Decision = Freedom!

One of the hardest things to do it seems is for us to make a DECISION. 

So often, we circle and circle, research and research, maybe even incorporate a little bit of trial and error; yet we never seem to truly DECIDE what we want to, or are going to, do; really DECIDE who we will BE.

Yet our lives are made up of hundreds, maybe thousands, of decisions every single day.  We decide to hit snooze one more time, or to get up 5 minutes early.  We decide what clothes to wear; to brush our teeth first, wash our face second; to drink our coffee while rushing around the kitchen or to enjoy a leisurely breakfast; to turn on the radio to music, or the news; to check Facebook or turn on our smart phones; and that's all within the first 15 minutes of waking up! 

Many of these decisions happen (almost) without our realizing.  They've become habits ... the things we just 'do'.  Mostly because they are the things that move us towards other goals: waking us up, getting the kids to school on time, getting to work on time, all without embarrassing ourselves by doing it all naked. 

Quite frankly, most of these decisions are happening on a subconscious level -- they've become habits.  And one thing that habits are is comfortable.  We get up and go to work at our J.O.B everyday, not because we love it, not because it's the best, most efficient, or the most enjoyable way to earn a living, but because it's a decision we made abouthow we would (should?) live so long ago that it's now habit. 
And any habit, good or bad, can be hard to break!

 What?  Good habits are hard to break too?  Great news!

Take a look at your life.  What habits (decisions) are driving your every day activities?  Are those habits (decisions) creating a happier, fuller life?  Are you achieving your dreams, or dreaming of an escape? 

The choice is yours.  The power lies within you.  You DECIDE every day who you will be.  What decisions are you making today?

New Month, New Quarter -- Where's Your Plan?

It's TIME!

Take out your plan of action you created for the last 3 months, and take a look at it.  How did your progress match up against your goals?  CELEBRATE your achievements!!  Congratulations!!
Now take a look at where you didn't quite arrive.  Identify why that happened.  There are many reasons:

- your expectations were too high or unrealistic
- unexpected life happenings
- you didn't follow your plan ...

Don't dwell on what didn't happen - - dwelling on it won't change things.

Instead, grab a sheet of paper and write down your goals for the next 3 months.

What will your life look like on July 1?  What will your financial situation be?  Your career?  Your family?  Your spiritual life?  How will you have contributed to your community?

THREE STEPS to ACHIEVE:
DECIDE
Write down your goals.  Post them where you will see them regularly.  Bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker is a great spot!  As is your fridge, in your office, by your bed, keep a copy in your wallet.

DO
Plan your Work, Work your Plan.  What ACTIONS will you take to achieve your goals?  Knowing what you want isn't enough, you're going to have to put some work in to it.
Then DO it.  Day after day, stick to your plan.  Don't fret over 'is it working' ... you have 3 months to test it out, so get to work, give it a fair chance to work for you, and like Nike says, Just DO It!

DEVELOP
On July 1, you'll get to do this all over again.  You may need to make adjustments: You will have achieved some goals and will need to write new ones; Some of your goals may change; and You may find you need to adjust or change your activities to achieve your goals.  That's perfectly and wonderfully normal.

What are you waiting for? Let's DO this!

DECIDE - DO - DEVELOP

I recently completed a fitness program - a 60-day, intensive workout plan - and I enjoyed success and made great strides towards my health goals.  Every day, at the beginning of the workout, these three words scrolled across my tv screen in large letters: Decide - Commit- Succeed.

I decided in January on the program I wanted to use, I committed myself to completed it, and guess what - I achieved success.

It rang so true to me as I have been speaking on the three steps to success in any area, only I use the words DECIDE - DO - DEVELOP.  Here's what I mean:

Firstly, you must DECIDE what it is that you want.  Set your goals.  It's not enough to have a general idea, because with a general idea you are only generally committed and when the going gets tough (and it always does when your goal is worthwhile pursuing), you won't be committed, and you'll stop doing.

Then you must DO.  Get into action!  I see so many people falter here.  If this is your hang-up; if you can't seem to get yourself into action, I suggest going back to your goals and digging deeper to find something that motivates you.

And along the way, DEVELOP.  This is a two-faceted step.  Firstly, you will work on YOU - personal and professional development.  Successful people are always looking to improve.  Listen to audios, read books.  And take steps to "becoming".  Secondly, your 'plan of action' will change over time - you will make modifications based on what you've experienced, what factors have changed, and how you've "become".  You will constantly be in development phase.  This should come as a great relief to those of you with "Analysis Paralysis" -- you don't need to have a PERFECT plan to get started, because your plan will change over time no matter what, so just get started already!

Three steps: DECIDE - DO - DEVELOP.  Know what you want, get to work achieving it, modify your plan along the way.  And celebrate your tremendous SUCCESS!!

What's your earning power

I was listening to the radio this morning. They were reporting on the wage gap for women. I've heard this before; women's wages are about $0.83 to a mans $1.00, plus women shoulder the majority of the child care, household management, and as the boomers age we now take care of our parents too. But there was something 'new to me', that I hadn't taken into cOnsideration until this morning. For those of us who choose to 'stay home' to raise our children, whether for a short while or a longer timeframe, we lose touch with our 'professional network'. Mothers' networks are other moms, pediatricians, play school teachers, day care providers, and kids coffee house owners. Aside from the occasional doctor visit (which lets face it, is a decidedly 'doctor-patient relationship, not as a colleague), we lose our professional contacts. Unlike our male working counter-parts, who are dealing with their work colleagues, investment advisors, accountants, and others whom they encounter through work (even company human resource personnel, and the chance networking with other professionals on commutes or lunches). No wonder women who return to the workforce after staying home with their kids face a decrease in wages or salary equal to approximately 5 years prior to their last working year! Apparently the Wiggles don't provide references, and employers aren't 'feeling' the complexities of running a multi-child household through cold and flu season as an accurate indicator of employee qualification.

What does it all mean? For me, I'm glad to have chosen to stay home with my boys, to raise my own children. I'm also glad that I've chosen to start my own business working from home. I'm grateful for the opportunity to build a business based on my efforts, earning what I deserve, without letting a hiatus from 'the professional world', nor the 'man behind the desk' dictate my salary.

Discipline

I have a favourite story about self-discipline that one of my favourite people shared with me one day (not just with me, with an entire room while she was presenting).  You see this gal's father has always displayed a tremendous amount of self-discipline his entire life, and she felt that to be an area lacking for her.  So she asked her father one day HOW exactly he found it within himself to be so disciplined.  His answer:

"It's not easy; I just decide I'm going to do it and I do it."

What are you feeding your mind?

It is said that the first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes of your day are integral to creating the most positive and productive mindset. Thus, the first things you see, hear, read, and the last, play a large role in influencing your approach to life.

Why is this important? Take a look at your days. While we are all busy, and many of our days involve a lot of varied activities, our morning and bedtime periods are most likely the most 'routine' part of our days. It is in your first hour of waking and just prior to retiring that you are most likely to do the same things, day after day.

Based on that, examine what you are experiencing during those times. Is it a mad rush to get everyone together and out the door in the mornings, full of stress? Are you listening to dismal news stories on your morning commute? Are you falling asleep to the tv? What kind of information is influencing your most important times of day?

I read a 'story' recently where a man changed his life in a dramatically positive way just by ceasing to listen to, watch, or discuss the news. How powerful could that one change be for you?

There are some simple changes we can make. Put a cd player in the room you spend the most time in in the morning, and listen to something positive, motivational, and uplifting. Same for your morning commute. And really, turn off the tv in your bedroom (better yet, remove it altogether), and spend some time reading, journalling, and capturing your gratitude for the day.

Try this for 30 days. Or 29 days in February. And see what kind of differences you notice in your life. I will, and I'll share them march 1.

Motivational block?

Have you ever felt like you just can't get going ... can't keep it going? Sometimes it's important to take a break, reconnect with yourself, your family and friends. So when you need to take a break, be sure to take it. But don't forget to get started again!

The biggest challenge may be figuring out how to get started again. You may need to have a specific date on the calendar, or a deadline to meet to get the juices flowing again. Or perhaps you have a colleague that you can ask to give you a prod when needed.

It really doesn't matter what you do to get started again, as long as you get started. It's the first step that is the most important. Because after that first step, the second step is much easier. So just focus on the first step ... the next one will follow :-)

Reading

I love reading - I always have. Well, except maybe all those university text books -- I didn't read a lot for pleasure in university, as I was always needing to "read to learn". But since then, I have enjoyed a lot of fiction, trembling under the blankets reading Stephen King into the wee hours of the morning, and I love the Outlander series; and more often non-fiction, reading true crime novels, fascinating over forensic psychology, and even some autobiographical works occasionally.

Recently though, I have been devouring all I can from a personal development standpoint. Since becoming a network marketer, I have spent a lot more time and energy focusing on me - the person. What an incredible journey! Truly the most fulfilling aspect of network marketing has been opening my mind to becoming a better person. Our industry truly is about personal development, as that is a cornerstone to success. And since you own your own business, your destiny is yours, and your personal development becomes more important than I found it to be in an employer / employee relationship. I have to wonder whether or not my past employers were all that concerned about my personal self ... I think they were more concerned over my personal performance as it related to their bottom line, the rest of it they ignored for the most part. Not to say my immediate managers and co-workers didn't care about me - I worked with many incredible people who were instrumental in my development personally and professionally. But I mean the corporate world itself, as a whole.

So I've been reading, listening to some audio cd's as well, and I'm growing, becoming, and living. I love it. If you are new to this area of reading (as I am), I think 2 great reads are Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

There are so many other great books out there, and I can't wait to read them all. Won't you be so kind as to provide a comment with your personal development reading recommendation? I'd love to know what you have found to be valuable to your self.

Make it a Sensational Day!

Are you playing the "What if..." Game?

It's Monday. On Mondays, I always like to revisit the past week, and get the "new" week off to the best start. Today is a bit of a double-whammy, because we're nearing the end of June, and I am now looking at the past month and looking for finish strong.

What were your goals for June? Did you write them down? Did you re-write them every day? Did you build your plan to accomplish those goals, and then put that plan into action? If so, you are likely looking at your list of goals, and celebrating your accomplishments.

But what if you didn't make goals, write them down, build and act on a plan. What if you aren't celebrating your accomplishments as we close out the month of June, and the first half of 2010?

NO WORRIES!

Firstly, it will do you absolutely no good to dwell on the past, wishing you'd done this or that, thinking "If only I'd ....". You know what? The past is the past. Learn from it and then leave it behind. LEARN from it, and LEAVE it behind. The key here is to learn from it first, leave it behind second. and move on.

When you learn that the first step to realizing your goals is to define your goals, it is not such a big leap to then write those goals down. I encourage you to do this for all areas of your life. But don't get hung up on details, or the "big picture". Your goals can, and will, change over time. The important thing is to write them down, and then start working towards them.

For July, why not try first defining a couple of goals for the month, then write them down. Put your goals up on the wall by your computer, by your fridge, on your mirror, in your wallet. Somewhere that they will be visible reminders throughout your day to keep you focused on achieving those goals.
Your goals don't have to be fancy or sophisticated. Your goals can be focused on work, personal, relationships, money, fitness; whatever you want to achieve.

Tips for Goal-Writing

Make your goal as SPECIFIC as possible (i.e. I will call my mom every Tuesday); write MEASURABLE goals (i.e. I will lose 2 pounds); your goals must be ATTAINABLE, but still be a stretch for you; make your goal REALISTIC - it must be something you want and will work towards or else you won't put the effort into attaining it; and ensure that your goal is TIMELY - something you can achieve within the timeframe given (in this case, one month).

Now, write down two things: your goal(s) for July; and reminders on July 15 and 25 to revisit your goals and your progress towards them. I'll be here August 1 to help you celebrate your success!!

Direct Sales vs J-O-B

I came across this article on another blog today, and wanted to repost here. An excerpt from a speech given by a person who truly "gets" network marketing, this really hits home. I believe this speech is a true reflection of one of my favourite quotes by Jim Rohn "We all have two choices, we can earn a living, or we can design a life." What will you choose to do?


************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* *********
Lately, I have heard so many people say how difficult having a homebased busienss is. "Its hard." "I can't get any opt-ins." "I can't get people to sign up or buy my products." "This just isn't for me." "I didn't know how difficult it would be."



Well, I am a single Mom of three who, before joining the direct sales family, held down two jobs. I would get up at 4:00 in the morning and not get to bed until midnight most nights, after returning from my part-time retail job, packing lunches, checking homework and relieving my mother, who helped out with the kids.



That, my friends, is difficult.



It is difficult always having to lower your dreams to meet your means. It is difficult to miss your son's football game because you have to work. It is difficult knowing the rust bucket you call a car is eating you alive in maintenance, but you can't afford a new one. It is difficult to realize that someone else is going to watch your daughter take her first step or have your son say mama to the preschool teacher.



It is difficult knowing that you have spent 40 years of your life working for someone else, only to realize that you will be retiring on one-third of what you can live on today. Or, worse yet, it is difficult knowing that you have diligently worked all your life, only to be given an early retirement and replaced by someone younger, more capable.



I will tell you what is difficult. It is difficult waking up one morning and realizing that your children, the most precious things imaginable, no longer need bottles, diapers, have tea parties, or are shorter than the baseball bat they are trying to swing. It is difficult realizing it is too late and that the time frittered away can never be retrieved. It slips through our fingers one second at a time.



It is also difficult watching the spark in your partner's eyes fade because both of you realize the house you have been wanting is just a dream because someone else is controlling your finances.



We have nasty habits about rationalizing, procrastination and skirting important things, rather than facing the issues. Too often we allow others who do not pay our bills, who do not share our dreams, to direct our futures.



As children we have absolutely no freedom; we rebel in our teens and scream for freedom. We reach adulthood and are finally free, only to relinquish that freedom because we think it is too difficult. We do not want to take responsibility. We do not want to make a wrong decision, so we obligingly give that awesome power to someone else. We wake up too late. We hear ourselves uttering phrases like: "I wish I had only . . ." and "If I could do it over again."



You have no one but yourself to blame. You had the chance. Perhaps the opportunity was presented many times and each time you elevated the trivial to a higher priority than yourself.



Let me ask you: Is direct sales really difficult?



Is it so traumatic to show someone an exciting product or idea? Is it so difficult to understand that if you work this marketing idea for three to five years, you just might finally be able to send your children to a college chosen by excellence, rather than one chosen by price? That you could finally put your family in the home of their dreams?



Would you work really hard for eight to ten years, so you could mold a lifestyle of your choosing, so your family could live a lifestyle of their dreams, rather than trying to live how someone else thinks you should live?



How difficult is it to pick up the phone and call your prospect? How difficult is it to place ads? How difficult is it, really, to share what you love with others? Think about it.



Realize the awesome power you have in your hands with direct sales. There are people out there working three jobs. There are people drowning in debt; or agonizing through bankruptcy, realizing they only needed a couple hundred more dollars per month. That is difficult!



This business you have chosen has the ability to change lives. Direct sales cannot do anything. But YOU can change lives with it. You are the one with the life-changing ability. What are you waiting for?



There is difficulty and pain in success, and there is difficulty and pain in failure. Difficulty and pain in success will last a short period of time; but pain in failure lasts a lifetime. Which one is really more difficult?



You will pay a price for your actions, and your choices.


Which choice will you make?"

Reposted from
http://networkedblogs.com/4KN96

NEW MONTH!

I realized today how much I love turning the page onto a new month. It's like a brand new start again. Clean slate. An entire month ahead to work towards my goals. Time to reflect on where I'm at, how far I've come, and where I'm going.

I wrote out my June goals today. Made a copy to put in my wallet to carry with me everywhere. I know what I'm going to accomplish in June - do you?

Every Day is a Good Day

Every day when you wake up, you have a choice. You can choose to have a good day, or you can choose to have a bad day. Yes, it's up to you. You see, it's your perception of the day that makes it good or bad, not an outside force. So whatever happens, whatever you come across, whatever you experience, hear, see, it's up to you how you will perceive that "thing". And your perception will result in a good day, or a bad one. It's all up to you.

Make it a GOOD DAY!

Motivation

We've all felt it - that dragging feeling of "I just don't want to right now!" We know we should be doing, we just can't seem to get doing.

George Washington said "It's wonderful what we can do if we're always doing."

So true. So how do we get ourselves motivated?

I found a great article today, which prompted this post:

MLM Business Success – How Do I Motivate Myself, How Do I Motivate My Downline?

Basically, it's like a Nike ad, Just Do It. Don't get stuck in the rut, don't fall back onto unproductive habits. Just do it. I haven't written in here for awhile, despite my excitement to begin a blog. So I came across this article today, and well, now I've just posted a blog on it. It's that easy.

Another great quote, this time from Jerry Rice: "Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't."

Get going - you know you want to!

Write Down Your Goals

"Only three percent of adults have written goals, and everyone else works for them." - Brian Tracey

Goal-setting is an important activity for everyone, no matter who they are or what they do. How can we know when we've arrived if we don't know where we're going?


Now, setting your goals doesn't have to be mind-blowing or overly complicated. In fact, some of the best goals are the most basic. Here are some tips I've gathered from various sources for writing down your goals.

1 - Just Do It. Write something down. Get it on paper. This makes it tangible - real. You can see it, you can touch the paper, you can hold it close to you, carry it with you.

2 - Be Positive. Write your goal from a positive standpoint. Your goal is what you will be, not what you're leaving behind. For example, I weigh X pounds on Y date; versus I will lose X pounds.

3 - Keep your Goals Visible. Write your goals on several pieces of paper, keep one in your wallet, one by your desk, one on your fridge -- keep your goals in front of you. Better yet, re-write them every day; this will write your goals into your sub-concious, which works to drive your actions towards achieving those goals. "Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Use the SMART system. SMART goals are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely.
"Specific" means you attach numbers and time frames to your goals. Avoid generalities and vagueness. "I will have more money" is less powerful than "I will make $10,000 a month by January 1, 2013."
"Measurable" goals are those which you can track and follow. By enabling yourself to track your progress, you can revisit your goals to be sure you're on target, adjust your actions as necessary, and best of all celebrate milestones along the way.
"Attainable" goals are simply goals that you can achieve within the timeframes you've determined. Virtually every goal is attainable, given the proper timeframe to develop and grow to reach your goal. "Your goal should be out of reach, not out of sight." - Anita DeFrantz
"Realistic" goals are those which you are both willing and able to work towards. You must actually want to achieve the goal in order for you to put in the effort required to achieve it.
"Timely" goals have a specific timeframe in which you want to achieve them.

There are many resources available for goal-making, including numerous on the web. But don't over-complicate goal-making in the beginning. The important thing is to write down a goal. Then you can begin working towards that goal, re-defining, updating, even re-writing as you make progress. However you choose to go about it, I say "Just Go!"