Is a Dinosaur keeping you from Success?

Do you remember when you were a young child afraid of your own closet? Didn’t it always seem like once the lights went off your clothes turned into monsters? And even though you were positive that the monster in the shadows was a T-shirt when the lights were on, you still felt that gut wrenching fear that made you crawl under your blanket? GOOD! You’re normal; not because your clothes turned into monsters when the lights went out but because your fight or flight mechanism works.  Fear is one of the oldest and primal of all emotions. Fear is what told the cave man to run away and hide from the Tyrannosaurus Rex. What if the cave man decided to conquer the beast instead of running? If the cave man did not succeed then the penalty would more than likely be death and he would not have a chance to try again another day BUT if the cave man succeeded he would rule the land. Now let’s fast forward a couple hundred-million years to an era when the Tyrannosaurus Rex is no more, but still seems to exists within our minds. Today we have made test-taking, making friends, starting a business, interviewing, competing, and change (to name a few) the T-Rex.  Many act as if they fail at something they are going to be eaten alive by a T-Rex and not live to see another day. This fear of failure keeps a lot of people from EVER reaching their true potential. How much sooner would you embark on achieving your hearts desires if there was NO chance you would fail? Pretty quickly I am guessing. Would you believe me if I told you that if you don't fail then you won't succeed? How do you think you learned  to walk? If you think it was the Fisher Price Walker think again.  The walker was only a method used to increase your belief level, show you your potential and show you how wonderful it would be once you were fully mobile.  When you started on your mission to walk you still fell but you got up,  you bumped your head but you learned to hold on to the couch, you scraped your knees but you learned to pick your feet up higher, then almost out of no where you ran. Did you always spell your name right, were you born riding a bike, could you eat without making a mess as a baby? Some adults can't eat without making a mess; but guess what? They still succeed in eating.  If you haven't figured it out by now we are all big failures, we have failed all our lives and will continue to fail, those who are successful are only successful because they failed more.  The big time failures understand that the T-Rex is extinct and at most they might get some scrapes and bruises but they will live, learn and eventually succeed. It is natural to be afraid when sailing uncharted waters but learn to see fear for what it really is. Fear is an unconscious chemical reaction in the brain and will eventually go away but regret is a conscious emotion that is long and lingering. You are the captain of your ship and YOU make the choice to feel fear or not. I am not speaking theoretically! There is scientific proof that shows fear is the same as excitement and the only difference is how the individual experiencing the emotion decides to perceive it. Conduct your own scientific experiment and pop in a scary movie, hop on a roller coaster, or try kissing someone you have a huge crush on. Now that you know that the T-Rex is extinct and fear is a choice go live your life to the fullest and embark on an adventure. Below is a list of people who failed so much they succeeded!
Michael Jordan, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Dr. Sues, Charles Darwin, Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, The Beatles, Bill Gates, Sean Puffy Combs, 50 Cent, Paul Allen, Oprah, Russel Simmons, Robert Kiyosaki, Tom Hopkins, Barrack Obama, Sam Walton, Master P, & (YOUR NAME HERE) go make it happen!!!   Check this video out be inspired and excited ;)and this one too How bad do you want to be successful?

Beware of the “Pyramid Scheme”…

Beware of the “Pyramid Scheme” you might get rich...
 Network Marketing, Multi-Level Marketing and Direct sales are all the different names given to identify a true business structure.  Here’s the problem, we live in a world where dishonesty does exist.  Just as there are creatures in the animal world that disguise themselves as dangerous to ward off danger, there are masterminds in the human world that disguise themselves as legitimate business’s in order to make a financial gain at another’s expense. Guess what’s worse? Most people can’t tell the difference, and since most people are not aware of their own ignorance they pass up great opportunities in an attempt to shield themselves from being taken advantage of.  Would you be upset if you knew that the vase you dropped off at the local Thrift Store was worth thousands? Chances are you answered “Yes”? Do you really want ignorance to be the reason why you lost your potential lottery ticket? I didn’t think so.  So before you dismiss the legitimacy of an opportunity here is a quick question you can ask to gage it. Is the money that you make SOLEY based on enlisting another distributor, rather than the product you’re offering to the public? Ding Ding Ding you found a Pyramid! You can officially run. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying, I am not saying that recruiting instantly makes the business a Pyramid if that were the case every employer would be in hot water, I am just saying if you get a fatter check when recruiting 1 person and a skinny check for selling 1 company product that is a huge red flag.

 Read this statement made by the Federal Trade Commission retrieved from:

http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/other/dvimf16.shtm 

                        “Some people confuse pyramid and Ponzi schemes with legitimate multilevel marketing. Multilevel marketing programs are known as MLM's,(4) and unlike pyramid or Ponzi schemes, MLM's have a real product to sell. More importantly, MLM's actually sell their product to members of the general public, without requiring these consumers to pay anything extra or to join the MLM system. MLM's may pay commissions to a long string of distributors, but these commission are paid for real retail sales, not for new recruits.”
                                                  
                                                     PREPARED STATEMENT OF
                                    DEBRA A. VALENTINE, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR
                                          THE U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
                                                                         on
                                                     "PYRAMID SCHEMES"

Now that we have a mug shot and finger print of the poser, let’s talk about the real McCoy.  MLM’s (Multi-level Marketing), Network Marketing, and Direct Sales companies offer some of the highest compensation plans for your work effort and they don’t discriminate against anyone based on age, race, or socio-economic class.  You are given the opportunity to build your own business within a business that has a system already in place.  That is NOT a quality to take for granted although many do. Let me shed some light. Pick a business you’d like to start up…got it? Okay. How much are you going to pay your first employee? Who’s handling payroll? Are all your licenses in place? Do you need a place of business? How much is your lease? Who’s going to handle returns and refunds? Who’s going to handle the accounting? Are you going to do it all?  How much will it cost annually to run your business? Imagine all the different departments a large successful corporation has or all the departments you know of at a job you’ve had or have. It’s not impossible but it is a lot. In a Multi- level marketing company all those components are already in place. These sorts of business structures also offer the most authentic higher learning experiences surpassing the college experience  in the fields of business, economics,  marketing, and interpersonal skills to name a few. Your instructor is a living, breathing, walking example of applied knowledge instead of the salaried counterpart governed by the rules of an employee regurgitating book knowledge. Multi-level marketing companies have a culture of understanding and patience for the learning curve that comes with transitioning from an employee’s mindset to that of an owner. Starting your own business for the first time is like learning how to walk a tight rope 100 ft. in the air, starting with a multi-level marketing company is like walking on a wide beam 5ft up, with a safety net, someone holding your hand and the added bonus of higher returns earlier out.  Let me warn you though there are some very serious risks involved when you apply yourself within a multi-level marketing company and you need to be aware of them so that your aren’t too taken back when they occur.  People within your organization are going to genuinely care about your success; they are going to openly give you information that will help you become more successful, your network will grow by the hundreds rapidly, your new friends will probably make 6 figures or more, you’ll travel to some of the most exotic places, you will make money and you could even become rich so please proceed with caution.

Hear what Robert Kiyosaki renowned Author of the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” has to say about
 Multi-level Marketing

http://youtu.be/Sz1SLOkIg0Q (Copy & Paste)

Have you started out in business but its not everything you thought it would be?

Often in ones journey to greatness many things are miscalculated, like trying to close the deal to soon or it can be as simple as leaving the house 5 minutes later than usual heading for the office that causes you to be 15 minutes late. The fact is that we are all human and we make simple mistakes all the time. No biggie BUT sometimes we miscalculate some things that trigger an internal tornado that wreacks havoc on our poor sensitive psyche's. Here is a story I would like to share with you that beautifully portrays a miscalculation of self.
Once there was a little creature resting on the branch of a mighty Oak that was Father of the forest. The little creature was sitting there sighing, and from time to time crying a little bit – its tiny body almost buckling under some unseen weight. Finally the great old Oak could listen no longer. In a voice belonging to a giant, but that was also as gentle as a breeze, the mighty Oak spoke out: “Little creature, what is wrong with you?”

The little creature was surprised to feel such concern coming from anyone, let alone the tree in which it was perched. But sensing the overwhelming kindness that came along with the question, it answered as best it knew to do. The words came fairly spilling out its mouth, as if a pent-up stream of water waiting had been waiting to be released.
“Don’t you see, that’s just it… I mean… I’m not sure. Well, that’s not entirely true.”

“Whoa, slow down there little one,” the Oak spoke in measured tones attempting to quiet the creature. “No need to be in a hurry telling me what you will. I’ve been standing here for centuries, so I’m not going anywhere. Can you be a little more specific about what’ you’re suffering over and maybe then we can get to the why?’ part of it?”

Somewhat becalmed by these words, the creature started over. “Well, no matter how I look at it, nothing makes sense. I mean… I was sure it would be different than this.”

The Oak considered this comment for a moment and asked the only question it could at that point: “What exactly was it that you thought would be so different?”

The little creature came out of its own thoughts for a moment as it realized the tree couldn’t see what was so obvious to it.

“Why… being a butterfly, of course. When I used to think about becoming a butterfly, I thought to myself my problems would be left behind me – beneath me, if you will… but everything still irritates me. And,” the little creature lowered its voice somewhat so as to be sure no one else would hear its next comment,

“I’m afraid a lot of the time. I figured that after I had become a butterfly, I just wouldn’t have the fears that I used to have, but I still do! And that’s not all… the past – it bothers me! I was sure that as a butterfly my former life wouldn’t be a problem for me anymore.”

The tall Oak tree looked at the little creature and knew instantly what was wrong.

“Yes, I see; what you’ve said makes a lot of sense now. But, let me ask you a couple more questions. We both need to get to the bottom of this problem if we’re going to solve this mystery for you.” And the little creature said, “Oh, thanks so much!”

The Oak continued, “Do you find yourself getting tripped up quite often?”

The little creature thought for a minute and said, “You know what? I do get tripped up. Yes! I trip quite often as a matter of fact!”

“And how about this?” the tree followed up. “Do you spend a lot of time chewing over things?”

“Yes. I spend a lot of time chewing over things.”

“And are there times when it takes you a long time to get out of your own way?”

The little creature was amazed at the accuracy of the tree’s questions. “You’ve tagged it for me! All these things you said about me are true.”

“Well,” the great Oak spoke again. “I think I’ve figured out the mystery here. Are you sure you want to know the answer?”

“Of course I do,” said the creature, somewhat surprised at the question. “Please go ahead.”

“All right then,” said the tree, carefully measuring out the medicine it knew would be bitter to the little creature clinging to its branch.
 “Here’s the reason for your continuing confusion about why life isn’t to your liking:

You aren’t a butterfly yet; you’re still a caterpillar.”

 This story is from Guy Finley’s best selling book, “The Essential Laws of Fearless Living.”

Do you have what it takes to be an Entrepreneur? A Leader? Have you developed this?

As you embark on your journey toward becoming a successful entrepreneur you are going to need a number of tools to get you through the different seasons.  There are plenty of resources to fill your tank with marketing tactics, selling skills, interpersonal skills and so much more.  Resources are so plentiful that it makes becoming an Entrepreneur seem easy as pie. Let me say it may not be as easy as baking a pie but the reward sure taste good as pie!
There are some things that entrepreneurs encounter that the latest marketing tactic won’t fix and the new payroll program can’t address; you need a different tool for this one and it is called the “tolerance of ambiguity”.  Wiki defines this as “the ability to perceive ambiguity in information and behavior in a neutral and open way”.  Let’s translate this to English now… The “tolerance of ambiguity” is a combination of self-belief, gumption, optimism, and stamina. Another way we could put it is “risk tolerance” or handling the unknown.  A great example of it in action is a Doctor working in the E.R. Would you agree that the Doctor on duty  is working in an environment with a high level of uncertainty for a patient who is rushed in with life threating wounds and has lost over 50% of their blood?  Imagine the sort of anxiety one would feel not knowing whether this patient is going to pull through with the added pressure that the decisions you make could save the patient or the opposite kill them. The ability to execute action with limited or conflicting information is ambiguity; it’s not black, it’s not white, it’s not hot, and it’s not cold. The ability or inability to tolerate that uncertainty is one of the biggest things that keep some of the most talented individuals hiding behind that cherry wood corporate desk. How well you handle this phenomenon in life determines some of your success as an entrepreneur.
You will have times of feast and times of famine.  How well will you do psychologically in times of famine is an indicator of your tolerance.  If you are new to the world of entrepreneurship and have yet to experience a famine and are unsure of your tolerance level a good way to get an idea is to examine your ability to tolerate debt.  How unnerving is it for you to pay a bill 1 or 2 days late, how about 1 or 2 months? Are we getting there yet? Payroll or groceries?  Liquidate your nest egg or take out a loan? These are some of the trivia’s you may face as an entrepreneur and it’s not just the answer that is important but your ability to not crack under pressure and persevere through the hard times.

Test your “tolerance for ambiguity”
here: http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=2286

 Read her story:
“ Mounting debt and dwindling reserves can definitely put the vise grip on your dream. "We
put a lot of money into this. $30,000. It's still not paying the bills. We feel like we're drowning," says Paige Smith, the Sacramento, Calif.-based owner of Pure Belly, which sells obstetrician-endorsed maternity wraps and bras. A mother of four whose husband was laid off from his job the day her company launched, Smith has been hanging on through a white-knuckle ride.
She would do well to follow Kim Holstein's line of thinking. The co-founder of Chicago-based Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels, Holstein was in the same place not all that long ago. "It was very scary to be in debt," she says. Holstein and her husband started the company on a $25,000 credit card line. Whenever they hit a rough patch, like the eight-month stretch when sales headed south, they kept coming back to the original opportunity: the niche for a great soft pretzel.
"We focused on the possibilities instead of the fear," says Holstein, whose pretzels now pull in $15 million per year.
Entrepreneurs need to practice focusing on what's ahead. They need to compartmentalize, keep their focus steady and shove worries aside. They have to believe in the power of the quantum leap. You may be surrounded by cardboard boxes and subsisting on fast food, but your vision for your company's future must remain clear.”
-Joe Robinson of Entrepreneur.com
Managing the Stress of Starting your Own Business