top 10.  I accomplished that…in 3 hours.  I was more than thrilled to meet a few of the artists themselves as they were answering questions and milling with those that were curious of or admirers of their work.

 
Is it a coincidence that the three artists whom I met also happened to be the top prize earners for the event?  I don’t think so.   The Open Water no.24 by Ran Ortner , “Imagine That” by Tracy Van Duinen, and  Portraits by Eric Daigh were all spectacular in their own way.   Hearing about the inspiration behind the art as well as how it was created, the time it took to create, and the challenges along the way from the mouth of the artist gave the art life!

This is my point - Your product is just a product until you breathe life into it with YOUR story.  Would I have voted for any of these artists, and their work had I not met them?  No.  It
was the handshake, the smiles, the STORY, that helped me to see beyond the art to the life within. 
 
Your story can give life to the product you offer and hope, laughter, inspiration and fun to your “audience”, your customers and life to your business.

Be available, be transparent, and share your passion, inspiration, challenges and story to create the business of your dreams.  How does $250,000 sound to you?

Direct Sales Thrive In A Recession

With all the doom and gloom on TV, there is one business that excels during a recession and bear market. Direct sales and Network Marketing are leading the way in profits that major companies drool over.

This was pointed out to me again this morning when I took my daughter to the doctor.  Our pediatrician used to be one of my best customers but due to our recent switch to a more healthy diet, probiotics and homeopathic methods, we have not seen him in the past 3 years. When it was shared that my daughter began feeling sick after a recent plane flight to our company convention, he began asking questions and was surprised when I shared with him that YES, I was still in the business and MOST DEFINITELY, I have not experienced a recession but fantastic growth.  Even doctor's offices are feeling the crunch. 

You don't have to take my word for it. Enjoy this MSNBC video clip.

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Tom, Dick, Harry, and Sue NOT Barack and John!

www.firstrunfeatures.com/blog/?m=200701

The headlines scream at us daily about shooting in a school yard; the price of gas; the kidnapping of a child; and who said what about whom in the presidential race that is looming in America’s horizon.

Many Americans are focusing their hope for change, an overused word as of late, in this presidential election.  Billboards show the face of senator hopefuls whose name I have never seen. Tens of thousands of dollars are being spent to get our attention and to “sway our vote” to their side.

Whose side is the best side?

We the people, have it all wrong. We are bullied by the media and network celebrities who have the finances and connections to feed us what they think we want to hear. People will hear what resonates with them. There is no swaying or convincing.  We choose candidates who are like us. Candidates who say what we would say or rather, what we want to hear.  This election isn’t about the best candidate with the platform that will get us out of the mess we are in.  It is about the candidate that says the right things at the right time to the right people who are waiting to hear them.

As a society we have been indoctrinated to believe that we only have two choices. You are either a republican or a democrat.  HOGWASH!  A political party can’t bring about change.  We are fools to believe that!  We have become a top down society and if we continue to live like that we will no longer be the super power that everyone banks their money on. America will no longer be the Disneyland we have pretended to be. 

If we want CHANGE, the change needs to come from within.  Change cannot come from one man or one woman; one candidate or one political party.

I remember watching the Berlin wall being torn down piece by piece on television.  At our local museum we have a chunk of it and I am still in awe to think back to who took it down. It didn’t come down by a political order from “the top”.  The people in Germany had enough. They created the change and even if for one night, were filled with a hope of a new world with no boundaries;
no walls.

If we don’t change, hope for the America we remember or dream about is lost.

If you have a neighbor who lost a job, what are you doing to help them?  Do you even know your neighbor?  Have you created a wall around your home and go to work, earn your paycheck and then come home shutting the garage door after you as you sit down in front of the TV?

Change comes when we open our hands to help someone who needs it, even if we don’t have a lot to give.
Change comes when we tell a customer NO when the home they want to purchase is way out of their means. 
Change comes when we buy a cup of coffee for the person standing in line behind us.  Try it. It creates confusion, joy and an amazing domino affect which in some cases has lasted all day.
Change comes when we donate our used up treasures instead of filling a landfill. Recycling instead
of trashing.

Change comes when we stop yelling at someone because their beliefs are different than ours.
Change comes when we open our hands, our minds and our hearts to hearing but agreeing to
disagree on issues that are important to us. 
Change comes when we put everything that we have into
making that change happen. 
Change comes when we stop blaming and start admitting.

WAKE UP, America!  Change will not come on the heels of a political party or our next president.
Change and hope lies within each one of us.
If we run in fear or panic at the first sign of bad news, hope is lost.

Hope is not in a presidential candidate but in YOU.

You are just what the country is waiting for. What are you going to do about it?